Overview
Background
I received my B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Central South University (China) in July 2012 and July 2015, respectively. In December 2019, I completed my Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, specialising in Energy Materials, at the University of Wollongong (Australia). Since July 2020, I have been conducting postdoctoral research at The University of Queensland.
I have extensive research experience in the development of battery electrode materials, electrolyte materials, and reaction characterisation for lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and solid-state lithium/sodium metal batteries. My expertise encompasses materials design, synthesis, characterisation, and electrochemical analysis.
My current research focuses on: (1) developing low-cost and functional electrode materials for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries; (2) employing in situ and operando techniques to investigate electrode and electrode/electrolyte interface reactions in batteries; (3) designing and optimising solid polymer electrolytes; and (4) advancing solid-state metal battery technologies.
Availability
- Dr Qingbing Xia is:
- Available for supervision
Research interests
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Surface structural engineering of electrode materials at the sub-/nanoscale for developing high energy density batteries
For battery electrode materials, their surface properties play a critical role in determining cell performance. As a forefront of an electrode material where Li/Na ion storage and charge transfer initiate, the electrode surface has a fundamental influence on the charge storage properties of the electrode. Manipulating the surface features and characteristics of electrode materials on a sub/nanometer scale will play a critical role in improving the battery performance.
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Understanding the electrode/electrolyte interface reactions using in situ/operando techniques
In situ/operando techniques are crucial for gaining insights into the dynamic processes that occur during electrochemical reactions at the interfaces in batteries. The in situ/operando techniques, such as TEM, synchrotron XRD, EPR, Raman, etc., allow us to observe and analyse the structural, chemical, and electrochemical changes at the electrode/electrolyte interface in real-time or under working conditions.
Research impacts
(1) Redefining ionic conduction in solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs)
SPEs are pivotal for developing highly safe batteries, yet their progress has been limited by poor ionic conductivity. (ⅰ) My works established high-conductivity, single-ion conduction in SPEs that enable lithium- or sodium-only transport through confined anions in metal–organic framework pores (Angew. Chem., 2024) and by bonding anions on polymer backbones (J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019). (ⅱ) My research pioneered an interfacial ion transport strategy through chemical coupling of nanofillers with polymer matrices to create low-barrier interfacial pathways for fast ion migration (Chem. Eng. J., 2025; Matter, 2022), revealing how interfacial chemistry governs ion transport in SPEs.
(2) Pioneering interfacial design enabling fast charging and long-life batteries
The electrolyte/electrode interface fundamentally governs a battery's fast charge capability and cycle life, but its stability is often compromised by structural degradation of the electrode. (ⅰ) My works pioneered the construction of cathode–electrolyte interphases through interfacial orbital hybridisation (ACS Nano, 2025) and solvent-derived interfacial reconstruction (Angew. Chem., 2023), which effectively stabilise the electrode structure. (ⅱ) My works further advanced electrode stability through heterointerface engineering, realised through diverse heterostructure designs including order–disorder heterostructures via phosphorus-induced lattice distortion (Angew. Chem., 2019), 2D superlattices through molecularly mediated reconstruction (Angew. Chem., 2019,; Adv. Energy Mater., 2020), 1D monolayered nanobelt assemblies via molecular self-assembly (Adv. Energy Mater., 2024), and layered-spinel heterostructures achieved through polyanion doping (Adv. Funct. Mater., 2016) and carbothermal reduction (J. Mater. Chem. A 2015). Collectively, these innovations have established fundamental interfacial design principles for structurally robust electrolyte/electrode interfaces, enabling fast charging and long-life batteries.
(3) Multi-scale mechanistic insights into battery reactions
My research advanced the mechanistic understanding of battery reactions across multiple length scales. (ⅰ) Using EPR spectroscopy, my work revealed the evolution of sodium from ionic to quasi-metallic to metallic states in hard carbon electrodes (Adv. Funct. Mater., 2025). This discovery filled a longstanding knowledge gap in the sodium-ion storage mechanisms and battery safety issues associated with hard carbon electrodes. (ⅱ) By developing a non-cryogenic TEM method, my work revealed the epitaxial plating mechanism of sodium metal (Nano Lett., 2024), establishing a lattice-matching principle for current collector design in anode-self-forming batteries. (ⅲ) Through operando TEM, my research revealed real-time morphology evolution of nanostructured electrodes during charge/discharge and correlated structural degradation with capacity fading (Adv. Energy Mater., 2020; 2024; Adv. Mater., 2020). (ⅳ) My operando XRD investigations (Adv. Energy Mater., 2020, 2024; Angew. Chem., 2019) elucidated the zero-strain phase transition mechanisms governing the exceptional cycling stability of titanium oxide electrodes. Collectively, these multi-scale insights have established a coherent framework linking electronic interactions, atomic-scale interfacial processes, and microstructural evolution to battery reaction kinetics and cycling stability.
Works
Search Professor Qingbing Xia’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Journal Article
The effect of boron doping on structure and electrochemical performance of lithium-rich layered oxide materials
Liu, Jiatu, Wang, Shuangbao, Ding, Zhengping, Zhou, Ruiqi, Xia, Qingbing, Zhang, Jinfang, Chen, Libao, Wei, Weifeng and Wang, Peng (2016). The effect of boron doping on structure and electrochemical performance of lithium-rich layered oxide materials. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 8 (28), 18008-18017. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b03056
2016
Journal Article
Surface Structural Transition Induced by Gradient Polyanion-Doping in Li-Rich Layered Oxides: Implications for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance
Zhao, Ying, Liu, Jiatu, Wang, Shuangbao, Ji, Ran, Xia, Qingbing, Ding, Zhengping, Wei, Weifeng, Liu, Yong, Wang, Peng and Ivey, Douglas G. (2016). Surface Structural Transition Induced by Gradient Polyanion-Doping in Li-Rich Layered Oxides: Implications for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance. Advanced Functional Materials, 26 (26), 4760-4767. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201600576
2016
Journal Article
Cross-linked branching nanohybrid polymer electrolyte with monodispersed TiO2 nanoparticles for high performance lithium-ion batteries
Ma, Cheng, Zhang, Jinfang, Xu, Mingquan, Xia, Qingbing, Liu, Jiatu, Zhao, Shuai, Chen, Libao, Pan, Anqiang, Ivey, Douglas G. and Wei, Weifeng (2016). Cross-linked branching nanohybrid polymer electrolyte with monodispersed TiO2 nanoparticles for high performance lithium-ion batteries. Journal of Power Sources, 317, 103-111. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.03.097
2016
Journal Article
Li+-conductive Li2SiO3 stabilized Li-rich layered oxide with an in situ formed spinel nano-coating layer: toward enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries
Xu, Mingquan, Lian, Qingwang, Wu, Yuxin, Ma, Cheng, Tan, Pengfei, Xia, Qingbing, Zhang, Jinfang, Ivey, Douglas G. and Wei, Weifeng (2016). Li+-conductive Li2SiO3 stabilized Li-rich layered oxide with an in situ formed spinel nano-coating layer: toward enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries. RSC Advances, 6 (41), 34245-34253. doi: 10.1039/c6ra00769d
2016
Journal Article
Composite electrolyte membranes incorporating viscous copolymers with cellulose for high performance lithium-ion batteries
Zhang, Jinfang, Ma, Cheng, Xia, Qingbing, Liu, Jiatu, Ding, Zhengping, Xu, Mingquan, Chen, Libao and Wei, Weifeng (2016). Composite electrolyte membranes incorporating viscous copolymers with cellulose for high performance lithium-ion batteries. Journal of Membrane Science, 497, 259-269. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2015.09.056
2015
Journal Article
A Li-rich Layered@Spinel@Carbon heterostructured cathode material for high capacity and high rate lithium-ion batteries fabricated via an in situ synchronous carbonization-reduction method
Xia, Qingbing, Zhao, Xinfu, Xu, Mingquan, Ding, Zhengping, Liu, Jiatu, Chen, Libao, Ivey, Douglas G. and Wei, Weifeng (2015). A Li-rich Layered@Spinel@Carbon heterostructured cathode material for high capacity and high rate lithium-ion batteries fabricated via an in situ synchronous carbonization-reduction method. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 3 (7), 3995-4003. doi: 10.1039/c4ta05848h
2014
Journal Article
Friction and wear behaviors of B4C/6061Al composite
Dou, Yuhai, Liu, Yong, Liu, Yanbin, Xiong, Zhiping and Xia, Qingbing (2014). Friction and wear behaviors of B4C/6061Al composite. Materials and Design, 60, 669-677. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2014.04.016
2013
Journal Article
Effect of Si content on friction-wear properties of high-silicon aluminum alloys fabricated by mechanical alloying and hot pressing
Dou, Yu-Hai, Liu, Yong, Liu, Yan-Bin and Xia, Qing-Bing (2013). Effect of Si content on friction-wear properties of high-silicon aluminum alloys fabricated by mechanical alloying and hot pressing. Fenmo Yejin Cailiao Kexue yu Gongcheng/Materials Science and Engineering of Powder Metallurgy, 18 (5), 669-674.
2013
Journal Article
Microstructures and properties of high-silicon aluminum alloys fabricated by mechanical alloying and hot pressing
Dou, Yu-Hai, Liu, Yong, Liu, Yan-Bin, Xia, Qing-Bing and Xu, Fei (2013). Microstructures and properties of high-silicon aluminum alloys fabricated by mechanical alloying and hot pressing. Fenmo Yejin Cailiao Kexue yu Gongcheng/Materials Science and Engineering of Powder Metallurgy, 18 (4), 566-571.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Qingbing Xia is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
In-situ characterisation of electrochemical energy systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ruth Knibbe
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Doctor Philosophy
Durable Solid-State Batteries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ruth Knibbe
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Doctor Philosophy
In-situ characterisation of electrochemical energy systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ruth Knibbe
Media
Enquiries
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