Experience

2014 - 2019

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Cambridge, MA

Thesis: Radiative Transport in Transparent Aerogels for Solar Energy Harvesting

Research interest:

radiative transport, heat and mass transfer, optics and photonics, porous material

• Malik Blackman, undergraduate researcher, MIT Summer Research Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2018

• Arny Leroy, Ph.D. student, MIT, 2017-2019

• Alina Dale LaPotin, Ph.D. student, MIT, 2018-2019

• Manoj Yadav, Ph.D. student, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, 2018-2020

• Eric Lu, undergraduate researcher, UPenn, 2013-2014

• Teaching Assistant for MEAM 503 Direct Energy Conversion: from Macro to Nano, UPenn, Fall 2013

1. L. Zhao, B. Bhatia, L. Zhang, E. Strobach, L. Zhang, A. Leroy, M. K. Yadav, S. Yang, T. A. Cooper, L. A. Weinstein, A. Modi, S. B. Kedare, and E. N. Wang, “A passive high-temperature high-pressure solar steam generator for medical sterilization,” Joule, 2020 (in press)
    

2. Z. Xu*, L. Zhang*, L. Zhao*, B. Li*, B. Bhatia, C. Wang, K. L. Wilke, Y. Song, O. Labban, J. Gao, T. Li, J. H. Lienhard, R. Wang, and E. N. Wang, “Ultrahigh-efficiency desalination via thermally-localized multistage solar still,” Energy Environ. Sci., 13, 830–839, 2020
    

3. L. Zhao, M. Blackman, L. Zhang, B. Bhatia, A. Leroy, E. Strobach, E.N. Wang, “Plasmonic absorption-induced haze suppression in random scattering media,” Appl. Phys. Lett., 114(25), 251102, 2019
    

4. L. Zhao, B. Bhatia, S. Yang, E. Strobach, L.A. Weinstein, T.A. Cooper, G. Chen, E.N. Wang, “Harnessing Heat Beyond 200 °C from Unconcentrated Sunlight with Nonevacuated Transparent Aerogels,” ACS Nano, 13(7), 7508-7516, 2019
    

5. L. Zhao, E. Strobach, B. Bhatia, S. Yang, A. Leroy, L. Zhang, and E. N. Wang, “Theoretical and experimental investigation of haze in transparent aerogels,” Opt. Express 27(4), A39–A50, 2019
    

6. L. Zhao, S. Yang, B. Bhatia, E. Strobach, E. N. Wang, “Modeling silica aerogel optical performance by determining its radiative properties,” AIP Adv. 6(2), 025123, 2016
    

7. L. Zhang*, L. Zhao*, and E. N. Wang, “Stefan flow induced natural convection suppression on high-flux evaporator,” Int. Commun. Heat. Mass., 104255, 2020
    

8. L. Zhang, R. Iwata, L. Zhao, S. Gong, Z. Lu, Y. Zhong, J. Zhu, S. Cruz, K. L. Wilke, P. Cheng, and E. N. Wang “Distribution of nucleation sites: a general theoretical framework with validation in droplet condensation,” Cell Reports Physical Science, 2020 (in press)
    

9. A. LaPotin, Y. Zhong, L. Zhang, L. Zhao, A. Leroy, H. Kim, S. R. Rao, and E. N. Wang, “Dual-stage atmospheric water harvesting device for scalable solar-driven water production,” Joule, 2020 (in press)
    

10. L. Zhang, Z. Xu, B. Bhatia, B. Li, L. Zhao, E. N. Wang, “Modeling and performance analysis of high-efficiency thermally-localized multistage solar stills,” Appl. Energy 266, 114864, 2020
     

11. L. Zhao*, L. Zhang*, B. Bhatia, E.N. Wang, “Understanding anti-parity-time symmetric systems with a conventional heat transfer framework -- comment on “Anti-parity-time symmetry in diffusive systems”,” arXiv preprint, 1906.08431, 2019
     

12. A. Leroy, B. Bhatia, C. C. Kelsall, A. Castillejo-Cuberos, M. Di Capua Hidalgo, L. Zhao, L. Zhang, A. Guzman Cuevas, and E. N. Wang, “High-performance sub-ambient radiative cooling enabled by optically selective and thermally insulating polyethylene aerogel,” Sci. Adv. 5, eaat9480, 2019
     

13. E. Strobach, B. Bhatia, S. Yang, L. Zhao, and E. N. Wang, “High Temperature Stability of Transparent Silica Aerogels for Solar Thermal Applications,” APL Mater. 7(8), 081104, 2019
     

14. E. Strobach, B. Bhatia, L. Zhao, and E. N. Wang, “Thermal Performance of High-Efficiency Window Technologies,” Annual Review of Heat Transfer, 2019
     

15. L. Zhang, Z. Lu, Y. Song, L. Zhao, B. Bhatia, K.R. Bagnall, E.N. Wang, “Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Monolayer Molybdenum Disulfide Using Micro-Raman Spectroscopy,” Nano Lett. 19 4745–4751, 2019
     

16. L. Zhang, J. Zhu, K. Wilke, Z. Xu, L. Zhao, L. L. Goddard, and E. N. Wang, “Enhanced environmental scanning electron microscopy for condensing droplets analysis,” ACS Nano. 13(2), 1953-1960, 2019
     

17. A. Leroy, B. Bhatia, L. Zhao, and E. N. Wang, “Specular side reflectors for high efficiency thermal-to-optical energy conversion,” Opt. Express 26(10), A462–A479, 2018
     

18. B. Bhatia, A. Leroy, Y. Shen, L. Zhao, M. Gianello, D. Li, T. Gu, J. H, M. Soljačić, and E. N. Wang, “Passive directional sub-ambient daytime radiative cooling,” Nat. Commun. 9(1), 5001, 2018
     

19. L. Zhang, Y. Zhu, Z. Lu, L. Zhao, S. R. Rao, and E. N. Wang, “Characterization of thin film evaporation in micropillar wicks using micro-Raman spectroscopy,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 113(16), 163701, 2018
     

20. L. A. Weinstein, K. McEnaney, E. Strobach, S. Yang, B. Bhatia, L. Zhao, Y. Huang, J. Loomis, F. Cao, S. V. Boriskina, Z. Ren, E. N. Wang, and G. Chen, “A Hybrid Electric and Thermal Solar Receiver,” Joule 2(5), 962-975, 2018
     

21. H. Kim, S. R. Rao, E. A. Kapustin, L. Zhao, S. Yang, O. M. Yaghi, and E. N. Wang, “Adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting device for arid climates,” Nat. Commun. 9(1), 1191, 2018
     

22. E. Strobach, B. Bhatia, S. Yang, L. Zhao, and E. N. Wang, “High Temperature Annealing for Structural Optimization of Silica Aerogels in Solar Thermal Applications,” J. Non. Cryst. Solids 462, 72–77, 2017
     

23. K. Davami, L. Zhao, E. Lu, J. Cortes, C. Lin, D.E. Lilley, P.K. Purohit, and I. Bargatin, “Ultralight shape-recovering plate mechanical metamaterials,” Nat. Commun. 6, 10019, 2015
     

24. Y. Oda, H. Shen, L. Zhao, J. Li, M. Iwamoto, and H. Lin, “Energetic alignment in nontoxic SnS quantum dot-sensitized solar cell employing spiro-OMeTAD as the solid-state electrolyte,” Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater. 15(3), 035006, 2014
     

25. H. Shen, J. Li, L. Zhao, S. Zhang, W. Wang, D. Oron, and H. Lin, “Synergistic recombination suppression by an inorganic layer and organic dye molecules in highly photostable quantum dot sensitized solar cells,” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16(3), 6250-6256, 2014
     

26. K. Abe, H. Shen, X. Li, L. Zhao, X. Zhao, J. Li, M. Iwamoto, and H. Lin, “Optical and electrical properties of uniform non-toxic Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystal and its application in solar cells,” Polyhedron 82, 148-153, 2014
     

27. H. Shen, H. Lin, L. Zhao, Y. Liu, and D. Oron, “Large Pore Size and High Porosity of TiO2 Photoanode for Excellent Photovoltaic Performance of CdS Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cell,” J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 13(2), 1095-1100, 2013

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​*equal contribution