Wang Xiaoqing

PhD, Associate Professor, Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry

Contact:

Phone: +86-10-62889052

E-mail: wangxq@caf.ac.cn

Research interests:

Composite design principles of bamboo

Bamboo has superior mechanical properties compared with many other plant materials. The mechanical performance is highly attributed to the composite structure of bamboo with bundles of stiff fibre cells embedded in a much softer matrix of parenchyma cells. The basic design principles of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) are investigated in terms of structure, chemistry and mechanical properties in order to elucidate the governing factors of the superior material properties. These biomimetic principles can be used for the development of novel bio-inspired fibre composites.

Biomimetic fabrication of superhydrophobic wood

Inspired by the lotus effect, creating superhydrophobic surfaces on intrinsically hydrophilic wood allows the design of novel wood materials with attractive properties such as water-repellency, anti-mould/decay, and self-cleaning functions. We focus on fabrication of robust, durable superhydrophobic coatings with tunable microstructures on wood by using organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Such durable superhydrophobic wood materials with novel functionalities hold the possibility for the utilization of wood in entirely new applications.

Wood cell wall modification by in-situ polymerization

Chemical modification has been recognized as an effective strategy for stabilizing wood and protecting it from environmental damages. By polymerization of monomers inside the wood cell wall, it is possible to reduce water uptake in the modified material and hereby improve the dimensional stability and fungal resistance. We focus on incorporation of various monomers (e.g. styrene, furfuryl alcohol) into the cell wall with subsequent in-situ polymerization to alter the cell wall structure. The goal is to provide modified wood materials with improved properties and/or novel functionalities for high value-added utilizations.

Education:

2004-2007 Ph.D. Wood Science & Technology, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China

2001-2004 M.S. Wood Science & Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

1997-2001 B.S. Wood Science & Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

Work experience:

12/2009-present Associate Professor, Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China

08/2007-11/2009 Assistant Professor, Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China

03/2012-02/2014 Postdoc, ETH Zürich and EMPA, Switzerland

06/2010-07/2010 Visiting scholar, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, Potsdam, Germany

10/2009-12/2009 Visiting scholar, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, Potsdam, Germany

Selected awards and honors:

2015 National Industry-University-Research Cooperation Innovation Award of China (Second class), China Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association

2015 Honorable Mention George Marra Award, for Excellence in Writing exhibited in the journal “Wood and Fiber Science”, Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST), USA

2014 Mao Yi-sheng Wood Science and Technology Award (First class), Mao Yi-sheng Science and Technology Education Foundation

2014 Outstanding Young Scholar Award of Chinese Academy of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry

2014 Liang-Xi Excellent Paper Award for Young Scholars (First class), Chinese Society of Forestry Science

2012 Recipient of EMPA-FP7: People Marie-Curie action COFUND

2011 Liang-Xi Forestry Science and Technology Award (First class), Chinese Society of Forestry Science

2010 Liang-Xi Excellent Paper Award for Young Scholars (Third class), Chinese Society of Forestry Science

2008 Liang-Xi Excellent Paper Award for Young Scholars (Second class), Chinese Society of Forestry Science