Dr. Zhao studied at the School of Materials Science and Engineering (2011–2015) and the Department of Chemical Engineering (2015–2020) at Tsinghua University, earning the B.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In 2019, Dr. Zhao was a visiting scholar at Cornell University. She conducted postdoctoral research at the School of Vehicle and Mobility (2020–2022) at Tsinghua University. Focused on the demand for next-generation batteries with high energy density and high safety, Dr. Zhao's work focuses on the development of solid-state lithium metal batteries. Dr. Zhao proposed the concept of ion distribution at solid–solid interfaces, achieving uniform distribution of lithium ions at the interface through the immobilization of anions and the introduction of ion redistributors. This led to the development of new energy materials such as flexible solid electrolytes, composite lithium metal anodes, and composite lithium-rich manganese oxides, constructing high energy density and high safety solid-state battery devices at the ampere-hour level. Dr. Zhao's achievements have been promoted in the field of electrochemical energy storage. And collaborations have been established with several leading international and domestic companies. Dr. Zhao has published as the first author or corresponding author in journals such as Sci. Adv., PNAS, Adv. Mater., and Joule, and served as a reviewer/arbitrator for Nature, Nat. Commun., Angew. Chem., etc. She has published more than 70 papers with over 17,000 citations and has been selected as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics in the past three years (2021–2023).

2011–2015 B.S., School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University

2015–2020 Ph.D., Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University

2019 Visiting Scholar, The Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University

2020–2022 Postdoc Scholar, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University

2023–present Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Dr. Zhao's research is dedicated to investigating the structure, dynamics, and transport phenomena occurring at electrochemical solid–solid interfaces within solid-state lithium batteries. Her interests span from fundamental inquiries into the movement and reactions of lithium ions near solid electrolyte interfaces, to applied research targeting the development of energy storage devices with high energy density and high safety. Key to her approach is the integration of 3D scaffolds and engineered interface layers to create composite lithium metal anodes, alongside advancing lithium-rich manganese oxide cathodes and their compatible solid-state electrolytes for solid-state lithium batteries.

1. Y Lu, CZ Zhao*, JQ Huang, Q Zhang*. The timescale identification decoupling complicated kinetic processes in lithium batteries. Joule 2022, 6, 1172.

2. S Sun, CZ Zhao*, H Yuan, ZH Fu, X Chen, Y Lu, YF Li, JK Hu, J Dong, JQ Huang, M Ouyang, Q Zhang*. Eliminating interfacial O-involving degradation in Li-rich Mn-based cathodes for all-solid-state lithium batteries. Science Advances 2022, 8, eadd5189.

3. JK Hu, H Yuan*, SJ Yang, Y Lu, S Sun, J Liu, YL Liao, S Li, CZ Zhao*, JQ Huang. Dry electrode technology for scalable and flexible high-energy sulfur cathodes in all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries. Journal of Energy Chemistry 71, 612.

4. CZ Zhao, PY Chen, R Zhang, X Chen, BQ Li, XQ Zhang, XB Cheng*, Q Zhang*. An ion redistributor for dendrite-free lithium metal anodes. Science Advances 2018, 4, eaat3446.

5. CZ Zhao, XQ Zhang, XB Cheng, R Zhang, R Xu, PY Chen, HJ Peng, JQ Huang, Q Zhang*. An anion-immobilized composite electrolyte for dendrite-free lithium metal anodes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) 2017, 114, 11069.

6. CZ Zhao, Q Zhao, X Liu, J Zheng, S Stalin, Q Zhang, LA Archer*. Rechargeable lithium metal batteries with an in‐built solid‐state polymer electrolyte and a high voltage/loading Ni‐rich layered cathode. Advanced Materials 2020, 32, 1905629.

7. CZ Zhao, XB Cheng, R Zhang, HJ Peng, JQ Huang, R Ran, ZH Huang, F Wei, Q Zhang*. Li2S5-based ternary-salt electrolyte for robust lithium metal anode. Energy Storage Materials 2016, 24, 75.

8. CZ Zhao, BC Zhao, C Yan, XQ Zhang, JQ Huang*, Y Mo*, X Xu*, H Li*, Q Zhang*. Liquid phase therapy to solid electrolyte–electrode interface in solid-state Li metal batteries: A review. Energy Storage Materials 2020, 24, 75.

9. Q Zhao, S Stalin, CZ Zhao, LA Archer*. Designing solid-state electrolytes for safe, energy-dense batteries. Nature Reviews Materials 2020, 5, 229.

10. XB Cheng, R Zhang, CZ Zhao, Q Zhang*. Toward safe lithium metal anode in rechargeable batteries: A review. Chemical Reviews 2017, 117, 10403.