Chaojiang Fan | Material Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Chaojiang Fan | Material Science | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer at Shaanxi University of Technology | China

Dr. Chaojiang Fan is a Lecturer and Master Supervisor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, China. His academic journey and professional expertise reflect a strong dedication to advancing energy storage technologies, particularly in the field of lithium-sulfur batteries. Dr. Fan has published more than 30 SCI papers in influential journals, with 9 as first or corresponding author, demonstrating his active role in driving research and knowledge dissemination. His research spans the design of key materials, the performance optimization of electrochemical devices, and the recycling of waste lithium-ion batteries, aligning with global efforts toward sustainable energy and environmental responsibility. Over the course of his career, he has contributed significantly to separator innovation, offering solutions to challenges such as the polysulfide shuttle effect and lithium dendrite growth, while also promoting the practical application of advanced energy devices. In addition to his publications, Dr. Fan has been involved in competitive research projects at both national and provincial levels, serving as principal investigator and co-investigator. With a commitment to innovation, mentorship, and collaborative research, he continues to shape advancements in energy storage and sustainable materials science.

Professional Profile

Scopus | ORCID

Education

Dr. Chaojiang Fan pursued his academic career at Xi’an University of Technology, where he earned degrees across three levels in materials science and engineering disciplines. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Materials Forming and Control Engineering, where his foundational studies under the guidance of Prof. Yunpeng Zhang nurtured his interest in material design and processing. Building upon this background, he pursued a Master of Science in Materials Processing Engineering under Prof. Yunhua Xu, developing advanced skills in structural design, electrochemistry, and material engineering. His master’s work introduced him to electrochemical applications, setting the stage for his later research focus. To further specialize, Dr. Fan undertook doctoral studies in Materials Science and Engineering, mentored by Prof. Rong Yang, a recognized leader in electrochemical energy systems. His doctoral research concentrated on functional membranes for lithium-sulfur batteries, exploring characteristic regulation and electrochemical performance to overcome performance limitations of next-generation energy storage systems. His thesis represents a comprehensive study integrating synthesis, modification, and performance evaluation of advanced separator materials. Across these educational milestones, Dr. Fan built a robust knowledge base in materials science while cultivating strong experimental and theoretical capabilities, positioning him as a leading scholar in energy storage research.

Professional Experience

Dr. Chaojiang Fan currently serves as Lecturer and Master Supervisor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, where he is engaged in both teaching and research. His academic role combines classroom instruction, laboratory guidance, and the supervision of postgraduate students, contributing to the training of the next generation of researchers in materials science. In his research career, Dr. Fan has actively participated in and led numerous high-level projects, including the Doctoral Innovation Fund of Xi’an University of Technology, for which he served as principal investigator, and several nationally funded collaborative programs. His professional experience includes working on critical energy-related challenges such as improving the stability and scalability of lithium-sulfur batteries and exploring sustainable recycling methods for lithium-ion battery materials. He has successfully translated laboratory-scale innovations into applied solutions, guiding both fundamental discoveries and their technological applications. His involvement in international and domestic academic conferences, as both presenter and participant, further reflects his active engagement in scholarly exchange. With a strong record of teamwork, leadership, and innovation, Dr. Fan has developed a career that bridges research, education, and practical implementation in the field of advanced energy storage technologies.

Research Interests

Dr. Chaojiang Fan’s research interests revolve around electrochemical energy storage materials and device engineering, with a particular focus on lithium-sulfur batteries. His primary direction lies in the design and synthesis of advanced separator materials capable of suppressing the polysulfide shuttle effect and stabilizing lithium anodes. By regulating structural and surface properties, his work addresses long-standing challenges such as cycle instability and dendritic growth. Another important area of his research is the construction and performance evaluation of complete energy storage devices, spanning laboratory-scale coin cells to larger pouch cells, with the aim of bridging scientific innovation with industrial application. In addition, Dr. Fan has expanded his research toward sustainable material regeneration and battery recycling, recognizing the necessity of closed-loop solutions in the era of increasing electrification. His exploration of waste lithium-ion battery materials contributes to the development of green and efficient recycling methods, aligning with global strategies for carbon neutrality and sustainable development. With over 30 SCI-indexed publications, Dr. Fan’s research combines theoretical insights, material design, and practical applications, making significant contributions to the development of high-performance, durable, and environmentally responsible energy storage technologies.

Research Skills

Dr. Chaojiang Fan possesses a comprehensive set of research skills that enable him to carry out advanced studies in materials science and energy storage. His expertise includes the synthesis and structural modification of functional membranes, particularly through electrospinning and surface engineering techniques, which he has applied to design high-performance separators for lithium-sulfur batteries. He is proficient in electrochemical characterization methods, including cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge testing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which allow him to evaluate the kinetics, stability, and efficiency of battery systems. In addition, Dr. Fan has significant experience with advanced material characterization tools such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which provide insights into microstructure, morphology, and chemical states. Beyond laboratory techniques, he has honed project management and academic writing skills through his extensive publication record and leadership roles in funded projects. His involvement as both investigator and co-investigator in competitive grants reflects his ability to design, coordinate, and implement complex research programs. Combining laboratory precision, analytical depth, and collaborative leadership, Dr. Fan’s skill set positions him to continue advancing the frontier of electrochemical energy storage materials and sustainable technology applications.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Chaojiang Fan has received multiple awards and honors that recognize his innovation, leadership, and contributions to materials science research. He served as project manager for a student innovation team that won the National Silver Medal at the China International College Students Innovation Competition, a highly competitive event organized by the Ministry of Education of China. This award highlights not only his scientific contributions but also his mentorship and ability to lead interdisciplinary teams. Earlier, he was honored with the First Prize at the 6th China Innovation Challenge, hosted by the Xi’an Science and Technology Bureau, where he contributed as a co-investigator on a high-impact project. These awards demonstrate his capacity to translate scientific research into tangible technological outcomes, addressing critical challenges in energy storage and material sustainability. Beyond competitions, his active participation in conferences and research collaborations has earned him recognition among peers in the field of electrochemical energy systems. These distinctions, combined with his strong publication record and successful project leadership, underscore his standing as a promising scholar dedicated to advancing sustainable energy technologies while fostering innovation in academic and applied research environments.

Publications Top Notes

Title: Synergistic Interaction of Strongly Polar Zinc Selenide and Highly Conductive Carbon Nanoframeworks Accelerates Redox Kinetics of Polysulfides
Year: 2024
Citations: 2

Title: Engineering a Semi-Immobilized Ionic Liquid Interface Layer to Boost Li⁺ Conduction at Organic-Inorganic Interface
Year: 2025

Title: Multifunctional Integrated Separator Based on Electrospinning Structure Engineering for High-Stability Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Year: 2025

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Chaojiang Fan exemplifies a new generation of materials scientists dedicated to the advancement of sustainable energy storage technologies. His research has spanned from fundamental material design to practical device engineering and recycling, covering the entire spectrum of energy storage development. Through his work on lithium-sulfur batteries, he has contributed valuable strategies to overcome performance bottlenecks such as the polysulfide shuttle effect, enhancing both the stability and applicability of these systems. His dedication to recycling waste lithium-ion batteries further aligns his work with global sustainability and carbon-neutral goals. With a strong educational foundation, extensive research skills, and leadership in funded projects, Dr. Fan has established himself as both a capable scientist and a mentor to young researchers. The recognition he has received through awards and honors demonstrates the impact and promise of his contributions. Moving forward, he remains committed to combining academic rigor with technological innovation, aiming to bridge the gap between research and industry applications. Dr. Fan’s career reflects a balance of scholarship, practical advancement, and leadership, positioning him as an influential figure in the field of energy storage and materials science.

Zhen Zhang | Material Science | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Zhen Zhang | Material Science | Best Researcher Award

Professor, Doctoral Supervisor at Northwestern Polytechnical University, China

Prof. Zhen Zhang, currently serving as Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Northwestern Polytechnical University, is an internationally recognized expert in energy electrocatalysis. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he later served as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Senior Researcher. His return to China marked the beginning of an impressive academic career supported by recognitions such as the Shaanxi Province High-Level Talent title, Young Talent of Xi’an Association for Science and Technology, and Aoxiang Overseas Scholar. Prof. Zhang has authored over 50 SCI-indexed papers with appearances in high-impact journals including JACS, Advanced Materials, Angewandte Chemie, and ACS Nano. He has published 14 ESI Highly Cited Papers, earning over 5,500 citations and an H-index of 38. Notably, he also leads over a dozen national and industrial research projects. His global collaborations, prestigious fellowships, and key editorial roles across several journals underscore his leadership in catalysis and electrochemical energy research. Through groundbreaking research in confined electrocatalysis, he continues to push the boundaries of fuel cells, CO₂ reduction, and hydrogen energy systems, making him a compelling candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Professional Profile

Education

Prof. Zhang completed his Ph.D. in a highly competitive and research-intensive environment at the University of Waterloo, Canada, a world-leading institution in nanotechnology and electrochemical systems. During his doctoral training, he focused on fundamental and applied aspects of electrochemical energy systems, particularly in the development of functional nanomaterials for electrocatalysis. His strong academic performance and early research breakthroughs earned him numerous accolades, including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, University of Waterloo President’s Graduate Scholarship, and the prestigious Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad. These honors, limited to a small number of exceptional scholars, underscore his academic excellence and research potential. After obtaining his doctorate, he continued his academic journey at the same institution as a Postdoctoral Fellow and later as a Senior Researcher. His postdoctoral work laid a strong foundation for advanced material design and electrochemical process innovation, preparing him for his subsequent independent career in China. This robust academic background underpins his expertise in energy electrocatalysis and has greatly contributed to his impactful research in designing confined active sites and scalable electrocatalytic systems for sustainable energy applications.

Professional Experience

Prof. Zhen Zhang brings a wealth of academic and industrial research experience in electrocatalytic energy systems. After completing his Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at the University of Waterloo, he transitioned into senior research roles and significantly contributed to projects at the Waterloo Centre for Electrochemical Energy and the Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre. His leadership roles extended to Canada’s national facilities, including the Canadian Light Source (CLS), where he spearheaded collaborative efforts in synchrotron spectroscopy. Upon joining Northwestern Polytechnical University, he quickly rose to prominence, assuming the role of Professor and Doctoral Supervisor and securing multiple high-level talent recognitions. He leads a total of 16 research projects, including national and provincial initiatives and a major industrial collaboration funded with 30 million RMB focused on fuel cell technologies. Prof. Zhang holds editorial appointments in top-tier journals and serves as a session chair at international conferences, illustrating his status in the global scientific community. His industrial experience is equally strong, with practical applications of his research findings in battery technologies and fuel cells, further enhanced through partnerships with global research leaders. Prof. Zhang exemplifies the ideal academic leader who bridges high-impact research with real-world applications.

Research Interest

Prof. Zhang’s research centers on the design and development of advanced energy electrocatalytic materials and systems. His main areas of focus include the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER), and hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions (HER/HOR), all of which are central to the future of sustainable energy conversion and storage. He is particularly renowned for his innovations in confined electrocatalytic systems, where he manipulates the local chemical environment and structure at atomic scales to enhance activity, selectivity, and stability. Prof. Zhang has proposed novel frameworks for functional confined supports, hierarchical structures, and atomically dispersed active sites. His work is instrumental in breaking conventional performance trade-offs in catalysts by enabling dynamic modulation of catalytic behavior. Applications of his research span electrosynthesis, fuel cells, water electrolysis, and metal–air batteries. He integrates in situ spectroscopy and imaging tools to unravel catalyst dynamics, pushing the boundaries of fundamental understanding. His vision is to develop scalable, high-efficiency electrocatalytic systems that enable clean energy technologies, particularly for global carbon neutrality goals. Prof. Zhang’s interdisciplinary approach, combining chemistry, materials science, and engineering, positions him at the forefront of next-generation energy materials research.

Research Skills

Prof. Zhen Zhang is an expert in advanced electrochemical characterization, in situ synchrotron spectroscopy, and the rational design of nanostructured electrocatalysts. His skill set encompasses the synthesis of confined electrocatalytic structures, including zeolite-based conductive supports, bimetallic nanocatalysts, and atomic-scale active centers. He is proficient in electrochemical testing techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication. His strong command of in situ/operando techniques using synchrotron X-ray absorption, XPS, and transmission electron microscopy allows him to study the dynamic evolution of catalyst structures under working conditions. Prof. Zhang is adept at integrating theoretical simulations with experimental results to elucidate reaction mechanisms and guide material design. His leadership in project management is evidenced by his coordination of 16 funded projects, including industrial and interdisciplinary collaborations. Additionally, his editorial and peer-review responsibilities in high-impact journals demonstrate his critical analytical skills. His international collaborations reflect his ability to foster scientific exchange and execute large-scale research initiatives across borders. Prof. Zhang’s rare combination of synthetic, analytical, and collaborative skills makes him a uniquely effective researcher and mentor in the fast-evolving field of energy materials.

Awards and Honors

Prof. Zhen Zhang has received a distinguished array of awards and fellowships that highlight his contributions to energy research and academic leadership. Internationally, he was recognized with the Advanced Materials Award from the International Association of Advanced Materials and the prestigious Canadian Mitacs Accelerate Award—awarded to only ten individuals across Canada. As a doctoral student, he earned the highly competitive Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad and the Waterloo Nanofellowship. These achievements underscore his excellence during his formative academic years. Nationally, he was named a Shaanxi Province High-Level Talent and selected as a Young Talent of the Xi’an Association for Science and Technology. He was also awarded the Aoxiang Overseas Scholar title and the University of Waterloo’s President’s Graduate Scholarship and Research Paper Award—each granted to fewer than ten scholars annually. These accolades reflect both his pioneering research in electrocatalysis and his leadership in international collaboration. As a Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society and the Chinese Materials Research Society, Prof. Zhang continues to shape policy and innovation in material sciences. His awards affirm not just past success but a sustained trajectory of excellence and influence in advanced materials and electrochemistry.

Conclusion

Prof. Zhen Zhang is an exceptional scholar whose academic journey from the University of Waterloo to Northwestern Polytechnical University exemplifies scientific rigor, innovation, and leadership. With a research portfolio that seamlessly integrates fundamental science and industrial application, he has emerged as a trailblazer in energy electrocatalysis. His over 50 publications in top-tier journals, 14 ESI Highly Cited Papers, and an H-index of 38 reflect both the depth and impact of his work. His strong international collaborations, including with world-renowned scientists and institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory, McMaster University, and the Canadian Light Source, further validate his global research presence. Prof. Zhang’s editorial roles, fellowship in major chemical societies, and leadership in multimillion-yuan projects underscore his capability as a strategic thinker and institution-builder. His pioneering contributions to confined catalytic systems are addressing some of the most urgent global challenges in sustainable energy. As a scientist, mentor, and international collaborator, Prof. Zhang embodies the ideals of the Best Researcher Award, not only for his remarkable accomplishments but also for the promise his work holds for the future of clean energy. He is a role model for emerging researchers and a pillar in the global scientific community.

Publications Top Notes

 

  1. Title: Microporous framework membranes for precise molecule/ion separations
    Authors: H. Dou, M. Xu, B. Wang, Z. Zhang, G. Wen, Y. Zheng, D. Luo, L. Zhao, A. Yu, …
    Year: 2021
    Citations: 285

  2. Title: Constructing multifunctional solid electrolyte interface via in-situ polymerization for dendrite-free and low N/P ratio lithium metal batteries
    Authors: D. Luo, L. Zheng, Z. Zhang, M. Li, Z. Chen, R. Cui, Y. Shen, G. Li, R. Feng, …
    Year: 2021
    Citations: 279

  3. Title: Quasi-Covalently Coupled Ni–Cu Atomic Pair for Synergistic Electroreduction of CO₂
    Authors: J. Zhu, M. Xiao, D. Ren, R. Gao, X. Liu, Z. Zhang, D. Luo, W. Xing, D. Su, A. Yu, …
    Year: 2022
    Citations: 244

  4. Title: Revealing the rapid electrocatalytic behavior of ultrafine amorphous defective Nb₂O₅–x nanocluster toward superior Li–S performance
    Authors: D. Luo#, Z. Zhang# (co-first author), G. Li, S. Cheng, S. Li, J. Li, R. Gao, M. Li, …
    Year: 2020
    Citations: 237

  5. Title: Template-guided synthesis of Co nanoparticles embedded in hollow nitrogen doped carbon tubes as a highly efficient catalyst for rechargeable Zn-air batteries
    Authors: Q. Zhou, Z. Zhang, J. Cai, B. Liu, Y. Zhang, X. Gong, X. Sui, A. Yu, L. Zhao, …
    Year: 2020
    Citations: 218

  6. Title: Synergistic engineering of defects and architecture in binary metal chalcogenide toward fast and reliable lithium–sulfur batteries
    Authors: D. Luo, G. Li, Y. P. Deng, Z. Zhang, J. Li, R. Liang, M. Li, Y. Jiang, W. Zhang, …
    Year: 2019
    Citations: 216

  7. Title: Rational design of tailored porous carbon-based materials for CO₂ capture
    Authors: Z. Zhang, Z. P. Cano, D. Luo, H. Dou, A. Yu, Z. Chen
    Year: 2019
    Citations: 213

  8. Title: Regulation of outer solvation shell toward superior low‐temperature aqueous zinc‐ion batteries
    Authors: Q. Ma, R. Gao, Y. Liu, H. Dou, Y. Zheng, T. Or, L. Yang, Q. Li, Q. Cu, R. Feng, …
    Year: 2022
    Citations: 212

  9. Title: “Two Ships in a Bottle” Design for Zn–Ag–O Catalyst Enabling Selective and Long-Lasting CO₂ Electroreduction
    Authors: Z. Zhang, G. Wen, D. Luo, B. Ren, Y. Zhu, R. Gao, H. Dou, G. Sun, M. Feng, …
    Year: 2021
    Citations: 200

  10. Title: Nano-crumples induced Sn-Bi bimetallic interface pattern with moderate electron bank for highly efficient CO₂ electroreduction
    Authors: B. Ren, G. Wen, R. Gao, D. Luo, Z. Zhang, W. Qiu, Q. Ma, X. Wang, Y. Cui, …
    Year: 2022
    Citations: 191