Dr. Zhu's research focuses on understanding the properties and applications of multi-functional hybrid materials of conjugated polymer and inorganic nanostructure. Our group seeks to developing novel synthesis and fabrication methods, understanding the structure-property relations of the hybrid materials at the nanometer scale, and exploring the applications of these materials in flexible electronics/sensors and sustainable environmental solutions . The research scope covers the multidisciplinary fields of chemistry, materials, applied physics, and nanotechnology. Current research projects include flexible/wearable electronic devices and sensors for human health monitoring, nanomaterials/device physics of dye-sensitized solar cells, and 3D soft materials for environmental remediation. Our research has been supported by NSF, NASA, ACS PRF, and Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Awards, etc.

Dr. Zhengtao Zhu received his PhD in Materials Chemistry from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 2002. He worked with Dr. George Malliaras as a postdoc at Cornell University from 2002 to 2004. At Cornell University, he studied organic semiconductor and conducting polymer electronics and their applications in chemical and biological sensors. From 2004 to 2006, he worked with Dr. John Rogers as a postdoc at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on flexible electronics. Dr. Zhu joined South Dakota Mines in 2006. He is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Chemistry at Mines. Dr. Zhu’s research at Mines focuses on novel synthesis and fabrication methods, structure-property relations of the hybrid materials at the nanometer scale, and applications of these materials in flexible electronics and sensors. Dr. Zhu has published more than 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Zhu's teaching at South Dakota Mines serves the needs of our students in a professional and compassionate way. He has taught many undergraduate and graduate courses. He is interested in improving undergraduate curriculum and developing graduate courses for the multidisciplinary programs. • Courses in the multidisciplinary graduate programs. Dr. Zhu has developed three graduate courses for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Ph.D. Program and Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Program, i.e. Nano 717 (Nanochemistry) , and Nano 715 (Polymeric Nanomaterials), and BME/Nano/MES 719 (Nanomaterials for Biosensors). Additionally, He has also contributed to MES 604 (Chemistry of Materials), a core course of Materials Engineering and Science program. • Courses in the ACS-certified B.S. degree. At undergraduate level, Dr. Zhu has taught Chem 112 (General Chemistry I), Chem 352 (Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry), Chem 452 (Inorganic Chemistry), and Chem 344L (Physical Chemistry Lab). Dr. Zhu has developed new experiments and manuals for Chem 112L and Chem 452L.