Dr Xiaoying Li BSc, PhD, CEng, FIMMM

Dr Xiaoying Li

Senior Research Fellow
Manager of Surface Engineering Research Group

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 7105
Email
x.li.1@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Metallurgy and Materials
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Xiaoying Li is a Senior Research Fellow of Surface Engineering and the Manager of the Surface Engineering Research Group. She is an expert in developing novel surface engineering technologies and characterisation of surface engineered materials.

In particular, she is a leading expert in the investigation of engineered surfaces and interfaces with a high level of specialist skills in cross-section TEM, environmental nano-indentation and FIB/SEM. She has successfully completed, as a key researcher, a dozen of high-quality research projects, and actively involved in the supervision of postgraduate research students, visiting researchers and junior research fellows.

She has published over 150 research papers, delivered tens of conference/seminar presentations including over 10 invited speaks/lectures at both the national and international stage.

Qualifications

  • Senior Research Fellow, 2015
  • Fellow of IoM3, 2015
  • Chartered Engineer, 2015
  • PhD in Metallurgy & Materials (Surface Engineering), Birmingham University, 1999
  • BSc in Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, China, 1983

Teaching

  • Surface Engineering Lab demonstration
  • Lectures for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programme
  • Co-Supervision of UG and PG research projects

Postgraduate supervision

Current co-supervised postgraduate students and projects

  • Mr Xinhe Xiong (PhD), ‘Catalytic ceramic conversion treatment of Zr-alloys for combating wear’
  • Ms Yingdi Feng (PhD), ‘Development of high-performance & cost-effective graphene-containing coatings for engineering components’
  • Mr Thomas John Collins (PhD), ‘Active-screen plasma surface alloying of advanced TWIP steel’
  • Mr Fangzhou Shi (PhD), ‘Plasma multi-functionalisation of advanced ceramics’
  • Mr Mikdat Gurtaran (PhD), ‘Novel surface coatings for thermo-electric materials based harvesting devices
  • Mr Yepeng Yang (PhD), ‘Plasma surface engineering of high entropy alloys’
  • Miss Xueqi Zhu (PhD), ‘Advanced plasma technologies for high-performance composites for wind turbine applications

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listings.

Other activities

  • Visiting Professor, Ningbo University of Technology,  2012-2015
  • Visiting Professor，Southwest Jiaotong University 2012-2015
  • Editorial Coordinator, Journal of Surface Engineering, 2007-2013
  • Chairman, Chinese Materials Association in in UK (2004-06)

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Yang, Y, Li, X, Tao, X, Cai, B & Dong, H 2025, 'Active screen plasma nitriding of FeCrNiCoMo0.2 high entropy alloy for combating wear', Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 35, pp. 7282-7291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.03.082

Pan, T, Li, X, Zhang, Z, Yang, Y, Liu, C, Qiao, G, Huang, H & Dong, H 2025, 'A novel surface engineering technique for improving tribological performance of low-cost beta titanium alloy', Wear, vol. 572-573, 206076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2025.206076

Gurtaran, M, Zhang, Z, Li, X & Dong, H 2025, 'Characterisation of Electro-Brush Plated Nickel Coatings on P-Type (Zr,Ti)Co(Sn,Sb) Half-Heusler Thermoelectric Materials for Stable Contact Layers', Materials, vol. 18, no. 22, 5108. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18225108

Zhang, Z, Li, X & Dong, H 2025, 'Impact of Catalytic Metals on the Ceramic Conversion Treatment of Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo Alloy', ACS Omega. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c00209

Gurtaran, M, Zhang, Z, Li, X & Dong, H 2025, 'Protection of N-Type (Ni,Fe)TiSb Half-Heusler Materials against Static and Cyclic Oxidation Using a Si-Doped Cr Coating', ACS Omega. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c09137

Tao, X, Yang, Y, Qi, J, Cai, B, Rainforth, WM, Li, X & Dong, H 2024, 'An investigation on nitrogen uptake and microstructure of equimolar quaternary FeCoNiCr high entropy alloy after active-screen plasma nitriding', Materials Characterization, vol. 208, 113593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2023.113593

Gurtaran, M, Zhang, Z, Li, X & Dong, H 2024, 'Cyclic oxidation behaviour of N-type (Zr,Ti)Ni(Sn,Sb) and P-type (Zr,Ti)Co(Sn,Sb) thermoelectric materials', Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 30, pp. 7476-7484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.05.136

Gurtaran, M, Zhang, Z, Li, X & Dong, H 2024, 'Developing advanced CrSi coatings for combatting surface degradation of N-type (Zr,Ti)Ni(Sn,Sb) and P-type (Zr,Ti)Co(Sn,Sb) half Heusler thermoelectric materials', Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 32, pp. 3288-3301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.08.169

Aviziotis, IG, Manasi, A, Ntziouni, A, Gakis, GP, Trompeta, A-FA, Li, X, Dong, H, Charitidis, CA, Piticescu, RR (ed.) & Lucotti, A (ed.) 2024, 'Growth of Carbon Nanofibers and Carbon Nanotubes by Chemical Vapour Deposition on Half-Heusler Alloys: A Computationally Driven Experimental Investigation', Materials, vol. 17, no. 13, 3144. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133144

Semitekolos, D, Papadopoulos, I, Anagnou, S, Dashtbozorg, B, Li, X, Dong, H & Charitidis, CA 2024, 'Nanomaterial-Enhanced Sizings: Design and Optimisation of a Pilot-Scale Fibre Sizing Line', Fibers, vol. 12, no. 2, 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12020016

Shi, F, Dashtbozorg, B, Wong, WK, Li, X & Dong, H 2024, 'Plasma-induced repair of macro-indentation formed cracks on yttria-stabilised zirconia', Scripta Materialia, vol. 252, 116278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2024.116278

Shi, F, Dashtbozorg, B, Li, X & Dong, H 2024, 'Processing conditions and mechanisms for the plasma defect-engineering of bulk oxygen-deficient zirconia', Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 29, pp. 3759-3770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.02.111

Zhang, Z, Zhang, Y, Li, P, Burns, A, Li, X & Dong, H 2024, 'Silver-promoted ceramic conversion treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy and its mechanical performance', Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, vol. 157, 106629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106629

Conference article

Zhang, Z, Gurtaran, M, Li, X & Dong, H 2024, 'P-Type BiSb2Te3 thin film thermoelectric module fabricated on a flexible substrate through magnetron sputtering', MATEC Web of Conferences, vol. 401. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202440109004

Conference contribution

Zhang, Z, Li, P, Arampongpun, C, Mukinary, T, Zhang, Y, Li, X, Dong, H & Alexander, J 2024, Effect of silver on the ceramic conversion process and the surface properties of Ti6Al4V alloy. in 15th World Conference on Titanium (Ti-2023). Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3), 15th World Conference on Titanium, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 12/06/23. https://doi.org/10.7490/f1000research.1119895.1

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