Dr. Mengxia Xu is an Associate Professor in Energy & Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Prior to joining UNNC, he received his PhD from Zhejiang University and gained several years of postdoctoral experience at Louisiana State University, USA. Dr. Xu is a Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA, UK), a Youth Editorial Board Member for Green Energy & Resources, a member of the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences, and an affiliated member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE, UK).

As first/corresponding author, Dr. Xu has published extensively in leading journals across the fileds of Environment Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Energy Chemistry, including Adv. Funct. Mater., Appl. Catal. B, Chem. Eng. J., J. Energy Chem., Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol., Environ. Sci. Technol., and J. Hazard. Mater., among others. As a PI or UNNC PI, Dr. Xu has secured various external research grants, including NSFC,  Zhejiang Provincial Commonweal Project, and Yongjiang S&T Innovation 2035 Key R&D Program.

Dr. Xu's Research Profile at Google Scholar: Click HERE

Dr. Mengxia Xu’s current research interests align with the missions of ‘Carbon Neutrality’ and ‘Zero Waste City’, and specifically focus on areas of CO₂ utilization and upcyclying of hazardous/industrial waste, including:

• Electrochemical conversion of CO₂ to value-added chemicals
• Co-treatment of MSWI fly ash and alumina-/silica-containing waste (ASW) for green materials

PhD Opportunities

As lead supervisor, Dr. Xu has successfully supervised 2 PhD students and 2 MRes students to full completion. Currently, he is seeking highly motivated PhD candidates to join a fully funded research project on CO₂ electrocatalysis, with available positions for September 2025 and February 2026 entry. The PhD scholarship covers  the tuition fee (RMB 130,000 per year) and a monthly stipend (RMB 4,500) for a period of three years. Students who have successful completed their PhD studies will be awarded the Doctoral Degree from University of Nottingham (UK). For more details, please contact Dr. Xu directly at mengxia.xu@nottingham.edu.cn.

Recently Funded Research Projects

As Principle Investigator (PI)

• Development of Key Technologies for Medium-Chain Carboxylic Acid Synthesis via Renewable Energy-Based Seawater Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Coupled with CO₂ Electrocatalytic Reduction and Microbial Carbon Chain Elongation, Yongjiang S&T Innovation 2035 Key R&D Program, 2025-2028, 2,500,000 RMB (UNNC PI)
• Research on Blast Furnace-based Technologies of Harmless Treatment and Resource Utilization of Fly Ash from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration, Zhejiang Provincial Commonweal Project, 2022─2024, 100,000 RMB
• Research on Key Technologies of Blast Furnace-based Co-Processing of Fly Ash from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration, Ningbo Commonweal S&T Key Programme, 2021─2025, 500,000 RMB
• Research and Development of Nitrogen Control Technology of Pyrolysis, Gasification and Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste. Subproject of Ningbo S&T Innovation 2025 Major Program, 2018─2022, 250,000 RMB
• Pollution Levels and Influencing Factors of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs) on PM₅, Ningbo Natural Science Foundation, 2018─2021, 50,000 RMB

As Co-Investigator (Co-I)

• Production of Artificial Aggregate from Excavated Soil and Alkali-Activated Slag, Ningbo Commonweal Project, 2022─2024, 200,000 RMB
• Key Technologies for Controlled Release of CO₂ for Accelerated Curing of Cementitious Materials Using Porous Carriers, Ningbo Natural Science Foundation, 2021─2024, 50,000 RMB
• R&D of Technology and Equipment for Harmless Treatment and Resource Utilization of Pharmaceutical Sludge based on Microwave Pyrolysis and Catalytic Reforming, Zhejiang Provincial Key R&D Program, 2021─2024, 4,300,000 RMB
• Study on the Design, Controllable Synthesis and Mechanisms of Mercury-Sulfur Transfer Catalysts for Coal-Fired Flue Gas, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2018─2020, 240,000 RMB

Dr. Xu teaches separation process-related modules across three academic levels within the Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering programs. Notably, the Process Engineering Laboratories (CHEE3042) module has been recognized as a Provincial First Class Module.

• Process Engineering Principles (Code: CHEE1041, 2017─present)
• Separation and Particle Technology (Code: CHEE2051, 2016─present)
• Process Engineering Laboratories (Code: CHEE3042, 2017─present)