Dr. Zhexu Xi | Nanomaterials | Best Paper Award

Research assistant at University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Zhexu Xi is a doctoral researcher in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford, focusing on electrochemical sensors, exosomal capture, and nanomaterial interfaces. He earned his M.Sc. in Nanoscience and Functional Nanomaterials from the University of Bristol and holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Xiamen University, China. Throughout his academic journey, he has combined chemistry, nanotechnology, and data science, contributing significantly to electrocatalysis, nanostructure design, and machine learning applications in materials science. His work spans fundamental research and applied projects, such as low-fouling immunomagnetic platforms, quantum dot charge transfer studies, and porous pavement materials for smart cities. Zhexu has authored multiple publications in reputed journals and conferences and serves as an editorial board member and guest editor in nanoscience-focused journals. Recognized with numerous national and international awards in chemistry, physics, and mathematical modeling, he demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary skill set, merging experimental work with computational insights.

Professional Profile

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Education 

Zhexu Xi is currently pursuing his D.Phil. in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford (2020–2024), focusing on electrochemical detection systems, exosomal assays, and nanoscale interface engineering. His research involves designing advanced electrochemical receptor interfaces, low-fouling nanobeads, and microfluidic platforms for sensitive biomolecular detection. Prior to Oxford, he completed his M.Sc. in Nanoscience and Functional Nanomaterials at the University of Bristol (2019–2020) with a GPA of 69.9%, covering nanoscience techniques, functional materials, and extended research projects. Zhexu holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry (by research) from Xiamen University (2015–2019), graduating with a GPA of 87.8%. He also participated in a short-term summer exchange program on self-assembled functional materials at the University of Michigan in 2018. Throughout his education, Zhexu balanced coursework, independent research, and leadership roles in academic and extracurricular activities, cultivating a robust interdisciplinary background spanning chemistry, nanotechnology, and data science.

Professional Experience 

Zhexu Xi has diverse research experience across nanomaterials synthesis, electrochemistry, photophysics, and data-driven materials science. At Oxford, his Ph.D. focuses on immunomagnetic platform development, electrochemical assay optimization, and microfluidic devices for biomolecule detection. He previously researched 2D molybdenum chalcogenides for hydrogen evolution, investigating structure-activity correlations and nanostructure design. At Bristol, he worked on hydrothermal synthesis of MoX₂ assemblies and their electrocatalytic properties. Earlier at Xiamen University, Zhexu explored electron/hole transfer dynamics in semiconductor quantum dots and developed porous concrete materials for water seepage control. His projects span from fundamental chemical synthesis to advanced spectroscopy, machine learning modeling for nanomaterials property prediction, and environmental material applications. Beyond laboratory research, Zhexu served as a founder of the Bioinformatics Club, a conference presenter, and a guest editor for nanoscience journals. His work demonstrates strong skills in experimental design, data analysis, computational modeling, and scientific communication across disciplines.

Awards and Honors

Zhexu Xi has earned numerous honors recognizing his interdisciplinary expertise. Nationally, he received the Excellent Prize in the Wanmen-Cup Physics Contest (2018), and multiple prizes in China’s innovation competitions, including the “Challenge Cup” and National College Student Extracurricular Academic Competitions for both scientific research and mathematical modeling. His project on eco-friendly cellulose-based adhesives was ranked among China’s top 100 public welfare projects. In mathematical modeling and programming, Zhexu earned second prizes in the “Science Innovation Cup” and the Shenzhen Cup Summer Camp. He also excelled in diverse fields, winning first prizes in national English translation and encyclopedia contests. At university level, he secured multiple awards, including the Xiamen University competition for energy-saving solutions. His contributions span from experimental chemistry to data science applications, underlining a commitment to both scientific innovation and effective communication. Zhexu’s broad recognition underscores his leadership, problem-solving, and cross-disciplinary research capabilities.

Research Interests 

Zhexu Xi’s research interests center on the intersection of nanoscience, electrochemistry, and advanced materials design. He focuses on developing electrochemical detection systems for biomedical applications, particularly exosomal and biomarker assays using microfluidic and low-fouling platforms. His work delves deeply into nanostructured electrocatalysts, especially 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, exploring structure–activity relationships to enhance hydrogen evolution reactions. Zhexu is also passionate about quantum dots and their charge transfer dynamics, investigating ultrafast photophysical processes for energy applications. Beyond experimental chemistry, he integrates machine learning into materials science for property prediction, high-throughput screening, and nanostructure optimization. His interests extend to sustainable materials, exemplified by studies on porous pavements for environmental engineering. Zhexu bridges disciplines by combining experimental synthesis, sophisticated spectroscopic techniques, electrochemical analysis, and computational modeling, aiming to design intelligent materials and systems for clean energy, diagnostics, and smart infrastructure applications.

Research Skills 

Zhexu Xi possesses a strong skill set combining experimental and computational methods. Experimentally, he is skilled in nanoparticle synthesis, hydrothermal methods, quantum dot fabrication, surface functionalization, and electrochemical techniques (e.g., voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy). He has expertise in characterizing nanomaterials using spectroscopy (UV-Vis, transient absorption), microscopy, and electrochemical analysis to study reaction kinetics and material interfaces. Zhexu is adept at designing low-fouling surfaces for immunoassays and integrating microfluidic systems for precise biomolecule capture and quantification. Computationally, he employs machine learning models for materials property prediction, data mining, and image-text analysis, handling complex datasets with advanced statistical methods. He is experienced in modeling electron transfer processes and correlating structural parameters with functional performance. Zhexu excels in scientific communication through publications, presentations, and editorial roles. His interdisciplinary skills allow him to navigate complex research challenges spanning chemistry, nanotechnology, bioanalytics, and computational materials science.

Publication Top Notes

• Deep multi-view graph-based network for citywide ride-hailing demand prediction

• Adaptive dual-view wavenet for urban spatial–temporal event prediction

• Surgical repair of annulus defect with biomimetic multilamellar nano/microfibrous scaffold in a porcine model

• Urban hotspot forecasting via automated spatio-temporal information fusion

• Nanostructures Design: the Role of Cocatalysts for Hydrogen and Oxygen Generation in Photocatalytic Water Splitting

• Functional Nanomaterials Design in the Workflow of Building Machine-Learning Models

• Underlying Structure-Activity Correlations of 2D Layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenides-Based Electrocatalysts for Boosted Hydrogen Generation

• Nanostructures of 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Hydrogen Generation Under Alkaline Conditions: from Theoretical Models to Practical Electrocatalysts

• Spatial modelling and microstructural modulation of porous pavement materials for seepage control in smart cities

• How can Humans Drive the Development of Ethical Artificial Intelligence?

• Regional compartmentalization in multienzyme-related biomaterials system

• Interfacial Colloidal Performance and Adhesive Strength of an Environmentally Friendly Cellulose-microcrystal-based Adhesive Substance

• Study on Transient Spectrum Based on charge transfer of semiconductor quantum dots

• Analysis and Research on Corrosion Law of Natural Environment of Materials

• An Edge-Deployable Multi-Modal Nano-Sensor Array Coupled with Deep Learning for Real-Time, Multi-Pollutant Water-Quality Monitoring

• Revisiting the Marcus Inverted Regime: Modulation Strategies for Photogenerated Ultrafast Carrier Transfer from Semiconducting Quantum Dots to Metal Oxides

• Environmental Effect of Water-Permeable Pavement Materials in Sponge Cities

• Tunable structure-activity correlations of molybdenum dichalcogenides (MoX2; X= S, Se, Te) electrocatalysts via hydrothermal methods: insight into optimizing the electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen generation

• Intelligent digitalization and immersive experience in cross-border e-commerce environment (I): the formation pathway and underlying “mediator” of consumer brand attachment

• Unlocking Hydrogen Evolution: Deciphering Structure-Activity Links in Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Dichalcogenides for Enhanced Electrochemical Catalysis