Florida State professor elected to National Academy of Inventors

Florida State University electrical and computer engineering professor Jianping "Jim" Zheng has been elected to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Zheng, known for his work on energy storage materials and devices, is one of 581 people to ever receive the honor.

"I'm very surprised and honored," Zheng said. "This is a lifetime achievement award for innovation."

Election as an NAI fellow is given to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation. Zheng has 15 patents, one of which is a lithium-ion super capacitor designed for rapid energy storage and delivery. It has been used by the Army for radio systems.

He has also worked with FSU's High Performance Materials Institute to develop more efficient fuel cells from buckypaper, an extremely lightweight material made from carbon nanotubes. Those fuel cells are being used by Tallahassee's bus system.

"Professor Zheng is a leader in engineering, and he is highly deserving of this award that honors his highly inventive work," Bruce Locke, interim dean of the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, said. "The College of Engineering is very fortunate to have Professor Zheng on the faculty where he contributes to the education of many undergraduate and graduate students through his courses and his research and commercialization activities."