# Ju Li
**Ju Li** (李巨) is a materials scientist and engineer who has been Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering at the [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://www.edgepedia.org/massachusetts-institute-of-technology) since July 2011, holding a full professorship jointly in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf) His group studies the mechanical, electrochemical, and transport behaviors of materials and new means of energy storage and conversion, with applications in nuclear energy, batteries, and electrolyzers.[2](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/) He is also a Core PI at MIT's Center for Computational Science and Engineering, where his stated interests include overcoming timescale challenges in atomistic simulations and materials in extreme environments far from equilibrium.[3](https://cse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/)
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Position | Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, MIT, since July 2011[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf) |
| Field | Energy storage and conversion materials; atomistic materials modeling; nuclear materials[2](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/) |
| Training | BS physics, USTC, 1994; PhD nuclear engineering, MIT, 2000, under Sidney Yip[4](http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46283) |
| Career | Ohio State 2002–2007; University of Pennsylvania 2007–2011; MIT from 2011[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf) |
| Signature work | DRXPS lithium-excess cathodes (Nature Energy 2024); eutectic-salt single-crystal cathode synthesis (Nature Energy 2023); actor–critic methanol fuel-cell control (Nature Energy 2025)[5](https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/156386?show=full) |
| Honors | PECASE 2005; MRS Outstanding Young Investigator 2006; APS Fellow 2014; MRS Fellow 2017; TMS Fellow 2022[6](https://nse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/) |
## Education and career
Li studied in the Special Class for Gifted Young at the [University of Science and Technology of China](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-science-and-technology-of-china) from 1990 to 1994, earning a BS in physics in 1994.[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf) He then entered MIT's Department of Nuclear Engineering; according to his curriculum vitae, he completed more than 30 graduate-level courses across eight MIT departments and received his PhD in September 2000 for the thesis *Modeling microstructural effects of deformation resistance and thermal conductivity*, certified by [Sidney Yip](https://www.edgepedia.org/sidney-yip), Professor of Nuclear Engineering, as thesis supervisor.[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf) • [4](http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46283)
He stayed at MIT as a postdoctoral associate (2000 to April 2002) and then research scientist (to September 2002) in the Departments of Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering.[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf) He was an assistant professor at [Ohio State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/ohio-state-university) from September 2002 to September 2007, then associate professor in materials science and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania from September 2007 to June 2011, before returning to MIT as a full professor in July 2011.[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf) • [8](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7841-8058) He also held adjunct professorships at [Xi'an Jiaotong University](https://www.edgepedia.org/xian-jiaotong-university) (2009–2020) and Tongji University (2016–2021).[1](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf)
MIT's own pages give differing titles for him: while the NSE, DMSE, and CCSE pages list him as Carl Richard Soderberg Professor in Power Engineering,[6](https://nse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/) • [2](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/) • [3](https://cse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/) the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies and the Plasma Science & Fusion Center call him the Tokyo Electric Power Company Professor in Nuclear Engineering and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering,[9](https://news.mit.edu/2024/study-disordered-rock-salts-battery-breakthrough-0823) and his ORCID record lists him as BEA professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering.[8](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7841-8058) • [15](https://isn.mit.edu/people/prof-ju-li)
## Representative work
**Integrated rocksalt–polyanion cathodes (Nature Energy, 2024).** A team led by Li described a new cathode class, disordered rock salt-polyanionic spinel (DRXPS), which combines high energy density at high voltage with improved cycling stability, according to an MIT News report on the study.[9](https://news.mit.edu/2024/study-disordered-rock-salts-battery-breakthrough-0823) [Disordered rock salt](https://www.edgepedia.org/disordered-rock-salt) cathodes can reach capacities up to 350 mAh/g, against 190–200 mAh/g for traditional cathodes, but degrade because oxygen becomes mobile; adding phosphorus forms polyanions with neighboring oxygen atoms in a cation-deficient rock salt structure, pinning them through strong P–O covalent bonding and stopping percolating oxygen transport, so oxygen-contributed capacity can be used with good stability.[9](https://news.mit.edu/2024/study-disordered-rock-salts-battery-breakthrough-0823) • [10](https://mrl.mit.edu/article/study_of_disordered_rock_salts_leads_to_battery_breakthrough) The reported cathode is cobalt- and nickel-free, built mainly on manganese, which Li says is far less expensive than nickel and cobalt; it delivers gravimetric energy densities above 1,100 Wh/kg with more than 70% retention over 100 cycles at a 4.8 V upper cut-off voltage.[9](https://news.mit.edu/2024/study-disordered-rock-salts-battery-breakthrough-0823) • [5](https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/156386?show=full)
**Eutectic salt-assisted planetary centrifugal deagglomeration (Nature Energy, 2023).** Li co-authored a paper reporting a route to single-crystalline cathode synthesis using eutectic salts in planetary centrifugal processing.[11](http://li.mit.edu/A/Papers/BatteriesFuelCellsElectrochemicalSystems.html)
**Actor–critic control of direct methanol fuel cells (Nature Energy, 2025).** Li co-authored a paper applying an actor–critic reinforcement-learning algorithm to maximize the power delivered from direct methanol fuel cells, published in Nature Energy volume 10, pages 951–961.[11](http://li.mit.edu/A/Papers/BatteriesFuelCellsElectrochemicalSystems.html)
His review article "Developing High-Performance Lithium Metal Anode in Liquid Electrolytes: Challenges and Progress" was published in Advanced Materials in 2018.[12](https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201706375)
## Research program
Beyond batteries, the group's nuclear-energy work includes carbon-nanotube and nanowire strengthened metallic nanocomposites that survive high-dose radiation and high temperature, 3D printing of refractory alloys, and ceramic-zirconium crystal thermal superinsulators that take heat up to 1,400 degrees Celsius.[13](https://news.mit.edu/2021/atomic-design-carbon-free-planet-ju-li-mit-0125) A 2021 project designed all-solid-state batteries using honeycomb-shaped nanostructures stable in contact with highly corrosive lithium metal.[13](https://news.mit.edu/2021/atomic-design-carbon-free-planet-ju-li-mit-0125) On the computing side, the group's work ranges from the first universal neural network interatomic potential to analog neuromorphic computing hardware and quantum information processing,[2](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/) and DMSE highlights a rechargeable, weavable, and waterproof fiber battery 140 meters long, described as the world's longest flexible fiber battery.[2](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/) According to MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Li is chief organizer of the MIT A+B Applied Energy Symposia, which frame climate technologies as "A-Action before 2040" and "B-Beyond 2040".[2](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/) • [6](https://nse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/)
## AI for materials discovery since 2023
In September 2025 his group presented CRESt, an AI system described in Nature; according to MIT News, it explored more than 900 chemistries and ran about 3,000 electrochemical tests over three months.[14](https://news.mit.edu/2025/ai-system-learns-many-types-scientific-information-and-runs-experiments-discovering-new-materials-0925) CRESt discovered an eight-element catalyst that achieved a 9.3-fold improvement in power density per dollar over pure palladium in a direct formate fuel cell, delivering record power density with one-fourth the precious metals of previous devices.[14](https://news.mit.edu/2025/ai-system-learns-many-types-scientific-information-and-runs-experiments-discovering-new-materials-0925) Li describes the system as combining multimodal feedback from literature and human experts with robotic synthesis, characterization, and performance testing to design new experiments.[14](https://news.mit.edu/2025/ai-system-learns-many-types-scientific-information-and-runs-experiments-discovering-new-materials-0925)
Recent patent filings track the same directions: a lithium-excess, polyanionized rocksalt cathode application filed 5 February 2026, chalcogen-halide solid electrolytes for lithium or sodium batteries dated 18 December 2025, and an earlier [solid-state battery](https://www.edgepedia.org/solid-state-battery) spray-pyrolysis application dated 9 November 2023.[7](https://www.patents-review.com/inventor/614681-ju-li-weston-ma-us.html)
## Honors and recognition
Li received the 2005 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the 2006 Materials Research Society Outstanding Young Investigator Award, and the TR35 award from *Technology Review*; he also received the TMS Robert Lansing Hardy Award in 2009.[6](https://nse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/) He was elected a Fellow of the [American Physical Society](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-physical-society) in 2014, a Fellow of the [Materials Research Society](https://www.edgepedia.org/materials-research-society) in 2017, and a Fellow of TMS in 2022.[6](https://nse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/) His AAAS Fellow year is reported differently by MIT's own pages: the NSE page says 2020, while the DMSE honors list says 2019.[6](https://nse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/) • [2](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/)
## Patents and industry connections
Patent records list him as inventor on applications assigned chiefly to MIT, with Samsung, Honda, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and other organizations among additional assignees.[7](https://www.patents-review.com/inventor/614681-ju-li-weston-ma-us.html) According to the MIT DSpace record for the 2024 cathode paper, Honda Research Institute USA supported the work.[5](https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/156386?show=full)
## References
1. [Ju Li curriculum vitae (li.mit.edu)](http://li.mit.edu/Archive/Papers/cv.pdf)
2. [Ju Li – MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering](https://dmse.mit.edu/people/faculty/ju-li/)
3. [Ju Li – MIT Center for Computational Science and Engineering](https://cse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/)
4. [Modeling microstructural effects of deformation resistance and thermal conductivity (MIT PhD thesis, 2000)](http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46283)
5. [Integrated rocksalt–polyanion cathodes with excess lithium and stabilized cycling (MIT DSpace record)](https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/156386?show=full)
6. [Ju Li | MIT Nuclear Science and Engineering](https://nse.mit.edu/people/ju-li/)
7. [Ju Li from Weston, US – Inventor Profile (patent database)](https://www.patents-review.com/inventor/614681-ju-li-weston-ma-us.html)
8. [Ju Li (0000-0002-7841-8058) – ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7841-8058)
9. [Study of disordered rock salts leads to battery breakthrough | MIT News](https://news.mit.edu/2024/study-disordered-rock-salts-battery-breakthrough-0823)
10. [Study of disordered rock salts leads to battery breakthrough – MIT Materials Research Laboratory](https://mrl.mit.edu/article/study_of_disordered_rock_salts_leads_to_battery_breakthrough)
11. [Batteries, Fuel Cells and Electrochemical Systems (Li group publication list)](http://li.mit.edu/A/Papers/BatteriesFuelCellsElectrochemicalSystems.html)
12. [Developing High-Performance Lithium Metal Anode in Liquid Electrolytes: Challenges and Progress (Advanced Materials, 2018)](https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201706375)
13. [Atomic design for a carbon-free planet | MIT News](https://news.mit.edu/2021/atomic-design-carbon-free-planet-ju-li-mit-0125)
14. [AI system learns from many types of scientific information and runs experiments to discover new materials | MIT News](https://news.mit.edu/2025/ai-system-learns-many-types-scientific-information-and-runs-experiments-discovering-new-materials-0925)
15. [Prof ju li (isn.mit.edu)](https://isn.mit.edu/people/prof-ju-li)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Engineers and computer scientists › Engineers and materials scientists › Researchers in materials science and nanotechnology › Energy materials (batteries, supercapacitors, photovoltaics)*
*Initially written Sep 20, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 25, 2026; Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 25, 2026; Sep 30, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license