< Marine Engineering
Thermal energy storage and enhanced heat transfer
Thermal management of power batteries
High-efficiency cooling of electronic devices
Heat pump technology
Born in 1981, Ph.D., Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor. He has been selected as an Elsevier "China Highly Cited Researcher" (2023–2025), a "World’s Top 2% Top Scientists" (2025), a High-level Talents of Zhejiang Provincial University Leading Talent Cultivation Program, a Zhejiang Provincial University Young and Middle-Aged Academic Leader, a Ningbo Leading and Top-notch Talent, a Ningbo Key High-level Talent, and a Ningbo "Vice Chief Scientist for Science and Technology." He proposed and developed a phase-change material (PCM) channel for power battery thermal management systems, which enables fluid transportation without the need for piping and resolves the issue of thermal cracking in form-stable PCM channels. He also proposed a "double-layer coating with sacrificial inner layer" method for microencapsulating metallic phase-change particles, fundamentally solving the industry-wide "bottleneck" problem of shell rupture caused by thermal expansion of metallic PCM microcapsules. This method is highly versatile and facilitates microcapsule modification, showing broad application prospects in thermal energy storage and catalysis.
He has presided over 3 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (one General Program was rated as "Excellent" upon completion), 3 projects funded by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation and provincial science and technology programs, and 3 projects funded by the Ningbo Natural Science Foundation. As first/corresponding author, he has published over 70 SCI/EI-indexed papers in prestigious journals such as Energy Storage Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Energy, Applied Energy, Energy Conversion and Management, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, and International Journal of Mechanical Sciences (41 of which have impact factors >10). Among these, 9 are ESI Highly Cited Papers (2 of which are also Hot Papers). His highest and second-highest single-paper SCI citations are 762 and 434, respectively (Web of Science). He has applied for over 20 invention patents and been granted 10. He has supervised 37 graduate students (29 graduated), with alumni pursuing Ph.D. studies at Zhejiang University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, and Sichuan University, or employed at renowned companies such as China Classification Society, BYD, Sanhua Holding Group, Sunwoda, and Teld New Energy.
Undergraduate Courses: Marine Auxiliary Machinery, Automation of Marine Deck Machinery
Postgraduate (Master's) Courses: New Energy and Ship Energy-Saving Technologies, Fluid Power Transmission and Control
[1] Muniran Tuluhong, Yaohui Zhu, Xuyi Lu, Xijia Zhou, Yarui Ji, Chunyao Qing, Zhirong Yang, Deqiu Zou*. Biomimetic composite phase change materials: From structural design to functional integration, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2026, 234:116902
[2] Mingjian Xu, Runda Qian, Peihang Li, Yuanqiang Zhang, Li Huang, Deqiu Zou*. Efficient two-stage encapsulation of metallic phase change materials achieving excellent thermal storage performance, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2026, 232:116813
[3] Yarui Ji, Xijia Zhou, Yaohui Zhu, Xuyi Lu, Muniran Tuluhong, Haichao Zhang, Zhirong Yang, Deqiu Zou*. Immersion cooling technology: Coolants and modification, cooling surface structure and system optimization, Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2026, 116:91-122.
[4] Xijia Zhou, Yarui Ji, Xuyi Lu, Muniran Tuluhong, Yaohui Zhu, Junfeng Shen, Shuyan Zhu, Deqiu Zou*. rediction for thermal properties of phase change materials based on molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning: A comprehensive review, Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2026,121:154-192.
[5] Xulong Li, Xiaojie Guo, Rui Xu, Pengjun Zheng, Da Liu, ShengXin Hu, Xiaofeng Chen, Weiping Qu, Chengshuai Xu, Deqiu Zou*. Thermal performance of marine power batteries and optimization of their liquid cooling systems, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2026, 267:128981
[6] Yaohui Zhu, Xijia Zhou, Xuyi Lu, Yarui Ji, Muniran Tuluhong, Jun Yin, Deqiu Zou*. Porous bulk composites enabling trimodal sensible-latent-thermochemical heat storage at high temperatures, Journal of Energy Storage, 2026, 179:123957.
[7] Yi Yang, Yaohui Zhu, Xijia Zhou, Xiaowu Hu, Zhirong Yang, Deqiu Zou*. Development of a high latent Al-Si macrocapsule for thermal energy storage in both the core and shell, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2026,14:27101-27122.
[8] Xijia Zhou, Yaohui Zhu, Chunyu Zhu, Nan Sheng, Kaixin Dong, Deqiu Zou*. Novel Mg–Zn microcapsules for in-situ thermal management of Mg-based hydrogen storage: endowed with latent heat, H2 storage and high cycle stability, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2026, 260:156719.
[9] Chenwu Shi, Tengyu Shen, Mingjian Xu, Da Liu, ShengXin Hu, Xiaofeng Chen, Weiping Qu, Chengshuai Xu, Deqiu Zou*. High thermal conductivity hydrogel for thermal management and thermal runaway delay of a battery, Applied Thermal Engineering, 2026, 303:132222.
[10] Mingjian Xu, Xiaojie Guo, Chenwu Shi, Peihang Li, Junfeng Shen, Hao Wang, Shuyan Zhu, Deqiu Zou*. Efficient encapsulation of metal-based phase change materials and their direct electro-thermal conversion performance, Applied Thermal Engineering, 2026, 290:130043
[11] Yaohui Zhu, Muniran Tuluhong, Yarui Ji, Xuyi Lu, Xijia Zhou, Junfeng Shen, Haichao Zhang, Deqiu Zou*. Thermo-hydrogen coupling characteristics of Mg-based hydrogen storage materials and thermal management, Energy Storage Materials, 2025, 83:104720.
[12] Peihang Li, Mingjian Xu, Xiaojie Guo, Pengjun Zheng, Weiping Qu, Chengshuai Xu, Da Liu, WenHui Gan, Deqiu Zou*. Thermal switches for lithium-ion battery thermal management: Principle, performance and application, Energy Storage Materials, 2025, 81:104481.
[13] Xiaojie Guo, Yi Yang, Chenwu Shi, Mingjian Xu, Yifan Liu, Deqiu Zou*. Monitoring and control of internal temperature in power batteries: A comprehensive review, Energy Storage Materials, 2025, 75:104051.
[14] Meng Liu, Xulong Li, Runda Qian, Xitao Lu, Yifan Liu, Deqiu Zou*. All-climate thermal management performance of power batteries based on double-layer flexible phase change materials, Advanced Functional Materials, 2025, 35:2415370.
[15] Chenwu Shi, Mingjian Xu, Xiaojie Guo, Shuyan Zhu, and Deqiu Zou*. Characteristics, encapsulation strategies, and applications of Al and its alloy phase change materials for thermal energy storage: A comprehensive review, Advanced Functional Materials, 2025, 35: 2412914.
[16] Yuanyuan Chen, Xiaojie Guo, Chenwu Shi, Xin Zhou, Deqiu Zou*. Preparation of metal-based microencapsulated phase change material and its application in a battery for thermal management and thermal runaway protection, Composites Part B: Engineering, 2025, 298:112376.
[17] Yi Yang, Xiaojie Guo, Meng Liu, Hang Yang, Deqiu Zou*. Review on high-temperature macroencapsulated phase change materials: Encapsulation strategy, thermal storage system, and optimization, Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2025, 104:324-359.
[18] Xitao Lu, Chenwu Shi, Xulong Li, Meng Liu, Chunyao Qing, Yeping Wu, Deqiu Zou*. Development of a 3 in 1 high-temperature thermal energy storage material integrating sensible, latent, and thermochemical heat, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025, 522:167925.
[19] Xinyue Xu, Peihang Li, Keyu Weng, Pengjun Zheng, Yufan Feng, Da Liu, ShengXin Hu, Weiping Qu, Jin Shao, Deqiu Zou*. Tubeless shape-stabilized phase change materials channels for all-climate battery thermal management, Energy, 2025, 330:136872.
[20] Keyu Weng, Mingjian Xu, Meng Liu, Xinyue Xu, Pengjun Zheng, Weiping Qu, Haoliang Huang, Da Liu, Haijiang Jiang, Yanjun Zhang, Deqiu Zou*. Development of a multifunctional phase change composite film for all-climate thermal management, Renewable Energy, 2025, 255:123803.
[21] Yunwei Chang, Xijia Zhou, Chenwu Shi, Shuyan Zhu, Deqiu Zou*. Thermal performance of a direct contact heat exchanger based on adipic acid/SnBi58 MEPCM ceramic-based composites, Applied Thermal Engineering, 2025, 272:126384.
[22] Xiaoyan Yao, Chenwu Shi, Shuyan Zhu, Binghui Wang, Wang Hao, Deqiu Zou*. Thermal performance enhancement of ceramics based thermal energy storage composites containing inorganic salt/metallic micro-encapsulated phase change material, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2025, 288:113645.
[23] Mingjian Xu, Chenwu Shi, Peihang Li, Xiaojie Guo, Binghui Wang, and Deqiu Zou*. Thermal expansion challenges and solution strategies for phase change material encapsulation: A comprehensive review, Advanced Functional Materials, 2024, 34: 2409884.
[24] Meng Liu, Runda Qian, Yi Yang, Xitao Lu, Li Huang, Deqiu Zou*. Modification of phase change materials for electric-thermal, photo-thermal, and magnetic-thermal conversions: A comprehensive review, Advanced Functional Materials, 2024, 34:2400038.
[25] Xitao Lu, Runda Qian, Xinyue Xu, Meng Liu, Yifan Liu, Deqiu Zou*. Modifications of microencapsulated phase change materials: Supercooling suppression, thermal conductivity enhancement and stability improvement, Nano Energy, 2024, 124:109520.
[26] Keyu Weng, Xinyue Xu, Yuanyuan Chen, Xulong Li, Chunyao Qing, Deqiu Zou*. Development and applications of multifunctional microencapsulated PCMs: A comprehensive review, Nano Energy, 2024, 122:109308.
[27] Yunwei Chang, Heng Gu, Xiaoyan Yao, Chunyao Qing, Deqiu Zou*. Preparation of a novel microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM)/adipic acid ceramic composite and its thermal performance, Energy, 2024, 292:130590.
[28] Heng Gu, Yunwei Chang, Yuanyuan Chen, Jiang rong Guo, Deqiu Zou*. Experimental research on pipeless power battery cooling system using shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCM) coupled with seawater, Energy, 2024, 286:129560.
[29] Xinyue Xu, Keyu Weng, Xitao Lu, Yuanqiang Zhang, Shuyan Zhu, Deqiu Zou*. Functional thermal fluids and their applications in battery thermal management: A comprehensive review, Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2024, 94:78-101.
[30] Runda Qian, Keyu Weng, Meng Liu, Li Huang, Deqiu Zou*. Development of a novel Al-Si microcapsules with heat-resistant, high latent heat, and efficient solar heat absorption, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 496:153929.
[31] Heng Gu, Peihang Li, Xinyue Xu, Quanshui Huang, Deqiu Zou*. Development of a cooling system for marine power batteries, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2024, 276:109381.
[32] Keyu Weng , Runda Qian , Xinyue Xu , Deqiu Zou*. Exploring key factors of radiative cooling performance of n-octadecane@SiO2 MEPCMs, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2024, 234:126090.
[33] Yuanyuan Chen, Chenwu Shi, Xiaojie Guo, Chunyao Qing, Deqiu Zou*. A metal-based microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) with high thermal conductivity, electrical insulation and flame retardancy and its application in epoxy resin, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2024, 180:108081.
[34] Runda Qian, Meng Liu, Xitao Lu, Chunyao Qing, Deqiu Zou*. Advances in composite phase change materials based on high performance three-dimensional (3D) skeletons: Properties, strategies and applications, Composite Structures, 2024, 327:117711.
[35] Xiaoyan Yao, Yunwei Chang, Heng Gu, Jiangrong Guo, Deqiu Zou*. Preparation and thermophysical properties of a novel metallic microencapsulated phase change material/eutectic salt/ceramic composite, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 477:146967.
[36] Xiangyu Zhao, Ke Lei, Shuo Wang, Binghui Wang, Li Huang, Deqiu Zou*. A shape-memory, room-temperature flexible phase change material based on PA/TPEE/EG for battery thermal management, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 463:142514.
[37] Shuo Wang, Xiangyu Zhao, Zhiyuan Wang, Yuanqiang Zhang, Hao Wang, Deqiu Zou*. Micro-encapsulation of a low-melting-point alloy phase change material and its application in electronic thermal management, Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 417:138058.
[38] Jie Luo, Heng Gu, Xinyue Xu, Li Huang, Deqiu Zou*. Development of a pipeless, cascade phase change power battery thermal management system, Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 423:138797.
