Ph.D. in Polymer Science (1997/09-2001/07), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University.

Bachelor of Polymer Materials and Chemical Engineering (1992/09-1997/07), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University.

Full professor (2020/12-present), Institute of Building Materials, Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University.

Associate professor (2007/03-2020/12), Institute of Building Materials, Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University.

Guest professor (2017/07), ErlangenNuremberg University, Germany

Visiting scholar (2013/10-2014/12), BASF Global R&D Center, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Research manager (2006/05-2007/03), BASF Asia Pacific R&D Center, Shanghai.

Research chemist (2002/10-2006/04), BASF Global R&D Center, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Lecturer (2001/08-2002/10), Polymer Research Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University.

Visiting professor of ErlangenNuremberg University, (2017)

External doctoral supervisor and honorary lecturer (2013/02-2015/02)   , University College London

Building Materials, Undergraduate course

Physical Chemistry of Building Materials, Postgraduate course

Theoretical Bases and Practical Guides to Microstructural Analysis of Cementitious Materials, Postgraduate course

2019 Most Cited Chinese Researchers. Elsevier.

2019 The Outstanding Paper 2019 Award. “The influence of the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymers on early OPC hydration: a complete study of the heat flow, phase evolution, and pore solution chemistry, Materials and Structure, 2019, 52(6): 120”, Materials and Structures.

2018 The Second Class Prizes of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award (Fundamental Research). “Fundamental understanding of the Cement-Asphalt Composite materials”, Chinese Ceramic Society.

2016 Second Class Prizes of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award (Fundamental Research). “Fundamental research of the chemical admixtures for concrete”. Chinese Ceramic Society.

2015 Second Class Prizes of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award. “Organic Cement Chemistry-the basis for development and applications of chemical admixtures for concrete” Architecture Society of China.

2013 Youth Science and Technology Award, Chinese Ceramic Society.

Low carbon, high performance and severe service conditions are the three challenges for modern concrete science and technologies. We are paying great efforts to understand the setting and hardening behaviors, hydration mechanisms, mechanical properties, shrinkage and cracking mechanism, and durability issues of cementitious materials in microscopic level and even down to molecular level. Eventually our target is to creatively develop new low carbon binder systems, novel chemical and polymer admixtures to modify the above mentioned properties of cementitious materials based on deep understanding of the interaction between the organic molecules and the inorganic mineral phases, in order to provide innovative concepts for higher performance concrete and solutions for the sustainability of concrete. Our research activities are mainly experimental research together with computation and simulation. In many cases, we also testify the new technologies directly in construction sites in the real dimension of the structures such as several tens to hundreds meters. Thus, our research is covering a very broad scale from nanometer to kilometer.

We consider that “organic cement chemistry”, as a new branch of the traditional cement chemistry, is a fascinating emerging research area, which enlightens the modern concrete science and technology to a wider and brighter future. In this field, we have published more than 100 peer-reviewed SCI papers including more than 30 papers in the top journals of Cement and Concrete Research, Cement Concrete Composites, Journal of American Ceramic Society, Materials and Structures.

The main research focuses are as following.

• Low carbon cement and concrete

• Rheology of fresh cementitious mixtures

• Cement hydration and the interaction between cement and polymers

• Structure and properties of cement hydration products and geopolymers

• Chemical/polymer admixtures for sustainability of cement and concrete industry

• Polymer-Cement Composites

• Shrinkage and cracking of cementitious materials

• Smart chemical sensor and self-healing in concrete structure

• Functional building materials (heat insulation materials, protective coatings, adhesives)

Editorial Board Member, Journal of Building Materials, (2022-present).

Editorial Board Member, Journal of the Chinese Ceramic Society (2016 - 2021).

Steering board member of the Chinese Ceramic Society (2019- present)

Functionality driven 3D printing technology for solid wastes of natural materials in construction, The National Key Research and Development Program of China No. 2023YFC3806904，(2023/12-2027/11).

Influences of organic additives on C-S-H structure, properties and the positive modification, NSFC (National Science Foundation of China) No.51978380 (2020/01-2023/12).

Understanding of the retardation effect of colloidal polymers on cement hydration, DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) (2020/01-2022/12).

Study on the dissolution-precipitation of cement in the presence of chemical admixtures, NSFC No.51778333 (2018/01-2021/12).

Functional materials for pre-fabricated concrete with improved durability, The National Key Research and Development Program of China No.2017YFB0310002-02 (2017/07-2021/06).

Admixtures for calcium aluminate cement for rheology and setting control，The National Key Research and Development Program of China No.2016YFB0303504-03 (2016/07-2020/06).

Interaction between latex polymers and cement, Collaboration project with BASF (2016/03-2019/12).

Deterioration mechanism of marine concrete and self-healing mechanisms， NSFC No.U1301241 (2014/01-2017/12).

Cracking mechanism, mitigation and self-healing of oil well sheath, NSFC No.U1262107 (2013/01-2015/12).

New cushion materials for slab-track railroad, NSFC-RS No. 51311130133  (2013/01-2015/12).

Correlation of molecular structure of PCE with microstructure and rheology of fresh cement paste, NSFC No.51173094 (2012/01-2015/12).

Hardening mechanism and micro-structure of cement-asphalt composite, NSFC No.50802050 (2009/01-2011/12).

Rheology and microstructure development of cement asphalt mortar, Collaboration project with Sinopec (2008/06-2011/12).

1.Jianhao Yin, Chaoyang Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Xiaowei Hou, Jiaxin Liao, Jian Liu, Wenyu Li. Moisture sorption behaviour, microstructural changes and macroscopic deformation of hardened cement pastes during the first three drying-resaturation cycles. Cement and Concrete Research. 2024,186:107677

2.Shangfeng Zhang, Chaoyang Zhang, Xiaofan Pang, Ligang Shi, Maolin Song, Bin Yu, Xiangming Kong*. Phase compositions and pore structure of phosphate modified calcium aluminate cement hardened pastes with varied dosages of sodium polyphosphate. Cement and Concrete Research. 2024,184:107609

3.Chaoyang Zhang, Jian Liu, Shangfeng Zhang, Xiangming Kong*. Mechanical properties of polymer-modified mortars using polymer latexes with varied glass transition temperature and surface charge. Cement and Concrete Composites. 2024,150:105573.

4.Jun Jiang a, Zhengmao Ye,⁎, Jiaming Wu a, Qingchun Yang a, Quanliang Li a, Xiangming Kong b. Impact of triethanolamine on the hydration of Portland cement in the presence of high pozzolanic activity supplementary cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Composites. 147, 2024.

5.Jakob Schreiber*, Jian Wang, Xiangming Kong, Jürgen Neubauer, Daniel Jansen. Influence of a dialysed polymer latex on the hydration of OPC – A closer look into adsorption processes. Cement and Concrete Research. 2024,176:107390.

6.Chaoyang Zhang, Jing Wang, Shangfeng Zhang, Xiaowei Hou, Xiangming Kong*. Damping performance of hardened cement pastes containing Styrene-Butyl Acrylate polymers with varied glass transition temperature and surface charges. Cement and Concrete Composites. 2024，145:105312.

7.Wenyu Li , Jian Wang , Weiyi Chen, Jianhao Yin, Haijun Yang, Xiangming Kong*. Insight into the role of Beta-cyclodextrin on the hydration of white Portland cement. Cement and Concrete Research. 2023:72.

8.Jian Wang, Jiaxin Liao, Xiangming Kong *, Jianhao Yin. Characterization of the nanoparticles formed in aqueous phase of hydrating cement pastes in the presence of PCEs. Cement and Concrete Research. 2023, 165: 107087.

9.Jianhao Yin, Wenyu Li, Jiang Wang, Xiangming Kong*. Irreversible microstructural changes of calcium silicate hydrate during the first drying-resaturation cycle. Cement and Concrete Research. 2023.163: 107032.

10.Chaoyang Zhang, Shangfeng Zhang, Jianwei Yu, Xiangming Kong*, Water absorption behavior of hydrophobized concrete using silane emulsion as admixture, Cement and Concrete Research, 2022, 154:106738.

11.Chaoyang Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Jianwei Yu, Daniel Jansen, Joachim Pakusch, Shengxian Wang, Correlation between the adsorption behavior of colloidal polymer particles and the yield stress of fresh cement pastes. Cement and Concrete Research, 2022,152:106668.

12.Jian Wang, Jianhao Yin, Xiangming Kong*. Influences of PCE superplasticizers with varied architectures on the formation and morphology of calcium hydroxide crystals. Cement and Concrete Research, 2022,152:106670.

13.Hui Lin, Hui Liu, Yue Li, Xiangming Kong*, Properties and reaction mechanism of phosphoric acid activated metakaolin geopolymer at varied curing temperatures, Cement and Concrete Research, 2021,144:106425.

14.Chaoyang Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Jianwei Yu, Daniel Jansen, Joachim Pakusch, Shengxian Wang, Correlation between the adsorption behavior of colloidal polymer particles and the yield stress of fresh cement pastes. Cement and Concrete Research, 2021.

15.Jian Wang, Xiangming Kong*, Jianhao Yin, Jian Wang, Influences of PCE superplasticizers with varied architectures on the formation and morphology of calcium hydroxide crystals. Cement and Concrete Research, 2021.

16.Hui Lin, Hui Liu, Yue Li, Xiangming Kong*, Properties and reaction mechanism of phosphoric acid activated metakaolin geopolymer at varied curing temperatures, Cement and Concrete Research, 2021.

17.Chaoyang Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Jianhao Yin, Xiaochen Fu, Rheology of fresh cement pastes containing polymer nanoparticles. Cement and Concrete Research, 2021.

18.Wang Jian, Kong Xiangming*, Yin Jianhao, Li Shiyu. Impacts of two alkanolamines on crystallization and morphology of calcium hydroxide. Cement and Concrete Research, 2020, 138: 106250.

19.Zichen Lu, Xiangming Kong*, Daniel Jansen,* Chaoyang Zhang, Jian Wang, Xiaofan Pang, Jianhao Yin. Towards a further understanding of cement hydration in the presence of triethanolamine. Cement and Concrete Research, 2020, 132: 106041.

20.Wen Du, Chaoyang Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Yuqun Zhuo*. Kinetic study on elemental mercury release from fly ashes and hydrated fly ash cement pastes. Chemosphere, 2020, 241: 125028.

21.Tong Su, Xiangming Kong*, Hongwei Tian, Dongmin Wang. Effects of comb-like PCE and linear copolymers on workability and early hydration of a calcium sulfoaluminate belite cement. Cement and Concrete Research, 2019, 123: 105801.

22.Hongwei Tian, Xiangming Kong*, Tong Su, Dongmin Wang. Comparative study of two PCE superplasticizers with varied charge density in Portland cement and sulfoaluminate cement systems. Cement and Concrete Research, 2019, 115: 43-58.

23.Fang Wang, Xiangming Kong*, Dongmin Wang, Qibao Wang. The effects of nano-C-S-H with different polymer stabilizers on early cement hydration. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2019, 102(9): 5103-5116.

24.Liran Zhang, Xia Miao, Xiangming Kong*, Shimin Zhou. Retardation effect of PCE superplasticizers with different architectures and their impacts on early strength of cement morta. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2019, 104: 103369.

25.Zichen Lu, Xiangming Kong*, Chaoyang Zhang, D. Jansen*, J. Neubauer, F. Götz-Neunhoeffer. Effects of two oppositely charged polymer dispersions on cement hydration. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2019, 96: 66-76.

26.Chaoyang Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Zichen Lu, Daniel Jansen, Joachim Pakusch, Shengxian Wang. Pore structure of hardened cement paste containing colloidal polymers with varied glass transition temperature and surface charges. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2019, 95: 154-168.

27.D. Jansen*, Zichen. Lu, Xiangming Kong*, J. Pakusch, E. Jahns, F. Deschner, Ch. Schmidtke. The influence of glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymers on their influence on early OPC hydration: A complete study of heat flow, phase evolution and pore solution chemistry. Materials and Structures, 2019, 52(6): 120.

28.Zichen Lu, Xiangming Kong*, Chaoyang Zhang, Yi Cai. Effect of highly carboxylate charged colloidal polymer on cement hydration with emphasis of polymer particle−Ca2+ interaction. Cement and Concrete Research, 2018, 113: 140-153.

29.D. Jansen⁎, Ch. Naber, D. Ectors, Z. Lu, Xiangming Kong*, F. Goetz-Neunhoeffer, J. Neubauer. The early hydration of OPC investigated by in-situ XRD, heat flow calorimetry, pore water analysis and 1H NMR: Learning about adsorbed ions from a complete mass balance approach. Cement and Concrete Research, 2018, 109: 230-242.

30.Wen Du, Chaoyang Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Yuqun Zhuo*, Zhenwu Zhu. Mercury release from fly ashes and hydrated fly ash cement pastes. Atmospheric Environment, 2018, 178: 11-18.

31.Zhang Yan-Rong, Kong Xiang-Ming*, Lu Zi-chen, Lu Zhen-bao, Zhang Qing, Dong Bi-Qin, Xing Feng. Influence of triethanolamine on the hydration product of portlandite in cement paste and the mechanism. Cement and Concrete Research, 2016, 87: 64-76.

32.Xiangming Kong*, Joachim Pakusch, Daniel Jansen, Sebastian Emmerling, Juergen Neubauer, Friedlinde Goetz-Neuhoeffer. Effect of polymer latexes with cleaned serum on the phase development of hydrating cement pastes. Cement and Concrete Research, 2016, 84: 30-40.

33.Yanrong Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Liang Gao, Zichen Lu, Shiming Zhou, Biqin Dong, Feng Xing. In-situ measurement of viscoelastic properties of fresh cement paste by a microrheology analyser. Cement and Concrete Research, 2016, 79: 291-300.

34.Xiangming Kong*, Sebastian Emmerling, Joachim Pakusch, Markus Rueckel, Jörg Nieberle. Retardation effect of styrene-acrylate copolymer latexes on cement hydration. Cement and Concrete Research, 2015, 75: 23-41.

35.XiangMing Kong*, Hui Liu, Zhen-Bao Lu, Dong-Min Wang. The influence of silanes on hydration and strength development of cementitious systems. Cement and Concrete Research, 2015, 67: 168-178.

36.Yanrong Zhang, Xiangming Kong*. Correlations of the dispersing capability of NSF type and PCE type superplasticizers and their impacts on cement hydration with the adsorption in fresh cement pastes. Cement and Concrete Research, 2015, 69: 1-9.

37.Yanrong Zhang, Xiangming Kong*, Zhenbao Lu, Shanshan Hou. Effect of the charge characteristic of the backbone of polycarboxylate superplasticizer on the adsorption and the retardation in cement pastes. Cement and Concrete Research, 2015, 67: 184-196.

38.Xiangming Kong*, Zhenlin Zhang, Zichen Lu. Effect of pre-soaked superabsorbent polymer on shrinkage of high-strength concrete. Materials and Structures, 2015, 48(9): 2741-2758.

39.Xiangming Kong*, Yongliang Liu, Zhenlin Zhang, Peiyu Yan, Yun Bai. Influences of Temperature on Mechanical Properties of Cement Asphalt Mortars. Materials and Structures, 2014, 47(1-2): 285-292.

40.Kong Xiangming*, Zhang Yanrong, Hou Shanshan. Study on the rheological properties of Portland cement pastes with polycarboxylate superplasticizers. Rheologica Acta, 2013, 52: 707-718.

41.Yang Hailong, Kong Xiangming*, Zhang Yanrong, Wu Chunchao, Cao Enxiang. Mechanical properties of polymer-modified silica aerogels dried under ambient pressure. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2011, 357: 3447-3453.

42.Chunchao Wu, Kong Xiangming*, Hailong Yang, Controllable preparation of high-yield magnetic polymer latex. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2011, 361: 49-58.