To showcase the spirit and values of the youth in the new era, give full play to exemplary roles of outstanding young members, and inspire more young people to dedicate themselves to national rejuvenation and the building of a strong country, the Communist Youth League Central Committee, the Youth League Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League recently held recognition events. These included the May Fourth Youth Medal, the “New Era Youth Pioneer” award, and the “Two Red, Two Excellence” commendations. Several outstanding collectives and individuals from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) were recognized.
Professor Xu Jixian from the School of Chemistry and Materials Science and the State Key Laboratory of Precision Intelligent Chemistry was awarded the title of “New Era Youth Pioneer” by the Communist Youth League Central Committee and the All-China Youth Federation, and also received the “Anhui May Fourth Youth Medal.” In response to the urgent needs of China’s carbon neutrality strategy, he has actively advanced the integration of fundamental photovoltaic research with industry, continually exploring new solar materials and efficiency limits. Over three consecutive years, his team set internationally recognized world records in perovskite photovoltaics, with results published in Science and other leading journals. These breakthroughs challenged the long-standing monopoly of traditional technological routes, highlighting the sustained global leadership of Chinese research teams. His work has previously been recognized with the 2020 Science Exploration Award and the 2024 Outstanding Mentor Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Beyond research, he is deeply engaged in teaching solid-state physics, serving as undergraduate class advisor and Party branch secretary, and has long been committed to science popularization in primary and secondary schools, embodying the mission of “fostering character and spreading science.”
The Machine Chemist Team received the collective honor of “Anhui May Fourth Youth Medal.” The team developed the world’s first data-intelligence-driven machine chemist platform, creating a scientific research agent capable of “reading, thinking, acting, and innovating.” This platform compressed the R&D cycle for high-entropy catalysts from 1,400 years to just 5 weeks and created an oxygen-producing catalyst from Martian meteorites, achievements that gained international recognition. Surpassing comparable systems in Europe and the U.S. in experimental efficiency and intelligent decision-making, the team also spearheaded the release of the world’s first machine chemist instruction set, setting a new paradigm in research. The team has won the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Disruptive Innovation Award, was selected as one of the first cases in the “Data Elements ✖” initiative by the National Data Administration and 13 ministries, and earned the 2022 CAS Team Award.
Professor Yang Zhengjin from the School of Chemistry and Materials Science and the State Key Laboratory of Precision Intelligent Chemistry received the title of “Anhui New Era Youth Pioneer.” His research focuses on the preparation and application of ion membranes, advancing both scientific frontiers and technological self-reliance. He pioneered microporous ion membranes and framework ion membranes, discovered ion confinement transport effects, and proposed the mechanism of “ion coordination” within microporous channels. He achieved near-frictionless ion conduction for the first time, breaking through the “charge asymmetry” effect in confined ion transport. His work has promoted the industrialization of ion membranes with confinement effects and their demonstration in aqueous organic redox flow batteries. He has published over 90 papers in journals such as Nature, PNAS, Angewandte Chemie, and Advanced Materials, earning wide recognition.
These honored collectives and individuals are outstanding representatives and pioneering forces among USTC youth, serving as role models for all members of the university’s Youth League. USTC youth will always remember the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping, shoulder the mission of the times, hold high the banner of ideals, firmly follow the Party, and remain both aspirational and grounded. With courage, responsibility, diligence, and determination, they strive to become exemplary youth of the new era—idealistic, responsible, resilient, and dedicated. Through concrete actions, they will live up to their youthful pledge: “Rest assured, Party—we will help make our nation strong,” and vigorously write a new chapter of responsibility and contribution in advancing Chinese modernization.