Game Changer Scholars initiative attracts global leader in battery innovation

“Kang Xu, a world-renowned scientist and expert in battery technology, has been named an Ohio Eminent Scholar and Howard D. Winbigler Chair in Engineering at The Ohio State University, effective August 15, 2026. His appointment in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering represents another milestone of Ohio State’s Game Changer Scholars initiative, which aims to recruit transformative research leaders and elevate the university’s global impact. Xu is widely regarded as one of the world ’ s foremost experts in electrolyte materials and interface science, with more than 30 years of experience and a publication record that includes some of the most cited works in the field. His research has shaped modern understanding of advanced electrolytes, interphases and next ‑ generation battery chemistries. “I’m thrilled that Kang Xu is joining our community of world-class scholars at Ohio State,” said university President Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “ Our bold vision for excellence starts with our people – talented students, faculty and staff who create transformative impact across Ohio and beyond. With our Game Changer Scholars initiative, we will attract and retain even more top talent to Ohio State, and Dr. Xu’s appointment is an exciting step toward our goal of having leading academic programs in a top-ranked College of Engineering. With Dr. Xu on board, I know we will continue to be a leader and innovator in the evolving field of battery technology. ” He currently serves and will continue to serve as chief technology officer at SES AI Corporation, a lithium metal battery developer and manufacturer headquartered in Boston with operations in Singapore, Shanghai and Seoul. He has led the development of “Molecular Universe,” a platform that integrates AI and machine learning tools with massive databases and fully autonomous labs to accelerate advanced battery materials research. Before joining SES AI, Xu served at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) as a principal investigator and distinguished ARL Fellow and became known for foundational contributions to electrolyte chemistry. He established the solvation-interphase correlation, which has been extensively adopted by the battery community and beyond as the basic law governing the design of new electrolyte materials. Upon his retirement from federal service in 2023, he received an Army Civilian Service Medal. His career achievements, international recognition and record of scientific innovation place him among the most influential figures in the global energy storage and electrochemistry community. “It’s such an honor to be appointed as Ohio Eminent Scholar and Winbigler Chair, two extremely prestigious titles,” said Xu. “The rapid electrification of everything and the emergence of AI present both opportunities and challenges. Ohio State’s outstanding faculty, students and world-class facilities, especially the Battery Cell R&D Center’s dry room and its analytic and super-computing resources, make it an ideal platform to advance energy storage technology. I am looking forward to the excitement of collaborating with colleagues both at Ohio State and globally.” Among his nearly 400 publications, he is best known in the field for the two comprehensive reviews published in Chemical Reviews in 2004 and 2014, and a textbook titled Electrolytes, Interfaces and Interphases published by RSC Press in April 2023, which was translated into Chinese in 2025. His work has received many recognitions and awards, including multiple Department of Defense R&D Awards, the 2015 University of Maryland Invention of the Year, the 2017 International Battery Association Technology Award, and the 2018 Electrochemical Society (ECS) Battery Research Award. He was elected as an ECS Fellow in 2020 and a Materials Research Society Fellow in the 2023 class. “Dr. Xu’s arrival bolsters our position as a global leader in battery science at a time when global demand for safer, higher‑performance energy storage is rapidly expanding,” said Ohio State College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard. “His engagement will help us accelerate interdisciplinary research, amplify industry partnerships, and contribute to statewide initiatives in electrification and sustainable energy technologies.” The Ohio Eminent Scholar Program was established in 1983 by the Ohio General Assembly and is administered by the Ohio Board of Regents. Its goal is to enhance the national prominence of outstanding academic programs at Ohio universities by attracting internationally recognized scholars. These endowed, senior-level positions are awarded to researchers with distinguished records of creative and influential achievement.

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