
Ji Wu, Ph.D.
Biochemistry, Chemistry & Physics
Home Campus: Statesboro
jwu@georgiasouthern.edu
912-478-0850
Research Areas
Electrochemistry, Nanotechnology, Materials Science
Education
- Texas Christian University, PhD
- Anhui University, MSc.
- Hefei University, A.E.
Publications
- Xin Su,* Xiao‑Pei Xu, Zhao‑Qi Ji, Ji Wu,* Fei Ma, Li‑Zhen Fan,* ‘Polyethylene Oxide‑Based Composite Solid Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries: Current Progress, Low‑Temperature and High‑Voltage Limitations, and Prospects’, Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2024, 7:2, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41918-023-00204-7. (Q1; IF: 28.4)
- Logan Williams, Jake DiCesare, Olivia Sheppard, Congrui Jin,* Xiaobo Chen and Ji Wu* ‘Antimony Nanobelt Asymmetric Membranes for Sodium Ion Battery’, Nanotechnology, 2023, 34 145401 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/acb15c. (Q2; IF: 2.9)
- Juan Mitchell, Chris Pintro, Katie Nolan, Maurice Davenport-Munoz, Kyle Spitzer, Rachel Yu and Ji Wu,* ‘Functionalized silica nanoparticles coupled with nanoporous membrane for efficient ionic current rectification’, Nanotechnology, 2023, 34 015707, https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/ac9687. (Q2; IF: 2.9)
- Wu, J.; Chen, H.; Byrd, I. “ASYMMETRIC MEMBRANES”, Patent No.: US 10,864,485 B2 (issued on December 15, 2020).
- Ian Byrd and Ji Wu*, ‘Asymmetric Membranes Containing Micron-Size Silicon for High Performance Lithium Ion Battery Anode’, Electrochimica Acta, 2016, 213, 46–54. (Q1; IF: 5.6)
- Ji Wu,* Hao Chen, Ian Byrd, Shavonne Lovelace, Congrui Jin, ‘Fabrication of SnO2 Asymmetric Membranes for High Performance Lithium Battery Anode’, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 13946−13956. (Q1; IF: 8.2)
Funding
Current Grants
- COSM Collaborative Grant Initiative, ‘Quantification of Soilborne Pathogens using Carbon Nanotube Membranes’, 2025-2026, co-PI.
Previous Grants
- National Science Foundation, ‘Asymmetric Membranes for High Capacity Lithium Ion Battery Anodes’, 2018-2022, PI.
Research Projects
Flexible Electrodes for Wearable Lithium and Sodium Ion Batteries
A variety of wearable electronic devices have been developed in the past decades, aiming to provide immediate medical assistance to patients living at home or in remote rural areas, and improve the efficacy of therapeutic treatments. Presently, rigid lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are employed to power these wearable electronic devices. However, wearable electronic devices should ideally be paired with high-capacity flexible batteries to improve user comfort and increase usage time per charge. The goal of this project is to fabricate flexible electrodes for high-capacity and high-performance lithium and sodium ion batteries via a unique phase inversion method in combination with advanced nanotechnology. The training and education will help graduate and undergraduate students to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and skills in many fields, such as electrochemistry, nanotechnology, material science and engineering.
Aqueous Electrolyte for High Voltage and Safe Lithium and Sodium Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have achieved huge commercial success since their first debut in 1991, due to their high energy density, long calendar and cycle life, low self-discharging rate, etc. However, the electrolyte of commercial LIBs contains extremely flammable and toxic organic solvents, thus presenting health hazards and fire risks during thermal runaway as evidenced by many fatal accidents involving Dell, Boeing, Samsung and Tesla in the past decades. Aqueous electrolytes are deemed as promising alternatives for safer LIBs. But the practical applications of aqueous LIBs in high-voltage systems are significantly constrained by the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) of water (~1.23 V). This study explores a novel electrolyte design aimed at expanding the ESW beyond 3.0 V through the incorporation of external hydrogen-bonding agents into water-in-salt electrolytes for commercial applications.
Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Stimuli Responsive Drug Delivery Systems
Nanomedicine is the use of nanotechnology for biomedical applications. With this technology scientists can administer drugs like never before, resulting in much improved efficiency, targeting, and controllability and thus significantly impacting the treatments of various diseases ranging from cancers to drug addictions. The goal of this research project is to synthesize multifunctional nanoparticles that can release drug molecules controllably when they are exposed to various stimuli like photons, temperatures, pH values, electricity, pressure, etc., resulting in excellent treatment efficiency for chronic diseases.
News
- Jake DiCesare is pursuing PhD in analytical chemistry at Purdue University in 2024. Congratulations!
- Katie Nolan and Logan Williams are pursuing PhD at UGA and North Carolina State University, respectively. Congratulations!
- Congrats to Helen Piltner who just graduated from Harvard University in 2025!
- Juan Mitchele was accepted by the Dental School of University of Connecticut in 2020. Congratulations!
Research Group
Undergraduate Students
- Yessi Rodriguez-Garcia
- Lafredrick Gilchrist
- Chase Alexander
- Bryan Acosta
- Mayanne Beach
Graduate Students
- David Denemark
- Madison Ullom