Xu Lu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 Materials Science Outstanding Young Scientist Award, a biennial recognition presented by Cailiaoren, a media platform focused on the global materials science community.

The award recognizes researchers under the age of 40 for impactful and sustained contributions to materials science. Only 10 scientists are selected worldwide every two years.

At KAUST, Lu leads a research group focused on high-pressure carbon dioxide electroreduction, an emerging technology that converts carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals and fuels while supporting the development of more sustainable energy systems.

His team’s research addresses key challenges in designing electrochemical systems capable of operating efficiently at industrially relevant conditions, contributing to advances in carbon utilization and clean energy technologies.