Xiaolei Wang, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Area of Study / Keywords

Advanced Energy Materials Nanotechnology and Clean Energy Technologies Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis Batteries and Supercapacitors Battery Recycling and Critical Minerals Canada Research Chair Energy Surface and Interfacial Science

About

Dr. Xiaolei Wang is a Canada Research Chair in Batteries for Sustainability and a full professor of chemical engineering at the University of Alberta.  He runs his Nano For Advanced Clean Energy (NanoFACE) laboratory focusing on the rational design, development and application of novel nanostructured materials for energy-related technologies including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, metal-air batteries, supercapacitors, and electrocatalytic systems.  

Professional Appointments: 

  Jul. 2025 – present, Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta

  Jul. 2023 – Jun. 2025, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta

  Aug. 2019 – Jun. 2023, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta

  Aug. 2017 – Jul. 2019, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Concordia University

  Nov. 2013 – Jul. 2017, Postdoctoral Fellow Researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo

Education: 

  Sep. 2007 – Jun. 2013 Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United States

  Sep. 2004 – Mar. 2007 M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, P.R. China

  Sep. 2000 – Jul. 2004 B.S. in Polymer Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, P.R. China

Research

Dr. Xiaolei Wang's NanoFACE research laboratory is interested in nanotechnology and clean energy technologies.  The research themes centre upon the design, development and application of novel nanostructured materials for energy-related technologies including lithium-ion batteries, aqueous zinc-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, sodium (and other alkaline)-ion batteries, and electrocatalytic system such as metal-air batteries, water electrolyzer, fuel cells, and systems for electrochemical CO2 reduction.  We build upon our knowledge from the fundamental studies and understanding of mechanisms by correlating the electrochemical performance of clean energy technologies with materials' morphologies and microstructures, aiming to develop next-generation high-performance clean energy technologies for practical applications.

Rational Design and Development of Nanoarchitectured Materials

• Nanostructured Metal, Transition Metal Oxides/Sulfides/Nitrides/phosphides, Composite Materials
• Porous Materials, Self-Assembly
• Nanostructured Semiconductors, Quantum Dots/Wires
• Polymers and Polymer Composites; Carbon Materials

Clean Energy Technologies 

• Electrochemical Energy Storage: Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries and Supercapacitors, Lithium-ion Batteries and Supercapacitors, Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Sodium-ion Batteries, Supercapacitors, Multivalent Ion Batteries
• Electrocatalysis: Water Splitting (OER and HER), H2O2 Production (2e- ORR), Fuel Cells (4e- ORR), Metal-Air Batteries (ORR and OER), CO2 Reduction System (CO2RR)
• Photoelectrocatalysis/Electrochromics: CO2 Reduction, Smart Windows

Battery Recycling/Upcycling and Critical Minerals 

• Hydrometallurgical Recycling of Critical Mineral Elements 
• Transition Metal Elements Leaching and Recycling
• Electrode Materials Recycling and Regeneration
• Electrode Upcycling and Upgrading 

Fabrication of Devices 

• Coin Cells and Pouch Cells for Batteries and Supercapacitors 
• Wearable and Flexible Devices
• All-Solid-State Devices
• Smart Composites/Devices

CH E 243 - Engineering Thermodynamics

An introduction to the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Prerequisites: MATH 101.

CME 494 - Special Topics in Chemical and Materials Engineering

Treatment of selected chemical and materials engineering special topics of current interest to staff and students.

CME 694 - Advanced Topics in Chemical and Materials Engineering

An advanced treatment of selected chemical and materials engineering topics of current interest to staff and students.

Browse more courses taught by Xiaolei Wang

• Google Scholar
• Nano For Advanced Clean Energy（NanoFACE）Laboratory
• ORCID