My research interests focus on design, synthesis, characterization and application of nano composite materials including electrolytes (fluorite/perovskite) and anodes (cermet/perovskite) applied to Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and nano composite catalyst applied to heterogenous catalysis reaction.

• X. Yao,* M. I. Asghar*, Y. Zhao, Y. Li , P. D. Lund, ​Coking resistant Ni-La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 composite anode improves the stability of syngas-fueled SOFC, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2020, Accepted.
  
• S. Jouttijärvi, X. Yao (Co-first author), M. I. Asghar, J. Etula, A. M. Reinecke, W. Lippmann, Peter Lund,Carbonate dual-phase improves the ionic conductivity and performance of mixed ionic and semiconductor single-layer fuel cell, BMC Energy, 2020, 2, 1-10.
• X. Yao, L. Fan, T. Gan, N. Hou, Y. Zhao*, Y. Li*, Coking-resistant NbOx-Ni-Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_1.9 anode material for methanol-fueled solid oxide fuel cells, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2018, 43, 12748-12755.
• X. Yao, P. Li, B. Yu, J. Li, Y. Zhao*, Y. Li*, Hydrothermally synthesized NiO-samarium doped ceria nano-composite as an anode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2017, 42, 22192-22200.
• M. I. Asghar*, X. Yao, S. Jouttijärvi, E. Hochreiner, R. Jokiranta, P. D. Lund. Intriguing electrochemistry in low-temperature single layer ceramic fuel cells based on CuFe₂O₄，International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2019, 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.09.175.
• P. Li, Z. Wang, X. Yao, N. Hou, L. Fan, T. Gan, Y. Zhao, Y. Li, J. Schwank, Effect of Sn addition on improving the stability of Ni-Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_1.9 anode material for solid oxide fuel cells fed with dry CH₄, Catalysis Today, 2019, 330, 209-216
• N. Hou, T. Yao, P. Li, X. Yao, T. Gan, L. Fan, J. Wang, X. Zhi, Y. Zhao*, Y. Li, A-Site Ordered Double Perovskite with in Situ Exsolved Core–Shell Nanoparticles as Anode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019, 11, 6995-7005
• P. Li, B. Yu, J. Li, X. Yao, Y. Zhao, Y. Li, Improved activity and stability of Ni-Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_1.9 anode for solid oxide fuel cells fed with methanol through addition of molybdenum, Journal of Power Sources, 2016, 320, 251-256

• Ph.D., Tianjin University, China, 2020
• MSc, Tianjin University, China, 2015

• Visiting Ph.D., Aalto University, Finland, 2017-2019

• Outstanding graduate student, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University

• KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC)
• Division of Physical Science and Engineering (PSE)