At the invitation of the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMR, CAS), Prof. Huolin Xin from the University of California, Irvine, recipient of the 2025 Lee Hsun Lecture Award, visited IMR from September 19 to 23, 2025.

During his visit, Prof. Xin delivered an academic lecture titled "TEM Insights Drive Breakthroughs: Fast-Charging, Zero-Cobalt, Zero-Strain Layered Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries" for IMR researchers and graduate students.

He addressed one of the most pressing challenges in electric vehicle industry, the need to eliminate cobalt entirely from batteries due to its high cost and supply chain risks, by elaborating on a universal strategy developed through in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. His work opens a new pathway for designing high-energy-density, safe, and sustainable cathode materials.

During his stay, Prof. Xin also held in-depth discussions with research groups from the Division of Material Microstructure Research, the Division of Advanced Carbon and Two-Dimensional Materials, and the Division of Materials Artificial Intelligence at IMR, focusing on advanced transmission electron microscopy, energy materials, and the development of artificial intelligence technology.

Prof. Huolin Xin is currently a Chancellor's Fellow Professor at the University of California, Irvine. His research encompasses theories of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and spectroscopy, electron tomographic 3D imaging, AI-enabled TEM, lithium battery materials, and metal catalytic materials. He is renowned for his pioneering contributions to advanced material characterization techniques and the development of high-performance battery materials. He is a key pioneer in the field of AI for TEM, leading the development of artificial intelligence applications in TEM 3D imaging and super-resolution imaging. He has also pioneered a universally applicable high-entropy doping technique for oxide cathode materials, addressing the strain issues in intercalation materials and opening new avenues for the development of next-generation battery cathodes.

As a Fellow of the Microscopy Society of America and an Associate Editor of ACS Nano, Prof. Xin has received numerous honors,   including the Materials Research Society Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award, the Microscopy Society of America Burton Medal, the U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award, the global 30 Climate Action Tech Impact Award, and the Intel 2024 Outstanding Researcher Award, among others.He has published over 300 academic papers in t materials and electron microscopy.

Prof. LIU Gang, Director of IMR presents the plaque of Lee Hsun Lecture Series to Prof. Huolin Xin. (Image by IMR)

Prof. Huolin Xin Choi delivers a lecture. (Image by IMR)