Aiping Yu

Aiping Yu
Professor
Location: E6 2008
Phone: 519-888-4567 x38799

Biography

Prof. Aiping Yu is a University Research Chair professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of ݮƵ and a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering. The immersion in academia and industry for over 26 years has empowered her with multidisciplinary expertise in nanomaterials development, processing, and chemical functionalization for engineering applications in energy storage and multifunctional polymer composites. Prof. Yu has achieved 9 US patents/provisional patents, 3 books/book chapters, and more than 260 refereed journal articles. Broadly speaking, her research has achieved a significant impact on her field and related industries. She is listed in the World’s Top 1% highly cited researchers in 2024 and 2025. She is the recipient of two prestigious national awards: the NSERC Steacie Memorial Fellowship and the RSC Rutherford Memorial Award. In 2023, she was recognized as Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100. She is now Canada’s foremost researcher in the design and development of cost-effective nanosized materials for energy storage and polymer applications.

Research Interests

  • Nanomaterials, 2D material and Carbon materials synthesis and engineering control of size, morphology and porosity. Li-ion, Na-ion and Zn-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and multi-functional polymer composites.

Education

  • 2008, Doctorate Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, USA

  • 2002, Master of Engineering Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai,China

Awards

  • She is the recipient of two prestigious national awards:

  • the NSERC Steacie Memorial Fellowship,2021

  • and the RSC Rutherford Memorial Award. 2022

  • In 2023, she was recognized as Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100.

  • 2024/2025. 1% highly cited researcher

Teaching*

  • CHE 241 - Materials Science and Engineering
    • Taught in 2025
  • NE 125 - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
    • Taught in 2020, 2025
  • NE 491 - Nanostructured Materials
    • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

Selected/Recent Publications

  • S. Habibpour, † Y. Rahimi-Darestani, † M. Salari, K. Zarshenas, S. M. Taromsari, Z. Tan, M. Hamidinejad, C. B. Park, A. Yu*, Synergistic Layered Design of Aerogel Nanocomposite of Graphene Nanoribbon/MXene with Tunable Absorption Dominated Electromagnetic Interference Shielding. Small, 2024, 2404876.

  • W. Liu, † D. Luo, M. Zhang, J. Chen, M. Li, S. Xi, A. Yu*, Engineered MXene quantum dots for micro-supercapacitors with excellent capacitive behaviors. Nano Energy, 2024, 122, 109332.

  • J. Wei, † Q. Ma, Y. Teng, T. Yang, K. H. Wong, Y. Cui, B. Zheng, D. Li, D. Luo, A. Yu*, Advanced Cellulosic Materials Toward High-Performance Metal Ion Batteries. Advanced Energy Materials, 2024, 14, 2400208.

  • M. Zhang, † W. Zhao, T. Yang, R. Gao, D. Luo, H. W. Park, Y. Hu, A. Yu*, Vacancy and Growth Modulation of Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate by Porous MXene for Zinc Ion Batteries. Advanced Energy Materials, 2024, 14, 2400543.

  • K. H. Wong, † M. Zhang, T. Yang, Q. Ma, S. Dai, J. Wei, G. K. Veerasubramani, A. A. AlHammadi, G. Karanikolos, E. Bekyarova, A. Elkamel, A. Yu*, Modification strategy for advanced Mn-based layered transition metal oxide cathode for sodium-ion batteries. Energy Storage Materials, 2024, 71, 103549.

Patents

  • P1. Haddon, R. C., Itkis, E., Ramesh, P, Yu, A. “Graphite nanoplatelets for thermal and electrical applications”, WO/143692. Licensed to Tessera, Inc. (San Jose, California) by (UC), regents. (California, US) 03/ 2008.

  • P2. Haddon, R., Itkis, E., Bekyarova, E., Yu, A., “Multiscale carbon nanotube-fiber reinforcements for composites”, US 7867468, (California, US) 08/2008.

  • P3. Chen, Z., Hassan, F., and Yu, A., US provisional patent #: 61/741,869. “Sulfur doped graphene for Li ion battery” (ݮƵ, Canada) 06/2014.

  • P4. Yu, A., Chabot, V., "A Method for producing few-layer graphene", WO 2014094180 A1. (ݮƵ, Canada) 02/2014.

  • P5. Yu, A., WO 2015105861 A1 “A hydrophobic and oleophilic sponge-like compositions” (ݮƵ, Canada) 01/2015. Licensed to Grafoid Inc., protected under trademarked product SpongyCarbonTM.

  • P6. Yu, A., US provisional patent #: 61/026358 by the USPTO “wearable battery charger” (ݮƵ, Canada) 06/2015 WO/2015 /161188.

  • P7.X WU, KC Tam, R Berry, Yu, A., US Patent 2016, 0,148,715 “Conductive cellulose nanocrystals, method of producing same and uses thereof” (ݮƵ, Canada).

  • P8. Yu, A., US provisional patent # 62/718,224, 2018

  • P9 Yu, A. PCT/CN2020/080538

In The News

Graduate studies