[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] Books/Book Chapters
[I] Cao X., “Direct Air Capture - Business, Policy, Technology, Capital Expenditure, Energy Demands, Environmental Impacts.” Springer Nature (2024). (Forthcoming) (Editor)
[4] Journal Articles
(* denotes corresponding author, † denotes equal contribution)
4.1 Journal Articles Under Review as First/Corresponding Author (Climate & Sustainability):
[III] Sun N.†, Cao X.†*, Ling Y.†, Zheng X.†, Liu X.*, Tian C., Xu Q., Zhang K., Shen S., Xuan Y., “Scalable Solar-driven Greenhouse Gas Upgrading via Synergy of Plasmonic Catalysts With Biomimetic Reactors.” Joule, Cell Press (2024). (Under Review)
[II] Wu J., Zhang Y., Zhang Z., Cao X.*, Jiang M.*, “Onboard Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage: Challenges, Progress, and Prospects.” Matter, Cell Press (2024). (Under Review)
[I] Yang W.*, Tang X., Cao X.*, He Y., “Synergistic Intensification of Membrane Reactors for Hydrogen Production.” (2024). (Under Review)
4.2 Journal Articles Published as First/Corresponding Author (Climate & Sustainability):
[XIII] 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]
[XII] 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]
[XI] 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]
[X] Cao X.*, Burton Z.*, Wang M., Advancing Equitable Climate Education. Matter, Cell Press. (2024). 7 (1) 4427-4430 [PDF]
[IX] Cao X.†,*, Tomski P.†,*, The Sustainability Workforce Shift: Building a Talent Pipeline and Career Network. Matter, Cell Press. (2023). 6 (8) 2471-2475 [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]
4.3 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]
4.4 Op-eds as First/Corresponding Author:
[XI] 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]
[X] Cao X.*, One Person’s Trash: Another’s Treasured Education. Science. (2023). 381 (6656) 384 [PDF]
[IX] Heim A.*, Bharani T.*, Burnette K.*, Konstantinides N.*, Powell J.*, Srivastava S.*, Cao X.*, Agarwal D.*, Waiho K.*, Lin T.*, Virguez E.*, Strielkowski W.*, Uzonyi A.*, AI in Search of Human Help. Science. (2023). 381 (6654) 162-163 [PDF]
[VIII] Cao X.*, Ngetich G.*, The Need to Normalize Failure. Nature Reviews Chemistry. (2023). 7, 69-70 [PDF] [Featured by Nature]
[VII] Burton Z.†,*, Cao X.†,*, Let Graduate Students Do Internships. Matter, Cell Press. (2022). 5 (12) 4100-4104 [PDF] [Featured by Nature]
[VI] Kesavan N.*, Seenuvasaragavan S.*, Burnette K.*, Heim A.*, Patel R.*, Johnston J.*, Cao X.*, Sakandar H.*, Zhuang Y.*, Oi K.*, Zhi Y.*, Diao Y.*, Strielkowski W.*, Pandemic-Inspired Policies. Science. (2022). 337 (6601), 22-24 [PDF]
[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]
4.5 Contributing Journal Articles Published (Selected):
[XVI] Tong Z., Xin J., Tong S., Cao X., A Graphics-accelerated Deep Neural Network Approach for Turbomachinery Flows Based on Large Eddy Simulation. Physics of Fluids (2023). 35 (5) 057117 [PDF]
[XV] Tong Z., Yang Z., Tong S., Shu Z., Cao X., Investigating the Hydraulic Performance of Slanted Axial Flow Pumps Using an Enstrophy Dissipation-based Hybrid Optimization Approach. Physics of Fluids (2023). 35 (5) 057117 [PDF]
[XIV] Tong Z., Liu H., Cao X., Westerdahld D., Jin X., Cavitation Diagnosis for Water Distribution Pumps: an Early-stage Approach Combing Vibration Signal-based Neural Network With High-speed Photography. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments (2023). 55. 102919 [PDF]
[XIII] Liu L., Zhou Z., Cao X., et al., Screening of Optimal Dopants on Cobalt-based Ceramics for High-temperature Thermochemical Energy Storage. Ceramics International (2023). 49 (2) 2329-2339 [PDF]
[XII] Zhou Z., Liu L., Liu X., Zhou Y., Li C., Peng D., Xu J., Wang C., Cao X., Direct Combustion of Wet/dry Solution-impregnated Cigarette Butts for Nano-FeOx Synthesis: Effects of Combustion Conditions and NO Reduction Ability. Colloid and Interface Science Communications. (2022). 46. 100562 [PDF]
[XI] Chang S., Zou Z., Liu J., Isac M., Cao X., Su X., Guthrie R., Study on the Slag-Metal Interfacial Behaviors Under the Impact of Bubbles in Different Sizes. Powder Technology. (2021). 387. 125-135 [PDF]
[X] Yin Z., Chen B., Cao X., et al., Young Martlets: Exploring the World of Academia and Beyond. Matter, Cell Press. (2021). 4 (5) 1434-1436 [PDF]
[IX] Xu G., Yu D., Zheng D., Wang S., Xue W., Cao X., Zeng H., Xiao X., Ge M., Lee W., Zhu M., Fast Heat Transport inside Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Promotes their Safety and Electrochemical Performance. iScience. (2020). 23 (10). 101576 [PDF]
[VIII] Zhou Z., Liu X., Li C., Cao X., Xu M., Seawater-assisted Synthesis of MnCe/Zeolite-13X for Flue Gas Elemental Mercury Removal from Coal-fired Flue Gas. Fuel. (2020). 262. 116605 [PDF]
[VII] Wang R., Serge Y., Lu Z., Tablante E., Colt S., Cao X., Ren Y., Cárdenas W., Mehta S., Erickson D., Rapid Diagnostic Platform for Colorimetric Differential Detection of Dengue and Chikungunya Viral Infections. Analytical Chemistry. (2019). 91 (8) 5415-5423 [PDF]
[VI] Zhou Z., Liu X., Xu J., Cao X., Zhu X., Elemental Mercury Removal over a Novel Starch-Modified MnOx/Bentonite Composite. Fuel Processing Technology. (2019). 187, 16-20 [PDF]
[V] Zhou Z., Liu X., Hu Y., Xu J., Cao X., Liao Z., Xu M., Investigation on Synergistic Oxidation Behavior of NO and Hg0 during the Newly Designed Fast SCR Process. Fuel. (2018). 225. 134-139 [PDF]
[IV] Chang S., Cao X., Zou Z., Regimes of Micro-bubble Formation Using Gas Injection into Ladle Shroud. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B. (2018). 49 (3) 953-957 [PDF]
[III] Chang S., Cao X., Zou Z., Isac M., Guthrie R., Micro-bubble Formation under Non-wetting Conditions in a Full-scale Water Model of a Ladle Shroud/Tundish System. ISIJ International. (2018). 58 (1) 60-67 [PDF]
[II] Chang S., Cao X., Zou Z., Isac M., Guthrie R., Micro-Bubble Swarms in a Full-Scale Water Model Tundish. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B. (2016). 47 (5) 2732–2743 [PDF]
[I] Chang S., Cao X., Hsin C., Zou Z., Isac M., Guthrie R., Removal of Inclusions using Micro-bubble Swarms in a Four-strand, Full-scale, Water Model Tundish. ISIJ International. (2016). 56 (7) 1188-1197 [PDF]
[5] Dissertations
[II] Cao X., Light, Fluidics and Their Applications in Global Sustainability and Health. (2021). Ph.D. Thesis. Cornell University [PDF]
[I] Cao X., Design of an Aqueous Particle Sensor (APS) for Optimizing Inclusion Removal by Bubbles in Tundish Operations. (2016) Master's Thesis. McGill University [PDF]
[6] Selected Conferences
For the complete list, click on “Curriculum Vitae.”
[XIII] International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE), Virtual, 2021.
[XI] International Conference on Electrocatalysis for Energy Applications and Sustainable Chemicals (EcoCat), Virtual, 2020. (ePoster)
[XI] Energy Generation & Use Stream, ETP 9th Annual Conference, Virtual, 2020. (Best Presenter Award)
[X] Applied Energy Symposium: MIT A+B, Virtual, 2020
[IX] Photonics West & OPTO Conferences, San Francisco, CA, 2020 (MKS Instruments Research Excellence Awards)
[VIII] Nature Conferences on Solar Fuels, Wuhan, China, 2019
[VII] ACS Spring National Meeting, Orlando, FL, 2019
[VI] “Our Microbes, Our Global Health” Symposium, Ithaca, NY, 2018 (Third Place Award)
[V] Photonics West and BiOS Conferences, San Francisco, CA, 2018
[IV] Sibley Graduate Research Symposium, Ithaca, NY, 2018 (Drafting the Future Award)
[III] International Symposium on Energy Conversion and Storage, Nanjing, China, 2017
[II] ACLS International Summer School, Singapore, 2017 (Best Poster Award)
[I] 9th NYS Biotech Symposium, Syracuse, NY, 2017 (Best Poster Award)