Zhang Kai, a research fellow from the College of Chemistry at Nankai University, was recently named one of the “Energy and Fuels Rising Stars” by the American Chemical Society (Energy & Fuels) and awarded the “The Ninth Chinese Electrochemical Youth Award” at the 22nd National Electrochemical Congress. These accolades highlight his exceptional contributions to the development of critical materials and reaction mechanisms for long-life sodium-ion batteries.

Currently serving as a researcher and doctoral supervisor at Nankai University, Zhang Kai is also the Executive Deputy Editor of eScience. His work focuses on sodium-ion battery research, where he has pioneered material modification approaches such as single-element double-site substitution and surface gradient de-sodium structures. To date, he has published over 150 papers in leading journals, including Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Advanced Materials, and Chemical Society Reviews, and authored books such as Energy Storage Science and Engineering and Metal Ion Batteries.

Launched in 2021, the “Energy and Fuels Rising Stars” program by ACS’s Energy & Fuels journal recognizes researchers making significant advancements in the field, with 29 recipients selected this year. The “Chinese Electrochemical Youth Award”, established by the Chinese Chemical Society, is the premier academic accolade for young electrochemists in China, presented biennially to no more than four outstanding individuals per term.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)