CHICAGO — The Energy and Fuels Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) recently held its annual award ceremony, presenting the 2025 Excellence in Electrochemical Energy Storage (EES) Award to Professor Yan Yao in recognition of his pioneering contributions to next-generation battery technologies, including solid-state and multivalent batteries.

Established in 2021 and sponsored by Capchem USA, the EES Award honors distinguished researchers whose original work has advanced the field of electrochemical energy storage. The award reflects Capchem's enduring commitment to fostering frontier research, accelerating global energy diversification, and supporting the broader goals of carbon reduction and carbon neutrality.

Since its inception, the EES ENFL Award has recognized several internationally renowned scientists:

2021 — Professor Jun Lu, now at Zhejiang University, a leading voice in electrochemical energy storage and conversion, and Associate Editor of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

2022 — Professor Liangbing Hu, now at Yale University, recognized for his work on biomass-derived nanomaterials, ultrafast high-temperature synthesis, and solid-state energy storage materials.

2023 — Professor Shirley Meng, Vice President (Industry) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and also a professor at the University of Chicago, honored for her leadership in energy storage nanomaterials. She is a recipient of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Michael Faraday Medal.

A Capchem USA representative attended this year's ceremony alongside the academic community. Capchem will continue its sponsorship of the EES Award for the next five years. The renewal underscores the company's long-term investment in academic research and its belief that industry and academia must move forward together to solve the energy challenges of the coming decade.

As a global leader in electronic chemicals and functional materials, Capchem has built an integrated R&D platform spanning electrolyte formulations, novel lithium salts, additives, solid-state electrolytes, and solvents. The company is committed to engaging with world-class research talent and supporting the most promising work in electrochemistry — translating academic breakthroughs into industrial innovation and helping advance energy diversification and carbon neutrality.

As part of its international growth strategy, Capchem is scaling its battery chemicals presence across key markets. New production facilities are being established in the United States, while projects in Poland (Phase II expansion), Malaysia, and the Middle East are advancing in parallel. The company remains focused on delivering on its commitments to customers worldwide — consistently providing high-quality products and services andhelping build a more sustainable future through electronic chemicals and functional materials.