Localized Physicochemical Phenomena

Solving the energy and environmental crisis requires transformative materials innovations that enable clean, scalable, and cost-effective energy production and storage. Our research program is dedicated to decoding and engineering the interfacial physicochemical phenomena that ultimately control performance in these systems. We investigate the roles of local composition gradients, dynamic doping profiles, strain-mediated structural distortions, photothermal hot-spot formation, and other nanoscale interactions that emerge at complex interfaces. We uncover new mechanisms that drive superior charge transport, catalytic activity, and long-term stability for next-generation batteries and catalysts.

Interface Electrochemical Process for Batteries and Catalysis

Research

The Yang group's research interests include surface and interface engineering of functional materials at the nano/atomic scale and their applications in renewable energy, sustainability, environmental science, and flexible electronics. At a fundamental level, we try to combine materials engineering, surface science, and electrochemistry into our research in designing new functional materials, studying interfacial interactions, and exploring localized physicochemical phenomena. We particularly want to transfer the fundamental knowledge of electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry at the solid-gas-liquid interfaces gained from our basic research into device-level applications in many cutting-edge fields such as energy conversion and storage, solar energy harvesting, and decarbonization.​

Yang Research Group​

Advanced Materials & Renewable Energy at University of Central Florida

We are developing high-performance, flexible, and wearable thin-film electrodes that integrate seamlessly into next-generation energy, electronic, and photonic systems. Our research enables the development of self-standing, carbon-free inorganic films with exceptional mechanical flexibility and robustness, providing a unique materials platform for flexible Li-ion batteries, lightweight supercapacitors, and other deformable energy-storage technologies. Additionally, we design porous thin-film architectures with engineered charge transport and optical pathways for use in resistive memory, electrochromic smart windows, and adaptive optoelectronic devices. 

Expanding beyond energy storage, we harness advanced materials and architected nanostructures for a wide range of emerging applications, including ferroelectric actuators, electron field emitters, multifunctional sensors, and photoluminescent devices. Central to this effort is a fundamental investigation into nanoscale size effects, interface coupling, and pore-mediated confinement that dictate the electric and optical behavior of self-organized porous films. This knowledge guides the design of smart, reconfigurable materials systems for future flexible electronics and multifunctional devices.

​​We develop next-generation, scalable, low-cost, and programmable nanomanufacturing technologies that transform the design, synthesis, and integration of functional materials. Our research creates precision-engineered 2D materials, defect-controlled perovskites, and architecturally complex heterogeneous nanostructures with tunable composition, crystalline order, and morphology across multiple length scales. We enable material platforms with on-demand catalytic, electronic, optical, and energy-conversion properties. This framework positions us to tackle grand challenges in sustainable energy systems, extreme-environment materials, and next-generation electrochemical devices.

Flexible Electronics and Photonics

We study the multi-scale electrochemical processes that regulate how materials perform and degrade in advanced energy devices, including batteries, electrolyzers, and fuel cells. Our research places particular emphasis on heterogeneous nucleation at the electrode–electrolyte interface, where the interplay of local composition, ion solvation, interfacial structure, and electric fields determines reaction selectivity, morphology evolution, and cycling stability. We further explore electron-transfer dynamics and interfacial electronic interactions between catalysts and supports in fuel cells and electrolyzers, revealing design principles for achieving high activity, robustness, and long-term operational stability.

Programmable Nanomanufacturing of Functional Materials