Recently, the School of Advanced Materials at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School received exciting news: the 2024 Malvern Panalytical Scientific Award has been granted to Dr. Lei Gao, Associate Researcher in Professor Ruqiang Zou’s team, in recognition of his outstanding research published as first author in Nature Communications, titled “Boosting lithium ion conductivity of antiperovskite solid electrolyte by potassium ions substitution for cation clusters.” This study systematically reveals the doping mechanism of potassium ions in the structure of the Li2OHCl solid-state electrolyte (SSE), and more importantly, provides the first in-depth elucidation of how metal ions substitute cation clusters within the crystal lattice of SSEs. The work offers significant theoretical insights for the structural design and performance optimization of SSEs.
The substitution mechanism of potassium ions for cation clusters in the Li2OHCl SSE structure
Dr. Gao visited the Asia-Pacific Application Excellence Center of Malvern Panalytical in Shanghai, where he received the award in person from Mr. Kang Xu, Marketing Manager of Malvern Panalytical China. During the visit, Dr. Gao also shared his research findings with experts at the center.
The Malvern Panalytical Scientific Award selected ten outstanding scientific publications from numerous global submissions to form a shortlist. Dr. Gao’s work ultimately stood out and was awarded the prize. Notably, he is only the second Chinese scholar worldwide to receive this honor since the award’s inception thirteen years ago.
Mr. Kang Xu (right), Marketing Manager of Malvern Panalytical China, presents the trophy and certificate to Dr. Lei Gao (left) on behalf of the company.
Research Presentation by Dr. Lei Gao
In recent years, Dr. Gao, Associate Researcher, and his team have conducted systematic, multi-scale investigations into the structural and interfacial challenges of SSEs. Their key contributions include: (1) Discovery of cation cluster substitution in crystal structures of SSE, and elucidation of its role in enhancing ion transport mechanisms (Nat. Commun., 2023, 14, 6807; Chem. Mater., 2025, 37, 278−289); (2) Development of chloride-nitride amorphous electrolyte systems, along with the proposal of a low-temperature battery design concept that leverages grain boundary ion transport advantages (Nat. Commun., 2025, 16, 143; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2025, 64, e202415847); (3) Proposal of interfacial engineering strategies and advanced characterization methods for SSEs, significantly improving the compatibility and stability at the interface with lithium metal anodes (ACS Energy Lett., 2021, 6, 3141–3150; Natl. Sci. Rev., 2023, 10, nwad238). These studies have not only led to theoretical and technological breakthroughs in the understanding of SSE structures and interfaces, but also laid a solid foundation for the application and industrialization of all-solid-state battery technologies.
Awardee Profile:
Dr. Gao is a Nanyan Distinguished Associate Researcher at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. From 2018 to 2024, he pursued his PhD and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Peking University under the supervision of Prof. Ruqiang Zou. He has been supported by the PKU Shenzhen Graduate School Successive Researcher Program and has received multiple honors, including the Malvern Panalytical Scientific Award, Tongcheng Postdoctoral Fellowship of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at PKU, the National Scholarship for Doctoral Students, the National Scholarship for Master's Students awarded by the Ministry of Education, and the PKU Merit Student Award.
Dr. Gao has long been dedicated to research in solid-state batteries and neutron characterization techniques. He has published 16 papers as the (co-)first author or corresponding author in prestigious journals such as Nat. Commun, Natl. Sci. Rev, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed, and ACS Energy Lett. He holds eight invention patents and contributed to the drafting of the industry standard Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries and Battery Packs.
He is the principal investigator of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and a project supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and has participated in several major national scientific projects, including the National Key R&D Program and the Major Scientific Instrument Development Project.
Partial content adapted from: Scientific Award | Chinese Young Scientist Wins the 2024 Malvern Panalytical Scientific Award
