Zhigang Xu

Senior Research Scientist
Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures
North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411

Phone: (336)256-1151 x2104,
E-mail: zhigang@ncat.edu

I. Professional Preparation
University of Petroleum, China, Petroleum Engineering, Bachelor, 1982
University of Petroleum, China, Petroleum Engineering, Master’s, 1988
North Carolina A&T State University, Mechanical Engineering, PhD, 2002
North Carolina A&T State University, Post-doctoral, solid oxide fuel cell materials processing, component fabrication, Bio-implant material processing, and materials characterization, 6/2002-8/2005

II. Appointments
9/2005 – Present, Senior Research Scientist, North Carolina A&T State University
6/2002 – 9/2005, Research Associate, North Carolina A&T State University
10/1997 - 8/1998, Senior Visiting Scholar, North Carolina State University
12/1993 – 8/1998, Associate Professor, University of Petroleum, China
7/1982 - 11/1993, Assistant Professor, University of Petroleum, China

III. Professional Participation

  • Memberships of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Materials Research Society (MRS),
  • American Ceramic Society (ACerS), and American Vacuum Society (AVS)

IV. Publications

  1. Gukan Rajaram, Salil Desai, Zhigang Xu, Devdas M. Pai and Jagannathan Sankar “RSM-based optimisation for the processing of nanoparticulate SOFC anode material”, Int. J. Nanomanufacturing, 2(2008), 346-360.
  2. Zhigang Xu, Gukan Rajaram, Jag Sankar, “Prepare Electrolyte and Electrolyte/Anode Bi-Layers For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells With Novel Gel-Casting Method”, IMECE2008-67717, Proceedings of IMECE2008, 2008 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, October 31 - November 06 2008, Boston Massachusetts, United States.
  3. Zhigang Xu, Jag Sankar, “Liquid-Phase Sintering of ScSZ Electrolytes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, IMECE2007-43478, Proceedings of IMECE2007, 2007 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Nov 11 - 15 2007, Seattle, Washington, United States.
  4. Zhigang Xu, Gregory Young, Gukan Rajaram, Jag Sankar, “Proton Conductive Strontium Cerate Thin Films Processed Using Flame-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition”, IMECE2006-15022, Proceedings of IMECE2006, 2006 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition November 5-10, 2006, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  5. Zhigang Xu, Gukan Rajaram, Jag Sankar, Devdas Pai, “Processing of YSZ Electrolyte Coatings by Using Electrophoretic Deposition for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, Surface and Coatings Technology, 2006 (in print).
  6. Zhigang Xu, Rajaram Gukan, Devdas Pai, Jag Sankar, “Property Control of Cathodes and Anodes Produced by Slip Casting for Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, Ceram Eng Sci Proc., 2005, 6(4), 185-190.
  7. Rajaram Gukan, Zhigang Xu, Xiaochun Jiang, Devdas Pai, George Filatovs, and Jag Sankar, “Influence of Processing Parameters on Porosity of NiO-YSZ Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Material”, Ceram Eng Sci Proc., 2005, 26(4), 177-183.
  8. Zhigang Xu, Sergey Yarmolenko, Jag Sankar, “Exploration of Combustion CVD Method for YSZ Thin Film Electrolyte of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, in print, Mixed Ionic Electronic Conducting Perovskites for Advanced Energy Systems, edited by N. Orlovskaya abd N. Browning, Kluwer Academic Publication, 2005.
  9. Rajaram Gukan, Zhigang Xu, Xiaochun Jiang, Devdas Pai, George Filatovs, and Jag Sankar, “A Statistical Approach for The Design of Anode Material for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, accepted by Journal of Industrial Engineering.
  10. Zhigang Xu, Gukan Rajaram, and Jag Sankar, “Exploration of Electrophoretic Deposition of YSZ Electrolyte for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, K8.2, MRS Proceedings Volume 835, Ed: P. Knauth, C. Masquelier, E. Traversa, E.D. Wachsman, December 2004.
  11. Zhigang Xu, Devdas Pai and Jag Sankar, “Processing Of Composite Cathode And YSZ Coatings For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, IMECE2004-61012, Proceedings of IMECE04 2004 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 13-20, 2004, Anaheim, California USA
  12. Zhigang Xu, Jag Sankar, Sergey Yarmolenko, “YSZ Thin Film Coatings Using Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition”, Surface and Coatings Technology, 177 –178 (2004) p.52–59.
  13. Zhigang Xu, Jag Sankar, “Enhancement of YSZ electrolyte thin film growth rate for fuel cell applications”, Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings (2004), 25(3), 333-338.
  14. Zhigang Xu, Samuel Tameru, Jag Sankar, “Synthesis of yttria stabilized zirconia thin films by electrolytic deposition”, Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings (2004), 25(3), 339-344.
  15. Zhigang Xu, Corydon Hilton, Bobby Watkins, Sergey Yarmolenko, Jag Sankar, “Thin YSZ Electrolyte Film Depositions on Dense and Porous Substrates”, paper IMECE2003-43330, 2003 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and RD&D Expo.
  16. Zhigang Xu, Cindy Waters, Xinyu Wang, N. Sudhir, Sergey Yarmolenko, Jag Sankar, “Texture and Nano Mechanical Properties of YSZ Electrolyte Thin Films Prepared by CCVD and PLD”, paper U6.10, Mat. Res. Symp. Proc. Vol. 778 © 2003 Materials Research Society.
  17. Cindy Waters, D. Kumar, S. Yarmolenko, Zhigang Xu, Jag Sankar, “Synthesis And Mechanical Properties of TiN/AlN Thin Film Heterostructures”, paper U2.2, Mat. Res. Symp. Proc. Vol. 778 © 2003 Materials Research Society.
  18. Xinyu Wang, Sergey Yarmolenko, Dhananjay Kumar, Zhigang Xu, Jagannathan Sankar, “Pulsed Laser Deposition Parameter Optimization for Growth of Alumina (Al2O3) Thin Film on Silicon (100)”, Materials Research Society Symposium - Proceedings, v 788, Continuous Nanophase and Nanostructured Materials, 2003, p 577-582.
  19. Zhigang Xu, Jag Sankar, Sergey Yarmolenko, Qiuming Wei, “Nucleation and Growth of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Thin Films Using Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition”, paper FF3.8, Mat. Res. Symp. Proc. Vol. 756 © 2003 Materials Research Society.
  20. Zhigang Xu; Qiuming Wei, Sergey Yarmolenko, Jag Sankar, Jim Lua, Devdas Pai, “Deposition of YSZ Thin Films by Liquid Fuel Combustion Chemical vapor deposition”, paper IMECE2002-34368 in Processing, Characterization And Modeling Of Novel Nanoengineered And Surface Engineered Materials, 2002 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE2002), 281-289.
  21. Zhigang Xu; Q. Wei, J. Sankar, “Preparation and Properties of YSZ Electrolyte Thin Films via Liquid Fuel Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition”, Ceram Eng Sci Proc. Vol. 23. p. 711-718.
  22. J. Lua, Zhigang Xu, J. Sankar, D. Pai, S. Yarmolenko, “Towards Optimal Processing of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Thin Films By Stochastic Simulation of Grain Growth”, Ceram Eng Sci Proc. Vol. 23. p. 719-724.
  23. Zhigang Xu, Jag Sankar, Q. Wei, “Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition of YSZ Thin Films for Fuel Cell Applications”, Paper IMECE2001/MD-24800 in Effects of Processing on Properties of Advanced Ceramics, 2001 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, p. 1-8.
  24. Zhigang Xu; Q. Wei, J. Sankar, “Processing of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Thin Films by Liquid Fuel Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition”, paper O8.29, Mat. Res.Symp. Proc. Vol. 672 © 2001 Materials Research Society.

V. Synergistic Activities
Dr. Xu initiated and plays leadership in a research program for fuel cells. He has developed thin film electrolyte coatings for SOFCs using chemical/physical vapor deposition techniques. He also developed alternative techniques to process the thin electrolyte coatings, as well as techniques to produce high-quality electrodes of SOFCs at low-costs. He is also leading a biodegradable metallic materials processing and characterization project. He has co-supervised multiple PhD, Master’s and undergraduate students in fuel cell and thin film
processing research; as well as mentored two highly-elected high school students in a NASA-SHARP summer research program. He conducted SEM and TEM studies routinely for various research projects, trained students, provided help for them and also faculty members for their research.