Zhaoyi Xi
Research Assistant, PhD Candidate, Interface Sciences/Catalysis, Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Brookhaven National Laboratory
Center for Functional Nanomaterials
Bldg. 735
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Zhaoyi is currently a PhD candidate under the supervision of Dr. Mingzhao Liu, at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). He is also affiliated with Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University, major in Chemical Engineering. He received his master's degree in Chemical Engineering at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China.
Expertise | Research | Education | Appointments | Publications | Highlights
Expertise
- Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)
- Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
- Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)
- Materials Characterizations
- Photoelectrochemistry
Research Activities
Zhaoyi's research at Brookhaven includes controllable thin film deposition, with Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), and Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). He also has extensive hands-on experience on surface & structural characterizations and technologies, such as XPS, SEM, XRD, UV-Vis, AFM, Raman, SEM-FIB, etc. Recently he has interest in applying thin films into photoelectrochemical water splitting reaction, and other semiconductor devices.
Education
- Ph.D. Candidate: Stony Brook University, New York, United States
- M.S.: Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China, 2021
Professional Appointments
- Research Assistant (2021.09 - ), Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, United States
- Teaching Assistant (2021.08 - 2023.12), Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
- Research Assistant (2018.09 - 2021.06), College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
Selected Publications
- Xi Z, Zhou C, Kisslinger K, Liu M (2024) Optimizing pulsed laser deposition of crystalline BiVO4 thin films on yttrium-stabilized zirconia (110) substrates. Chemical Communications. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4cc03301a
- Xi Z, Zhou C, Kisslinger K, et al (2023) Cobalt Oxide-Coated Single Crystalline Bismuth Vanadate Photoanodes for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Chlorine Generation. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c11592
- Teng F, Zhang H, Nykypanchuk D, et al (2025) Macroscale-area patterning of three-dimensional DNA-programmable frameworks. Nature Communications 16:. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58422-0
- Hilbrands AM, Zhang S, Zhou C, Melani G, Wi DH, Lee D, Xi Z, et al (2023) Impact of Varying the Photoanode/Catalyst Interfacial Composition on Solar Water Oxidation: The Case of BiVO4(010)/FeOOH Photoanodes. Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c07722
- Wi DH, Lumley MA, Xi Z, et al (2023) Investigation of Electron Extraction and Protection Layers on Cu2O Photocathodes. Chemistry of Materials 35:4385–4392. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c00543
- Zhou C, Xi Z, Stacchiola DJ, Liu M (2022) Application of ultrathin TiO2 layers in solar energy conversion devices. Energy Science & Engineering 10:1614–1629. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1142
Research Highlights
Solar-Powered Chlorine Production: A Sea Change in Water Splitting: https://www.bnl.gov/cfn/research/highlights/news.php?a=221897

Brookhaven National Laboratory
Center for Functional Nanomaterials
Bldg. 735
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000