• B.S., Biochemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 2014
• M.Sc., Chemical Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, US, 2016                         
• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, US, 2020
• Postdoc., University of Maryland, College Park, 2021-2022
• Postdoc., University of California/ Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 2022-2023

Associate Professor & PI in the College of Smart Energy / China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Dr. Tao Deng specializes in interfacial engineering and electrolyte design for next-generation energy storage systems, including solid-state lithium and sodium-based batteries. He has published 60+ papers in top journals such as Nature, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Chemistry, and Nature Energy, with over 13,000 citations and an H-index of 43. Recognized as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher and listed among the world's top 2% scientists by Stanford University & Elsevier, Dr. Deng has received multiple national and international awards, including the Battery500 Consortium Early Career Award. He also serves on the editorial boards of EcoEnergy, Battery Energy, and Carbon Neutrality.

Materials (electro) chemistry, electrolyte design, cathode synthesis, interface engineering, surface science, solid-state battery, energy conversion and storage, transport phenomena, interface characterization, beyond Li-ion technology. 

Methodology: experiment-centered investigation & theory-assisted understanding.

Topics: 1) Renewable Energy: Li-ion battery, next-generation batteries (Li metal, sodium ion/metal and potassium ion/metal batteries, and novel electrolytes design, e.g. nonflammable, nonaqueous, polymer, garnet, sulfides, and composites electrolytes); 2) Surface Science and Technology: interface structure/chemistry and interfacial engineering; 3) Materials Synthesis and Separation: chemicals/fuels production, catalyst, etc.

We are always hiring Master, Ph.D., Postdoc, Visting scholars with the background of chemistry, chemical engineering, materials, etc. Interested people are welcome to contact us by email.

• NSFC Excellent Young Scientist Fund Program (Overseas), 2023

• Overseas Young Scientist Fund Program in Shanghai, 2022                                                      

1. T. Deng†, X. Ji†, L. Zou, O. Chiekezi, X. Fan, L. Cao, T. R. Adebisi, H. Chang, H. Wang, B. Li, X. Li, C. Wang, D. Reed, J.-G. Zhang, V. Sprenkle, C. Wang, X. Lu, Interfacial engineering enabled practical low-temperature sodium metal battery, Nat. Nanotechnol., 2022, 17, 269-277.
2. J. Wang, S. Zhang, R. Li*, L. Chen, H. Zhang, B. Ma, S. Jiang, T. Zhou, J. Huang, H. Zhu, L. Li, L. Chen, T. Deng*, X. Fan*, Surface chemical coordination stabilizes Ni-rich cathode for high-energy Li-metal batteries, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2025, accept.
3. T. Deng, C. Wang, H. Wan, A. Li, X. He, Z. Wang, L. Cao, X. Fan, C. Wang, A universal design of lithium anode via dynamic stability strategy for practical solid-state batteries, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2024, e202418811.
4. T. Zhou, J. Wang, L. Lv, R. Li*, L. Chen, S. Zhang, H. Zhang, B. Ma, J. Huang, B. Wu, L. Chen, T. Deng*, X. Fan*, Anion-π interaction and solvent dehydrogenation control enable high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, Energy Environ Sci., 2024, doi.org/10.1039/D4EE03027C.
5. N. Zhang†, T. Deng†, S. Zhang, C. Wang, L. Chen, C. Wang, X. Fan, Critical review on low-temperature Li-ion/metal batteries, Adv. Mater., 2021, 34, 2107899. (Co-1st author)
6. T. Deng†, L. Cao†, X. He†, A.-M. Li, D. Li, J. Xu, S. Liu, P. Bai, T. Jin, L. Ma, M. A. Schroeder, X. Fan, C. Wang. In situ formation of polymer-inorganic solid-electrolyte interphase for stable polymeric solid-state lithium metal batteries, Chem, 2021, 7, 1-17.
7. T. Deng, X. Ji, Y. Zhao, L. Cao, S. Li, S. Hwang, C. Luo, P. Wang, H. Jia, X. Fan, X. Lu, D. Su, X. Sun, C. Wang, J.-G. Zhang, Tuning the anode-electrolyte interface chemistry for garnet-based solid-state Li metal batteries, Adv. Mater., 2020, 2000030.
8. T. Deng, X. Fan, L. Cao, J. Chen, S. Hou, X. Ji, L. Chen, S. Li, X. Zhou, E. Hu, D. Su, X.-Q. Yang, C. Wang, Designing in-situ formed interphases enables highly reversible cobalt-free LiNiO₂ cathode for lithium metal/ion batteries, Joule, 2019, 3, 2550.
9. T. Deng†, X. Fan†, C. Luo, J. Chen, L. Chen, S. Hou, N. Edison, X. Zhou, C. Wang, Self-templated formation of P2-type K_0.6CoO₂ microspheres for high reversible potassium-ion batteries, Nano Lett., 2018, 18, 1522−1529.
10. T. Deng†, X. Fan†, J. Chen, L Chen, C. Luo, X. Zhou, J. Yang, S. Zheng, C. Wang, Layered P2-type K_0.65Fe_0.5Mn_0.5O₂ microspheres as superior cathode for high-energy potassium-ion batteries, Adv. Funct. Mater., 2018, 1800219.

Fundamentals of Energy Storage (2024 Fall)

• The Electrochemical Society, American Chemical Society.

• Battery Energy (Wiley, Junior Editor)

• EcoEnegy (Wiley, Junior Editor)

• Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List 2024
• Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers-Cross Field, 2024
• NSFC Excellent Young Scientist Fund Program (Overseas), 2022
• Overseas Talent Program in Shanghai, 2022
• ECS Student Travel Grants for PRIME 2020, The Electrochemical Society, 2020
• Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship, University of Maryland, College Park, 2020
• Outstanding Graduate Assistant Awards, University of Maryland, College Park, 2020
• Future Faculty Fellow, University of Maryland, College Park, 2020
• Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad, 2019
• Battery500 Young Investigators Awards, DOE & Battery500 Consortium, 2019
• Sengers PhD Candidacy Graduate Scholarship, University of Maryland, College Park, 2019
• Jocob K. Goldhaber Travel Award, University of Maryland, College Park, 2019
• Engie Chuck Edwards Memorial Fellowship, University of Maryland, College Park, 2018
• Dean's Fellowship, University of Maryland, College Park, 2016