Ding’s research activities focused on using in-situ and ex-situ high-resolution (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) to characterize functional materials. Based on their atomic structures to understand their unique chemical and physical properties. His original and innovative works were evidenced by 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Most of the papers are in top-rated journals, including 4 Science and 1 nature papers. His work has been cited over 25,000 times and his H-index reached 76.