Zhengrui (Ray) Xu
Track
Innovation
Faculty mentors
Feng Lin,
Associate Professor,
Department of Chemistry
Mark Mondry
Director,
LAUNCH: the Center for New Ventures
How will the Innovation Fellowship help you advance and grow as a professional?
Tackling the global warming issue is a crucial responsibility for our generation. Developing and commercializing eco-friendly technologies that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels is the primary focus of my career. This Innovation Fellowship offers invaluable resources for my entrepreneurial development and professional advancement.
Briefly describe the technology you are working to commercialize. What problems does your technology solve? What impact do you expect it to have on the marketplace?
My research focuses on next-generation battery cathode technologies, which significantly impact battery’s cost, energy density, and lifespan. The supply chain for nickel and cobalt, two key metals used in the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries, has been a topic of concern due to sustainability issues. Therefore, I focus on developing and commercializing low-cost, cobalt- and nickel-free cathodes for high-energy automobile batteries. With a reduction in cathode costs by 50% compared to cobalt- and nickel-based cathodes, the new cathode technology is poised to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.
How did you become interested in pursuing technology commercialization?
I am a strong believer that scientific innovations should advance the common good. Therefore, I pursue commercializing sustainable battery cathode technologies and making clean transportation, e.g., electric vehicles, accessible and affordable to the general public.
What commercialization activities and training opportunities have you already engaged in through Virginia Tech and other relevant organizations? How have these resources assisted you in advancing your commercialization efforts?
I received entrepreneurship training from Virginia Tech LAUNCH Startup Labs, Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program, Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program, and National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps. These resources have helped me greatly in terms of conducting customer discovery interviews, creating business models, securing funding grants, and networking with peer entrepreneurs. I am extremely grateful for these training opportunities.
Who will you be working with during this fellowship at Virginia Tech? What expertise and skills do your collaborators and mentors bring to help you advance your training and professional development?
My research mentor is Professor Feng Lin and my innovation mentor is Mark Mondry. Feng Lin's research is centered on the research of next-generation battery materials, with a primary focus on lithium-ion battery cathode materials. The Lin Lab, established in 2016, has produced over 90 research papers and secured four patents related to battery materials research. As the director of LAUNCH: the Center for New Ventures, Mark has extensive experience in early-stage technology commercialization across technical, business, and legal domains. His entrepreneurial expertise comes from building multiple early-stage companies, including growing a medical device startup to a successful initial public offering (IPO).