Hua “Kevin” Bai, a professor in the Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks in UT’s Tickle College of Engineering, and Sheng Dai, a chemistry professor who holds a joint faculty appointment between UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, have been elected National Academy of Inventors Fellows.
NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. The 2025 cohort includes 169 distinguished U.S. academic and institutional inventors that represent 127 universities, government agencies, and research institutions across 40 states.
Bai’s research focuses on electrical vehicle-related power electronics, particularly wide-bandgap semiconductor-enabled power modules, battery chargers, DC-DC converters, motor drive inverters, battery management systems and second-life batteries. Over the past two decades, his research group has been sponsored by various automotive companies to renovate and innovate onboard electronics.
Dai’s research focuses on developing advanced materials for energy-related applications. He studies ionic liquids and porous materials to learn how they can be used for separating different substances, storing energy, and speeding up chemical reactions. Dai is also developing ways to turn plant-based carbon into graphite, which can be used for storing energy.