Zaiping Guo is a world leader in advanced materials for energy storage. She pioneered potassium ion batteries and the understanding of electrochemical reaction mechanisms via synchrotron/neutron-based techniques. Her group developed high-voltage cathodes with high performance via elemental doping at target crystallographic sites. She demonstrated the concept of built-in electrical fields at hetero-structured interphases to boost fast charging, and the original concept of tuning chemical composition of electrolytes to stabilize electrode/electrolyte interface. These achievements have contributed valuable knowledge for the improved design of rechargeable batteries.