Sustainable Energy Storage: from Material Fundamentals to Circular Innovations
Research Seminar Series
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Date
18 Aug 2026
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Organiser
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, PolyU
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Time
09:30 - 11:00
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Venue
DE306
Speaker
Dr Minghao Yu
Remarks
If you have enquiries regarding E-certificate after the seminar, please contact david.kuo@polyu.edu.hk.
Summary
The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions requires energy storage technologies beyond conventional Li-ion batteries. Transitioning toward earth-abundant and multivalent battery chemistries requires new materials strategies to overcome challenges associated with ion transport, interfacial reactions, and reversible high-capacity charge storage. In this seminar, I will present our recent advances in developing functional materials and electrochemical systems for next-generation sustainable batteries. Three key directions will be discussed: 1) 2D layered materials, particularly MXenes, where structural and surface chemistry engineering enable enhanced charge transport and storage performance; 2) polymeric artificial interphases based on 2D crystalline polymers, which regulate ion transport and stabilize electrode-electrolyte interfaces; and 3) activation of novel cathode conversion reactions in multivalent metal batteries through advanced electrolyte formulation. Beyond energy storage, I will introduce our efforts to connect electrochemical technologies with circular material strategies, including an example of electrochemical Cu recovery from wastewater while simultaneously generating electricity.
Keynote Speaker
Dr Minghao Yu
Dr
Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
Dr. Minghao Yu, PI, holds an independent research group (Materials & Electrochemistry for Sustainable Energy Storage) at Technische Universität Dresden. His research interest includes 1) design and synthesis of novel 2D layered materials and 3D superlattice architectures for charge/ion transport applications, 2) the development of advanced artificial interphases and functional electrolyte formulations for next-generation sustainable batteries (aqueous and multivalent batteries), 3) circular electrochemical strategies for the extraction, recovery, and recycling of critical materials, and 4) fundamental charge and ion dynamics governing electrochemical processes. He has published more than 150 scientific articles which have attracted 25,000+ citations with an H-index of 78 (Web of Science). Besides, he is also an associated member of the Cluster of Excellence REC2, the Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), an associated group leader at Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, a highly cited researcher (Clarivate Analytics, 2018-now), 2023 ERC Starting Grant winner, and a Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe. He currently leads several on-going research and innovation projects funded by German and European funding agencies, with a total budget of more than €3 million.
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