IEST Instrument and Tianjin University’s Nanoyang Group Establish Joint Laboratory for Advanced Battery Research

Figure 1. Unveiling ceremony of the Nanoyang–IEST Instrument Joint Laboratory at Tianjin University.

1. Connecting Fundamental Research and Precision Characterization

Professor Yang Quanhong, leader of the Nanoyang research group, delivered the opening address. He introduced the group’s founding philosophy, “Tell interesting stories, do useful research,” and outlined Nanoyang’s research focus on carbon functional materials, covering structural design, preparation science, and energy storage and conversion mechanisms. The group aims to develop a full-chain approach to high-density energy storage, spanning the path from materials to devices.

Professor Yang Quanhong emphasized that exploring the fundamental scientific questions underlying high-energy-density, high-safety battery systems requires advanced characterization tools that are not always available in conventional laboratory settings. “Many interesting phenomena discovered in our lab are limited by the resolution or in-situ characterization capabilities of existing equipment, making them difficult to quantify accurately or transition to engineering,” he noted. The joint laboratory will combine Nanoyang’s fundamental research on battery mechanisms with IEST’s precision instruments and industrial testing expertise to address challenges in lithium-sulfur batteries, solid-state batteries, and other advanced battery systems.

Figure 2. Professor Yang Quanhong delivers the opening address at the unveiling ceremony for the Nanoyang–IEST Instrument Joint Laboratory.

2. Strategic Role: A Research and Testing Platform in North China

Mr. Zhang Xinghua, CEO of IEST Instrument, described two intended functions of the Joint Laboratory:

• Regional service and demonstration center: The lab will serve as IEST’s equipment demonstration and testing center in North China, providing regional customers with more efficient and professional testing services and technical support.
• Research characterization platform: It will provide Nanoyang with characterization capabilities for fundamental research and technology development in functional carbon materials and high-density energy storage.

“This partnership represents a milestone in IEST’s development,” Mr. Zhang stated. “By working closely with a world-class research group, we aim to integrate frontier research capabilities in fundamental mechanisms into our own technology upgrades, further strengthening our technology-driven approach to innovation.”

Figure 3. The unveiling ceremony for the Nanoyang–IEST Instrument Joint Laboratory at Tianjin University on March 23, 2026.

3. Industry Significance: A Model for Academia-Industry Collaboration

For the broader new energy battery industry, the establishment of the Joint Laboratory offers a replicable model for deep academia-industry integration. The partnership between Nanoyang at Tianjin University and IEST Instrument demonstrates how combining academic research excellence with industrial precision instrumentation can accelerate the translation of fundamental discoveries into practical battery characterization solutions — contributing tangible value to the global new energy industry upgrade.

4. About Nanoyang Group: Advanced Carbon and Energy Materials Laboratory

The Nanoyang research group at Tianjin University focuses on functional carbon materials for energy-storage applications. Its research covers structural design, material preparation, and energy storage and conversion mechanisms. The group’s research areas include high-density energy storage, lithium-sulfur batteries, and advanced carbon materials for next-generation battery systems.

5. About IEST Instrument

IEST Instrument is a pioneering technical service provider in the field of advanced energy storage devices, committed to providing efficient and world-leading testing instruments and solutions for global electrochemical energy storage research, battery development, and quality control. The company reports that its instruments are used in more than 40 countries and regions, and that it has provided more than 6,000 instruments to more than 1,300 customers around the world, including power battery manufacturers, research institutions, and universities.