Kang Xu, a scientist known for his work in battery technology, has been appointed as an Ohio Eminent Scholar and Howard D. Winbigler Chair in Engineering at The Ohio State University, effective Aug. 15.
Xu’s appointment is part of the university’s Game Changer Scholars initiative, which aims to bring research leaders to campus and expand its global influence. The program seeks to recruit individuals who can help elevate academic programs and foster innovation across various fields.
Xu is recognized internationally for his expertise in electrolyte materials and interface science. He has more than three decades of experience and has authored some of the most cited publications in his field. “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.”
Currently serving as chief technology officer at SES AI Corporation—a lithium metal battery developer—Xu leads projects integrating artificial intelligence with autonomous labs for advanced battery research. Before this role, he was a principal investigator at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory where he contributed foundational work on electrolyte chemistry.
“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 nearly 400 publications by Xu are influential reviews published in Chemical Reviews (2004; 2014) as well as a textbook released by RSC Press that was later translated into Chinese.
Ohio State College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard said: “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… His engagement will help us accelerate interdisciplinary research, amplify industry partnerships, and contribute to statewide initiatives in electrification and sustainable energy technologies.”
The university operates six campuses statewide with outreach efforts including affordable education initiatives throughout all counties according to the official website.
