Haobo Li, a doctoral student of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Global College (SJTUGC, abbreviated as GC) received First Prize at the inaugural “Jiao·Innovation” National Forum for High-Level Doctoral Students for his presentation titled “Enhancing Proton Conductivity of Ceramic Materials Using Resonant Mid-Infrared Light.”
The national forum hosted by SJTU recently brought together more than 500 outstanding doctoral researchers from over ten universities, including Peking University and Tsinghua University. The event themed “Cross-Disciplinary Innovation, Leading the Future” provided a platform for doctoral students to present their latest research through oral reports and academic discussions. Experts and scholars participated throughout the event, offering professional feedback and suggestions to support interdisciplinary exchange and research innovation among young scholars.
Li’s award-winning presentation focused on ion transport mechanisms in key materials used in solid-state energy devices. His research demonstrates that mid-infrared light can selectively excite O–H stretching vibrations in proton-conducting ceramic electrolytes, significantly enhancing proton conductivity. Under irradiation of approximately 200 mW/cm², the material’s proton conductivity increased by 36% to 53%, an effect two to three times stronger than that produced by thermal excitation of the same intensity. Narrow-band filtering experiments further confirmed the enhanced effect when the mid-infrared light resonates with the O–H vibrational mode. The study also examines changes in the proton migration potential energy surface to reveal the underlying mechanism. These findings provide new insights for understanding solid-state ion conduction and developing low-energy, high-efficiency solid-state energy devices.
