Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Ben B. Xu FRSC, FIMMM, FRSA, FICS, is a full professor in materials and mechanics with a multi-disciplinary research interest covering functional materials, applied mechanics, micro-engineering and sustainable and energy technology. Ben obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Heriot-watt University in 2011. He subsequently worked as a postdoc researcher in Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at University of Massachusetts Amherst (US, 2011-2013). Ben is a visiting professor in UCLA (US), University of Alberta (CA), The University of Sydney (AU), Manipal University (India), etc.
Ben is a vice chair for division of 'composites' in AICHE (US) and chairing the Materials Characterisation&Properties Group in the Institute of Materials, Mining and Minerals (IoM3). He has published 7 patents, 7 book(incl. chapters) and over 200 peer-reviewed articles in the leading journals, including Sci. Adv., Nat. Commun., Adv. Mater., Adv. Energy. Mater., Adv. Fun. Mater., Energy. Environ. Sci., Phys. Rev. Lett., etc (h-index 41). Ben has been invited to give 100+ invited/plenary talks in international conferences/leading institutions, chaired 30+ international events and reviewed paper publications for 100+ journals. He serves as an associate editor for Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials (Springer Nature), Advanced Devices & Instrumentation (AAAS) and ES Engineered Science, and an editorial board member for Polymers (MDPI). He received awards as the Outstanding Paper Award at the 2018 IEEE International Flexible Electronics Technology Conference, 2016 Young Investigator Award from the International Polymer Networks Group, 3rd prize in the 2016 EPSRC photo competition, 2016 RSC-CSCST Emerging Talent Grant from Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), etc.
He was elected to the Advisory Council in IoM3 from 2019, and the RSC Materials Chemistry Division Council and Newcastle upon Tyne and North East Coast Committee from 2020, the executive committee for The Chinese Society of Chemical Science and Technology (CSCST-UK) from 2016.
Progresses from Ben’s research have been featured by media presses in
2020:
EPSRC: https://epsrc.ukri.org/newsevents/news/researchers-discover-novel-optical-sensing-technology/
Materials World: https://www.iom3.org/materials-world-magazine/news/2020/jun/03/elastic-folding-soft-matter-surfaces-aids-highcontrast
Materials views china: https://www.materialsviewschina.com/2020/09/48634/
phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2020-04-optical-technology.html
NECONNECTED: https://neconnected.co.uk/fold-to-glitter-researchers-discover-novel-optical-sensing-technology/
polymer.cn: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6VDqUepzulrDgX_yWjnv2g
2019:
UK Fluids Network: https://fluids.mzs.arpa.cam.ac.uk
phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2019-07-red-wine-key-next-gen-wearable.html
Materials views china: https://www.materialsviewschina.com/2019/08/39476/?from=timeline&isappinstalled=0
Before 2019:
NECONNECTED: https://neconnected.co.uk/northumbria-scientists-win-national-photography-prize/
Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/science/gallery/2017/apr/03/from-eureka-to-equipment-images-that-show-another-side-of-science-in-pictures-epsrc-photo-competition-2017
Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/02/epsrc-photography-competition-2017/dr-ben-xu-mr-ding-wang3rd-placeeureka-discovery-categorythis/
Materials views china: https://www.materialsviewschina.com/2016/04/21008/
Research interests
Dr Xu is currently leading a research group in Northumbria to develop multidisciplinary research programmes, from fundamental understanding on engineering science to innovating the enabling technologies. His researches in extreme mechanics and functional materials includes the design and understanding of morphing structures, the development of novel flexible/wearable sensing/actuating structure/devices, the realization of functional surface/interface with unique chemical-physical features, the innovation of new circular economy technology using recycled plastic wastes and the exploration of future renewable energy solutions.
He has developed a novel approach to realise the sensing/actuation function by introducing elastic instabilities into the micro-engineered structure in a controllable manner, which shed extra lights in developing future micro-devices, especially in the sectors of flexible/wearable electronics, soft robots, etc. His work on soft active matter and developing novel micro-device is supported by the Royal Society, EPSRC and industries.
Progresses from Ben’s research have been featured by media presses in EPSRC,Materials World, UK Fluids Network, phys.org 2020, NECONNECTED 2020, phys.org 2019, Guardian, Telegraph, NECONNECTED 2019, polymer.cn, Materials views china 2019, Materials views china 2016.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Education, PGCert, Northumbria University
15 Nov 2013 → 31 Aug 2015
Award Date: 1 Oct 2015
Mechanical Engineering, PhD, Heriot-Watt University
1 Apr 2008 → 31 May 2011
Award Date: 1 Nov 2011
Materials Science, MSc, Zhejiang University of Technology
1 Sep 2003 → 30 Jun 2006
Award Date: 1 Jul 2006
Polymers and Textiles, BSc (Hons), Zhejiang University of Technology
1 Sep 1999 → 30 Jun 2003
Award Date: 30 Jun 2003
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 7 Finished
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Smart materials and surfaces enabled resilience engineering technology
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/02/18 → 21/11/18
Project: Research
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EE 3D printed smart materials structure and device for advanced engineering
1/10/16 → 30/09/19
Project: Research
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Dynamically monitoring in plane strain transformation/localization during creasing of the gel surface
31/03/16 → 30/03/17
Project: Research
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Stimuli-responsive gel based microfluidic switch
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/10/15 → 30/07/17
Project: Research
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Mechanics and application of the micro-engineered smart structure
1/02/15 → 31/01/18
Project: Research
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Activating the Inert Na1 Sites in Na2FePO4F Toward High Performance Sodium Storage
Huang, H., Xia, Y., Hao, Y., Li, H., Wang, C., Shi, T., Lu, X., Shahzad, M. W., Xu, B. B. & Jiang, Y., 13 Jul 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Advanced Functional Materials.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Advances in triboelectric nanogenerator technology—applications in self-powered sensors, Internet of things, biomedicine, and blue energy
Jiang, D., Lian, M., Xu, M., Sun, Q., Xu, B. B., Thabet, H. K., El-Bahy, S. M., Ibrahim, M. M., Huang, M. & Guo, Z., 1 Apr 2023, In: Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials. 6, 2, 25 p., 57.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
14 Citations (Scopus) -
Advancing pressure sensors performance through a flexible MXene embedded interlocking structure in a microlens array
Li, T., Xu, Z., Xu, B. B., Guo, Z., Jiang, Y., Zhang, X., Bayati, M., Liu, T. & Liu, Y-H., 1 Jul 2023, In: Nano Research. 16, 7, p. 10493–10499 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile27 Downloads (Pure) -
Ammonium perchlorate@graphene oxide/Cu-MOF composites for efficiently catalyzing the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate
Liang, T., Yang, X., Liu, B., Song, R., Xiao, F., Yang, Y., Wang, D., Dong, M., Ren, J., Xu, B. B., Algadi, H. & Yang, Y., 1 Apr 2023, In: Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials. 6, 2, 67.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus) -
An Active Bacterial Anti-adhesion Strategy Based on Directional Transportation of Bacterial Droplets Driven by Triboelectric Nanogenerators
Lin, J., Li, J., Feng, S., Gu, C., Li, H., Lu, H., Hu, F., Pan, D., Xu, B. B. & Guo, Z., 1 Jan 2023, In: Nano Research. 16, 1, p. 1052-1063 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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3rd prize (Eureka and Discovery) in EPSRC science photo competition
Xu, Ben B. (Recipient), 2016
Prize
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Longchuan Industrial Fellowship awarded by Yangzhou City Council
Xu, Ben B. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Honorary award
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Lu Yang Jing Feng Industrial Fellowship awarded by Yangzhou City Council (Jiangsu, China)
Xu, Ben B. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Honorary award
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Activities
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Advanced Devices & Instrumentation (Journal)
Ben B. Xu (Member of editorial board)
Jun 2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work
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The IOM3 Materials Characterisation & Properties Group (External organisation)
Ben B. Xu (Chair)
25 Apr 2022 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of board
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Editor board member for Green Energy and Environmental Technology (Event)
Ben B. Xu (Member of editorial board)
1 Mar 2022Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work