On October 23, Prof. Jean-Pierre Gilson from the University of Normandy, France, presented the 45th Zhang Dayu Lecture titled "Catalyst Deactivation: A Question of Life and Death" in the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. During the event, Deputy Director HUANG Yanqiang awarded Prof. Gilson the Zhang Dayu Lecture Certificate and an Honorary Professor Certificate. Prof. WEI Yingxu hosted the lecture.In his talk, Prof. Gilson explored catalyst deactivation challenges, starting with classic cases in industrial oil refining. He discussed carbon deposition, sintering issues in various reactions, catalyst deactivation characterization, and regeneration techniques using spectroscopy. His lecture provided an overview of the current research status and challenges in catalyst deactivation and regeneration. He also engaged in insightful discussions with researchers and graduate students on topics such as the impact of molecular sieve acid sites on catalyst performance and the role of metal species in dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions.During his visit, Prof. Gilson taught a course titled "Heterogeneous Catalysis: From Laboratory to Commercial Deployment" for graduate students, sharing career insights from his experience in academia and international petrochemical companies. He also visited several research groups, including the Low Carbon Catalysis and Engineering Research Department and the Zeolite Catalytic Materials Research Group, where he held academic exchanges with young researchers and graduate students. 

　　On June 7, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics(DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) held the activity of "Strong Love and Fragrance of Mugwort, Sharing the Dragon Boat Festival", celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival for international students. More than 20 international students from Nigeria, Sudan, Pakistan, Thailand,? and other countries participated in this activity together with Chinese students.
　　During the activity, Shabana Haneef, an international student from DICP, introduced the Dragon Boat Festival's origins, customs, and various celebrations in China and other countries. She recounted traditional Chinese stories from the perspective of international students and introduced exceptional Chinese traditional culture, reducing the gap between international students and traditional Chinese culture.
　　Afterward, Chinese and international students played the game of "guessing and drawing" and traditional Chinese games such as shooting five poisons, hooping, and pinching red beans.
　　Finally, under the guidance of the staff, international students experienced making zongzi, rolling zongzi leaves, putting ingredients, folding zongzi leaves, and tying long ropes, and small and cute zongzi appeared in their hands.
　　China's traditional culture is extensive and profound, and it has a rich history. This activity enabled international students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of China and a more authentic Chinese cultural experience. (Text/Peng Ruqian, Yu Xiao Photo/Wang Jiajun)

　　Throughout the ages, civilizations have been colorful because of exchanges and enriched by mutual learning.
　　On June 4, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics(DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) organized a Chinese speech contest entitled "My Story with China" for international students to let international students better understand Chinese culture and feel the unique charm and profound heritage of Chinese culture. Seventeen international students from Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Thailand, and other countries participated in the contest.
　　Associate Professor WANG Yan from the School of Chinese Language and Literature at Dalian University of Foreign Languages, research supervisor GU Bin, and staff from the graduate division served as judges for the contest. PENG Ruqian, from the International Department of the Graduate Student Association, hosted the competition.
　　Before the contest, Dr. LIU Huijuan, the graduate division's director, said that "international students are the witnesses of China's national conditions, the experiencers of Chinese culture, the narrators of Chinese stories, and participants in the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations." LIU hoped that all the international students from DICP could maintain an exploratory spirit and become "China experts", could maintain a friendly heart and become "good friends", and could maintain a sharing heart and become "friendly messengers."
　　With the help of the instructors, the contestants prepared carefully. They demonstrated their learning outcomes in China with fluent Chinese expression, skilled presentation skills, and a deep understanding of the Chinese language and Chinese culture.
　　After evaluation, the competition selected one first prize, two second prizes, three third prizes, and 11 excellent prizes. The first prize winner was LI Min (Tasmia Azam), the second prize winners were QIAN Duoduo (Chibuzo Sampson) and LI Tiankai (Shoaib Khalid), and the third prize winners were CHEN Qiumin (Bree Sawita), HAN Sefu (Yousif Khan), and Youai (Alfadil Yousif Ahmed Mohammed). (Article by Alfadil Yousif Ahmed Mohammed and YU Xiao)
　　

　　On April 26, The Graduate Department from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) organized international students to conduct practical activities, visiting the Dalian City Planning and Exhibition Center. Nearly 40 international students from Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sudan, and other countries, and graduate students from the International Department of the Graduate Association of DICP, participated in this event.
　　 
　　International students are visiting the Dalian City Planning Exhibition Center (Image by PENG Ruqian)
　　Dalian Planning and Exhibition Center is an important carrier for promoting Dalian at home and abroad. The international students visited 15 major exhibition halls, including City Impression Hall, City History Hall, Sand Plate Hall, etc during the event. They listened carefully and asked questions from time to time, understanding the development course of Dalian city construction, as well as the blueprint of future urban planning and construction. They have been deeply touched by Dalian's attention to ecology and people's livelihood-oriented concept of urban development and further understood Dalian's urban construction culture.
　　This practical activity allows international students to immerse themselves in China's politics, economy, and culture. (Article by Alfadil Yousif Ahmed Mohammed and YU Xiao)

As the wheel of time turns, ushering in a new year, on behalf of the leadership team at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), I extend the warmest wishes to our dedicated staff, students, retired colleagues, friends, and their families, both domestically and internationally. We extend our heartfelt gratitude and extend sincere blessings to all of you.In 2023, we laid the foundation and ventured into new frontiers to create a strong momentum for the high-quality development of DICP, achieving milestones such as the establishment of the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, the inaugural Academic Committee of the Liaoning Binhai Laboratory, and the approval for the construction of the Yulin Energy Revolution Innovation Demonstration Zone. In addition, two national energy R&D centers, the Advanced Staitionary Electrochemical Energy Storage R&D Center, and the Green Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology R&D Center, have been approved with the support of the National Energy Administration. In 2023, we walked hand in hand with the nation, gaining strength through unity. The CAS Strategic Priority Research Program of "Revolutionary Key Technologies and Demonstration of Clean Energy" has successfully undergone project acceptance with breakthroughs in 63 key technologies, 55 industrial demonstrations, and a remarkable social investment of 180 billion RMB. Two other new CAS Strategic Priority Research Programs, "Key Technologies and Demonstrations for Energy Storage Based on a High Proportion of Renewable Energy" and "Dynamic Analysis and Intelligent Design of Energy Electro-catalysis" were approved. The Single-Atom Catalysis Science Center has been approved and funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, strenthening DICP's ability to address important national tasks. In 2023, we focused on talent recruitment and development, adhering to the integrated promotion of science, education, and talent. We has continued to improve the ‘full-chain’ scientific talent system, attracting high-level leading talents and outstanding young talents. Deepening the integration of science and education aims to cultivate scientific pillar talents for the nation, striving to build a haven for outstanding talents dedicated to academic pursuits. In 2023, we planned for the future and bravely faced challenges. We set up a strategic consulting committee, inviting 30 renowned academicians to draw up the institute's strategic development plan. We advanced information construction, strengthened digital transformation, established the Artificial Intelligence Application Center, and actively explored new pathways to improve management efficiency and transform research paradigms. Meanwhile, the space for DICP development has been expanded, with the embryonic form of 'Yinggeshi Science City' already visible.The collective efforts of DICPers have illuminated the path to scientific and technological dominance, contributing to achievements such as the development of the first realization of a mild condition ultra-fast hydrogen negative ion conductor and the breakthrough of the balance bottleneck between conversion rate and selectivity in synthesis gas direct conversion reactions. We successfully developed the Dalian Advanced Light Source with a high-quality factor 1.3Hz superconducting accelerator module. In response to the urgent demands of the country, we completed the long-term light emission performance test of the novel chemical laser and the external field full-system joint test of an oxygen-iodine chemical laser. Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide reduction module works stably in the core cabin of the space station. In response to the national industrial development, the third-generation methanol-to-olefin technology (DMTO-III) achieved industrial application. The world's largest methanol-to-ethanol (DMTE) unit using coke oven gas as feedstock was put into operation with a capacity of 600,000 tons of ethanol per year. Continuous one-step amination method for producing polyetheramine with a capacity of 40,000 tons/year was successfully operated. The 10 kWh phosphate-based sodium-ion battery system and the 100 kWh zinc-bromine flow battery system were successfully demonstrated. The 3 MW PEM electrolysis hydrogen production demonstration station was put into operation. For the health and well-being of the people, stem cell-derived organs were introduced for the first time for organ chip research, opening up new directions. Meanwhile, the key regulatory molecules are identified in the process of pyruvic acid enter into mitochondria, providing new insights into the development of targeted drugs for cancer metastasis.We uphold the principle of "cooperation and mutual benefit" as we endeavor to transform innovative ideas into technological achievements. We are committed to providing scientific and technological innovation for the high-quality development of the nation, promoting multidimensional collaboration, and accelerating the transformation of technological achievements into industrial realities. We are dedicated to extensive international cooperation, exploring solutions for global energy and environmental improvement with international mega-companies. we have completed more than 50 projects in clean energy areas cooperated with British Petroleum company over the past 20 years, and a memorandum of understanding on fuel cell power stations is signed with Belgian company EcoSourcen, marking the entry of DICP’s fuel cell technology into the European market in2023. Committed to openness and exchange, we have made our voice heard at high-profile international conferences such as the G20 Science Summit (S20), the 5th Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies conference (RD20), and the China-UK Policy Dialogue Symposium.The achievements of the past year are the result of the efforts of all our staff and students, the support of retired colleagues, and the assistance of friends from all walks of life in China and globally. It is also a testament to the cultural inheritance of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, characterized by the spirit of 'Innovation, Collaboration, Academic rigor, and Excellence.' With each passing year, there is a new gift, and with every inch of joy, we extend our wishes. May those of you striving for the peak of science and technology continue to forge ahead with excellence! May you find success on the journey toward a happy life and good health! Blessings for the prosperity of our great motherland, and may the nation be prosperous and peaceful! LIU ZhongminDirector of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences 

　　On October 19th, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Belgium's EcoSourcen Company signed a memorandum of cooperation on fuel cell power station projects.
　　The signing ceremony was attended by the CEO of EcoSourcen, Dany Bosteels, CTO of EcoSourcen, Floris Bosteels, Deputy Director of DICP Prof. LI Xianfeng, along with researchers, administrative staff from DICP and representatives from Guochuang Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Guochuang Hydrogen"), which is one of the spin-off companies of DICP. Dany Bosteels, Prof. SHAO Zhigang from the DICP, and YAO Ronghua from Guochuang Hydrogen represented the three parties and signed the Memorandum of Cooperation. The EcoSourcen Company has also signed a contract with Guochuang Hydrogen for an overseas export project for fuel cell power stations.
　　Professor LI stated that the DICP has maintained a close collaboration with the EcoSourcen Company since 2021, and both parties have substantial cooperation opportunities in areas such as energy storage, hydrogen energy, and lithium batteries. This signing ceremony will deepen cooperation in the field of new energy and effectively promote the industrial demonstration and dissemination of green and low-carbon technologies from the DICP to the European market.
　　Dany stated that the EcoSourcen Company is dedicated to seeking green energy technologies and solutions for the European market. They have previously collaborated with the DICP for all-vanadium redox flow battery projects, which have made significant progress. They look forward to this collaboration, fully utilizing the DICP's technical expertise in the hydrogen and fuel cell fields, EcoSourcen Company's extensive experience in the construction sector, and Guochuang Hydrogen's industrial platform. Together, they aim to drive innovation and industrial development in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Europe, explore multi-energy integration models for renewable energy, hydrogen energy, and low-carbon energy storage, and create a novel carbon-neutral demonstration.
　　During the visit, the guests also toured the Fuel Cell Division.