Dr Xuan Wu

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Future Industries Institute

email Xuan.Wu@unisa.edu.au

Research Degree Supervisor

About me

Dr Xuan Wu received her B.Sc. (Chemistry and Material Science) from Shanxi Normal University in 2010, the M.Sc. (Chemistry) from Tianjin University in 2013, and the PhD degree (Energy and Advanced Manufacturing) from the University of South Australia in 2017. In the same year she joined the UniSA as a Research Associate to work on Solar-Thermal Energy Conversion and Applications.

Future Industries Institute

The Institute partners with today’s industries, to create the industries of tomorrow.

Tweets by @UniversitySA

Research

Research focus

Chemical Sciences
Analytical Chemistry
Engineering
Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
Physical Sciences

Research

Outputs

Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Journal Articles

Year	Output
2025	Liu, J, Liu, Y, Ma, X, Xu, H, Wu, X, Liu, M & Zhuge, Y 2025, 'Thermal performance optimisation of foam concrete for energy-efficient construction: A state-of-the-art review', vol. 112, no. 113899, pp.1-20. Open access 2
2025	Wang, D, Wu, X, Yu, H, Bu, Y, Lu, Y, Chu, D, Owens, G, Yang, X & Xu, H 2025, 'Dyson sphere-like evaporators enhanced interfacial solar evaporation via self-generated internal convection', online, pp. 1-9. Open access 3
2025	Xiong, Q, Wang, D, Shao, B, Yu, H, Wu, X, Lu, Y, Yang, X & Xu, H 2025, 'Unlocking zero liquid discharge: a parallel water supply strategy to realize selective salt crystallization for long-term interfacial solar evaporation', Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 35, no. 7, article no. 2409257, pp. 1-11. 47 45 1
2024	Liang, Y, Wang, D, Yu, H, Wu, X, Lu, Y, Yang, X, Owens, G & Xu, H 2024, 'Recent innovations in 3D solar evaporators and their functionalities', Science Bulletin, vol. 69, no. 22, pp. 3590-3617. Open access 49 52
2024	Liu, J, Zhuge, Y, Ma, X, Xu, H, Wu, X, Liu, M & Liu, Y 2024, 'Foam concrete nanocomposites synergistic integration of ultrasonically exfoliated two-dimensional vermiculite nanoplatelets and expanded vermiculite: mechanical and thermal performance optimisation', Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 82, article no. 108272, pp. 1-15. Open access 4 5
2024	Wu, X, Lu, Y, Ren, X, Wu, P, Chu, D, Yang, X & Xu, H 2024, 'Interfacial solar evaporation: from fundamental research to applications', Advanced Materials, vol. 36, no. 23, article no. 2313090, pp. 1-63. Open access 349 325 1
2024	Yu, H, Jin, H, Qiu, M, Liang, Y, Sun, P, Cheng, C, Wu, P, Wang, Y, Wu, X, Chu, D, Zheng, M, Qiu, T, Lu, Y, Zhang, B, Mai, W, Yang, X, Owens, G & Xu, H 2024, 'Making interfacial solar evaporation of seawater faster than fresh water', Advanced Materials, vol. 36, no. 52, article no. 2414045, pp. 1-11. 79 80 153
2024	Zhuang, T, Xu, L, Khalid, M, Wu, X, Du, L, Shahnia, S, Codemard, CA, Bai, Z, Wang, Y, Liu, S, Chen, GY & Wang, Y 2024, 'Light-sheet skew ray-based microbubble chemical sensor for pb²⁺ measurements', Sensors, vol. 24, no. 21, article no. 6785, pp. 1-12. Open access
2023	Wang, D, Wu, X, Owens, G & Xu, H 2023, 'Porous carbon-based thermally conductive materials: fabrication, functions and applications', Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry, vol. 42, no. 4, article no 100006, pp. 1-16. Open access 15
2023	Wang, Y, Hu, J, Yu, L, Wu, X, Zhang, Y & Xu, H 2023, 'Recent strategies for constructing efficient interfacial solar evaporation systems', Nano Research Energy, vol. 2, no. 2, article no. e9120062, pp. 1-19. Open access 93 88 70
2023	Wu, P, Wu, X, Wang, Y, Zhao, J, Xu, H & Owens, G 2023, 'Boosting extraction of Pb in contaminated soil via interfacial solar evaporation of multifunctional sponge', Green Energy and Environment, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 1459-1468. Open access 22 25 2
2023	Wu, P, Wu, X, Yu, H, Zhao, J, Wang, Y, Pi, K & Xu, H 2023, 'An interfacial solar evaporation enabled autonomous double-layered vertical floating solar sea farm', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 473, article no. 145452, pp. 1-9. Open access 42 43 177
2023	Yu, H, Wang, D, Jin, H, Wu, P, Wu, X, Chu, D, Lu, Y, Yang, X & Xu, H 2023, '2D MoN₁.₂-rGO stacked heterostructures enabled water state modification for highly efficient interfacial solar evaporation', Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 33, no. 24, article no. 2214828. Open access 145 145 10
2023	Zhao, J, Wu, X, Yu, H, Wang, Y, Wu, P, Yang, X, Chu, D, Owens, G & Xu, H 2023, 'Regenerable aerogel-based thermogalvanic cells for efficient low-grade heat harvesting from solar radiation and interfacial solar evaporation systems', Ecomat, vol. 5, no. 3, article no. e12302. Open access 42 40 2
2022	Gao, T, Wang, Y, Wu, X, Wu, P, Yang, X, Li, Q, Zhang, Z, Zhang, D, Owens, G & Xu, H 2022, 'More from less: improving solar steam generation by selectively removing a portion of evaporation surface', Science Bulletin, vol. 67, no. 15, pp. 1572-1580. Open access 212 210
2022	Liu, J, Zhuge, Y, Ma, X, Liu, M, Liu, Y, Wu, X & Xu, H 2022, 'Physical and mechanical properties of expanded vermiculite (EV) embedded foam concrete subjected to elevated temperatures', Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 16, article no. e01038, pp. 1-12. Open access 32 26
2022	Wang, Y, Wu, X, Wu, P, Yu, H, Zhao, J, Yang, X, Li, Q, Zhang, Z, Zhang, D, Owens, G & Xu, H 2022, 'Salt isolation from waste brine enabled by interfacial solar evaporation with zero liquid discharge', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 10, no. 27, pp. 14470-14478. Open access 94 96
2022	Wu, P, Wu, X, Wang, Y, Xu, H & Owens, G 2022, 'A biomimetic interfacial solar evaporator for heavy metal soil remediation', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 435, article no. 134793, pp.1-9. 76 76 59
2022	Wu, P, Wu, X, Wang, Y, Xu, H & Owens, G 2022, 'Towards sustainable saline agriculture: interfacial solar evaporation for simultaneous seawater desalination and saline soil remediation', Water Research, vol. 212, article no. 118099, pp. 1-9. Open access 186 183 35
2021	Gao, T, Wu, X, Wang, Y, Owens, G & Xu, H 2021, 'A hollow and compressible 3D photothermal evaporator for highly efficient solar steam generation without energy loss', Solar RRL, vol. 5, no. 5, article no. 2100053, pp. 1-21. Open access 184 184 94
2021	Wang, Y, Wu, X, Gao, T, Lu, Y, Yang, X, Chen, GY, Owens, G & Xu, H 2021, 'Same materials, bigger output: a reversibly transformable 2D-3D photothermal evaporator for highly efficient solar steam generation', Nano Energy, vol. 79, article no. 105477, pp. 1-9. Open access 343 330
2021	Wang, Y, Wu, X, Wu, P, Zhao, J, Yang, X, Owens, G & Xu, H 2021, 'Enhancing solar steam generation using a highly thermally conductive evaporator support', Science Bulletin, vol. 66, no. 24, pp. 2479-2488. Open access 229 230 4
2021	Wu, P, Wu, X, Xu, H & Owens, G 2021, 'Interfacial solar evaporation driven lead removal from a contaminated soil', Ecomat, vol. 3, no. 5, article no. e12140, pp. 1-11. Open access 51 49 41
2021	Wu, X, Wang, Y, Wu, P, Zhao, J, Lu, Y, Yang, X & Xu, H 2021, 'Dual-zone photothermal evaporator for antisalt accumulation and highly efficient solar steam generation', Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 31, no. 34, article no. 2102618, pp. 1-11. Open access 348 349 7
2021	Wu, X, Wu, Z, Wang, Y, Gao, T, Li, Q & Xu, H 2021, 'All-cold evaporation under one sun with zero energy loss by using a heatsink inspired solar evaporator', Advanced Science, vol. 8, no. 7, pp. 1-10. Open access 323 229
2020	Gao, T, Wu, X, Owens, G & Xu, H-L 2020, 'A cobalt oxide@polydopamine-reduced graphene oxide-based 3D photothermal evaporator for highly efficient solar steam generation', TUNGSTEN, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 423-432. Open access 54 47
2020	Shao, B, Wang, Y, Wu, X, Lu, Y, Yang, X, Chen, GY, Owens, G & Xu, H 2020, 'Stackable nickel-cobalt@polydopamine nanosheet based photothermal sponges for highly efficient solar steam generation', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 8, pp. 11665-11673. Open access 228 231 4
2020	Shao, B, Wu, X, Wang, Y, Gao, T, Liu, Z-Q, Owens, G & Xu, H 2020, 'A general method for selectively coating photothermal materials on 3D porous substrate surfaces towards cost-effective and highly efficient solar steam generation', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 8, no. 46, pp. 24703-24709. Open access 83 83
2020	Storer, DP, Phelps, JL, Wu, X, Owens, G, Khan, NI & Xu, H 2020, 'Graphene and Rice-Straw-Fiber-Based 3D Photothermal Aerogels for Highly Efficient Solar Evaporation', ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, vol. 12, no. 13, pp. 15279-15287. Open access 374 359 1
2020	Wang, J, Chen, GY, Wu, X, Xu, H, Monro, TM, Liu, T & Lancaster, DG 2020, 'Light-sheet skew ray-enhanced localized surface plasmon resonance-based chemical sensing', ACS Sensors, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 127-132. 6 6 2
2020	Wang, Y, Wu, X, Shao, B, Yang, X, Owens, G & Xu, H 2020, 'Boosting solar steam generation by structure enhanced energy management', Science Bulletin, online, pp. 1-9. Open access 245 242
2020	Wang, Y, Wu, X, Yang, X, Owens, G & Xu, H 2020, 'Reversing heat conduction loss: extracting energy from bulk water to enhance solar steam generation', Nano Energy, vol. 78, article no. 105269, pp. 1-10. Open access 289 281
2019	Chen, GY, Francois, A, Wu, X, Zhang, WQ, Codemard, CA, Xu, H, Monro, TM & Lancaster, DG 2019, 'Light-sheet skew-ray enhanced pump-absorption for sensing', Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 37, no. 9, pp. 2140-2146. 8 7
2019	Chen, GY, Wu, X, Codemard, CA, Yu, L, Liu, X, Xu, H, Monro, TM & Lancaster, DG 2019, 'Optical hygrometer using light-sheet skew-ray probed multimode fiber with polyelectrolyte coating', Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical: International Journal Devoted to Research and Development of Physical and Chemical Transducers, vol. 296, article no. 126685, pp. 1-6. Open access 11 11
2019	Chen, GY, Xuan, W, Schartner, E, Shahnia, S, Hebert, NB, Yu, L, Liu, X, Afshar , S, Newson, T, Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H, Xu, H, Lancaster, DG & Monro, TM 2019, 'Short-range non-bending fully distributed water/humidity sensors', Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 37, no. 9, pp. 2014-2022. Open access 12 9
2019	Cheng, Y, Wu, X & Xu, H 2019, 'Catalytic decomposition of hydrous hydrazine for hydrogen production', Sustainable Energy and Fuels, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 343-365. Open access 83 73
2019	Wu, X, Chen, GY, Owens, G, Chu, D & Xu, H 2019, 'Photothermal materials: a key platform enabling highly efficient water evaporation driven by solar energy', Materials Today Energy, vol. 12, pp. 277-296. 390 377 3
2019	Wu, X, Gao, T, Han, C, Xu, J, Owens, G & Xu, H 2019, 'A photothermal reservoir for highly efficient solar steam generation without bulk water', Science Bulletin, vol. 64, no. 21, pp. 1625-1633. Open access 222 222
2019	Wu, X, Robson, ME, Phelps, JL, Tan, JS, Shao, B, Owens, G & Xu, H 2019, 'A flexible photothermal cotton-CuS nanocage-agarose aerogel towards portable solar steam generation', Nano Energy, vol. 56, pp. 708-715. Open access 412 397
2018	Facal Marina, P, Xu, J, Wu, X & Xu, H 2018, 'Thinking outside the box: Placing hydrophilic particles in an oil phase for the formation and stabilization of Pickering emulsions', Chemical Science, vol. 9, no. 21, pp. 4821-4829. Open access 31 31 1
2018	Wu, X, Wu, L, Tan, J, Chen, GY, Owens, G & Xu, H 2018, 'Evaporation above a bulk water surface using an oil Lamp inspired highly efficient solar-steam generation strategy', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 6, no. 26, pp. 12267-12274. Open access 178 170 1
2017	Chen, GY, Wu, X, Kang, YQ, Yu, L, Monro, TM, Lancaster, DG, Liu, X & Xu, H 2017, 'Ultra-fast hygrometer based on U-shaped optical microfiber with nanoporous polyelectrolyte coating', Scientific Reports, vol. 7, article no. 7943, pp. 1-8. Open access 31 24 3
2017	Chen, GY, Wu, X, Liu, X, Lancaster, DG, Monro, TM & Xu, H 2017, 'Photodetector based on Vernier-Enhanced Fabry-Perot Interferometers with a photo-thermal coating', Scientific Reports, vol. 7, article no. 41895, pp. 1-9. Open access 8 5 2
2017	Wu, X, Chen, GY, Zhang, W, Liu, X & Xu, H 2017, 'A Plant-transpiration-process-inspired strategy for highly efficient solar evaporation', Advanced Sustainable Systems, vol. 1, no. 6, article no. 1700046, pp. 1-7. 245
2017	Wu, X, Xu, J, Chen, GY, Fan, R, Liu, X & Xu, H 2017, 'Harvesting, sensing and regulating light based on photo-thermal effect of Cu@CuO mesh', Green Energy and Environment, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 387-392. Open access 7 7
2016	Xu, J, Li, X, Wu, X, Wang, W, Fan, R, Liu, X & Xu, H 2016, 'Hierarchical CuO colloidosomes and their structure enhanced photothermal catalytic activity', The Journal of Physical Chemistry C: Energy Conversion and Storage, Optical and Electronic Devices, Interfaces, Nanomaterials, and Hard Matter, vol. 120, no. 23, pp.12666-12672. Open access 68 64 1
2015	Wu, X, Xu, R, Zhu, R, Wu, R & Zhang, B 2015, 'Converting 2D inorganic-organic ZnSe-DETA hybrid nanosheets into 3D hierarchical nanosheet-based ZnSe microspheres with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic performances', Nanoscale, vol. 7, no. 21, pp. 9752-9759. 29 28
2013	Xu, Y, Wang, H, Zhu, R, Liu, C, Wu, X & Zhang, B 2013, 'Conversion of CuO nanoplates into porous hybrid Cu2O/polypyrrole nanoflakes through a pyrrole-induced reductive transformation reaction', Chemistry: An Asian Journal, vol. 8, pp. 1120-1127. 24 24
2012	Wu, X, Yu, Y, Liu, Y, Xu, Y, Liu, C & Zhang, B 2012, 'Synthesis of hollow Cdx Zn1−x Se nanoframes through the selective cation exchange of inorganic-organic hybrid ZnSe-amine nanoflakes with cadmium Ions', Angewandte Chemie, vol. 51, no. 13, pp. 3211-3215. 109 105
2012	Xu, Y, Yuan, Y, Ma, A, Wu, X, Liu, Y & Zhang, B 2012, 'Composition-tunable Pt-Co alloy nanoparticle networks: facile room-temperature synthesis and supportless electrocatalytic applications', Chemphyschem: A European Journal of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry, vol. 13, pp. 2601-2609. 48 44
2012	Yu, Y, Zhang, J, Wu, X, Zhao, W & Zhang, B 2012, 'Nanoporous single‐crystal‐like Cdx Zn1−x S nanosheets fabricated by the cation‐exchange reaction of inorganic-organic hybrid ZnS-amine with cadmium ions', Angewandte Chemie, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 897-900. 221 206

Conferences

Year	Output
2018	Chen, GY, Wu, X, Yu, L, Xu, H, Liu, X, Monro, TM & Lancaster, DG 2018, 'Recent progress in advanced humidity sensors', 22nd World Congress of the International Measurement Confederation, IMEKO 2018, Institute of Physics Publishing, vol. 1065, no. 25, article no. 252008, pp. 1-5. Open access
2017	Chen, GY, Wu, X, Liu, X, Lancaster, DG, Monro, TM & Xu, H 2017, 'Photodetector with photothermal cascaded Fabry-Perot etalons', 25th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors, SPIE, vol. 10323, article no. 103230F, pp. 1-4. Open access 1 1

Research

Patents

Details	Registry	Status
Desalination apparatus and process Wu, Xuan; Xu, Haolan	Australia	Filed
Photothermal evaporation devices and methods for enhancing photothermal evaporation performance Wu, Xuan; Wang, Yida; Xu, Haolan	Australia	Filed

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Organisation	Country
Griffith University	AUSTRALIA
Guangzhou University	CHINA
Hubei University of Technology	CHINA
Jilin University	CHINA
Jinan University (China)	CHINA
Laval University	CANADA
Nanjing Forestry University	CHINA
Qilu University of Technology	CHINA
Queensland University of Technology	AUSTRALIA
Shanghai Institute of Ceramics	CHINA
Shanghai Jiao Tong University	CHINA
Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology	CHINA
Shenzhen Technology University	CHINA
Shenzhen University	CHINA
SPI Lasers	UNITED KINGDOM
Tianjin University	CHINA
Tsinghua University	CHINA
University of Adelaide	AUSTRALIA
University of Engineering and Technology	PAKISTAN
University of New South Wales	AUSTRALIA
University of South Australia	AUSTRALIA
University of Southampton	UNITED KINGDOM
University of Western Australia	AUSTRALIA

External engagement & recognition

Engagement/recognition	Year
2023 Australasian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference RMIT	2025
ARC funding assessor ARC	2025
Young Advisory Editorial Board Sustainable Materials and Technologies	2025
2023 Australasian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference RMIT	2024
ARC funding assessor ARC	2024
Young Advisory Editorial Board Sustainable Materials and Technologies	2024
2023 Australasian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference RMIT	2023
ARC funding assessor ARC	2023
2022 ANFF Showcase speaker ANFF	2022

Teaching & student supervision

Research degree supervision

Supervisions from 2010 shown

Thesis title	Student status
Design and fabrication of highly efficient photothermal evaporator for sustainable interfacial solar evaporation	Current
Development of an Innovative Carbon-Negative Aquaponic System for Fresh Water and Novel Food Production Powered by the advanced Interfacial Solar Evaporation Technology	Current
Improving Energy Generation Performance in Interfacial Solar Steam Generation Systems	Current
Improving Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation via Regulating Material-Water Interactions	Current
Innovative material strategies for lowering evaporation enthalpy in solar-evaporation desalination	Current
Simultaneous Photothermal Water Evaporation and Antibiotic Degradation	Current
Design and fabrication of highly efficient photothermal evaporators for portable solar-steam generation systems	Completed
Interfacial solar driven evaporation for soil remediation	Completed

more less

Dr Xuan Wu

About me

About me

Future Industries Institute

About me

Professional Associations

Experience

Qualifications

Research

Research focus

Projects

Outputs

Journal Articles

Conferences

Patents

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

2023 Australasian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference

ARC funding assessor

Young Advisory Editorial Board

2023 Australasian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference

ARC funding assessor

Young Advisory Editorial Board

2023 Australasian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference

ARC funding assessor

2022 ANFF Showcase speaker

Teaching & student supervision

Courses and programs

Research degree supervision

Gallery