Dr. M.-Sadeeq Balogun joined the College of Materials Science & Engineering at Hunan University as a Professor in 2018. He has been at the forefront of cutting-edge research in functional nanomaterials for electrochemical energy storage and water splitting. His academic journey began with a BSc in Industrial Chemistry from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria, in 2008, followed by a Master’s in Materials Science & Engineering from Guilin University of Electronic Technology, China in 2012. He then earned a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Sun Yat-sen University, China, in 2016, where he later completed postdoctoral research in 2018. At Hunan university, he established the Balogun Energy Research Lab (BENRLAB), a fully equipped laboratory spanning 140 square meters, and mentored over 20 students alongside 5 overseas postdocs to date. His scholarly contributions are substantial, with a remarkable track record of over 120 papers published in renowned international journals, amassing more than 11000 citations. Notably, 25 of his papers are ESI Highly Cited, underscoring the impact and significance of his work. Beyond academics, his commitment to innovation and collaboration inspired the foundation of the Alliance of Overseas Talents (AOOT) in Hunan, China, an initiative dedicated to fostering global talent exchange and accelerating advancements in research & development.