The sustainable development calls for advanced new-energy technologies, such as artificial photosynthesis and secondary batteries. The International Joint Research Laboratory of Materials Microstructure is oriented to address the major challenges in energy conservation and emission reduction, and has been focused on the research on catalyst preparation, microstructure characterization and charge transport kinetics in artificial photosynthesis and secondary batteries. The laboratory has forged close collaboration with top-level international research institutes, and aims to establish a platform for high-impact fundamental research and to achieve a diverse range of original discoveries and technological breakthroughs.

The laboratory has assembled a high-level research team. Both Chinese and international members possess solid academic foundations in the fields of new-energy materials preparation, microstructure characterization, and mechanistic studies. Focusing on the major subject of “material microstructures”, the laboratory has developed three key research directions, namely, electron microscopies of microstructures in nanomaterials, photo-/electro-catalytic water splitting for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide reduction, and porous metal catalysts for secondary batteries.