Dr. Xiaomi Zhou | Hydrogen Energy | Best Researcher Award

Doctor at Jining University | China

Dr. Xiaomi Zhou is a distinguished faculty member at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Jining University, whose research centers on next-generation energy materials and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). She has made notable contributions to the field through the development of molten hydroxide-based electrolytes that enable efficient operation at low temperatures, addressing one of the major limitations in traditional SOFC systems. Her innovative work on molten aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃) as a high-performance electrolyte led to the creation of a bilayer structure (Al(OH)₃/SrTiO₃), facilitating superior proton conduction through a dynamic hydrogen-bonding network. Dr. Zhou’s research, supported by the Hundred Outstanding Talent Program of Jining University, has been published in leading international journals such as Ceramics International, where her paper “Molten Al(OH)₃ as an Innovative Electrolyte for SOFCs Below 500 °C” stands out as a significant scientific contribution. She has collaborated with prominent institutions including Hubei University, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, and Kaili University, enhancing interdisciplinary research and innovation in energy systems. According to her Scopus profile, Dr. Zhou has authored 12 publications, received 148 citations, and holds an h-index of 7, reflecting her growing influence in the materials and energy research community. Her pioneering studies on proton transport mechanisms via the Grotthuss process have substantially advanced the understanding of low-temperature SOFCs, paving the way for sustainable, high-efficiency fuel cell technologies with potential industrial and environmental benefits.

Profile: Scopus | Research Gate

Feautured Publications

Zhou, X., Niu, S., Tian, Q., Ma, X., Jing, Y., Fu, M., & Wang, B. (2025). Molten Al(OH)₃ as an innovative electrolyte for SOFCs below 500 °C. Ceramics International.

Chen, H., Zhong, D., Xia, C., Zhou, X., & Wang, B. (2025). Cr poisoned the LiNi₀.₈Co₀.₁₅Al₀.₀₅O₂−δ cathode and the alkaline Li impregnation to recover the performance of Cr poisoned solid oxide fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources.

Zhou, X., Zheng, D., Wang, Q., Xiang, Y., & Wang, B. (2023). In situ formation of Ba₃CoNb₂O₉/Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅ heterostructure in electrolytes for enhancing proton conductivity and SOFC performance. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. Cited by 5

Xiang, Y., Jiang, C., Zheng, D., Zhou, X., & Wang, B. (2022). Interlayer conducting mechanism in α-LiAlO₂ enables fast proton transport with low activation energy for solid oxide fuel cells. Electrochimica Acta, 431, 141208. Cited by 13

Dr. Vladimir Atanasov | Fuel Cell | Excellence in Research Award

Team Leader at University of Stuttgart | Germany

Dr. Vladimir Milanov Atanasov is a distinguished researcher in polymer and membrane technology with more than 25 years of international experience in the field of chemical and polymer engineering. He currently serves as Team Leader for Polymer and Membrane Technology at the Institute of Chemical Process Engineering, University of Stuttgart. Born and educated in Bulgaria, he earned his M.Sc. in Organic and Analytical Chemistry from Sofia State University, followed by a Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Müllen at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz. Dr. Atanasov has held several prestigious postdoctoral appointments, including at the MPI for Polymer Research, MPI for Solid State Research, and the University of Stuttgart, where his work focused on fuel cell and biomembrane applications. His expertise spans polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) preparation, advanced polymerization techniques, post-modification methods, and organic synthesis, particularly in phosphonated and sulfonated fluoro-arylenes and functionalized lipids. He is skilled in a wide range of characterization techniques, including EIS, DMA, NMR, MALDI-ToF, GPC, DSC, and FTIR. Dr. Atanasov has authored 33 scientific documents, including 35 peer-reviewed papers, and holds three patents. His contributions have been cited over 1,181 times, and his current Scopus profile reflects an h-index of 16. His ongoing research focuses on the development and characterization of novel polymer electrolyte membranes for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC), combining innovative materials and advanced film-forming techniques to enhance efficiency and durability in energy applications.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Feautured Publications

Atanasov, V., Knorr, N., Duran, R. S., Ingebrandt, S., Offenhäusser, A., & Knoll, W. (2005). Membrane on a chip: A functional tethered lipid bilayer membrane on silicon oxide surfaces. Biophysical Journal, 89(3), 1780–1788. Cited by: 250

Schuster, M., de Araujo, C. C., Atanasov, V., Andersen, H. T., Kreuer, K. D., & Maier, J. (2009). Highly sulfonated poly (phenylene sulfone): Preparation and stability issues. Macromolecules, 42(8), 3129–3137. Cited by: 204

Atanasov, V., Lee, A. S., Park, E. J., Maurya, S., Baca, E. D., Fujimoto, C., Hibbs, M., & others. (2021). Synergistically integrated phosphonated poly (pentafluorostyrene) for fuel cells. Nature Materials, 20(3), 370–377. Cited by: 198

Lim, K. H., Lee, A. S., Atanasov, V., Kerres, J., Park, E. J., Adhikari, S., Maurya, S., & others. (2022). Protonated phosphonic acid electrodes for high power heavy-duty vehicle fuel cells. Nature Energy, 7(3), 248–259. Cited by: 162

Atanasov, V., Atanasova, P. P., Vockenroth, I. K., Knorr, N., & Köper, I. (2006). A molecular toolkit for highly insulating tethered bilayer lipid membranes on various substrates. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 17(3), 631–637. Cited by: 94

Atanasov, V., & Kerres, J. (2011). Highly phosphonated polypentafluorostyrene. Macromolecules, 44(16), 6416–6423. Cited by: 93