Zhixiong Cai | Materials | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhixiong Cai | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Minnan Normal University | China

Zhixiong Cai is an Associate Professor and Master’s Supervisor at the College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Environmental Science at Minnan Normal University, located in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, China. With expertise in luminescent materials and electrocatalysis, he has gained a reputation for his impactful research and academic contributions. His work primarily focuses on advancing materials science, particularly in the context of energy conversion and storage.

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Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Solid Educational Background: He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Xiamen University and has participated in a joint training program, which suggests a deep academic foundation.

  • Research Expertise: His research interests in luminescent materials and electrocatalysis are highly relevant and cutting-edge in chemistry and environmental science.

  • International Exposure: Zhixiong Cai was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), providing him with global exposure and collaborative opportunities.

  • Impressive Publication Record: He has published several high-impact papers, including in prestigious journals like Angewandte Chemie and Nano Energy, demonstrating his contribution to significant advancements in his field.

  • Awards and Recognition: Receiving the Youth May Fourth Medal and other competition honors reflects his excellence and recognition from academic and professional communities.

Education:

Dr. Cai earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Xiamen University in June 2018, having completed his Master’s in Chemistry through a joint program between Fuzhou University and Xiamen University in 2014. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Fuzhou University. During his career, he spent time as a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Riverside in 2017, further expanding his research horizons and collaborations internationally.

Experience:

Dr. Cai’s academic career began in September 2018 as a Lecturer at Minnan Normal University. By July 2019, he was promoted to Associate Professor at the same institution. His research interests have led him to participate in various national and international projects, contributing to the development of advanced chemical materials and applications.

Research Interests On Materials

Dr. Cai’s research primarily focuses on luminescent materials and electrocatalysis. His work aims to enhance energy conversion efficiencies and develop sustainable materials for a variety of applications, including renewable energy technologies. He is particularly interested in the development of high-performance catalysts and materials for environmental and energy-related solutions.

Publications:

  • Porous cobalt oxide nanoplates enriched with oxygen vacancies for oxygen evolution reaction

    • Authors: W Xu, F Lyu, Y Bai, A Gao, J Feng, Z Cai, Y Yin

    • Year: 2018

    • Cited by: 504

  • Advances in enzyme-free electrochemical sensors for hydrogen peroxide, glucose, and uric acid

    • Authors: X Chen, G Wu, Z Cai, M Oyama, X Chen

    • Year: 2014

    • Cited by: 414

  • AuPd bimetallic nanoparticles decorated on graphene nanosheets: their green synthesis, growth mechanism and high catalytic ability in 4-nitrophenol reduction

    • Authors: X Chen, Z Cai, X Chen, M Oyama

    • Year: 2014

    • Cited by: 207

  • An ultrasensitive and reversible fluorescence sensor of humidity using perovskite CH₃NH₃PbBr₃

    • Authors: W Xu, F Li, Z Cai, Y Wang, F Luo, X Chen

    • Year: 2016

    • Cited by: 174

  • Green synthesis of graphene–PtPd alloy nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic performance for ethanol oxidation

    • Authors: X Chen, Z Cai, X Chen, M Oyama

    • Year: 2014

    • Cited by: 151

  • Ultrafine palladium nanoparticles grown on graphene nanosheets for enhanced electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide

    • Authors: X Chen, Z Cai, Z Huang, M Oyama, Y Jiang, X Chen

    • Year: 2013

    • Cited by: 130

  • A sensitive bisphenol A voltammetric sensor relying on AuPd nanoparticles/graphene composites modified glassy carbon electrode

    • Authors: B Su, H Shao, N Li, X Chen, Z Cai, X Chen

    • Year: 2017

    • Cited by: 120

  • PtPd nanodendrites supported on graphene nanosheets: a peroxidase-like catalyst for colorimetric detection of H₂O₂

    • Authors: X Chen, B Su, Z Cai, X Chen, M Oyama

    • Year: 2014

    • Cited by: 108

  • Electrodeposition‐Assisted Synthesis of Ni₂P Nanosheets on 3D Graphene/Ni Foam Electrode and Its Performance for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production

    • Authors: Z Cai, X Song, Y Wang, X Chen

    • Year: 2015

    • Cited by: 88

  • Synthesis of bimetallic PtPd nanocubes on graphene with N, N-dimethylformamide and their direct use for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation

    • Authors: X Chen, Z Cai, X Chen, M Oyama

    • Year: 2014

    • Cited by: 85

Conclusion:

Dr. Zhixiong Cai is an accomplished researcher and educator, with a deep commitment to advancing the fields of luminescent materials and electrocatalysis. His academic achievements, robust publication record, and numerous accolades underscore his dedication to driving forward scientific discovery and innovation. As an active member of the academic community, his work continues to have a significant impact on material sciences and energy applications.

Jihye Kim | Materials | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Jihye Kim | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | Colorado School of Mines | United States

Dr. Jihye Kim is an accomplished Assistant Professor at the George S. Ansell Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines. With a strong background in extractive metallurgy, resource recovery, and critical materials extraction, Dr. Kim has made significant contributions to sustainable materials processing. Her research focuses on innovative hydrometallurgical techniques, mineral carbonation for carbon sequestration, and chemical modeling of electrolyte systems. Dr. Kim is dedicated to fostering a stimulating learning environment that encourages students to explore, discover, and think critically beyond the classroom.

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Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Outstanding Research Contributions

    • Dr. Jihye Kim has an extensive publication record, including high-impact journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters.
    • Her research focuses on critical topics such as extractive metallurgy, mineral processing, carbon capture, and rare earth element recovery, all of which have significant industrial and environmental implications.

  • Strong Funding and Grant Success

    • She has successfully secured multiple high-value research grants, including funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
    • Active involvement as a Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI in multimillion-dollar research projects.

  • Awards and Recognitions

    • Recipient of the Ontario Trillium Scholarship ($160,000) and multiple academic scholarships and fellowships, demonstrating academic excellence and research impact.
    • Earned the Students Discovery Award (2021) at the University of Toronto, recognizing her research achievements.

  • Industrial and International Research Experience

    • Hands-on experience through engineering internships with Barrick Gold Corporation and National Metallurgical Laboratory, India.
    • Strong international collaborations with institutions in South Korea, Canada, and the USA.

  • Educational and Mentorship Contributions

    • Engaged in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at the Colorado School of Mines.
    • Experience as a teaching assistant at University of Toronto and Seoul National University, shaping the next generation of metallurgical engineers.

Education 🎓

Dr. Kim earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto (2017-2021), where she worked on sustainable valorization of steelmaking slag under the guidance of Professor Gisele Azimi. Prior to her Ph.D., she obtained a Master of Applied Science in Energy Systems Engineering (2014-2016) and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Resources Engineering (2011-2014) from Seoul National University.

Experience 🌟

Dr. Kim’s academic and professional journey reflects her expertise in metallurgical and materials engineering. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Mines, where she leads cutting-edge research projects and teaches courses on chemical processing, transport phenomena, and hydrometallurgical processing. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto, focusing on resource-efficient hydrometallurgical recovery of platinum group metals and rare earth elements. Her teaching experience includes serving as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Toronto and Seoul National University. She also gained industry experience as an Engineering Intern at Barrick Gold Corporation (Canada) and the National Metallurgical Laboratory (India).

Research Interests On Materials 🔬

Dr. Kim’s research centers on sustainable resource recovery, extractive metallurgy, and carbon capture technologies. She specializes in hydrometallurgical processing, mineral carbonation for CO2 sequestration, critical materials extraction from secondary resources, and electrolyte system modeling. Her work aims to develop environmentally friendly and economically viable methods for metal recovery and waste valorization.

Awards & Honors 🏆

Dr. Kim has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Ontario Trillium Scholarship (2017-2021), the Students Discovery Award (2021), and multiple fellowships from the University of Toronto. She was also awarded the Brain Korea 21 Plus Scholarship, Academic-Industrial Scholarship from Hyundai Resources Development, and several merit-based scholarships from Seoul National University. Her outstanding academic achievements were recognized with Graduation with Honors (Cum Laude) from Seoul National University in 2014.

Publications 📚

Dr. Kim has published extensively in top-tier journals, contributing valuable insights into metallurgical and materials engineering. Some of her notable publications include:

  • The CO2 sequestration by supercritical carbonation of electric arc furnace slag

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 42

  • An innovative process for extracting scandium from nickeliferous laterite ore: Carbothermic reduction followed by NaOH cracking

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 22

  • Recovery of scandium and neodymium from blast furnace slag using acid baking–water leaching

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 20

  • Valorization of electric arc furnace slag via carbothermic reduction followed by acid baking–water leaching

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 19

  • Technospheric mining of niobium and titanium from electric arc furnace slag

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 16

  • Matrix complexity effect on platinum group metals analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

    • Authors: J Kim, J Anawati, G Azimi
    • Year: 2018
    • Citations: 16

  • Effect of sulfuric acid baking and caustic digestion on enhancing the recovery of rare earth elements from a refractory ore

    • Authors: R Kim, H Cho, J Jeong, J Kim, S Lee, KW Chung, HS Yoon, CJ Kim
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 15

  • Selective precipitation of titanium, magnesium, and aluminum from the steelmaking slag leach liquor

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2022
    • Citations: 13

  • Mineral carbonation of iron and steel by-products: State-of-the-art techniques and economic, environmental, and health implications

    • Authors: S Wang, J Kim, T Qin
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 12

  • Recent advancements in hydrometallurgy: solubility and separation

    • Authors: KN Han, R Kim, J Kim
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 10

Conclusion 🎯

Dr. Jihye Kim is a dedicated researcher and educator committed to advancing metallurgical and materials engineering. Her work in extractive metallurgy, critical materials recovery, and sustainable processing methods contributes to the global effort toward environmentally responsible resource management. Through her innovative research, teaching, and mentorship, Dr. Kim continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists in the field of materials engineering.

Swastika Banerjee | Materials | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Swastika Banerjee | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | India

Dr. Swastika Banerjee is a distinguished computational chemist and materials scientist, currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at IIT Roorkee, India. With a strong research background in theoretical chemistry and materials informatics, she has made significant contributions to energy storage, electrochemistry, and computational materials design. Her work integrates advanced simulation techniques to develop novel materials for sustainable energy solutions.

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Strengths for the Awards✨

✅ Diverse Research Experience – With multiple postdoctoral positions at UC San Diego, University of Luxembourg, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Shenzhen University, Banerjee has gained international exposure and collaborated with world-class researchers.

✅ Impactful Publications – Her research is published in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), Advanced Functional Materials, and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, demonstrating strong research impact. Many of these papers are as a corresponding author, indicating leadership in her field.

✅ Strong Contributions to Energy Storage and Materials Science – Her computational work on lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and solid electrolytes contributes significantly to advancing next-generation energy storage solutions, which are crucial for sustainable energy applications.

✅ Research Grants & Fellowships – She has secured competitive research grants such as the EMR-II/ASPIRE Grant (2024), Faculty Initiation Grant (IIT Roorkee, 2022), Core Research Grant (SERB, DST, India, 2022), and was offered the Ramanujan Fellowship and Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship.

✅ Patents & Innovations – A patent on “Chlorine-based sodium solid electrolyte” highlights her ability to translate research into practical applications, an essential factor for the award.

✅ Recognized Expertise – She serves as a reviewer for high-impact journals (Angewandte Chemie, Chemistry of Materials, Joule, Nature Communications), showcasing her standing in the scientific community.

Education 🎓

Dr. Banerjee obtained her Ph.D. from the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore (2011-2017). Prior to that, she earned an M.Sc. in Chemistry from IIT Kharagpur (2009-2011), securing the 3rd rank in her batch, and a B.Sc. in Chemistry (Hons) from The University of Burdwan (2006-2009), where she achieved the 1st rank in her university.

Experience 💼

  • Assistant Professor, IIT Roorkee (2022-Present)
  • Postdoctoral Associate, University of Luxembourg (Aug 2021 – Mar 2022)
  • Postdoctoral Associate, University of California San Diego, USA (Mar 2019 – Jul 2021)
  • Postdoctoral Researcher & Affiliate, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory & Shenzhen University, China (Jul 2017 – Feb 2019)
  • Research Associate, Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, India (Jan 2017 – Jun 2017)
  • Visiting Scientist, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Science, China (Nov 2016 – Dec 2016)

Research Interests On Materials🔍

Dr. Banerjee’s research focuses on computational materials science, exploring:

  • Non-local many-body dispersion interactions in materials
  • Electrochemistry and interfacial phenomena
  • Battery materials and energy storage solutions
  • Non-adiabaticity in chemical reactions
  • Thermoelectric properties of nanostructures
  • First-principles electronic structure theory
  • Algorithmic development for large-scale simulations
  • Materials informatics and data infrastructure

Research Contributions 🎯

Dr. Banerjee has advanced computational methods such as Density Functional Theory (DFT), Boltzmann Transport Equation modeling, and Non-Adiabatic Molecular Dynamics to study energy storage materials, excited state dynamics, and charge transport in semiconductors. Her theoretical insights have led to new frameworks for lithium superionic conductors and efficient electrode materials for next-generation batteries.

Awards & Recognitions 🏆

  • EMR-II/ASPIRE Grant, CSIR, India (2024)
  • Faculty Initiation Grant, IIT Roorkee (2022)
  • Core Research Grant, SERB, DST, India (2022)
  • Best Poster Awards at Chemical Frontiers (2015), Theoretical Chemistry Symposium (2014), Winter School on Frontiers in Materials (2014), and STCC-FC (2013)
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Award for securing 1st rank in The University of Burdwan (2010)
  • Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research (declined, 2021)
  • Ramanujan Fellowship (declined, 2021)
  • National Key R&D Program of China & National Natural Science Foundation of China Grants (2017)
  • Merit Scholarship, IIT Kharagpur (2010-2011)

Publications 📚

  1. Rechargeable alkali-ion battery materials: theory and computation

    • Authors: A Van der Ven, Z Deng, S Banerjee, SP Ong
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 255

  2. A stable cathode-solid electrolyte composite for high-voltage, long-cycle-life solid-state sodium-ion batteries

    • Authors: EA Wu, S Banerjee, H Tang, PM Richardson, JM Doux, J Qi, Z Zhu, …
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 196

  3. Tunable Lithium-Ion Transport in Mixed-Halide Argyrodites Li6–xPS5–xClBrx: An Unusual Compositional Space

    • Authors: SV Patel, S Banerjee, H Liu, P Wang, PH Chien, X Feng, J Liu, SP Ong, …
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 136

  4. Possible application of 2D-boron sheets as anode material in lithium ion battery: A DFT and AIMD study

    • Authors: S Banerjee, G Periyasamy, SK Pati
    • Year: 2014
    • Citations: 99

  5. Bridging the gap between simulated and experimental ionic conductivities in lithium superionic conductors

    • Authors: J Qi, S Banerjee, Y Zuo, C Chen, Z Zhu, MLH Chandrappa, X Li, SP Ong
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 84

  6. Origin of the Order–Disorder Transition and the Associated Anomalous Change of Thermopower in AgBiS2 Nanocrystals: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

    • Authors: SN Guin, S Banerjee, D Sanyal, SK Pati, K Biswas
    • Year: 2016
    • Citations: 52

  7. Anodic performance of black phosphorus in magnesium-ion batteries: the significance of Mg–P bond-synergy

    • Authors: S Banerjee, SK Pati
    • Year: 2016
    • Citations: 49

  8. Thermodynamics and kinetics of the cathode–electrolyte interface in all-solid-state Li–S batteries

    • Authors: ML Holekevi Chandrappa, J Qi, C Chen, S Banerjee, SP Ong
    • Year: 2022
    • Citations: 46

  9. Motif-based design of an oxysulfide class of lithium superionic conductors: Toward improved stability and record-high Li-ion conductivity

    • Authors: S Banerjee, X Zhang, LW Wang
    • Year: 2019
    • Citations: 31

  10. Synthetic control of structure and conduction properties in Na–Y–Zr–Cl solid electrolytes

  • Authors: E Sebti, J Qi, PM Richardson, P Ridley, EA Wu, S Banerjee, R Giovine, …
  • Year: 2022
  • Citations: 30

Conclusion 🔖

Dr. Swastika Banerjee is a leading scientist in the field of computational chemistry and materials science. With a deep understanding of first-principles simulations and data-driven materials design, she continues to push the boundaries of sustainable energy research. Through her academic and research contributions, she is shaping the future of next-generation energy storage and electronic materials development.