Portrait_Alt
Prof. XU Jijian
徐吉健教授
PhD (ZJU)

Assistant Professor


Contact Information
Office: YEUNG-P5316
Phone: +852 3442-4679
Fax: +852 3442-0522
Email: jijianxu@cityu.edu.hk
Web: https://jijianxu.com/
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7727-0488
Scopus Author ID: 57218340423
Research Interests
  • Energy storage and conversion
  • Batteries
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrolyte design and interphases
  • Sustainable energy

Dr. Jijian Xu received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Zhejiang University (ZJU). After three years as a postdoc with Prof. Chunsheng Wang, he was promoted as an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Maryland (UMD). He joined City University of Hong Kong and set up his research group in 2023.

Dr. Xu's research interests focus on developing advanced electrolytes and novel electrode materials for high-energy batteries. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in Nature, Science, Nature Energy (2), Nature Sustainability, Nature Synthesis, Nature Reviews Chemistry, Nature Communications (3), Joule, Advanced Materials (6), Energy & Environmental Science (2), etc., with a total citation over 10000 times and an H-index of 45 (Google Scholar). He has obtained over 15 Chinese and PCT invention patents, two of which were granted to related companies for commercialization.

Selected Publications

 (*corresponding author)
(Full publication list is available here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ylNy2ooAAAAJ&hl=zh-CN)

  • J. Xu, J. Zhang, T. P. Pollard, Q. Li, T. Sha, S. Hou, H. Wan, F. Chen, H. He, E. Hu, K. Xu, X.-Q. Yang, O. Borodin*, C. Wang*, Electrolyte Design for Li-ion Batteries under Extreme Operating Conditions, Nature 2023, 614, 694. (ESI highly cited paper)
  • N. Zhang, J. Zhang, W. Zhang, Z. Wang, C.-X. Zhao, A. Li, Y. Liu, Z. Li, K. Xia, H. Wan, A. Phan, C. Mesirow, Y. Yang, B. L. Lucht, E. Hu, X. Ji, D. E. Jiang*, J. Xu*, C. Wang*. Lithium-Disulfur Dichloride Batteries. Nature Energy 2026, accepted.
  • J. Xu, X. Ji, J. Zhang, C. Yang, P. F. Wang, S. Liu, K. Ludwig, F. Chen, P. Kofinas, C. Wang*, Aqueous Electrolyte Design for Super-Stable 2.5 V LiMn2O4||Li4Ti5O12 Pouch Cells, Nature Energy 2022, 7, 186. (ESI highly cited paper)
  • H. Wan, J. Xu*, C. Wang*. Designing electrolytes and interphases for high-energy lithium batteries, Nature Reviews Chemistry 2024, 8, 30-44.
  • C. Hu, Y. Zhang, R. Ren, J. Xu*, L. Liu, Q. Kong, Z. Hu, S. Zheng, L. Zhuang, J. Huang*, Y. Tan*, X. Huang*. A selenium-mediated layer-by-layer synthetic strategy for multilayered multicomponent nanocrystals, Nature Synthesis 2024, 3, 1299-1309.
  • Y. Shen, H. Zhang, Y. Wu, M. Sun, D. Feng, J. Qin, Z. Shi, B. Huang*, J. Xu*. Unlocking high-valence chalcogen redox with halide-rich electrolytes for high-energy lithium batteries. Nature Communications 2026, 10.1038/s41467-026-77258-w.
  • D. Feng, Y. Xie, Y. Shen, H. Zhang, X. Chen, P. F. Wang, J. Qin, Y. Jiao*, J. Xu*. Tetravalent organic cation-enabled dual interfacial regulation for durable aqueous zinc-iodine batteries. Nature Communications 2026, 17, 7790.
  • H. Zhang, L. Wang, L. Chen, X. He, R. Lin, H. Zeng, J. Xu*. Eupolymer-Inorganic Solid-Electrolyte Interphases for Fast-Charging Silicon-Based Anodes. ACS Energy Letters 2026, 10.1021/acsenergylett.6c02291.
  • S. Wu, H. Zhang, H. Zeng, J. Xu*. Transition Metal Crosstalk in High-Voltage Li-ion Batteries from Fundamental Mechanisms to Mitigation Strategies. Energy & Environmental Science 2026, 19, 4873-4897.
  • W. Xu, Z. Chang, H. Wan, B. Wang, H. Ding, J. Xu*, X. Li*. Competitive solvent occupation chemistry enabling robust four-electron conversion for anti-freezing aqueous zinc-iodine batteries. Energy & Environmental Science 2026, 19, 3010-3020.
  • J. Zheng*, Q. Li, X. Chu, Z. Zhang, H. Lou, R. Chen, X. Cao, M. Ma, J. Xu*, Z. Lin, Q. Lai*. Quasi-Crowding Solvation Design of Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Stable High-Temperature Potassium-Ion Batteries. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2026, e4883105.
  • Z. Ruan, H. Zhang, H Zeng, B. Cui, R. Lin, A. L. Phan, C. Hu*, J. Xu*. Electrolyte-Enabled Reversible ICl Intercalation in Graphite as Transition-Metal-Free Cathodes. Science Bulletin 2026, 10.1016/j.scib.2026.07.081.
  • J. Gong, D. Gao, H. Zhang, X. Liang, B. Li, Q. Liu, L. Qian, X. Li, X. Wu, C. Zhang, Z. Yu, F. Vanin, X. C. Zeng*, N. Li*, J. Xu*, C. Zhi*, Z. Zhu*. Highly Efficient All-Perovskite Photovoltaic-Powered Battery with Dual-Function Viologen for Portable Electronics. Nature Communications, 2025 16, 7980.
  • H. Zhang, Y. Zhao*, X. Li, H. Wang, L. Wang, Y. Song, F. Qiao, J. Wang, J. Xu*. Wide-Temperature Electrolyte Design via Cation-Anion Solvation Engineering for 4.6 V Lithium-Ion Batteries. Advanced Science 2025, 202503151.
  • R. Lin, Y. Jin*, Y. Li, M. Fu, Y. Gong, L. Lei, Y. Zhang, J. Xu*, Y Xiong*. Decoupling Interfacial Stability and Ion Transport in Solid Polymer Electrolyte by Tailored Ligand Chemistry for Lithium Metal Battery. Advanced Functional Materials 2025, 35, 2421880
  • N. Zhang, A. Li, W. Zhang, Z. Wang, Y. Liu, X. Zhang, Y. Ren, H. Wan, J. Xu*, C. Wang*. 4.6V Moisture-Tolerant Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries. Advanced Materials 2024, 2408039.
  • J. Xu*, V. Koverga, A. Phan, A.-M. Li, N. Zhang, M. Baek, C. Jayawardana, B. L. Lucht, A. T. Ngo*, C. Wang*. Revealing the Anion-Solvent Interaction for Ultralow Temperature Lithium Metal Batteries. Advanced Materials 2024, 36, 2306462.
  • S. Sun, K. Wang, Z. Hong, M. Zhi*, K. Zhang*, J. Xu*. Electrolyte Design for Low-Temperature Li-Metal Batteries: Challenges and Prospects. Nano-Micro Letters 2024, 16, 35. (Invited)
  • J. Gong, H. Zhang, X. Liang, P. Li, Y. Liu, X. Li, C. Zhi, Z. Zhu*, X. C. Zeng*, N. Li*, J. Xu*. Cation Engineering Perovskite Cathodes for Fast and Stable Anion Redox Chemistry in Zinc-Iodine Batteries. Advanced Functional Materials 2024, 34, 2411137.
  • L. Yue, M. Yu, X. Li, Y. Shen, Y. Wu, C. Fa, N. Li, J. Xu*. Wide Temperature Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries: Solvation Chemistry and Interfacial Reactions. Small Methods 2024, 2400183.
  • J. Xu, T. P. Pollard, C. Yang, N. K. Dandu, T. Sha, J. Zhou, J. Wamg, X. He, X. Zhang, A.-M. Li, E. Hu, X.-Q. Yang, A. Ngo, O. Borodin, C. Wang*, Lithium Halides Cathodes for Li Metal Batteries, Joule 2023, 7, 83.
  • J. Zhang, P- F. Wang, P. Bai, H. Wan, S. Liu, S. Hou, X. Pu, J. Xia, W. Zhang, Z. Wang, B, Nan, X. Zhang, J. Xu*, C. Wang*, Interfacial Design for 4.6 V High‐Voltage Single‐Crystalline LiCoO2 Cathode. Advanced Materials 2022, 34, 2108353. (ESI highly cited paper)
  • J. Xu*. Critical Review on Cathode Electrolyte Interphase towards High-Voltage Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries, Nano-Micro Letters 2022, 14, 166. (Invited)
  • S. Hou, X. Ji, K. Gaskell, P.-f. Wang, L. Wang, J. Xu, R. Sun, O. Borodin*, C. Wang*. Solvation sheath reorganization enables divalent metal batteries with fast interfacial charge transfer kinetics. Science 2021, 374, 172. (ESI highly cited paper)
  • J. Xu, D. Wang, S. Kong, R. Li, Z. Hong*, F. Huang*. Pyrochlore phase Ce2Sn2O7 via an atom-confining strategy for reversible lithium storage. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2020, 8, 5744.
  • J. Xu, J. He, W. Ding, Z. Hong, F. Huang*. Boosting the Stable Na Storage Performance in 1D Oxysulfide. Advanced Energy Materials 2019, 9, 1900170.
  • J. Xu, F. Xu, M. Qian, F. Xu, Z. Hong, F. Huang*. Conductive carbon nitride for excellent energy storage. Advanced Materials 2017, 29, 1701674.
  • J. Xu, W. Ding, W. Zhao, W. Zhao, Z. Hong*, F. Huang*. In situ growth enabling ideal graphene encapsulation upon mesocrystalline MTiO3 (M= Ni, Co, Fe) nanorods for stable lithium storage. ACS Energy Letters 2017, 2, 659.
  • J. Xu, W. Dong, C. Song, Y. Tang, W. Zhao, Z. Hong*, F. Huang*. Black rutile (Sn, Ti)O2 initializing electrochemically reversible Sn nanodots embedded in amorphous lithiated titania matrix for efficient lithium storage. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2016, 4,15698.
Research Positions Available

Several positions including Postdoctoral research associate, Ph.D. Students and Research Assistants are available in Dr. Xu’s research lab (https://jijianxu.com). We welcome worldwide applications from motivated students with strong interests in chemical/ materials/energy science & engineering. Highly competitive salaries and benefits will be provided. Please feel free to contact Dr. Xu (jijianxu@cityu.edu.hk) with your CV if you are interested.

Awards And Achievements

2026 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship

2026 CSCI Outstanding Knowledge Transfer & Impact Award (CSCI-KTIA)

2026 Gold Medal with Jury Congratulations at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

2026 RSC ChemComm Emerging Investigator

2025 Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award

2025 NSFC Young Scientists Fund -Category B

2025 Science China Chemistry Emerging Investigator

2025 RSC Journal of Materials Chemistry A Emerging Investigator

2024-25 World's Top 2% Scientist

2024 "Elite Youth" Award of Chinese Chemical Society, one of five nationwide

2024 Elsevier Materials Today Rising Star Award – Energy Conversion and Storage

2024 Wiley Advanced Science "Rising Stars" 

2023 ECS Battery Division Postdoctoral Associate Research Award, one of two worldwide

2018 Ministry of Education of China, National Scholarship for Excellent Graduate Students

2014 Distinguished Graduate from Zhejiang University

Professional service

Prof. Xu is actively involved in a wide range of professional services to the research communities and society.

  • Editorial Member of Science Bulletin (Since 2025).
  • Early-career Editorial Board Member of Nano-Micro Letters, eScience, Materials Futures, Battery Energy, International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials, etc.
  • Guest Editor of Energy Storage Materials (2023-2024), Batteries (2022-2023) etc.
  • Reviewer for more than 30 prestigious journals such as Nature, Nature Energy, Nature Chemistry, Nature Sustainability, Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, etc.
  • Fellow of the Ceramics Committee of the Chinese Crystal Society.

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