Zhen Xu

Dr. Zhen Xu is a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow and Assistant Professor at the Department of Materials, University of Manchester, starting his position in October 2024. He is also affiliated with the Henry Royce Institute, a national center for advanced materials research.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Electrochemical Engineering from Imperial College London (2017-2022)
• BEng in Materials Science and Engineering from Donghua University (2013-2017)

Dr. Xu's research focuses on developing sustainable materials from renewable precursors for carbon dioxide capture and energy storage applications. His work spans electrochemistry, materials science, and environmental engineering, with particular emphasis on batteries, supercapacitors, and their hybrid systems. He employs nature-inspired approaches using glucose, cellulose, lignin, and other renewable resources to create innovative solutions for clean energy.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory in electrochemical carbon dioxide capture technologies and sustainable battery materials, with a particular focus on sodium-ion systems. The research shows increasing impact in addressing climate change through electrochemical innovations.

Dr. Xu has received numerous prestigious awards including:

• Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellowship (2024)
• Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship (2024)
• Isaac Newton Trust Fellowship (2023)
• Townend Prize for the best PhD thesis in energy engineering (2023)
• STFC Futures Early Career Award (2019)

He is actively building his research group at the University of Manchester and is accepting PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy and climate action. Dr. Xu has established collaborations with leading researchers including Prof. Alexander C. Forse at Cambridge, and previously worked with groups led by Dame Clare P. Grey FRS and Michael De Volder.

His research group, ZhenLab, focuses on creating practical solutions for greenhouse gas reduction and clean energy revolution, inspired by Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw's vision.