Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Chemistry, Blacksburg, VA, US

• Senior Research Associate, Supervisor: Feng Lin, 2021

• Postdoctoral associate, Supervisor: Feng Lin, 2017-2021

Research interests on advanced cathode materials for both lithium and sodium-ion batteries; degradation mechanisms in batteries, synchrotron radiation characterizations

Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 2016

• Condensed Matter of Physics

• Supervisor: Yong-sheng Hu and Liquan Chen

• Research Fields: Inorganic materials, Renewable Energy Storage Devices

• Thesis: Exploring novel electrode materials for sodium-ion stationary batteries

Southwest University, School of Physical Science and Technology, Chongqing, China, 2010

Major: Physics, B.S.

With the continuously increasing concern of traditional fuels, e.g., gas, fossil, the importance of developing renewable energy has been mentioned at an unprecedented height. Renewable energies (e.g., tides, wind, solar, electric, and so on) need specific energy storage systems to reach consumers. Thus, devices such as electrochemical energy storage play a vital role to meet the demands. Amongst which, rechargeable batteries are regarded as one important energy storage form because of their high energy transfer efficiency, high volume, and energy density, high power capability, and long cycle life. Note that because of the nature of intermittent, regional limitation, volatility of renewable energies, we need to explore the electrochemical energy storage batteries to satisfy various demands of consumers. Meanwhile, the portable device and transportation consumers request a lighter, safer, high capacity, chipper, and long cycle life battery, which put forward a higher requirement to the battery community. The mismatches create a lot of opportunities and research topics both in academia and industry.  Based on these considerations, my research program would be aiming at engineering/developing advanced electrode materials through the understanding of the degradation and safety mechanisms. Meanwhile, the chemical and physical properties associated with fundamental scientific questions in batteries is also another major research project. Another scope would be using my experience to develop other battery chemistries, e.g., quasi/all-solid-state batteries for the consideration of safety improvement. The research is complexes that require multiple interdisciplinary knowledge, e.g., chemistry, physics, material synthesis, engineering, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, Solid-state Ionics, crystallography, techniques for material characterization, and so on. The mission of the project is to ignite the major technological breakthroughs in energy storage devices by the deep understanding and regulating the electronic/crystal structures, interfacial chemical/physical properties, and electron/ion transport in these materials.

• Inorganic materials synthesis and battery design
• In-operando characterizations using synchrotron X-ray techniques
• Electrochemical characterizations

Awards and Honors

1. Battery Division Postdoctoral Award in 2019 ECS (2019)
2. Travel grant for symposium ET06 in 2018 MRS fall meeting (2018)
3. Director’s Scholarship of Excellence, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2015)
4. Merit student, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012, 2014)
5. Director’s Scholarship for Commendation, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2013, 2014)

1. L. Mu^*, Z. Yang, L.Tao, C. K Waters, Z. Xu, L. Li, S. Sainio, Y. Du, H. L Xin, D. Nordlund, F. Lin^*, The Sensitive Surface Chemistry of Co-Free, Ni-Rich Layered Oxides: Identifying Experimental Conditions that Influence Characterization Results, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2020, 8 (34), 12874-12882
2. L. Mu^*, W.H. Kann, C. Kuai, Z. Yang, L. Xi, C.-J. Sun, S. Sainio, M. Avdeev, D. Nordlund, F. Lin^*, Structural and Electrochemical Impacts of Mg/Mn Dual Dopants on the LiNiO₂ Cathode in Li-Metal Batteries, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, (11), 12874-12882
3. L. Mu, R. Zhang, W.H. Kan, Y. Zhang, L. Li, C. Kuai, B. Zydlewski, M.M. Rahman, C.-J. Sun, S. Sainio, M. Avdeev, D. Nordlund, H.L. Xin, F. Lin^*, Dopant Distribution in Co-free High Energy Layered Cathode Materials, Chemistry of Materials, 2019, 31 (23), 9769-9776
4. L. Mu, Q. Yuan, C. Tian, C. Wei, K. Zhang, J. Liu, P. Pianetta, M.M. Doeff, Y. Liu^*, F. Lin^*, Propagation Topography of Redox Phase Transformations in Heterogeneous Layered Oxide Cathode Materials, Nature Communications, 2018, 9, 2810
5. L. Mu, X. Feng, R. Kou, Y. Zhang, H. Guo, C. Tian, C.J. Sun, X.W. Du, D. Nordlund, H.L. Xin, F. Lin^*, Deciphering the Cathode–Electrolyte Interfacial Chemistry in Sodium Layered Cathode Materials, Advanced Energy Mateirals, 2018, 8 (34), 1801975
6. L. Mu, R. Lin, R. Xu, L. Han, S. Xia, D. Sokaras, J.D. Steiner, T.C Wenig, D. Nordlund, M.M. Doeff, Y. Liu, K. Zhao, H.L. Xin, F. Lin^*, Oxygen Release Induced Chemomechanical Breakdown of Layered Cathode Materials, Nano Letters, 2018, 5, 3241-3249
7. L. Mu, M.M. Rahman, Y. Zhang, X. Feng, X-W Du, D. Nordlund, F. Lin^*, Surface Transformation by A Cocktail Solvent Enables Stable Cathode Materials for Sodium Ion Batteries, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2018, 6 (6), 2758-2766
8. S. Xia^#, L. Mu^#,  Z. Xu, J. Wang, C. Wei, L. Liu, P. Pianetta, K. Zhao, X. Yu, F. Lin^#, Y. Liu^#, Chemomechanical Interplay of Layered Cathode Materials Undergoing Fast Charging in Lithium Batteries, Nano Energy, 2018, 53, 753-762
9. L. Mu, Y. Lu^*, X. Wu, Y. Ding, Y-S Hu^*, H. Li, L. Chen, X. Huang, Anthraquinone Derivative as High-performance Anode Material for Sodium-ion Batteries Using Ether-based Electrolytes, Green Energy & Environment, 2017, 3 (1), 63-70;
10. L. Mu, L. Ben, Y.-S. Hu^*, H. Li, L. Chen, X. Huang, Novel 1.5 V Anode Materials, ATiOPO₄ (A=NH₄, K, Na) for Room-temperature Sodium-ion Batteries, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2016, 4 (19), 7141-7147
11. Y. R. Qi^#, L. Mu^#, J. M. Zhao^*, Y.-S. Hu, H. Z. Liu^*, S. Dai, pH-Regulative Synthesis of Na₃(VPO₄)₂F₃ Nanoflowers and Their Improved Na Cycling Stability, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2016, 4 (19), 7178-7184
12. L. Mu, S. Y. Xu, Y. M. Li, Y.-S. Hu^*, H. Li, L. Chen, X. Huang, Prototype Sodium‐Ion Batteries Using an Air-Stable and Co/Ni-Free O3 Layered Metal Oxide Cathode, Advanced Materials, 2015, 27 (43), 6928-6933
13. Y. R. Qi^#,* L. Mu^#,  J. M. Zhao*, Y.-S. Hu*, H. Z. Liu, S. Dai, Superior Na‐Storage Performance of Low-Temperature-Synthesized Na₃(VO_1−xPO₄)2F_1+2x (0≤x≤1) Nanoparticles for Na-Ion Batteries, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2015, 54 (34), 9911-9916