[1] Web-based Writing

[VI] Cao X.,  (10/2023). My Utopia Institute is All About Impact and Interdisciplinarity [Opinion piece for Times Higher Education]. 

[V] Cao X.,  (09/2023). Addressing Climate Change at the Nexus of Technology, Business, and Policy [Blog post for Lindau Nobel Meetings]. 

[IV] Cao X.,  (11/2021). Impacting Climate as a Young Innovator [SDG Blog post for UN DESA]. 

Previous contributors include Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

[III] Cao X.,  (02/2021). Flourishing as a Minority in Higher Education [Blog post for Lindau Nobel Meetings]. 

[II] Cao X., Artificial Photosynthesis: Reimagining Waste Emissions (in Chinese). Science Pictorial. (2021). 7. 18-19 (In CN)

Science Pictorial, founded in Shanghai in 1933, is a popular science journal with the longest history and exerting the greatest impact in China.

[I] Cao X.,  (02/2018). A Highlight In Carbon Reduction [Blog post for Hart Energy]. 

Hart Energy, founded in Denver in 1973, is an energy industry publisher based in Houston.

[2] Policy Reports

[II] Cao X.,  et al., Theme Report on Energy Transition. UN Technical Working Group on Energy Transition. (2021). [PDF] 

Read more here: https://www.un.org/en/hlde-2021/page/technical-working-group-2-energy-transitions

[I] Cao X., et al., Emission Reductions. In Global Innovations from the Energy Sector 2010-2020 (Page 16). World Economic Forum. (2020). 16 [PDF] 

[3] Journal Articles

(* denotes corresponding author, † denotes equal contribution)

3.1 Journal Articles Published as First/Corresponding Author (Climate & Sustainability):

[XIV] Li S., Huang Z., Li Y.*, Deng S.*, Cao X.*, Methodology for Predicting Material Performance by Context-based Modeling: A Case Study on Solid Amine CO2 Adsorbents. Energy and AI. 20, 100477 (2025). [PDF] 

[XIII] Yang W.*, Tang X., Cao X.*, He Y., Synergistic Intensification of Palladium-based Membrane Reactors for Hydrogen Production: A Review. Energy Conversion and Management. 325C, 119424 (2025). [PDF] 

[XII] Li S., Chen S., Deng S.*, Cao X.*, Wang X., Lee K.*, Benchmarking Heat-driven Adsorption Carbon Pump (HACP) Devices: A Thermodynamic Perspective. Carbon Capture Science & Technology. 100331 (2024). [PDF] 

[XI] Dang C., Nie H., Cao X.*, Cao Y., Shan M., Zhu Q., Zhu L., Xu G.*, Zhu M., System Integration for Solar-Driven Interfacial Desalination. Device, Cell Press. (2024) 2 (100361) [PDF]

[X] Dang C., Shan M., Tian E.*, Cao X.*, Xu Y., Shen J., Zhang T., Xiong J., Mo J., Xu G.*, Zhu M., Silk-crosslinked Polyester Fibrous Air Filters With Electrostatic Interfacial Mediation for High-efficiency and Low-resistance Air Purification. Device, Cell Press. (2024) 2 (100323) [PDF]

[IX] Li S., Feng Y., Li Y., Deng S.*, Cao X.*, Lee K.*, Wang J., Critical Review on Mobile Direct Air Capture (DAC): Concept Expansion, Characteristic Description and Performance Evaluation. Matter, Cell Press. (2024) 7 (3) 889-933 [PDF] 

[VIII] Zhou Y., Zhou Z.*, Sun J., Liu L., Luo F., Xu G., Cao X.*, Xu M., Ruddlesden-Popper-type Perovskite Sr3Fe2O7-δ for Enhanced Thermochemical Energy Storage. EcoMat. (2023). [PDF] [Cover Image]

[VII] Yang Y., Yang W.*, Ma X., Tang X., Cao X.*, Performance Improvement of a Solar Volumetric Reactor with Passive Thermal Management Under Different Solar Radiation Conditions. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. (2023). [PDF] 

[VI] Tang X., Yang W.*, Ma X., Cao X.*, An Integrated Modeling Method for Membrane Reactors and Optimization Study of Operating Conditions. Energy. (2023). 268. 126730 [PDF] 

[V] Sun W.*, Cao X.*, Photothermal CO2  Catalysis: from Catalyst Discovery to Reactor Design. Chem Catalysis, Cell Press. (2022). 2 (2) 215-217 [PDF] 

[IV] Cao X.*, Sun W.*, Standardization, Accreditation, and Real-world Implementation of Photothermal CO2  Catalysis. Chem Catalysis, Cell Press. (2022). 2 (2) 218-220 [PDF] 

[III] Cao X., Hong T., Hong S., Erickson D., Engineering Waveguide Surface by Gradient Etching for Uniform Light Scattering in Photocatalytic Applications. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances. (2021).  8. 100192 [PDF]

[II] Cao X., Kaminer Y., Hong T., Schein P., Liu T., Hanrath T., Erickson D., HI-Light: A Glass Waveguide Based “Shell-and-Tube” Photothermal Reactor Platform for Converting CO2 to Fuels. iScience, Cell Press. (2020). 23 (12). 101856 [PDF] [Featured by Advanced Science]

[I] Liu X.†, Cao, X.†, Liu Y., Li X., Wang M., Li M., Branched Multiphase TiO2 with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Activity. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. (2018). 43 (46) 21365-21373 [PDF] 

3.2 Journal Articles Published as First/Corresponding Author (Global Health):

[III] Cao X., Yvon S., Wang R., Ren Y., Srinivasan B., Hayden J., Zhao Z., Erickson D., Mehta S., A Diagnostic Platform For Rapid, Simultaneous Quantification Of Procalcitonin And C-reactive Protein In Human Serum. EBioMedicine, The Lancet (2022). 76. 103867 [PDF] [Issue highlight]

[II] Cao X., Kim J., Mehta S., Erickson D., Two-Color Duplex Platform for Point-of-Care Differential Detection of Malaria and Typhoid Fever. Analytical Chemistry. (2021). 93 (36) 12175–12180 [PDF] [Featured by NIBIB, Medical Xpress]

[I] Kim J.†, Cao X.†, Finkelstein J., C´ardenas W., Erickson D., Mehta S., A Two-Colour Multiplexed Lateral Flow Immunoassay System to Differentially Detect Human Malaria Species on a Single Test Line. Malaria Journal. (2019). 18 (313) [PDF]

3.3 Selected Op-eds as First/Corresponding Author:

[XI] Cao X.*, Burton Z.*, Wang M., Advancing Equitable Climate Education. Matter, Cell Press. (2024). 7 (1) 4427-4430 [PDF] 

[X] Cao X.†,*, Tomski P.†,*, The Sustainability Workforce Shift: Building a Talent Pipeline and Career Network. Matter, Cell Press. (2023). 6 (8) 2471-2475 [PDF]

[IX] Liu J.*, Wilkinson C.*, Liu X.*, Wang M.*, Cao X.*, Revisiting ‘quantity’ and ‘quality’ of Science From Young Scholars. Matter, Cell Press. (2024). 7 (3) 715-717 [PDF]

[VIII] Cao X.*, One Person’s Trash: Another’s Treasured Education. Science. (2023). 381 (6656) 384 [PDF]

[VII] Cao X.*, Ngetich G.*, The Need to Normalize Failure. Nature Reviews Chemistry. (2023). 7, 69-70 [PDF] [Featured by Nature]

[VI] Burton Z.†,*, Cao X.†,*, Let Graduate Students Do Internships. Matter, Cell Press. (2022). 5 (12) 4100-4104 [PDF] [Featured by Nature] 

[V] Burton Z.*, Cao X.*, Navigating Mental Health Challenges in Graduate School. Nature Reviews Materials. (2022). 7, 421-423 [PDF] [Featured by Nature]

[IV] Cao X.†, Liu X.†, Zhang Y.†, Flourishing as International Students and Scholars in the US. Matter, Cell Press. (2022). 5 (3) 768-771 [PDF]

[III] Cao X., Running a Muddy Road Lit by Burning Straw. Analytical Chemistry. (2021). 93 (48) 15803-15804 (Diversity and Inclusion Cover Art Series) [Editorial] [Cover]

[II] Cao X.†, De Luna P.†, Why We Need Scientists to Make Sustainable Policies. Matter, Cell Press. (2021). 4 (9) 2690-2693 [PDF]

[I] Cao X., Navigating My Way as a First-Generation Student. Matter, Cell Press. (2021). 4 (2) 332-335 (Most Downloaded in 2021, Top 10 in Feb & Mar 2021)[PDF]  [Featured by Nature]