Overview of Research Interests 

The Zhang Research Group at UC Davis advances the science and engineering of metallic materials that enable technologies central to a sustainable and high-performance future. Our work integrates state-of-the-art manufacturing, multiscale mechanical testing, advanced electron microscopy, neutron/synchrotron scattering, as well as computational engineering to create a closed-loop platform for modern materials design.

How Our Metal Research Connects to National Priorities

1. Renewable & Clean Energy Materials
Metals remain foundational to clean-energy systems, and our group develops alloys that directly support U.S. energy goals:

  • Fusion Energy: Additively manufactured refractory alloys and radiation-tolerant metallic systems for next-generation fusion reactors.
  • High-Efficiency Turbine Engines: High-temperature multi-principal-element alloys (MPEAs) that push beyond Ni-based superalloys for more efficient aerospace and energy-generation turbines.
  • Thermal Protection & Energy Storage: Metallic systems designed to withstand extreme thermal cycles relevant to concentrated solar power and high-temperature storage.

2. Functional & Performance-Critical Materials
Although metals are often viewed as “structural,” our research directly intersects with functional-material needs:

  • Ion-irradiation-resistant materials are critical for nuclear technologies and space missions.
  • Hierarchical microstructures that deliver tunable mechanical response — enabling new classes of high-performance components.
  • Automation-ready high-throughput synthesis and characterization, connecting to trends in materials screening and AI-driven materials discovery.

3. Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystems
Metals play essential roles in semiconductor fabrication and packaging, and our methods align with these industrial needs:

  • Thin metallic and ceramic coatings, diffusion barriers, and refractory systems that survive high-temperature processing.
  • Microscopy-first training: students develop expertise in SEM, TEM, STEM, EDS, EBSD, FIB, and nanoscale mechanical testing , all core skills used in semiconductor R&D labs.

Our Research Thrusts

  • High-temperature MPEAs for aerospace, energy, and propulsion.
  • Additively manufactured alloys for fusion and extreme environments.
  • Metals with hierarchical microstructures to achieve simultaneous strength and ductility.
  • High-throughput, automation-driven workflows for processing, testing, and microscopy.

What Students Gain

Students joining our group develop highly transferable skills sought across U.S. industry, national labs, and universities:

  • Advanced electron microscopy (TEM, STEM, FIB)
  • Advanced manufacturing & process optimization
  • Mechanical testing from micro- to macro-scale
  • Data-driven materials characterization

  • Alloy design & thermodynamics

    These skillsets open doors not only in metal research, but also in semiconductor manufacturing, renewable-energy materials, aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing industries.