Yong Zhao, born in June 1980, Doctor, professor. From 1999 to 2003, he received a bachelor's degree in Applied Chemistry in Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University of science and technology. From 2003 to 2008, he awarded the PHD candidate in physical chemistry of the Institute of chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. From 2008 to 2015, he worked as a postdoctoral student in the Department of Applied chemistry, School of technology, Tokyo University. Since 2016, he has been a distinguished professor of "climbing plan" of Key Laboratory of special functional materials, Ministry of education of Henan University. Scientific and technological innovation talents of colleges and universities in Henan Province. Member of Jiusan Society, deputy director of science and Technology Committee of Henan Provincial Committee of Jiusan Society, and member of the 12th CPPCC of Kaifeng City.

At present, the main researches of Yong Zhao group focused on the multi-scale structure control of electrode functional materials and its application in energy converters. It is undertaking a number of scientific research projects, such as the introduction of overseas high-level talents by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the start-up fund of climbing professor of Henan University. A series of research achievements have been made in the field of energy converters based on the multidisciplinary background of materials, chemistry and physics. So far, he has published more than thirty SCI papers and authorized three patents in international academic journals. Since he was appointed as the special professor of "climbing program" of Henan University, Professor Yong Zhao has published eight papers in famous international academic journals such as Chem. Soc. Rev., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. and Adv. Funct. Mater., etc. Besides,  Yong Zhao also approved to preside over 2 National Natural Science Foundation projects.

He once traveled north and South because of his studies, crossed Hunan, Vietnam and Shaanxi to Beijing, went to Tokyo, Japan, and took root in Henan University.

He got excellent results in chemistry examination in college entrance examination, and fell in love with Henan University because of her deep cultural background and warm humanistic feelings.

He is modest, studious and knowledgeable. He shows the positive mentality and infinite future of young scholars in the new era. As 80's returned scholar, Yong Zhao is such a distinguished professor of "climbing plan" of Henan University, who concentrates on his career, studies and demonstrates the power of an example.

On a Sunday afternoon, I gently opened the door of Professor Yong Zhao's office and found a small bed in the corner. It turned out that Professor Yong Zhao had been used to taking the laboratory as his home. In his time, it seems that there is no night, no weekend, and the time for scientific research is always static.

Looking back on his study abroad, Professor Yong Zhao has a precious memory on his way to scientific research. In 2008, he went to Tokyo to study electrochemical energy conversion system. In 2012, he successfully found that nitrogen doped carbon materials have high activity in electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. In Yong Zhao’s mind, this is an accidental discovery though the result spend a year's hard work, but it is due to the leap from the accumulation of electrochemical knowledge in quantity to the leap of quality. It is the accident of fate, but it is also inevitable.

The road to scientific research has never been smooth. Professor Yong Zhao's research results encountered unexpected difficulties in the process of publishing the paper: After four reviews, the manuscripts were changed a lot, and even was rejected in the third round. "At that time, the professor of Tokyo University suggested that I choose another magazine, but I still want to try again. If the evidence is not sufficient, I will add some experimental data to confirm my academic views." Professor Yong Zhao said. In the eyes of colleagues, no matter what kind of difficulties he encounters, Professor Yong Zhao always takes a positive attitude and never gives up. Later, he consulted a large number of literature and carried out several experiments to verify the correctness and feasibility of the data in the paper. With the unremitting insistence of Professor Yong Zhao, it was finally recognized by the reviewers. Subsequently, this research paper was published in Nature Communications. This paper has been cited more than 600 times so far, which provides a reference for the research in this field. Whenever he recalls this experience, Professor Yong Zhao has a deep feeling: "the biggest harvest is persistence. As long as you make efforts, you will not regret your life." There is no end to learning. "Heaven is strong, and a gentleman is constantly striving for self-improvement." this famous saying inspired him to go forward bravely and firmly on the road of scientific research.

In September 2015, Professor Yong Zhao finished his 7-year overseas research work and returned to the motherland. When it comes to the reason for returning home, his answer is sincere and simple: "I just want to come back." After returning to China, Professor Yong Zhao resolutely chose Henan University for the olive branches thrown out by many units. He said that the exchange with Hu Binbin, a teacher of the Key Lab for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education of Henan University, was a rare fate. Professor Yong Zhao said: "After I came to the University, the leaders and teachers of the school and laboratory gave me a lot of care and support. They not only provided research start-up funds, research offices and other research platforms, but also gave me a lot of convenience in life." Professor Yong Zhao sows new scientific research seeds on the fertile soil of Henan University.

Devote oneself to scientific research and climb bravely

After coming to Henan University, Professor Yong Zhao was entrusted with an important task. Since 2016, he has organized young laboratory teachers to carry out "Youth Academic Salon" scientific research and academic activities, personally went to the battle and shared his scientific research experience, and led the "special merit people" to roll up their sleeves and work hard to keep moving forward. With the support of the University, Professor Yong Zhao has set up an independent research group, specializing in research direction of "multi-scale structure, electrode activity regulation of electrode functional materials and energy converter devices". The "electrochemical catalysis and energy converter device laboratory" has begun to take shape.

"As an applied science, the development of high technology not only depends on precise applied research, but also needs a solid and strong basic research." Professor Yong Zhao is a member who is dedicated to the basic research. He has successively carried out research on electrocatalyst and new generation lithium metal based battery. He has been exploring and innovating in practice, contributing his own strength to the higher end of Applied Science Research in China.

In April 2019, Professor Yong Zhao's research group made new progress in the field of lithium-oxygen batteries. The paper titled "Capturing superoxide intermediates to promote the surface oxygen reduction reaction of metal-oxygen battery solid catalysts", published in the top international chemistry journal "Journal of the American Chemical Society" in full text form. In April 2020, Professor Yong Zhao's research group made new progress in the construction of a new two-phase electrolyte in the field of lithium metal batteries. The relevant results were published in the top international chemistry journal "Angewandte Chemie International Edition" in full text.

So far, Professor Yong Zhao has published more than 30 SCI papers in international academic journals and has authorized 3 patents. Since serving as the distinguished professor of the "Climbing Project" of Henan University, Yong Zhao has published more than 10 papers in famous international academic journals with Henan University as the first unit, such as Chem. Soc. Rev., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Funct. Mater.; 2 projects approved by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

With the accumulation of time and knowledge, he has always been firm in his beliefs and never forgets his job. Every progress of in-depth research is a heartfelt response to the high hopes of Henan University, the courage to assume the national mission, and a strong response to social needs. In 2017, he was awarded the "Thirteenth Henan Youth Science and Technology Award"; the Henan Provincial Department of Education awarded him the "Academic Technology Leader of the Department of Education" and the "Science and Technology Innovation Talent of Henan University"; he was also the 2017 Henan University Youth Five Four medal winners.

Conscientiously responsible and moral education ents

As a tutor, Professor Yong Zhao is strict with students and emphasizes the unity of academics and morals. He says that life is more than just doing scientific research. The road of live is still very long. Good research not always mean a good person. Professor Yong Zhao always used the words of his tutor Jiang Lei to warn students: "Being a person, doing things and making a paper, the first thing is to do a person, then is doing things, and finally is doing research."

Professor Yong Zhao as teacher in the eyes of the students: "Serious and lively, he was very strict with us in experiments, and he was very strict with himself in work." Xiaofeng He, a 2016 graduate student, recalled: "One time when Teacher Zhao taught us how to read foreign literatures. More than 10 pages of PPT talked from 8 pm to 1 am, and talked for 5 hours without stopping. At that time, we were very moved."

"Professor Yong Zhao often uses the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences as an example, and they are often still doing experiments at one or two in the morning: "We have worked so hard, but there are still people who work harder than us."

In the view of Xiaobing Wang, a young teacher in the research group, he teaches students in accordance with their aptitude, he is open to students, gives teachers and students a platform and space to give full play to and listen to opinions from all sides. "Insatiable in learning" for myself and "insatiable in teaching" to students. He is like a beacon, guiding the progress of He is like a beacon, guiding the progress of the iron tower students.

Talking about how to overcome the difficulties encountered in research, Prof. Yong Zhao said that first of all, we should communicate with a positive attitude, then look for traces from other people's works by reading the literature, relevant papers, etc., and after in-depth discussions, summarize their methods, and then carry out systematic analysis. He said, "Research is just like life, doing research is like falling in love. Doing research belongs to natural attributes, looking for them in the literature; life belongs to social attributes, looking for them in action." He believes that both need to learn the strengths of others, while learning to innovate and find another way to solve problems. Being good at learning and thinking is an important learning concept that Professor Yong Zhao teaches his students.

As the deputy director of the Science and Technology Committee of the Jiusan Society Henan Provincial Committee and a member of the 12th CPPCC in Kaifeng, his thoughts and actions are one and the same, and he pays special attention to the issue of talent, teamwork and the development of everyone. In his proposal, he pointed out that talent is an important factor limiting the development of the city, Kaifeng City Government should take effective measures to strengthen the construction of talent team. Specifically, that is, first, to find out the demand base, designated introduction and cultivation of planning; second, policy support, preferential treatment; third, to improve conditions, provide excellent environment, so that talent can be introduced, used well, to stay.

Communicative and passionate about life

Quiet experiment is a compulsory course for researchers. But Professor Yong Zhao believes that "quiet" scientific research also needs to "move" communication. When exploring unknown scientific research fields, the collision of ideas is inseparable, and he dares to break through himself, turning static into dynamic. When faced with a scientific problem, Professor Yong Zhao chooses to attend various academic conferences to communicate with everyone, and usually buys a train ticket and leaves.

Colleagues and students see Yong Zhao as a communicative, scientific and logical thinker. However, he admits that he used to be a very introverted person, so he lost many opportunities. So he encourages students to communicate in experiments and research. For young researchers, Yong Zhao, with his own experience, wants them to sink their teeth into doing experiments. "Sinking down is not bored in the lab, it needs communication and discussion, and technological progress comes from the constant updating of knowledge."

Professor Yong Zhao is not only a mentor to his students, but also the father of two children. He spent most of his time in the laboratory and little time with his family; Show the rigorous academic style to the students and show the warm smile to the children. On weekends, he never gives himself a day off, and his hard work is supported by his family. Yong Zhao has a young son and daughter, and he spends only a few hours a week with them, and can only spend time with them in the morning before they go to school. Speaking of children, Professor Yong Zhao laughed heartily: "If we want to set an example for our children in study and life and let them stand on our shoulders, we need to do better and go further." On professor Yong Zhao's desk is a picture his daughter painted in his office not long ago. The picture shows a little girl in a pigtail and a red skirt. Every time I see the picture, I feel like seeing my daughter, whose strength has changed into his moving forward invisibly.

While he loves scientific research, he also enjoys life and develops himself in all aspects. In his spare time, Professor Zhao enjoys relaxing by playing table tennis, singing and playing poker. He believes that playing CARDS can improve teamwork and logical reasoning ability, knowing yourself and the enemy can win a hundred battles. In him, you can smell the breath of youth, feel the charm of youth.

Young Professor Yong Zhao, in his prime of life, is committed to training a group of outstanding students for Henan University and cultivating scientific pillars for the country. As a young professor, he has injected a fresh stream of blood into Henan University and made contributions to this century-old school of Henan University. He was born in Hunan, took root in Henan, took root in Henan University, and became a tree shaking another tree, a cloud pushing another cloud, a red candle illuminating a soul.

The story is over, the footsteps are still to come. Close the door gently, Professor Yong Zhao sat back in front of the computer again, running on the road of scientific research.