2010-2015
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D.
2010-2010
Purdue University, School of Mechanical Engineering, Visiting student
2006-2010
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Mechanical Engineering, B.Eng

2019- Now
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor
2018- 2018
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Mechanical Engineering, Assistant Professor
2016- 2017
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Postdoctoral Fellow
2015- 2017
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Mechanical Engineering, Postdoctoral Researcher

1. Solar desalination
2. Solar absorption thermal storage
3. Air/waste heat source heat pump

2024-2027 Highly-efficient and salt-resisting solar distillation enhanced by thermohaline convection, National Natural Science Foundation of China
2023-2027 Mechanisms for the highly-efficient storage, conversion and management of thermal energy, National Natural Science Foundation of China
2021-2025 Study on cycle construction and application of large temperature lift heat pump and steam generation system, National Natural Science Foundation of China
2020-2023 High-efficient solar still enabled by capillary heat localization and condensation heat recovery, National Natural Science Foundation of China
2019-2021 Passive multi-stage solar still with capillary rising film evaporation. Shanghai Pujiang Program
2019-2020 Potential of the 4th generation of district heating in China, SJTU-KTH Seed Grant
2018-2020 Development of an Absorption Chiller System with Optimized Heat Exchange Network for High Utilization of Low Grade Waste Heat, Singapore Sembcorp-EMA Energy Technology Partnership (SEETP) Phase II
2017-2019 Study on seasonal solar sorption thermal storage with high energy storage density, National Natural Science Foundation of China
2016-2019 Efficient absorption heat pump for waste heat recovery, National Key R&D Program of China
2017-2018 Study on pressurized absorption thermal storage with high energy density, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
2016-2017 Study on the high efficient solar driven absorption heat storage system cooled by the absorption refrigeration system, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

scholar.google.com/citations?user=7lya6xIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

[1] J.T. Gao, L.N. Zhang, J.F. You, Z.Y. Ye, Y. Zhong, R.Z. Wang, E.N. Wang, Z.Y. Xu. Extreme salt-resisting multistage solar distillation with thermohaline convection. Joule, 2023, 7, 2274-2290.
*featured by Top MIT Research Stories of 2023 (Cheaper water desalination)、 the Best Inventions of 2023 by Time Magazine、 12 Outstanding Papers of Joule 2023
[2] Z.Y. Xu, J. Yu, H. Shan, J.B. Wang, J.T. Gao, Z.Y. Ye, R.Z. Wang. Solar evaporation with solute replacement towards real-world applications. Energy & Environmental Science, 2023, 16, 5325-5338.
[3] H. Shan, Z.Y. Ye, J. Yu, R.Z. Wang, Z.Y. Xu. Improving solar water harvesting via airflow restructuring using 3D vapor generator. Device, 2023, 1, 100065.
[4] W.Y. Han, J.T. Gao, J. Yu, R.Z. Wang, Z.Y. Xu. Efficient and low-cost solar desalination device with enhanced condensation on nail arrays. Desalination, 2022, 544, 116132.
[5] Z.Y. Xu, L. Zhang, L. Zhao, B.J. Li, B. Bhatia, C.X. Wang, K.L. Wilke, Y. Song, O. Labban. J.H. Lienhard, R.Z. Wang, E.N. Wang. Ultrahigh-efficiency desalination via a thermally-localized multistage solar still. Energy & Environmental Science , 2020, 13, 830-839.
*featured by AAAS EurekAlert , and 2020 Top MIT Research Stories (Simple, solar-powered water desalination)

[6] X. Zhang, B. Hu, R.Z. Wang, Z.Y. Xu. Performance enhancement of hybrid absorption-compression heat pump via internal heat recovery. Energy, 2024, 286, 129539.
[7] X. Zhang, R.Z. Wang, Z.Y. Xu. Air-source hybrid absorption-compression heat pumps with three-stage thermal coupling configuration for temperature lift over 150 ℃. Energy Conversion and Management, 2022, 271, 116304.
[8] M. Abel, R.Z. Wang, Z.Y. Xu. Experimental analysis of a high-performance open sorption thermal storage system with absorption-crystallization-adsorption processes. Energy Conversion and Management, 2022, 270, 116220.
[9] J.T. Gao, Z.Y. Xu, R.Z. Wang. Experimental study on a double-stage absorption solar thermal storage system with enhanced energy storage density. Applied Energy, 2020, 262, 114476.
[10] Z.Y. Xu, H.C. Mao, D.S. Liu, R.Z. Wang. Waste heat recovery of power plant with large scale serial absorption heat pumps. Energy, 2018, 165, 1097-1105.

Desgin and Manufacturing I (Undergraduate)
New Energy Systems (Graduate)

China Association of Refrigeration-Committee Member
China Association of Desalination and Water Reuse-Committee Member
International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) - Youth Committee Member of E2 Commission
Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics- Youth Committee Member on Heat and Mass Transfer
Shanghai Society of Refrigeration - Vice Director of International Exchange Commission

Scientific Committee Member: CHPC 2024
Session Chairs: IIR ICR 2023、IIR HFO 2023、CEBE 2023、ASME MNHMT 2019

Editorial Board Member: DeCarbon, Applied Sciences
Guest Editor: Energy, Communications Materials

2023 Best Inventions of 2023 by Time Magazine
2023 Top MIT Research Stories
2023 Joule 12 Outstanding papers
2023 First prize for Scientific and Technological Progress, Machinery Industry Science and Technology Award
2023 National Young Talents
2023 DeCarbon Young Researcher Award
2022 First prize in the Teaching Competition for Young Teachers, School of Mechanical Engineering
2021 Youth Talent Recruitment Project, China Association for Science and Technology
2021 Second prize for Technology Innovation Award，China Energy Research Association
2020 Top MIT Research Stories
2019 International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) - James Joule Young Researcher Award
2019 Forbes China 30 Under 30 (Science)