Assoc. Prof. Dr. Li Song | Energy Materials | Best Researcher Award
Deputy dean from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, China
Dr. Li Song is an accomplished Associate Professor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology. With a specialized focus on carbon-based materials for clean energy conversion and storage, Dr. Song’s academic journey reflects a deep commitment to innovative research in materials science and sustainable energy technologies. Her extensive research experience includes prestigious international collaborations and projects supported by leading Chinese and provincial scientific foundations. Her work revolves around designing advanced carbon-based catalytic systems, aiming for improved energy efficiency and sustainability. Having published widely and participated in several key research programs, she is recognized for her interdisciplinary approach and ability to bridge theoretical design with practical application in fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and other green energy devices. Her background includes training and research at globally respected institutions like Case Western Reserve University and SUNY Buffalo, where she collaborated with world-leading experts in electrocatalysis and material engineering. With an eye toward real-world applications, Dr. Song continues to explore the intersection of nanotechnology, catalysis, and clean energy, positioning herself as a future leader in sustainable materials research.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Li Song’s academic credentials reflect her dedication to the advancement of materials science, particularly in the realm of clean energy. She earned her Ph.D. in Materials Physics and Chemistry from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in June 2020 under the mentorship of Prof. Jianping He. Her doctoral work focused on the design of advanced carbon-based catalytic materials for green energy applications. During her Ph.D. studies, she gained valuable international exposure through a joint Ph.D. program with Case Western Reserve University (USA), where she worked under the guidance of Prof. Liming Dai, a globally recognized expert in macromolecular science and engineering. This collaboration significantly enriched her expertise in carbon nanomaterials and energy storage systems. Additionally, Dr. Song expanded her research experience as a visiting scholar at SUNY Buffalo, working with Prof. Gang Wu on highly active catalysts for fuel cells. Her academic foundation also includes dual bachelor’s degrees in Metal Material Engineering and English from Nanchang Hangkong University, completed in 2013. This multidisciplinary background not only equipped her with strong technical skills but also enhanced her communication and collaboration abilities, essential for her global research engagements and academic contributions.
Professional Experience
Dr. Li Song has cultivated a robust academic and research career rooted in innovation and international collaboration. She began her professional journey at Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST) in 2020, initially as a Lecturer and later advancing to Associate Professor. Her current role involves leading cutting-edge research in carbon-based materials for energy conversion and storage, a field at the forefront of clean energy technology. At NUIST, she has played a central role in developing new materials and catalytic systems, contributing to the university’s reputation for advanced environmental science research. Beyond her responsibilities at NUIST, Dr. Song has gained significant global research experience. Between 2017 and 2019, she served as a joint Ph.D. researcher at Case Western Reserve University, USA, and previously as a visiting scholar at SUNY Buffalo, where she conducted high-impact research on fuel cell catalysts. These international appointments allowed her to work with leading figures in the field and exposed her to diverse, multidisciplinary methodologies. Through her academic appointments, Dr. Song has developed a deep expertise in materials science, catalysis, and sustainable energy applications, which she continues to apply in mentoring students, managing research projects, and publishing innovative scientific work.
Research Interests
Dr. Li Song’s research interests lie at the dynamic intersection of materials science, nanotechnology, and sustainable energy systems. She is particularly focused on the rational design and fabrication of carbon-based catalytic materials for clean energy conversion and storage. Her work emphasizes the creation of efficient, durable catalysts that can be implemented in devices such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and electrolyzers. Central to her research is the development of intrinsic active sites in carbon materials through heteroatom doping, structural modification, and topological defect engineering at the atomic scale. She is also interested in optimizing the mesoscopic structure of these materials—such as one-dimensional carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and three-dimensional porous frameworks—to enhance mass transfer and overall catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, Dr. Song explores the fundamental catalytic mechanisms governing these systems, aiming to correlate composition and structural features with functional performance. Her long-term goal is to design scalable, high-performance energy devices with real-world applications, thus contributing to the broader shift toward cleaner, more sustainable technologies. Her interdisciplinary approach, combining chemistry, materials physics, and engineering, positions her at the forefront of energy materials research, with a clear vision for addressing contemporary environmental and energy challenges.
Research Skills
Dr. Li Song possesses a diverse and advanced skill set that supports her innovative research in energy materials. She specializes in the design and synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials with enhanced electrocatalytic properties. Her technical expertise includes heteroatom doping, heterostructure fabrication, and defect engineering to optimize catalytic activity at the atomic level. She is highly proficient in constructing mesoscopic architectures—such as carbon fibers, nanotubes, nanosheets, and core-shell structures—which facilitate mass transfer and improve diffusion rates in catalytic systems. Dr. Song is also adept at using state-of-the-art characterization techniques, including electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and electrochemical analysis, to investigate material properties and evaluate catalytic performance. She has strong competencies in project management and proposal writing, as evidenced by her leadership in multiple grant-funded research projects. Moreover, her international collaborations have equipped her with excellent cross-cultural communication skills and a global perspective on scientific problem-solving. Her background in English, paired with technical proficiency, further enhances her ability to disseminate research through publications, presentations, and academic exchanges. These well-rounded research capabilities make Dr. Song not only a leading scientist in her domain but also a capable mentor and team leader in multidisciplinary projects focused on sustainable technologies.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Li Song’s academic and research excellence is reflected in the prestigious grants and competitive research programs she has secured. She is the principal investigator of several notable projects, including the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province-funded initiative on single-atom oxygen reduction catalysts (BK20210651, 2021–2024). This project demonstrates her leadership and innovative contributions in the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts. Earlier in her academic career, she led research supported by the Doctoral Thesis Innovation and Excellence Foundation of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where she explored the use of metal-organic frameworks in bifunctional electrocatalysis (2017–2018). Her work has also been recognized through the Graduate Research Innovation Plan of Jiangsu Province. Additionally, she contributed to a National Natural Science Foundation of China project (11575084) focused on advanced composite coatings and radiation resistance, showcasing her versatility in tackling both theoretical and application-driven challenges. These honors highlight her growing reputation as a researcher capable of securing funding and producing impactful work. Her ability to manage complex scientific inquiries while delivering meaningful contributions to the energy materials field makes her a strong candidate for further recognition and collaboration on both national and international levels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dr. Li Song stands out as a highly promising researcher in the field of clean energy materials. Her deep expertise in the synthesis and structural engineering of carbon-based catalysts places her at the cutting edge of sustainable energy research. Through her academic achievements, international collaborations, and leadership in grant-funded projects, she has consistently demonstrated the capacity to bridge theoretical innovations with practical applications. Dr. Song’s focus on the rational design of electrocatalysts, exploration of catalytic mechanisms, and development of scalable energy devices reflects a holistic research philosophy aligned with global sustainability goals. Her interdisciplinary skill set, coupled with strong academic training and a global perspective, equips her to make long-lasting contributions to both science and society. Furthermore, her success in securing competitive research funding and publishing in relevant areas underlines her scientific rigor and professional maturity. As clean energy becomes increasingly vital to global development, researchers like Dr. Song—who combine creativity, technical excellence, and collaborative spirit—will play an essential role. Her trajectory suggests continued innovation and leadership, positioning her as an ideal candidate for future honors and elevated academic positions in the field of materials science and environmental engineering.
Publications Top Notes
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Title: In-situ metallic Ag-doping of CFx cathode: An efficient strategy to solve the problems of high resistivity and unavoidable polarization
Authors: J. Xu, Jianwen; H. Luo, Hao; J. Ma, Jun; L. Song, Li; Y. Jin, Yachao
Year: 2025
Journal: Electrochimica Acta -
Title: Constructing ZnS@hard carbon nanosheets for high-performance and long-cycle sodium-ion batteries
Authors: H. Zhang, Huan; F. Yuan, Fengzhou; M. Zhang, Mingdao; H. Zheng, Hegen
Year: 2025
Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal -
Title: Heteroatom Doping Modulates the Electronic Environment of Bi for Efficient Electroreduction of CO2 to Formic Acid
Authors: S. Zhao, Sirui; H. Zhou, Heng; D. Cao, Dengfeng; L. Song, Li; S. Chen, Shuangming
Year: 2025
Journal: Chemical Research in Chinese Universities -
Title: Sulfate Oxyanion Steered d-Orbital Electronic State of Nickel-Iron Nanoalloy for Boosting Electrocatalytic Performance
Authors: Y. Jin, Yachao; X. Qu, Xijun; Z. Zhou, Zihao; W. Ma, Wenqiang; M. Zhang, Mingdao
Year: 2025
Journal: Small -
Title: Tailored Heterogeneous Catalysts via Space-Confined Engineering for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution
Authors: C. Wu, Chenxiao; C. Liu, Chuang; A. Gao, Ang; H. Guo, Haizhong; L. Gu, Lin
Year: 2025
Journal: Advanced Functional Materials -
Title: Preparation of p-type Fe₂O₃ nanoarray and its performance as photocathode for photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: X. Fan, Xiaoli; F. Zhu, Fei; Z. Wang, Zeyi; J. He, Jianping; T. Wang, Tao
Year: 2025
Journal: Frontiers in Chemistry -
Title: Facile and Rapid Synthesis of Ultra-Low-Loading Pt-Based Catalyst Boosting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Authors: W. Zhai, Wenjie; J. Wang, Jiayi; M. Zhang, Mingdao; L. Song, Li
Year: 2025
Journal: ChemPlusChem -
Title: A Method of Efficiently Regenerating Waste LiFePO₄ Cathode Material after Air Firing Treatment
Authors: J. Ma, Jun; Z. Xu, Ziyang; T. Yao, Tianshun; L. Song, Li; M. Zhang, Mingdao
Year: 2024
Journal: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces -
Title: Sustainable regeneration of a spent layered lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide cathode from a scrapped lithium-ion battery
Authors: Y. Jin, Yachao; X. Qu, Xijun; L. Ju, Liyun; L. Song, Li; M. Zhang, Mingdao
Year: 2024
Citations: 1 -
Title: ZIF-derived “cocoon”-like in-situ Zn/N-doped carbon as high-capacity anodes for Li/Na-ion batteries
Authors: F. Yuan, Fengzhou; Z. Chen, Zhe; H. Zhang, Huan; L. Song, Li; M. Zhang, Mingdao
Year: 2024
Journal: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects