Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Convening Top International Scholars to Collaborate a Green Energy Blueprint: Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics Successfully Held the Second "Belt and Road" International Symposium on High-Temperature Solid Oxide Cells

From November 19th to 22nd, 2025, the Second "Belt and Road" International Symposium on High-Temperature Solid Oxide Cells (SOCs), jointly hosted by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SINAP) and the Shanghai Nuclear Society, was successfully held at the Jiading Campus of SINAP. This conference focused on high-temperature solid oxide cell technology, gathering top scientists, engineers, and industry experts from countries along the "Belt and Road" initiative and other regions. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions centered on the core scientific problems, key engineering challenges, and frontier technological innovations in this field.

Opening Address: Calling for Deepened Cooperation in China and Abroad to Jointly Promote Innovation and Development of SOCs Technology

The opening ceremony of the symposium was hosted by Prof. Guntae Kim of SINAP. Opening addresses were delivered by Prof. Yang Zou, Member of the SINAP Management Committee/Researcher; Prof. Guoping Xiao, the Professoriate Senior Engineer of SINAPand Prof. Chengxin Li of Xi'an Jiaotong University. All the speakers emphasized and agreed unanimously that SOCs, as an efficient and flexible energy conversion technology, hold significant importance for China in achieving its "Dual Carbon" strategic goals (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality) and ensuring energy security. They also sincerely called for deeper cooperation and collaborative innovation between domestic and international partners to jointly promote the thriving development of this technology and accelerate the demonstration and commercial application of related industrial technologies.

Frontier Report Showcase: Experts and Scholars from Multiple Countries Share the Latest Research Progress

The symposium was showcased across four dimensions: Keynote Presentations, Invited Talks, Oral Report, and Posters. The Keynote Presentations specifically invited top domestic and international scientists in the SOCs field. including Academician Jing-Li Luo of University of Alberta and Shenzhen University, Prof. San Ping Jiang of Curtin University, Prof. Jian Li of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Prof. Shaorong Wang of China University of Mining and Technology, Prof. Hailei Zhao of the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Prof. Bin Zhu of Loughborough University, Prof. Truls Norby of University of Oslo, and Prof. Peizhen Su of Nanyang Technological University. Their topics covered areas such as the innovative materials in SOCs, matching and preparation of different layers within the cell, progress in stack development, degradation mechanisms, and advancements in proton-conducting SOCs.

The conference also invited prestigious scholars and technical directors from domestic and international enterprises to comprehensively share their latest research findings. The presentations were informative and fascinating, and the engaging discussion allowed participants to have an in-depth exchange on the performance-cost-application scenarios of SOC technology.

Keynote Presentation by Academician Jing-Li Luo of the University of Alberta and Shenzhen University: Enhancing performances of perovskite electrocatalysts for solid oxide fuel cells/solid oxide electrolysis cells

Keynote Presentation by Professor San Ping Jiang of Curtin University: Assessment of protonic ceramic electrolyte and electrode materials from view point of Cr poisoning

Keynote Presentation by Professor Jian Li of Huazhong University of Science and Technology: Key materials for SOFC/SOEC

Keynote Presentation by Professor Shaorong Wang of China University of Mining and Technology: Understanding the durability of oxygen electrodes in high steam conditions for reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells

Keynote Presentation by Professor Hailei Zhao of the University of Science and Technology Beijing: Grain-boundary engineering to boost the oxygen electrode reaction kinetics of SOCs

Keynote Presentation by Professor Bin Zhu of Loughborough University: SOFC past, today and tomorrow and Belt - Road initiatives

Keynote Presentation by Professor Truls Norby of the University of Oslo: Hydrogen from natural gas, biogas, and ammonia using proton ceramic electrochemical reactors

Keynote Presentation by Professor Pei-Chen Su of Nanyang Technological University: Thin films and surface modifications for solid oxide fuel cells

Invited Talks: Well-Known Domestic and International Scholars and Corporate Technical Leaders Comprehensively Share the Latest Research Findings

Posters: Displaying the Latest Research Findings in the Field of Solid Oxide Cells

The presentations at this symposium focused on critical scientific and engineering challenges related to SOCs. Several experts provided systematic analyses covering the R&D of cell materials, regulation of electrode interfaces, enhancement of reaction kinetics, and system engineering applications. Furthermore, the symposium showcased engineering progress in HT-SOCs cell and stack design, thermal management, and system integration. Overall, the event reflected the latest achievements in the international SOC field with regard to key material R&D, interfacial reaction mechanisms, stack structure design, and system industrial application. This provided research direction for the subsequent large-scale application of HT-SOC technology, cross-disciplinary collaborative research, and international cooperation.

During the conference, attendees visited the History Museum of SINAP, the 20kW high-temperature hydrogen production system, and Shanghai Hyenergy Technology Co., Ltd., gaining a more comprehensive understanding of SINAP's research landscape and industrialization progress in the field of HT-SOC technology. Through on-site discussion, the participants engaged in deep communication with the technical teams, further expanding the cooperation channels for industry-academia-research collaborative innovation.

Campus Tour: Consolidating Consensus on Cooperation and Jointly Charting the Technological Blueprint

The closing ceremony of the conference was addressed by Prof. Jian-Qiang Wang, Researcher of SINAP. He expressed sincere gratitude to the experts and scholars who attended from across the nation and overseas, and fully affirmed the high-level academic exchange and enthusiastic discussions showcased during the conference. He stated that it was precisely the active participation and profound academic insights of all attendees that allowed this international conference to achieve its outstanding academic quality and broad international influence.

Closing Address by Prof. Jian-Qiang Wang, Researcher at SINAP

The successful organization of this symposium not only built a bridge for communication ranging from fundamental research to engineering application but also promoted exchange and cooperation between China and international institutions in this field. This international symposium fully demonstrated the value of scientific and technological collaborative innovation under the "Belt and Road", consolidating consensus and converging strength to drive breakthroughs in HT-SOC technology.