From October 12 to 15, the National Finals of the China International College Students' Innovation Competition (2025) were successfully held at Zhengzhou University. This year's competition attracted 4,720 projects from around the world to qualify for the national finals. After fierce competition, seven participating teams from Tsinghua University delivered outstanding performances and ultimately won six gold medals and one silver medal, setting a new historical record for the university in this event. Among them, the "Xinyuan Zhiye" (New Energy Intelligent Electrolyte) project team from the Department of Chemical Engineering stood out in the Industry-University Collaborative Innovation Group of the Industry Track, achieving a historic "zero breakthrough" for Tsinghua University in winning a gold medal in this track.

Initiated jointly by doctoral students Chen Yaopeng, Gao Yuchen and other students from the Department of Chemical Engineering, the "Xinyuan Zhiye" project successfully developed the world's first Ah-level intelligent R&D system for electrolytes driven by "dual intelligent agents" under the careful guidance of supervisors including Associate Researcher Chen Xiang, Lecturer Zhang Qi, and Zhang Qiang, Dean of the Department of Chemical Engineering. Integrating artificial intelligence and robotic technology, the system explores a revolutionary transformation of electrolyte R&D from the traditional "trial-and-error method" to intelligent-driven innovation. It not only provides a forward-looking "Tsinghua solution" to the predicament of new energy battery electrolyte R&D but also demonstrates the great potential of artificial intelligence in promoting the transformation of scientific research paradigms and empowering industrial innovation breakthroughs.

The project relies on the strong scientific research accumulation and interdisciplinary advantages of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, and has received continuous support from three innovation platforms of the university, such as the Tsinghua University Basic Industrial Training Center. The team consists of talents at multiple levels including undergraduates, masters and doctors, including Zhu Hanbing (2023 doctoral student), Yuan Yuhang (2025 doctoral student), Gao Yanbin (2025 master student) from the Department of Chemical Engineering, as well as many undergraduates including Li Weilin, Niu Yilin, Wang Chaolong, Yao Jinhao, Guo Zhenning, Meng Kaihua, and Shi Hengrui.

This award is another important achievement of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship education, reflecting the sense of responsibility and innovation of chemical engineering students in addressing national strategic needs and bravely undertaking the mission of technological breakthroughs.

Group photo of the project team at the competition site (Gao Yuchen on the left, Chen Yaopeng on the right)