Professor Guanjie He Innovates in Energy Storage and Carbon Material Applications

On April 24, 2024, The Energy Materials (EM) editorial team had the pleasure of interviewing Guanjie He, Associate Professor at University College London (UCL), UK. His recent submission, "An Intellectual Property Analysis: Advances and Commercialization of Low-Dimensional Carbon Materials in Batteries", has been accepted for publication in EM, and the Special Issue he guest-edited, “Aqueous Batteries: Materials, Mechanisms, and Applications”, is nearing completion, further showcasing his expertise. Prof. He, a prominent figure at UCL's Department of Chemistry, specializes in materials chemistry and serves as a Ph.D. supervisor. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining in the UK, primarily focusing his research on aqueous batteries, electrocatalytic materials and devices, advanced characterization, and simulation.

In his interview, Prof. He discussed his research, the challenges of commercializing low-dimensional carbon materials in batteries, and the state and future of aqueous batteries. He pinpointed scalability and manufacturing costs as significant hurdles in material commercialization, advocating for innovative production techniques and hybrid materials development. He also noted the promising advancements in aqueous batteries, emphasizing the need for materials that improve stability and energy density and contribute to environmental sustainability. Lastly, he recommended expanding EM's scope to cover more emerging technologies and enhancing its outreach through improved peer review processes and increased engagement with the scientific community. He shared that his motivation for research stems from a desire to solve complex societal problems and contribute meaningfully to knowledge and human well-being.

Interview Questions:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and the main areas of research currently pursued by your research group?

2. Your submission to Energy Materials, "An Intellectual Property Analysis: Advances and Commercialization of Low-Dimensional Carbon Materials in Batteries", was recently accepted. In your opinion, what are the main technical challenges in the development and commercialization of low-dimensional carbon materials? What do you think are potential solutions or alternative approaches?

3. The Special Issue you organized for Energy Materials on the topic of "Aqueous Batteries: Materials, Mechanisms, and Applications" is about to close for submissions. How do you view the current state of research and future trends in aqueous batteries?

4. As a Guest Editor and author for Energy Materials, what suggestions do you have for the journal? Additionally, in which areas or directions do you think the journal could expand or improve to better serve the field of energy materials?

5. What do you believe is the biggest motivation for scientific research? Could you please share your thoughts on this based on your own experiences?

Editor: Jenna Wen
Language Editor: Emma Chen
Production Editor: Yan Zhang
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Energy Materials