Yuning Li, University of Waterloo

Research

Conjugated polymer Polymer semiconductor Sensor Battery Conductive polymer Dielectric constant Organic electronics Organic field effect transistor

Latest papers

Recent advances in Li2S@C nanocomposites for lithium-sulfur batteries.
Chemical science · 2026 · senior author
Molecularly Imprinted Semiconducting Polymers for Size- and Interaction-Selective Gas Sensors Based on Organic Thin-Film Transistors.
ACS applied materials & interfaces · 2025 · senior author
Cross-Conjugated Polymer Semiconductors.
Macromolecular rapid communications · 2025 · senior author

All 44 publications

Latest funding

Developing an affordable, portable/wearable sensor for Nickel Carbonyl monitoring and detection in Nickel manufacturing
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$172,800
Development of solid electrolytes based on novel oxirane-based polymers
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$180,000
Functional polymer materials for electronic applications
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$186,000

All 29 grants and awards

44 publications.

01

Recent advances in Li2S@C nanocomposites for lithium-sulfur batteries.

Huang Z, Zhao Y, Wang Y, Li Y

Chemical science2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1039/d6sc02457b PMID: 42344291

02

Molecularly Imprinted Semiconducting Polymers for Size- and Interaction-Selective Gas Sensors Based on Organic Thin-Film Transistors.

Zhong Y, Cui S, Song J, Zhao N, Yuan Y, Ngai JHL, Li Z, Ding J, Li Y

ACS applied materials & interfaces2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c12491 PMID: 41128657

03

Cross-Conjugated Polymer Semiconductors.

Zhao N, Jeon SJ, Li Y

Macromolecular rapid communications2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/marc.202500281 PMID: 40605093

04

Zinc complex-based multifunctional binders for lithium sulfide-based lithium-sulfur batteries.

Huang Z, Wang Y, Zhao Y, Li Y

Nanoscale2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1039/d5nr01950h PMID: 40709363

05

Effective Stabilization of Organic Cathodes Through Formation of a Protective Solid Electrolyte Interface Layer via Reduction.

Wang Y, Huang Z, Gao X, Fazaeli R, Li Y

ChemSusChem2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202401599 PMID: 39516179

06

Study on structural alterations and degradation mechanism of lignin from ozone treated scutched flax tow (SFT).

Zhang L, Fu J, Gao W, Li Y, Zhang W, Fan X

International journal of biological macromolecules2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139131 PMID: 39725099

07

Full Conjugation in a Polymer with Non-conjugated Piperazine-2,5-dione Units via Energy-minimized Lactam-to-Lactim Tautomerization Enables Water-gated Transistor Fluoride Sensors.

Zhao N, Jeon SJ, Yuan Y, Venkateswarlu S, Stella A, Papazotos J, Li Y

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202419314 PMID: 39607390

08

Advancements in Glass Fiber Separator Technology for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: The Role of Transport, Material Properties, and Modifications.

Fazaeli R, Aliyan H, Huang Z, Wang Y, Li Y

ACS omega2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c07070 PMID: 39926513

09

An Intrinsically Conductive Cross-Conjugated Polymer with a Quinhydrone-Like Donor-Acceptor Charge-Transfer Network.

Zhao N, Wang Y, Jin X, Li Y

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202518109 PMID: 41185989

10

A comparison increasing the photodegradation power of a Ag/g-C3N4 /CoNi-LDH nanocomposite: Photocatalytic activity toward water treatment.

Fazaeli R, Aliyan H, Richeson D, Li Y

Journal of environmental sciences (China)2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.09.006 PMID: 39095178

Developing an affordable, portable/wearable sensor for Nickel Carbonyl monitoring and detection in Nickel manufacturing

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Li, Yuning Y

Keywords: Chemiresistor; Conjugated polymer; Field effect transistor; Fluorescence; Fluorimeter; Nickel carbonyl; Nickel manufacturing; Polymer semiconductor; Safety; Sensor

$172,800

Development of solid electrolytes based on novel oxirane-based polymers

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Li, Yuning Y

Keywords: battery lifetime; ion conductivity; lithium ion battery; lithium sulfur battery; organic battery; oxirane-based polymers; polyethylene glycol (peg); polyethylene oxide (peo); polymer solid electrolyte; solid electrolyte

$180,000

Functional polymer materials for electronic applications

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Li, Yuning

Keywords: organic semiconductor; organic electronics; conductive polymer; polymer semiconductor; organic field effect transistor; organic solar cell; battery; sensor; conjugated polymer; dielectric constant

$186,000

Scale-up synthesis of polymer semiconductor for lightweight and flexible solar cells

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Idea to Innovation

Principal investigators: Li, Yuning

$125,000

Integrated in situ solar cell fabrication and measurement system

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Li, Yuning

$150,000

Polymers for lightweight and environmentally stable flexible solar cells_x000d_ _x000d_

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Li, Yuning

$582,000

Steady-State Fluorometer with UV-Vis and NIR Detection

Co-investigatorNSERC2018Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Duhamel, Jean

$144,506

Engineering lightweight printed logic circuits for flexible illumination and displays

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Seferos, Dwight

$540,000

Operations and Maintenance Support for the Giga-to-Nanoelectronics Centre

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Wong, William

$150,000

NSERC green electronics network (GreEN)

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Strategic Network Grants Program

Principal investigators: Leclerc, Mario M

Keywords: conductors; dielectrics; electrical engineering; environmentally-benign products; materials science; organic electronics; printing; semiconductors; sensors; smart packaging

$5,500,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Chemical Engineering
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering

Co-authors at University of Waterloo, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Hany Aziz

Electrical & Computer Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2014

Gu Xu

Materials Science and Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2021

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Conjugated polymer Dear Professor Li, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Recent advances in Li2S@C nanocomposites for lithium-sulfur batteries." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Developing an affordable, portable/wearable sensor for Nickel Carbonyl monitoring and detection in Nickel manufacturing" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]