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Staff Profile

Dr David Xie

EPSRC Fellow / Senior Lecturer in Polymer Science and Engineering

  • Email: david.xie@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 6782
  • Personal Website: https://fwxie.com
  • Address: School of Engineering
    Bedson Building
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU
    UK
Background

Biography

Dr David Fengwei Xie holds a BE degree in Biological Engineering (2004) and a PhD in Polysaccharide Engineering (2009) from the South China University of Technology. He started his research career initially at the University of Guelph (Canada). He then spent a productive period of eight years at the University of Queensland (Australia), where he led several research projects and studied for a Graduate Certificate degree in Higher Education (2014). In 2017, he moved to the University of Warwick (UK) by accepting a Marie Curie fellowship (actually, it turned out to be two). In 2020, he was awarded a five-year EPSRC Fellowship, which would enable him to continue working towards his research ambitions. While his early studies focused primarily on starch processing, he has developed strong expertise in polymers, composites, and food. He is passionate about applying, in particular, renewable and bio-polymers to address pressing challenges related to sustainability, health, and food.

Qualifications

  • Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (GCHEd), 2014, The University of Queensland, Australia
  • PhD in Polysaccharide Engineering, 2009, South China University of Technology, China
  • BE in Biological Engineering, 2004, South China University of Technology, China

Research experience

  • Newcastle University, UK: EPSRC Fellow, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), 12/2021–Present
  • University of Warwick, UK: Marie Skłodowska-Curie WIRL-COFUND Fellow, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellow, EPSRC Fellow, 10/2017–11/2021
  • The University of Queensland, Australia: UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, 02/2009–08/2017; Honorary Research Fellow, 09/2017–08/2020
  • University of Guelph, Canada: Post Doctoral Fellow, 08/2008–11/2008

Visiting

  • University of Wollongong, Australia: 06/2023–09/2023
  • California Institute of Technology, USA: 04/2018–06/2018
  • Université de Strasbourg, France: 09/2010 & 09/2011–10/2011

Journal editorial and review work

Other highlights

  • Member, EPSRC Peer Review College (ranked in the top 4% of College members for participating in peer review activities in the 2020/21 academic year, and ranked in the top 6% in the 2019/20 academic year)
  • Professional member of RSC and IOM3

 

Research

Dr Fengwei Xie has many years of research experience at the interface of engineering, chemistry and physics, with a particular focus on biopolymers (polysaccharides and proteins) for ‘green’ materials and food applications. In particular, he has extensive experience in starch, chitosan, cellulose, alginate, and gelatin. His research has been focused on the following aspects of biopolymers:

  • Multilevel structures
  • Molecular interactions (e.g. hydrogen bonding, ionic interaction)
  • Dissolution, plasticisation and gelation
  • Chemical and physical modifications
  • Polymer processing and materials engineering (e.g. reactive processes, sustainable engineering)
  • Structural evolution during processing, modification, ageing and usage
  • Blends and (nano)composites
  • Processing-structure-property relationships

Current research

  • Polymer (nano)composites
  • Green processes for biopolymers
  • (Bio)polymer films and coatings
  • (Bio)polymer hydrogels
  • 3D printing of (bio)polymer materials
  • Stimuli-responsive and functional (bio)polymer materials
  • (Bio)polymer materials for biomedical, electronics, sensing, energy and environmental applications

Research projects (selected)

  • “Biopolymer-based functional aerogel materials for tissue engineering applications”, Royal Society, Research Grants 2022 Round 2 (RGS\R2\222071), GB£19,957.54, 10/2022–09/2023
  • “Tough, strong natural biopolymer-based hydrogels for artificial muscles”, Royal Society, International Exchanges 2022 Round 1 (IES\R1\221039), GB£11,930, 08/2022–08/2024
  • “FROBCO”, EPSRC Fellowship (EP/V002236/1), 2021–2025, GB£1,629,558 (fEC)
  • “ROBBINS”, Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (798225), 2019–2020, €195,455
  • “Biopolymer-based nanocomposites”, Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie WIRL-COFUND Fellowship, 10/2017–10/2019, GB£68,700
  • “Highly functional green materials platform: Starch-ionic liquid-carbon nanotube polymer melt nanocomposites”, Australian Research Council (ARC), Discovery Project (DP120100344), 01/2012–12/2014, AU$300k

Publications

See the list of publications and Google Scholar profile. Some of Dr Xie’s findings are highlighted here.

Selected research papers

  • Zhang, B., Guo, Y., Lin, L., Qiao, D.*, & Xie, F.* (2023). For efficient treatment of starch using aqueous ionic liquid at room temperature. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 36, e00592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2023.e00592 [OA]
  • Ma, C., Xie, F.*, Wei, L., Zheng, C., Liu, X., Wang, L., & Liu, P.* (2022). All-starch-based hydrogel for flexible electronics: strain-sensitive batteries and self-powered sensors. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 10(20), 6724-6735. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00872 [OA]
  • Chen, Y., Duan, Q., Yu, L., & Xie, F.* (2021). Thermomechanically processed chitosan:gelatin films being transparent, mechanically robust and less hygroscopic. Carbohydrate Polymers, 272, 118522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118522
  • Zan, K., Wang, J., Ren, F., Yu, J., Wang, S., Xie, F.*, & Wang, S.* (2021). Structural disorganization of cereal, tuber and bean starches in aqueous ionic liquid at room temperature: Role of starch granule surface structure. Carbohydrate Polymers, 258, 117677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117677
  • Liu, P., Ma, C., Li, Y., Wang, L.*, Wei, L., Yan, Y., & Xie, F.* (2020). Facile preparation of eco-friendly, flexible starch-based materials with ionic conductivity and strain-responsiveness. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 8(51), 19117-19128. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c07473 [Full text: ACS Articles on Request] [Journal Supplementary Cover]
  • Liu, Z., Chen, H., Zheng, B., Xie, F.*, & Chen, L.* (2020). Understanding the structure and rheological properties of potato starch induced by hot-extrusion 3D printing. Food Hydrocolloids, 105, 105812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.105812
  • Li, Y., Liu, P.*, Ma, C., Zhang, N., Shang, X., Wang, L., & Xie, F.* (2020). Structural disorganization and chain aggregation of high-amylose starch in different chloride salt solutions. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 8(12), 4838-4847. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b07726 [Full text: ACS Articles on Request] [Journal Supplementary Cover]
  • Chen, P., Xie, F.*, Tang, F., & McNally, T.* (2020). Thermomechanical-induced polyelectrolyte complexation between chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose enabling unexpected hydrolytic stability. Composites Science and Technology, 189, 108031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2020.108031 [OA]
  • Meng, L., Xie, F.*, Zhang, B., Wang, D. K., & Yu, L. (2019). Natural biopolymer alloys with superior mechanical properties. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7(2), 2792-2802. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b06009 [Full text: ACS Articles on Request]
  • Zhang, B., Xie, F.*, Shamshina, J. L., Rogers, R. D., McNally, T., Wang, D. K., Halley, P. J., Truss, R. W., Zhao, S., & Chen, L.* (2017). Facile preparation of starch-based electroconductive films with ionic liquid. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 5(6), 5457-5467. http://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b00788 [Full text: ACS Articles on Request]
  • Zhang, B., Xie, F.*, Shamshina, J. L., Rogers, R. D., McNally, T., Halley, P. J., Truss, R. W., Chen, L, & Zhao, S. (2017). Dissolution of starch with aqueous ionic liquid under ambient conditions. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 5(5), 3737-3741. http://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b00784 [Full text: ACS Articles on Request]
  • Xiao, X., Yu, L.*, Xie, F.*, Bao, X., Liu, H., Ji, Z., & Chen, L. (2017). One-step method to prepare starch-based superabsorbent polymer for slow release of fertilizer. Chemical Engineering Journal, 309, 607-616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.10.101
  • Wang, Y., Yu, L.*, Xie, F.*, Zhang, L., Liao, L., Liu, H., & Chen, L. (2016). Morphology and properties of thermal/cooling-gel bi-phasic systems based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and hydroxypropyl starch. Composites Part B: Engineering, 101, 46-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.06.081
  • Mateyawa, S., Xie, D. F.*, Truss, R. W., Nicholson, T. M., Halley, P. J., Rogers, R. D., Boehm, M. W., & McNally, T. (2013). Effect of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate on the phase transition of starch: dissolution or gelatinization? Carbohydrate Polymers, 94(1), 520-530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.01.024
  • Bie, P., Liu, P.*, Yu, L., Li, X., Chen, L.*, & Xie, F. (2013). The properties of antimicrobial films derived from poly(lactic acid)/starch/chitosan blended matrix. Carbohydrate Polymers, 98(1), 959-966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.07.004

Selected review articles and book chapters

  • Xie, F. (2023). Chapter 4 - 3D printing of biopolymer-based hydrogels. In M. Mehrpouya & H. Vahabi (Eds.), Additive Manufacturing of Biopolymers: Materials, Printing Techniques, and Applications (pp. 65-100). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95151-7.00004-1
  • Xie, F.*, Zhang, T., Bryant, P., Kurusingal, V., Colwell, J. M., & Laycock, B.* (2019). Degradation and stabilization of polyurethane elastomers. Progress in Polymer Science, 90, 211-268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2018.12.003 [Review article]
  • Xie, F., Zhang, B., & Wang, D. K. (2017). Chapter 7 – Starch thermal processing: Technologies at laboratory and semi-industrial scales. In M. A. Villar, S. H. Barbosa, M. A. García, L. Castillo, & O. V. López (Eds.), Starch-Based Materials in Food Packaging: Processing, Characterization and Applications (pp. 187-227). London, UK: Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809439-6.00007-8
  • Xie, F.*, Pollet, E., Halley, P. J., & Avérous, L.* (2013). Starch-based nano-biocomposites. Progress in Polymer Science, 38(10-11), 1590-1628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2013.05.002 [Review article]


Publications