Overview
The Zeng Lab develops advanced materials and autonomous experimentation strategies for next-generation energy technologies. We investigate how atomic-scale composition, nanoscale structure, interfaces, and particle-growth pathways govern the formation and performance of multimetallic nanocrystals, battery electrodes, ionic conductors, and beyond. By combining materials synthesis and advanced characterization with AI-guided decision-making and robotic experimentation, we build self-driving laboratories that autonomously design, execute, and analyze experiments. These platforms accelerate materials discovery, reveal complex synthesis pathways, and enable sustainable conversion of mineral resources into high-performance functional materials.
Awards
-Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, 2025
-Materials Today Rising Star Award, 2025
-Early Career Distinguished Presenter at MRS, 2025
-Scialog Fellow on Automating Chemical Laboratories, 2024
-Gold Medal Graduate Excellence Awards at McGill University, 2020
-Gordon M. Ritcey Ph.D. Award in Hydrometallurgy, 2019
Selected Publications
Active Learning-Guided Polymorph Control in Co-Precipitation Synthesis. Zhao, T. and Zeng, Y., Small Methods, 8, e02398, (2026) View Abstract
Balancing autonomy and expertise in autonomous synthesis laboratories. Liu, X., Ouyang, B., Zeng, Y., Nature Computational Science, 5, 92-94, (2025)
Selective formation of metastable polymorphs in solid-state synthesis. Zeng, Y., Ceder, G., et al. , Science Advances, 10, eadj5431, (2024) View Abstract
An autonomous laboratory for the accelerated synthesis of novel materials. Szymanski, N.J., Rendy, B., Fei, Y., Kumar, R., Zeng, Y., Ceder, G., et al. , Nature, 624, 86-91, (2023) View Abstract
High-entropy mechanism to boost ionic conductivity. Zeng,Y., Ceder, G., et al., Science, 378, 1320-1324, (2022) View Abstract
Education
Ph.D., Materials Engineering, McGill UniversityPostdoc, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory