Duo Xu

Duo Xu is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering whose research integrates materials science, heat transfer, and radiation transport in the development of polymer-based materials. His prior research included the creation of a polyethylene-based multifunctional composite material for space exploration; testing and modeling of an olefin block copolymer material for solid-state thermal management by mechanocaloric effect; and demonstrating strain-induced tunable thermal conductivity in the same olefin block copolymer, supported by a proposed theoretical explanation. MATLAB-based computational tools developed by Duo were pivotal in preparing materials from his lab. The multifunctional composite material he developed was sent for testing under real conditions on a recent Axiom Ax-2 mission launch. His second MathWorks Fellowship will support his work to create new elastic fibers for active and passive thermoregulation technologies and to explore methods like radiation crosslinking to enhance the reversible mechanical properties of materials he developed without compromising their performance and recyclability. Duo’s current and future research has excellent potential to advance materials that will have a global impact on energy efficiency and sustainability.