Background:

Xujin is a Reader in Materials in the Department of Materials. He obtained B.Eng and M.Eng in Materials Science and Engineering at South China University of Technology (China) and worked as a lecturer at Beijing University of Chemical Technology (China) before he came to the UK as a visiting scholar at Newcastle University, followed by completing PhD degree in Materials Chemistry at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, which focused on the preparation of side-chain liquid crystal polymers for optical applications. After four years worked on preparation of SiC from polymer precursors as a Post-doctoral research associate and Research Fellow at Brunel University, Loughborough University and Queen Mary University of London, Xujin joined the Department of Materials at Loughborough University as a Lecturer in 2000. His research interests include materials chemistry, energy materials, nanomaterials and composites for various applications.

Qualifications:

• BSc and MEng in Materials Science and Engineering (1986)
• PhD in Materials Chemistry (1997)

Outline of main research interests:

Focus on Materials Chemistry, Energy Materials and Nanomaterials including:

• Ceramic and ceramic composites derived from polymer precursors
• Nanoengineering of functional materials and composites via novel synthetic methods
• Electrolyte polymer composite membranes for high-temperature fuel cell applications
• Nanocomposite conformal coatings for tin whisker applications
• Controlled synthesis of low-dimensional catalysts for biomass applications
• Biopolymers with tailorable particle size, morphology and surfaces for tissue engineering applications

Grants and contracts:

• Controlled synthesis of low-dimensional catalysts for biofuel; Mini-CDT, 2020-2024
• Designed Ceramic Nanocomposites for Advantaged Armor Performance; DSTL, 2018-2021
• Whisker mitigation II; EPSRC Enterprise Grand, 2018-2020
• Improving the whisker mitigation properties of polymeric conformal coatings - WHISKERMIT 2, EPSRC Enterprise Grand, 2014-2017

Current teaching responsibilities:

• MPB023: Experimentation
• MPC012: Polymer Engineering - Processing and Manufacture
• MPC311: Advanced Processing Methods
• MPD014: Polymer Engineering – Properties and Design
• MPP010/MPP020: M.Sc Project

Current administrative responsibilities:

• Director of M.Sc Programme
• Director of LCMP Programme
• Administration tutor for LCMP Programme

Recent publications:

1. Ling, Z, Wang, B, Liu, Q, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Li, X, Zhao, F, Bao, X, Hu, S, Yang, J (2025) In-situ strategies for melamine-functionalized graphene oxide nanosheets-based nanocomposite proton exchange membranes in wide-temperature range applications, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 678(Part B), pp.388-399
2. Wang, B, Ling, Z, Liu, Y, Hu, S, Liu, Q, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Zhao, F, Li, X, Bao, X, Yang, J (2024) Side-chain vertical imidazole backbone enhances phosphoric acid uptake in Poly(2,5-benzimidazole) membranes for high-temperature PEMFCs, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 84, pp.959-967.
3. Xiang, Y, Bao, X, Sun, T (2024) Evaluation of bacteriophages for the alleviation of potential bacterial contamination risks in developmental engineering, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 121:3211–3223..
4. Ling, Z, Wang, B, Liu, Q, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Li, X, Zhao, F, Bao, X, Yang, J (2024) Amination modification of graphene oxide for the in-situ synthesis of sulfonated polyimide-based composite proton exchange membranes, European Polymer Journal, 215, 113223.
5. Ling, Z, Wang, B, Zhou, Y, Liu, Q, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Li, X, Zhao, F, Bao, X (2024) Fabricating rapid proton conduction pathways with sepiolite nanorod-based ionogel/Nafion composites via electrospinning, Polymer, 306, 127211.
6. Sun, T, Xiang, Y, Turner, F, Bao, X (2024) Integrated Experimental and Mathematical Exploration of Modular Tissue Cultures for Developmental Engineering, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(5), pp.2987-2987.
7. Zhou, Y, Wang, B, Ling, Z, Liu, Q, Fu, X, Zhang, Y, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Zhao, F, Li, X, Bao, X, Yang, J (2024) Advances in ionogels for proton-exchange membranes, Science of the Total Environment, 921, 171099.
8. Ling, Z, Wang, B, Wang, X, Lan, J, Li, X, Liu, Q, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Li, X, Zhao, F, Bao, X, Hu, S, Yang, J (2024) Sulfonation modification of halloysite nanotubes for the in-situ synthesis of polybenzimidazole-based composite proton exchange membranes in wide-temperature range applications, European Polymer Journal, 207,112813.
9. Xiang, Y, Yan, J, Bao, X, Gleadall, A, Sun, T (2024) Investigation of cell infiltration and colonization in 3D porous scaffolds via integrated experimental and computational strategies, Journal of Biotechnology, 382, pp.78-87.
10. Xiong, C, Ling, Z, Wang, B, Yu, Y, Liu, Q, Fu, X, Wu, C, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Bao, X, Yang, J (2024) Electrospinning-assisted construction of rapid proton conduction channels in halloysite nanotube-encapsulated ionic liquid-embedded sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) proton exchange membranes, Fuel, 362, 130814.
11. Liu, Q, Ling, Z, Wang, X, Fu, X, Wu, W, Xiong, C, Wang, B, Zhang, R, Li, X, Zhao, F, Bao, X, Hu, S, Jun, Y (2023) Polyethyleneimine-confined halloysite nanotubes for poly(2,5-benzimidazole) composite membranes with phosphoric acid retention and proton conductivity via ion pairs for wide-temperature PEMFCs, Composites Science and Technology, 242, 110199.
12. Xiang, Y, Yan, J, Bao, X, Gleadall, A, Roach, P, Sun, T (2023) Evaluation of polymeric particles for modular tissue cultures in developmental engineering, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(6), 5234.
13. Meng, Z, Zou, Y, Li, N, Wang, B, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Bao, X, Li, X, Zhao, F, Liu, Q (2023) Graphene Oxide-Intercalated Microbial Montmorillonite to Moderate the Dependence of Nafion-Based PEMFCs in High-Humidity Environments, ACS Applied Energy Materials, 6(3), pp.1771-1780.
14. Liu, Q, Luo, Y, Yang, S, Xiong, Y, Wang, R, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Bao, X, Xu, C (2023) Transfer-free in-situ synthesis of high-performance polybenzimidazole grafted graphene oxide-based proton exchange membrane for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Journal of Power Sources, 559.
15. Cai, H, Yu, T, Xie, D, Sun, B, Cheng, J, Li, L, Bao, X, Zhang, H (2023) Microstructure and ionic conductivities of NASICON-type Li₁.₃A1₀.₃Ti₁.₇(PO₄)₃ solid electrolytes produced by cold sintering assisted process, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 939, 168702.
16. Liu, Q, Xiong, C, X, Shi, H, Liu, L, Wang, X, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu,S, Bao, X, S, Li, X, Zhao, F, Xu, C, (2022) Halloysite ionogels enabling poly(2,5-benzimidazole)-based proton-exchange membranes for wide-temperature-range applications, Journal of Membrane Science, 668, 121192
17. Liu, Q, Wang, X, Zhang, X, Ling, Z, Wu, W, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Li, X, Zhao, F, Bao, X (2022) Polyethyleneimine-filled sepiolite nanorods-embedded poly(2,5-benzimidazole) composite membranes for wide-temperature PEMFCs, Journal of Cleaner Production, 359, 131977.
18. Hu, X, Zhang, R, Wemyss, AM, Du, A, Bao, X, Geng, X, Wan, C (2022) Damping and electromechanical behavior of ionic-modified brominated poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene) rubber containing petroleum resin C5, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 61(8), pp.3063-3074.

Selected publications:

1. Schmidt, T, Xiang, Y, Bao, X, Sun, T (2021) A paradigm shift in tissue engineering: from a top–down to a bottom–up strategy, Processes, 9(6), 935.
2. Zhou, G, Mikinka, E, Golding, J, Bao, X, Sun, W, Ashby, A (2020) Investigation of thermal degradation and decomposition of both pristine and damaged carbon/epoxy samples with thermal history, Composites Part B: Engineering, 201, 108382.
3. Li, T, Luo, F, Fu, X, Li, L, Min, J, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Zhao, F, Li, X, Zhang, Y, Bao, X, Liu, Q (2020) In situ synthesis of star copolymers consisting of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane core and poly(2,5-benzimidazole) arms for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells, International Journal of Energy Research, 44(11), pp.8769-8780.
4. Zhang, X, Fu, X, Yang, S, Zhang, Y, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Bao, X, Zhao, F, Li, X, Liu, Q (2019) Design of sepiolite-supported ionogel-embedded composite membranes without proton carrier wastage for wide-temperature-range operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 7(25), pp.15288-15301.
5. Zhang, X, Liu, Q, Xia, L, Huang, D, Fu, X, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Zhao, F, Li, X, Bao, X (2019) Poly(2,5-benzimidazole)/sulfonated sepiolite composite membranes with low phosphoric acid doping levels for PEMFC applications in a wide temperature range, Journal of Membrane Science, 574, pp.282-298.
6. Zhu, J, Deng, H, Zhu, B, Dong, W, Zhang, W, Li, J, Bao, X (2017) Polymer-assistant ceramic nanocomposite materials for advanced fuel cell technologies, Ceramics International, 43(7), pp. 5484-5489.
7. Liu, Q, Sun, Q, Ni, N, Luo, F, Zhang, R, Hu, S, Bao, X, Zhang, F, Zhao, F, Li, X (2016) Novel octopus shaped organic-inorganic composite membranes for PEMFCs, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41(36), pp.16160-16166
8. Ghanizadeh, S, Bao, X, Vaidhyanathan, B, Binner, J (2014) Synthesis of nano α-alumina powders using hydrothermal and precipitation routes: A comparative study, Ceramics International, 40, pp.1311-1319.
9. Zhao, F, Bao, X, McLauchlin, AR, Gu, J, Wan, CY, Kandasubramanian, B, Duggan, M (2010) Effect of POSS on Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Polyamide 12/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites, Applied Clay Science, 47, pp.249-256.

External Collaborators:

External roles and appointments:

• Member of EPSRC review panel

Visiting Professor:

• National Engineering Research Centre of Special Metal Materials, China
• Hubei University of Science and Technology
• Zhengzhou University