Liangbing Hu elected fellow of the American Chemical Society
Yale Engineering’s Liangbing Hu has been elected a fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS), one of the discipline’s highest honors.
Hu, the Carol and Douglas Melamed Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Materials Science, is among 36 newly elected fellows announced by ACS. With more than 200,000 members in 140 countries, ACS is one of the largest scientific organizations. Fewer than 1% of its members are fellows, a distinction reserved for those with exemplary records of both service to the society and outstanding scientific or professional achievement.
For contributions to the science and profession, Hu was cited “for reshaping chemical science and inspiring global progress through his innovations in decarbonization, revolutionary contributions to ultrahigh-temperature synthesis, and advancements in engineered wood nanotechnology.” And for his contributions to the ACS community, he was cited “for revitalizing ACS programming through transformative leadership by spearheading innovative initiatives that enhanced collaboration and catalyzed interdisciplinary dialogue, strengthening the intellectual and professional vitality of the ACS community.”
Hu’s research has involved developing disruptive processing approaches that achieve record-high mechanical performances in engineered wood structures. One of Hu's most significant innovations involves nanoscale cell-wall engineering that drastically modifies the physical properties of wood. This breakthrough effectively transforms ordinary plywood into materials with exceptional strength, transparency, and even conductivity – opening new possibilities for sustainable materials in advanced applications. His work has generated over 120,000 citations across approximately 500 peer-reviewed papers, with work regularly featured in Science and Nature.
Hu is also the lead inventor of Super Wood technology, with patents issued in multiple countries. He founded InventWood Inc. to commercialize these innovations, recently securing a $20 million Department of Energy grant to manufacture and scale Super Wood products.
Hu joined the Yale Engineering faculty in July 2024, serves as founding director of the Center for Materials Innovation, and is a member of the Energy Sciences Institute. He will receive the award at a special ceremony during ACS Fall 2025, next month in Washington, D.C.
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Published Date
Jul 28, 2025
