Prof. Cui Yongpeng | Electrochemical | Best Researcher Award

Professor at China University of Petroleum (Beijing), China

Dr. Yongpeng Cui is an Associate Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (UPC), Qingdao, and a researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing. Dr. Cui has demonstrated exceptional capabilities in materials science and electrochemical energy storage. With a strong academic background and prolific research contributions, he has established himself as an expert in developing advanced electrode materials for lithium, sodium, and potassium ion batteries, as well as hybrid capacitors and electrocatalysts. His academic journey and scientific impact have been acknowledged with several provincial and national-level awards. Dr. Cui’s work reflects a fine balance of innovation and application, particularly in the development of two-dimensional materials such as MXene and TMDs. He is actively involved in numerous national-level projects and has successfully translated research into industrial applications, further solidifying his role in China’s next-generation energy materials research.

professional profile

ORCID

Education

Dr. Yongpeng Cui holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the Ocean University of China (2015–2020), where his research focused on the design and preparation of porous carbon materials using salt crystal templates and the synthesis of electrode materials for various energy storage systems, under the guidance of Professors Wei Liu and Huanlei Wang. Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from Qingdao University of Science and Technology (2011–2015), working on zinc oxide nanowires and their applications in solar cells under Prof. Lifeng Dong. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Cui has been immersed in a blend of theoretical learning and hands-on experimentation. His educational foundation has been pivotal in shaping his ability to conduct high-impact research in emerging areas of energy storage, nanomaterials, and electrocatalysis. The combination of a solid theoretical framework and applied skills has positioned him at the forefront of the materials science field.

Work Experience

Since November 2021, Dr. Yongpeng Cui has served as an Associate Professor at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, where he also completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship (2020–2022). His academic journey began with a focus on materials design and advanced carbon-based systems. As a postdoctoral researcher, he worked closely with Professors Qingzhong Xue and Xing Wei, contributing to pioneering work on potassium-ion batteries, hybrid capacitors, and two-dimensional materials. During his tenure, he has not only mentored students but also led key national and provincial research projects. Dr. Cui’s professional timeline demonstrates a consistent dedication to scientific innovation, with direct contributions to fundamental discoveries and practical implementations. His involvement in technology transfer and commercialization efforts, including a successful hard carbon material project, highlights his commitment to bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world energy solutions. His experience makes him a dynamic force in the electrochemical energy storage research community.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Yongpeng Cui has received numerous accolades recognizing his scientific excellence and academic contributions. Notably, he was awarded the Second Prize of Science and Technology Award by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation in 2022. He is also the sole recipient from the materials discipline of the Shandong Postdoctoral Innovative Talent Support Program (2022). His doctoral work earned the Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of Shandong Province award in 2021 and a Third Prize for Graduate Student Achievements in 2020. He previously won a National Doctoral Scholarship (2018) and the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Ocean University of China. Dr. Cui’s growing list of honors reflects both the depth and innovation of his work. These awards validate not only his technical achievements but also his potential for continued leadership in the field of advanced materials and energy research. His recognition by academic and governmental bodies underscores his influence in China’s scientific landscape.

Research Focus

Dr. Yongpeng Cui’s research centers on the development of advanced electrode materials for high-performance electrochemical energy storage systems, including lithium-, sodium-, and potassium-ion batteries, hybrid capacitors, and supercapacitors. A key component of his work involves the design of multifunctional electrocatalysts for next-generation K-S and K-Se batteries that offer high energy density and long cycle life. He is particularly known for pioneering two-dimensional materials like MXene and TMDs, using step-by-step organic molecule intercalation techniques. His work integrates carbon-based anodes, MoS₂, FeS₂, and novel hybrid systems for enhanced performance. Dr. Cui also specializes in salt-crystal templated synthesis, which enables precision pore-structure control in porous carbon materials. Through a combination of structural design, surface chemistry regulation, and functionalization, he aims to solve core limitations in existing energy storage systems. His research bridges materials innovation and real-world energy applications, contributing significantly to the field’s advancement and the energy sustainability agenda.

🧠 Skills

Dr. Yongpeng Cui possesses a broad and deep skill set in materials science, nanotechnology, and electrochemical engineering. His core competencies include the design and synthesis of two-dimensional materials (MXenes, TMDs), and porous carbon using salt crystal-templating techniques. He is proficient in battery assembly and electrochemical testing (e.g., CV, EIS, GCD), as well as structural characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, and BET analysis. Dr. Cui is skilled in project management, having led multiple national-level and provincial research projects. He also brings hands-on experience in technology transfer, with successful commercialization of sodium storage materials. His research is enhanced by his ability to apply scientific computing tools for data analysis and simulation. Equally adept at grant writing, publication preparation, and academic mentoring, Dr. Cui’s diverse technical and soft skills make him a multifaceted researcher and an invaluable asset in collaborative and interdisciplinary scientific environments.

Conclusion

Dr. Yongpeng Cui exemplifies a top-tier, high-impact researcher in life sciences and materials engineering, with clear alignment to the Research for Best Researcher Award. His innovations in energy storage, high citation potential, consistent funding success, and award recognition highlight his commitment to scientific advancement. With further emphasis on internationalization and broader societal engagement, he stands as a model candidate poised to shape the future of sustainable energy technologies.

Publications to Noted

📄 “Modulating dual-active sites within one ruthenium nanocluster by engineering electronic metal-support interactions for efficient hydrogen electro-oxidation”

Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.155107

Published: October 2024

Authors: Weiyue Luo, Xiaoning Wang, Lianming Zhao, Yanfu Tong, Yuchao Zhen, Yongpeng Cui, Pengyun Liu, Tonghui Cai, Zifeng Yan, Qingzhong Xue, Saad G. Mohamed, Xuejin Li, Xun Yuan, Wei Xing (14 authors total)

Citations: 2

📄 “Mitigating the Kinetic Hysteresis of Co‑free Ni‑rich Cathodes via Gradient Penetration of Nonmagnetic Silicon”

Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202409764

Published: September/October 2024 (published online Sept 2, formally Oct 25, 2024)

Authors: Yijun Song, Yongpeng Cui, Bo Wang, Lina Ge, Li Zhou, Zhijian Qiu, Zhipeng Xie, Debin Kong, Xiaofang Li, Jianqiang Zhang, Lei Zhu, Pengyun Liu, Xuejin Li, Zifeng Yan, Qingzhong Xue, Yongfu Tang, Wei Xing (17 authors total) Citations: 6

📄 “Defect‑engineered TiNO catalyst targeted to activate rate-determining step for highly efficient K–SeS2 batteries”

Journal: Energy Storage Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.ensm.2024.103669

Published: September 2024

Authors: Li Zhou, Yongpeng Cui, Yanfu Tong, Haoyu Hu, Bingyu Li, Shihao Liang, Xuejin Li, Debin Kong, Zifeng Yan, Qingzhong Xue, Wei Xing (12 authors total)

Citations: 1

📄 “Rare‑earth ions induced pre‑excitation of intercalation‑conversion anode to achieve fast potassium‑ion storage”

Journal: Energy Storage Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.ensm.2024.103425

Published: May 2024

Authors: Lina Ge, Wenting Feng, Li Zhou, (plus additional co-authors including Y. Cui, P. Liu, X. Li, D. Kong; total count not specified but likely similar ~8–12 authors) .

Liquid‐State Templates for Constructing B, N, Co‐Doping Porous Carbons with a Boosting of Potassium‐Ion Storage Performance

Advanced Energy Materials

2021-01 | Journal article

Contributors: Wenting Feng; Nianyun Feng; wei Liu; Yongpeng Cui; Chen Chen; Tiantian Dong; Shuang Liu; Weiqiao Deng; Huanlei Wang; Yongcheng Jin

Cui Yongpeng | Electrochemical | Best Researcher Award