Liming Dai is a chemist and materials scientist, recognised a pioneer and leading authority in carbon nanomaterials and carbon electrocatalysis. His ground-breaking work on the birth of metal-free carbon electrocatalysts has been well documented and acclaimed. He is widely recognised as a global leader in the research and development of metal-free carbon electrocatalysts for renewable energy applications. Dai’s pioneering work has ranged from polymer and carbon nanomaterials design and synthesis, through understanding physical concepts, to device applications. His research has effectively bridged the gap between nanoscale science and applied research on polymers/carbon nanomaterials and their related devices in micro-/macro-world.