IOP has made many breakthroughs in fundamental research. Notable examples include discoveries such as “Giant magnetocaloric effect in spin supersolid candidate Na2BaCo(PO4)2”, “Evidence for an excitonic insulator state in Ta2Pd3Te5”, “Enumeration of spin-space groups: toward a complete description of symmetries of magnetic orders”, “Decoupling the air sensitivity of Na-layered oxides”, “Bevel-edge epitaxy of ferroelectric rhombohedral boron nitride single crystal”, and “Evidence of a hydrated mineral enriched in water and ammonium molecules in the Chang'e-5 lunar sample”. These breakthroughs underscore IOP's leadership in diverse fields, including superconductors, topological materials, magnetism and materials science.
In applied physics, IOP has also made remarkable achievements, with over 2,000 patents granted since 1998. Notable examples of technology transfer include innovations in lithium-ion battery technology, LED-related techniques, and the development of a core composite film for magnetic/nonmagnetic/magnetic multilayer thin films and its applications.
Since 1978, IOP researchers have been honored with more than 520 awards, including 8 Physics Awards from the Third World Academy of Sciences, 1 National Top Award for Science and Technology, 35 National Awards for Natural Sciences, 24 National Awards for Science and Technology Progress, and 9 National Awards for Technological Inventions.
With an aim to meet major national needs, IOP has been actively engaged in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. By the end of 2024, IOP has 5 holding and sharing high-tech companies, and holds intellectual property shares in 4 of them.
The main areas of high-tech transfer include neodymium iron boron, lithium battery and silicon carbide. IOP started the research of rare earth magnetic materials in 1970s. Founded in 1985, Beijing Zhong Ke San Huan High-tech Inc. has grown into the world's second largest developer and supplier of rare earth permanent magnetic materials. Established in 2006, Beijing Tiankeblue Semiconductor Co. Ltd. became China's first company to industrialize silicon carbide crystal production. Today, it ranks among the global leaders in silicon carbide wafer manufacturing, exporting its products to over 20 countries and regions, including Europe, Japan and the United States. In 2017, four companies in the field of new energy were established, specializing in silicon carbon anode materials, density lithium batteries, and sodium-ion batteries. In recent years, IOP released to the public the world’s first sodium-ion battery electric vehicle, and installed the world’s first Na‐ion battery storage system with a capacity of 30 kW/100 kWh and 1 MWh Na-ion battery energy storage smart microgrid system integrated with photovoltaic and charging facilities in collaboration with Beijing HiNa Tech Co. Ltd.. To date, IOP’s enterprises have secured approximately 4 billion yuan in social financing.
Sintered Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets 6" semi-insulating 6H-SiC wafers
The first sodium-ion battery electric vehicle
1 MWh Na-ion battery energy storage smart microgrid system integrated with photovoltaic and charging facilities
