Weihong (Katie) Zhong

Professor | MME

Professor | MME
katie_zhong@wsu.edu
509-335-7658
Curriculum Vitae

Technical Interests

  • Polymers
  • Nanocomposites and multifunctional materials
  • Composites and composite manufacturing technology
  • Biomaterials and processing
  • Renewable Energy Materials
  • Electronic materials

Professional Experience

  • 2010 – present, Professor | Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
  • 2019 – 2020, Honored Fulbright Scholar, visiting professor | Nanyang Technological University Singapore 639798
  • 2012 – 2020, Westinghouse Distinguished Professor | School of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
  •  2012 – 2013, Honored International Scholar, visiting professor | University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • 2007 – 2010, Associate Professor | Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
  • 2003 – 2007, Associate Professor | Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
  • 2002 – 2003, Visiting Scholar | Vanderbilt Institute for Nano-scale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
  • 2001 – 2002, Visiting Scholar | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088;
  • 1999 – 2003, Professor | Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
  • 1995 – 2001, Associate Director | Composite Materials and Technology Program, Beihang University, Beijing, China
  • 1995 – 1999, Associate Professor | Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
  • 1996 – 1997, Visiting Scholar | Materials Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
  • 1994 – 1995, Assistant Professor | Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China

Education

  • Ph.D. | Composite Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University , 1994
  • M.S. | Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, 1991
  • B.S. | Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China, 1988

Awards

  • US Fulbright Scholar, 2019-2020
  • Westinghouse Distinguished Professor, 2012-2020, WSU
  • Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2016
  • Excellence as an Academic Advisor, WSU, 2013
  • Outstanding Researcher Award, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, WSU, 2011 & 2013
  • Selected one of the 15 World’s Best Scholars to University British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2012
  • The Dow Chemical Composites Educator of the Year 2011 by SPE

Publications

  • L. Ren, S. Yu, Y. Guo, J. Zhong, Q. Zhang, J. Liu and W.H.Zhong, Enabling synergistic adsorption catalysis in Li-S batteries by MOF-derived cobalt-doped porous carbon, ACS Applied Energy Materials, 10.1021/acsaem.6c01063, 2026
  • Y. Guo, L. Ren, J. Zhong, J. Liu and W.H. Zhong, Protein-Functionalized Separator for Suppression of Shuttle Effect and Regulation of Lithium Deposition in Li–S Batteries, Battery Energy, e70039  https://doi.org/10.1002/bte2.20250026, 2025.
  • Y. Guo, C.H. Ying, L. Ren, J. Zhong, S. Yu, Q. Zhang, J. Liu and W.H. Zhong, High-performance S Cathode through a Decoupled Ion-transport Mechanism, Journal of Energy Storage, Vol 104, Part B, 114588, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.114588, 2024. (Best Research Award of the journal).
  • C.X. Wang and W.H. Zhong, Promising Sustainable Technology for Energy Storage Devices: Natural Protein-derived Active Materials, Electrochimica Acta, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2023.141860, 441, 141860, 2023.
  • X. Fu, R. Odstrcil, M. Qiu, J. Liu and W.H. Zhong, Natural “Relief” for Lithium Dendrites: Tailoring Protein Configurations for Long-life Lithium Metal Anodes, Energy Storage Materials, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2021.07.039, 42: 22-33, 2021.
  • M. Chen, C. Li, X. Fu, W. Wei, X. Fan, A. Hattori, Z. Chen, J. Liu and W.H. Zhong, Let It Catch: A Short-Branched Protein for Efficiently Capturing Polysulfides in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Advanced Energy Materials, 10 (9): 1903642, https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201903642, 2020.
  • X. Fu and W.H. Zhong, Biomaterials for High-Energy Lithium-Based Batteries: Strategies, Challenges and Perspectives, Advanced Energy Materials, 9 (10): 1901774, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002 /aenm.201901774. 2019.
  • Y. Wang, X.W. Fu, M. Zheng, W.H. Zhong and G.Z. Cao, Strategies for Building Robust Traffic Networks in Advanced Energy Storage Devices: A Focus on Composite Electrodes, Advanced Materials, 31 (6): 1804204, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201804204, 2018.
  • Y. Wang, A. Gozen and L. Chen and W.H. Zhong, Gum-like Nanocomposites as Conformable, Conductive and Adhesive Electrode Matrix for Energy Storage Devices, Advanced Energy Materials, doi: 10.1002/aenm.201601767, 7: 1601767, 2017.