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Wood Nanotechnology for Energy, Transparent Wood, Super Thermally Insulating Nanowood, Transparent Boats, Advanced Energy Materials Expert, Advanced Functional Materials Expert, and High Performance Thermoelectrics

“Tian Li, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, has been named to Forbes‘ prestigious “30 Under 30 2018: Energy” list in recognition for her contributions to what the magazine describes as the “remarkable scientific breakthrough” of transparent wood.

Li and a research team led by Clark School Associate Professor Liangbing Hu removed the molecule in wood that makes it rigid and dark in color (lignin), and replaced it with epoxy, which reinforces the wood’s channels—making it stronger and colorless. This new “transparent wood” material, which is a highly efficient insulator and more biodegradable than plastic, could eventually replace glass in building materials and optical equipment.

“Dr. Li has been extremely innovative in inventing wood-based emerging technologies, including in the application of transparent wood in energy-efficient buildings that is better than glass” said Hu.

Li received her bachelor’s degree in engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China. She completed her Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering at UMD in 2015, and has also published several recent papers on solar-cell technology.

This is the seventh year that Forbes has issued their “30 Under 30″ list to acknowledge the top talent in 20 different industries.

WATCH to learn more about transparent wood:” Source

Hyperlinked Timestamped Show Notes

1. [ 01:02 ] She explains the amazing projects she is working on and is passionate about (i.e Wood, Steam, Solar, Insulation, C02 storage, sustainability etc). This is a big meaty section that gives a great explanation of the benefits of what she has developed.
2. [ 07:21 ] We talk about the idea of making a transparent boat as an example of a use for her technology. We also get into how her tech is comparatively easy to scale up, and the key components of the process of removing the pigment of wood to make it see-through.
3. [ 10:30 ] The current limitations she is working through.
4. [ 11:00 ] How transparent wood would be great used as a cup or storage device.
5. [ 11:30 ] Who all is a part of the team and their back story.
6. [ 12:30 ] Talking about how transparent wood would be great for solar cells, and how it improves effectiveness of energy generation.
7. [ 15:15 ] She explains how she wants to become a professor out in the Bay Area. (People at Stanford and Berkley should contact her).
8. [ 16:00 ] We talk about her concerns for getting a job as a professor, such as the competitiveness.
9. [ 17:05 ] We talk about her goal to develop her own lab.
10. [ 17:40 ] She explains the importance of her transparent wood being able to hold up to 3000k vs the industry best of about 1400k. This is a great infusion of science. Also, a fun story of her research in Italy.
11. [ 21:40 ] We start talking about the idea of making a transparent wood forest, and the concerns we would have to overcome to do that.  We also talk about organisms in nature that remove pigment from trees, and how those organisms helped in developing the technology.
12. [ 25:15 ] She explains how the process is universal for every species of wood.
13. [ 26:10 ] The work on making wood hazy transparent and then making the wood as clear as glass, and the benefits of either.
14. [ 27:15 ] We talk about the other advanced applications of the nanowood and transparent wood (i.e. Wearable devices).
15. [ 28:40 ] Key ways to learn more (i.e group website, her website, or google scholar).