Lei Zhu | Lei Zhu Group | Case Western Reserve University

Professor

Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Case School of Engineering

Principal Investigator

Develops high-energy and high-performance polymers based on close relationships among structure, property and processing.

Research Information

Research Interests

Polymer science and engineering
Undergraduate research and education
Graduate research and training of problem-solving capability
Outreach to high schools and middle schools

Awards and Honors

Polymer Program Director's Award for Faculty Excellence

2008

Rogers Teaching Excellence Award

2005

DuPont Young Professor Award

2005

3M Nontenured Faculty Award

2004

NSF CAREER Award

2004

Gencorp University Signature Award for Outstanding Academic and Research Work

1999

Guanghua Graduate Student Award,

1995

Professional Memberships

Member, American Chemical Society

External Appointments

2011 - 2019, Consulting - PolymerPlus, LLC

Publications

Huang, H., Ren, P., Zhong, G., Olah, A., Li, Z., Baer, E., & Zhu, L. (2023). Promising strategies and new opportunities for high barrier polymer packaging films. Elsevier, 144 (101722).
Ju, T., Chen, X., Langhe, D., Ponting, M., Baer, E., & Zhu, L. (2022). Enhancing breakdown strength and lifetime of multilayer dielectric films by using high temperature polycarbonate skin layers. Energy Storage Materials, 45 (494-503).
Baer, E., Zhang, C., Olah, A., & Zhu, L. (2020). Electromechanical deformation and failure of multilayered films. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 138 (17).
Zhang, C., Li, Z., Nian, H., Zhu, L., Olah, A., & Baer, E. (2020). Electro-mechanical deformation of amorphous and semi-crystalline polymeric films. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 137 (40).
Harn, Y., He, Y., Wang, Z., Chen, Y., Liang, S., Li, Z., Li, Q., Zhu, L., & Lin, Z. (2020). Synthesis of Amphiphilic and Double Hydrophilic Star-like Block Copolymers and the Dual pH-Responsiveness of Unimolecular Micelle. Macromolecules, 53 (19), 8286-8295.
Chen, X., Li, Q., Langhe, D., Ponting, M., Li, R., Fukuto, M., Baer, E., & Zhu, L. (2020). Achieving Flat-on Primary Crystals by Nanoconfined Crystallization in High-Temperature Polycarbonate/Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Multilayer Films and Its Effect on Dielectric Insulation. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 12 (40), 44892-44901.
Wei, J., & Zhu, L. (2020). Intrinsic polymer dielectrics for high energy density and low loss electric energy storage. Progress in Polymer Science (Oxford), 106
Chen, X., Allahyarov, E., Li, Q., Langhe, D., Ponting, M., Schuele, D., Baer, E., & Zhu, L. (2020). Reducing dielectric loss by nanoconfined impurity ion transport in multilayer films under low electric fields. Composites Part B: Engineering, 190
Li, X., Makita, Y., Zhang, G., Rui, G., Li, Z., Zhong, G., Miyoshi, T., Huang, H., & Zhu, L. (2020). Effects of Rigid Amorphous Fraction and Lamellar Crystal Orientation on Electrical Insulation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Films. Macromolecules, 53 (10), 3967-3977.
Zhang, X., Wen, J., Hu, B., Yuan, J., Wang, J., Zhu, L., & Pan, M. (2020). Dispersity control and anti-corrosive performance of graphene oxide modified by functionalized nanosilica in waterborne polyurethane. Nanotechnology, 31 (20).
Ge, K., Zhang, Y., Wang, D., Li, Z., He, J., Fu, C., Yang, Y., Pan, M., & Zhu, L. (2020). Highly Stable Reduced Graphene Oxide Wrapped Black Phosphorus Heterostructure with Superior Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 12 (17), 20035-20043.
Kwok, M., Bohannon, C., Crooks, J., Li, R., Zhao, B., & Zhu, L. (2020). Grafting density-induced smectic A to hexagonal columnar transition in mesogen-free isotactic liquid crystalline polyethers with n-dodecylsulfonyl side groups. Giant, 1
Zhang, C., Li, Z., Zhu, L., Olah, A., & Baer, E. (2020). Deformation and failure of polycarbonate in an electric field. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 137 (5).
Wen, J., Zhang, X., Pan, M., Yuan, J., Jia, Z., & Zhu, L. (2020). A Robust, Tough and Multifunctional Polyurethane/Tannic Acid Hydrogel Fabricated by Physical-Chemical Dual Crosslinking. Polymers, 12 (1).
Lin, Q., Wang, J., Yuan, J., Jiang, Y., Zhu, L., & Pan, M. (2020). A novel approach toward Snowman-like polymer/SiO 2 hybrid nanoparticles via gas-driving. Chemical Communications, 56 (22), 3277-3280.
Wen, J., Pan, M., Yuan, J., Wang, J., Zhu, L., Jia, Z., & Song, S. (2020). Facile fabrication of dual-crosslinked single network heterostructural polyurethane hydrogels with superior mechanical and fluorescent performance. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 146
Wongwirat, T., Zhu, Z., Rui, G., Li, R., Laoratanakul, P., He, H., Manuspiya, H., & Zhu, L. (2020). Origins of Electrostriction in Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Ferroelectric Polymers. MACROMOLECULES, 53 (24), 10942-10954.
Chen, X., Allahyarov, E., Langhe, D., Ponting, M., Li, R., Fukuto, M., Schuele, D., Baer, E., & Zhu, L. (2020). Reducing dielectric loss and enhancing electrical insulation for multilayer polymer films by nanoconfined ion transport under high poling electric fields. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 8 (18), 6102-6117.
Zhao, D., Pan, M., Yuan, J., Liu, C., Song, S., & Zhu, L. (2020). A waterborne coating for robust superamphiphobic surfaces. Progress in Organic Coatings, 138
Zhang, Z., Zheng, J., Premasiri, K., Kwok, M., Li, Q., Li, R., Zhang, S., Litt, M., Gao, X., & Zhu, L. (2020). High- ? polymers of intrinsic microporosity: a new class of high temperature and low loss dielectrics for printed electronics. Materials Horizons, 7 (2), 592-597.
Wen, J., Jia, Z., Zhang, X., Pan, M., Yuan, J., & Zhu, L. (2020). Tough, thermo-Responsive, biodegradable and fast self-healing polyurethane hydrogel based on microdomain-closed dynamic bonds design. MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS, 25
Bohannon, C., Kwok, M., Li, R., Zhu, L., & Zhao, B. (2020). Effects of tacticity and chiral center-to-dipole distance on mesogen-free liquid crystalline self-assembly of sulfonyl-containing comb-like polymers. Polymer Chemistry, 11 (17), 3018-3031.
Wang, J., Pan, M., Yuan, J., Lin, Q., Zhang, X., Liu, G., & Zhu, L. (2020). Hollow mesoporous silica with a hierarchical shell from in situ synergistic softhard double templates. Nanoscale, 12 (19), 10863-10871.
Wongwirat, T., Wang, M., Huang, Y., Treufeld, I., Li, R., Laoratanakul, P., Manuspiya, H., & Zhu, L. (2019). Mesophase Structure-Enabled Electrostrictive Property in Nylon-12-Based Poly(ether- block -amide) Copolymers. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 304 (9).
Wei, J., Ju, T., Huang, Y., Song, J., Udayanga, N., Wang, F., Shen, A., Li, Z., & Zhu, L. (2019). High dielectric constant dipolar glass polymer based on sulfonylated poly(ether ether ketone). Polymer, 178
Wang, J., Pan, M., Yuan, J., Wang, Y., Liu, G., & Zhu, L. (2019). Revisiting the Classical Emulsion Polymerization: An Intriguing Occurrence of Monodispersed Bowl-Shaped Particles. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 58 (31), 14154-14160.
Kwok, M., Seymour, B., Li, R., Litt, M., Zhao, B., & Zhu, L. (2019). Tacticity Effect on Mesogen-Free Liquid Crystalline Self-assembly Induced by Strong Dipole�Dipole Interactions. Macromolecules, 52 (10), 3601-3611.
Zheng, Y., Pan, M., Wen, J., Yuan, J., Zhu, L., & Yu, H. (2019). Robust, Transparent, and Superhydrophobic Coating Fabricated with Waterborne Polyurethane and Inorganic Nanoparticle Composites. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 58 (19), 8050-8060.
Tseng, J., Yin, K., Zhang, Z., Mackey, M., Baer, E., & Zhu, L. (2019). Morphological effects on dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) blends and multilayer films. Polymer, 172 , 221-230.
Tseng, J., Yin, K., Zhang, Z., Mackey, M., Baer, E., & Zhu, L. (2019). Morphological effects on dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) blends and multilayer films. Polymer, 172 , 221-230.
Li, Z., Chen, X., Zhang, C., Baer, E., Langhe, D., Ponting, M., Brubaker, M., Hosking, T., Li, R., Fukuto, M., & Zhu, L. (2019). High Dielectric Constant Polycarbonate/Nylon Multilayer Films Capacitors with Self-Healing Capability. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 1 (4), 867-875.
Li, Z., Chen, X., Zhang, C., Baer, E., Langhe, D., Ponting, M., Brubaker, M., Hosking, T., Li, R., Fukuto, M., & Zhu, L. (2019). High Dielectric Constant Polycarbonate/Nylon Multilayer Films Capacitors with Self-Healing Capability. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 1 (4), 867-875.
Yin, K., Zhang, J., Li, Z., Feng, J., Zhang, C., Chen, X., Olah, A., Schuele, D., Zhu, L., & Baer, E. (2019). Polymer multilayer films for high temperature capacitor application. Journal of Applied Polymer Science.
Yin, K., Zhang, J., Li, Z., Feng, J., Zhang, C., Chen, X., Olah, A., Schuele, D., Zhu, L., & Baer, E. (2019). Polymer multilayer films for high temperature capacitor application. Journal of Applied Polymer Science.
Wang, C., Wei, P., Ngai, Jenner H. L., P., Rheingold, A., Gray, T., Li, Y., Pentzer, E., Li, R., Zhu, L., & Sauve, G. (2019). A zinc(ii) complex of di(naphthylethynyl)azadipyrromethene with low synthetic complexity leads to OPV with high industrial accessibility. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, 7 (42), 24614-24625.
Zhu, L. (2014). Exploring Strategies for High Dielectric Constant and Low Loss Polymer Dielectrics. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 5 (21), 3677-3687.
Zhu, L. (2010). Topology controlled supramolecular self-assembly of octa triphenylene-substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) hybrid supermolecules. .
Zhu, L. (2010). Crystal orientation effect on electric energy storage in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) copolymers. .
Zhu, L. (2010). Hydrogen bond-assisted supramolecular assembly of doubly discotic supermolecules based on porphyrin and triphenylene. .

Education

PhD

Polymer Science

University of Akron

2000

Macromolecular Science

Fudan University, Shanghai

1996

Materials Chemistry,

Fudan University, Shanghai

1993

Residencies, Internships and Fellowships

Maurice Morton Institute and Department of Polymer Science