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Xiaowen Yuan

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Xiaowen Yuan
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
Thesis
  • Plasma modification of natural fibres in polypropylene composites (2002)
Doctoral advisorDebes Bhattacharyya
Academic work
InstitutionsAuckland University of Technology, Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, National University of Singapore

Xiaowen Yuan is a New Zealand materials scientist, and is a full professor at the Auckland University of Technology, specialising in novel composite materials from natural materials for high performance uses, such as improving supercapacitor performance.

Academic career

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Yuan completed a PhD titled Plasma modification of natural fibres in polypropylene composites at the University of Auckland in 2002.[1] Yuan worked at the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, and was an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore.[2] Yuan then joined the faculty of Massey University and later the Auckland University of Technology. She was promoted to full professor at AUT in 2024.[3] Yuan leads the Future Fibres Laboratory at AUT, and is a professor in the mechanical engineering department.[4][5]

Yuan's research focuses on novel composite materials, especially from natural materials such as gelatine, cellulose and collagen.[5] In 2018 Yuan received a Smart Ideas grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment worth just under $1 million, to research the use of harakeke (New Zealand flax) fibres to improve supercapacitor performance.[6] Supercapacitors are more sustainable alternatives to batteries, but are limited by electrode problems.[6] Yuan and her research team are also investigating the use of other plant and animal fibres such as industrial hemp and wool, in other high-performance uses, such as smart textiles and medical uses.[4] They research fibre production and processing, including fibre surface modification, through to product development.[4]

Selected works

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References

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  1. ^ Yuan, Xiaowen (2002). Plasma modification of natural fibres in polypropylene composites (Thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland.
  2. ^ "3rd Edition of the Smart Materials & Surfaces Conference, SMS EUROPE 2017". www.setcor.org. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  3. ^ "New Professors and Associate Professors - AUT News - AUT". www.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Future Fibres Lab - Smart Systems Materials & Manufacturing Research Centre - AUT". s2m2.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b Auckland University of Technology. "Academic profile: Xiaowen Yuan". academics.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Massey researchers awarded more than $13 million in MBIE funding". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2024.