Dr. Yuan Li | X-Here Trek Laboratory (Establishing) | United States
Dr. Yuan Li is an innovative research scientist whose interdisciplinary work integrates cryospheric science, ice physics, and renewable energy engineering. He is internationally recognized for pioneering the concept of ice-based hydrogen energy, developing a self-sustaining solid-state proton extraction cycle that enables hydrogen production directly from ice without the need for electrodes or electrolytes. His research explores the microstructural behavior of ice and firn, advancing understanding of hydrogen migration and storage within frozen matrices. By combining cryogenic materials science, climate adaptation engineering, and polar glaciology, he bridges fundamental research with practical solutions for sustainable energy and environmental resilience. His publications in high-impact journals such as Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, and Nature Communications reflect the global significance of his work. Dr. Li’s “Ice to Hydrogen” innovation presents a transformative approach for decentralized, low-cost hydrogen production in remote and extreme environments. His contributions to cryogenic material characterization, freeze–thaw energy conversion, and ice-mediated desalination establish new directions for renewable energy systems. He utilizes advanced imaging techniques like X-ray micro-CT and cryo-SEM to study ice microstructures with unprecedented precision. His interdisciplinary expertise spans physics, materials science, and environmental sustainability. Through invited talks at global conferences, he has influenced the scientific dialogue on ice as a renewable resource. His work embodies the fusion of physical science and engineering innovation. Dr. Yuan Li continues to shape the emerging frontier of cryogenic energy technology, promoting a sustainable hydrogen future grounded in the physics of ice.
Featured Publications
Li, H.-Y., & Li, Y. (2025, November). Ice to hydrogen: A self-sustaining cycle for decentralized green energy. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 83, 104647.
Li, Y., Fu, C., & Li, H.-Y. (2025, September 13). Lessons from nature’s freeze crystallization—Perennial sea ice as a model for efficient salt rejection in desalination. Crystal Growth & Design.
Li, Y. (2025, June 24). Comments on linear-viscous flow of temperate ice [Preprint]. ESSOAr.
Li, Y. (2025, January). Hydrogen production via imperfective ice Ih. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 100, 727–735.
Li, Y., & Fu, C. (2024, December). Hydrogen storage—Learning from nature: The air clathrate hydrate in polar ice sheets. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 72, 104007.
Li, Y. (2024, September). The improvement of hydrogen storage capacity via bubbles nucleated in ice-like nanotubes. Materials Today Sustainability, 27, 100856.