By Dorte Larsen, AAU Communication & Public Affairs
Photos: Zhencai Li

In 2023, Yuanzheng Yue was honored with fellowships by two international organizations The British Society of Glass Technology and The European Ceramic Society. In 2024, the rain of fellowships has continued: This time the International Association for Advanced Materials has awarded him this great recognition.

"It is a particularly great honour for me and my research group that I am currently receiving all these recognitions. I am particularly proud of the ones from the European Ceramic Society and Society of Glass Technology, which I am the first researcher from Denmark to receive," says Yuanzheng Yue.

Yuanzheng Yue has been the driving force behind the establishment of glass research at Aalborg University. Today, about 25 glass researchers work at Aalborg University, of which Yuanzheng Yue is head of research for a group of 9 researchers. He has trained 34 PhD students and 18 postdoc researchers.

Glass for batteries and membranes for gas separation and water purification

Yuanzheng Yue's field of research has been particularly concentrated on glass science and technology, with a special focus on glass fibers and disordered materials.

In addition, Yuanzheng Yue has invented MOF glass (Metal-Organic Framework-based glass) – a special kind of hybrid material built up as a network of metal ions and organic molecules – and in recent years he has presented several sensational research results at international level on this subject.

MOF glass has proven to have great potential in connection with, for example, the development of batteries and the manufacture of membranes for gas separation and water purification. Together with his PhD students, Yuanzheng Yue developed the first anode for Li-ion batteries using MOF glass.

Development of insulation materials in collaboration with companies

Over the past 25 years, Yuanzheng Yue has also collaborated with several world-leading glass companies such as Rockwool International A/S, Corning Inc., Sisecam, PPG Industries Inc., Aalborg Portland A/S, Skamol A/S, and Gråsten Teglværk A/S. Several of Yuanzheng Yue's major scientific achievements stem from these collaborations, which have primarily focused on the development of insulation materials such as stone wool, glass wool, foam glass, and high-performance glass fibers used for wind turbine blades.

"Yuanzheng Yue's research results and commitment to the department's development over the past 25 years have had a crucial impact on the fact that the Department of Chemistry and Biosciences is firmly placed in the front line of glass science today. His role as mentor and inspiration for young talents and students has had a major impact on AAU's position of strength within both the basic scientific and applied aspects of glass science," says Head of Department Kim Lambertsen Larsen.