ACADEMICS

Yingcai Plan (government-sponsored, college-professor guided research program for select high school students)

I was learning how to grind the raw materials with ball grinding mills.

I was extracting the dried raw materials and prepared for next grinding.

I was learning to grind the materials to facilitate reaction.

I was grinding the raw materials.

I was pressing the ceramics with press machine.

The ceramics were pressed into “coins”.

I was adding reactant so that the ceramics could react with it during heating.

The graduate student was examing our ceramics and analyzing its structure.

I was smoothing the both sides of the ceramics to ease the procedure of applying silver electrodes.

I was applying silver electrodes to both sides of the ceramic.

I was washing the jars in the ball grinding mills to ensure removal of impurities.

The graduate student was examing my work.

The graduate student was showing me how to use X-ray diffractometer.

The graduate student was recording the change on the ferroelectric property of the ceramics with increasing temperature.

From December 2022 to October 2023, I participated in the Yingcai Plan as an independent researcher at Shandong University under the guidance of Prof. Wang Chunming. During my time in the Electrolyte Laboratory, I focused on the manufacturing process of piezoceramics, successfully fabricating a novel tungsten-doped bismuth layered piezoceramic. I employed electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to analyze its internal structure and properties, comparing its dielectric, piezoelectric, and electromechanical characteristics with those of undoped ceramics. This work culminated in a 12-page research paper and a 27-page presentation, both of which were submitted to the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), earning me a certificate in recognition of my contributions.

Driven by my passion for robotics, I further explored the integration of piezoceramics with sensors. I synthesized ytterbium-substituted Bi5Ti3FeO15 (BTF-4Yb), which exhibited improved piezoelectric constants, electrical resistivity, and high Curie temperatures, suggesting its potential for advanced sensor applications. These findings were compiled into two papers, which were submitted to the Journal of Alloys and Compounds and Ceramics International.

Xinyu Yu, Xiangyi Gao, Qian Wang, Chun-Ming Wang. Superior piezoelectric performance in ytterbium-substituted high-TC Bi5Ti3FeO15. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2024

High-temperature piezoelectric materials are crucial for advanced sensors, but balancing performance and temperature range is challenging. This study improves bismuth titanate-ferrite (Bi5Ti3FeO15) by replacing some bismuth ions with ytterbium ions, enhancing both electrical output and stability. The optimized version, BTF-4Yb, tripled the piezoelectric constant to 21.4 pC/N and maintained excellent electrical resistance at 400 °C, making it a strong candidate for high-temperature sensor applications.

Xinyu Yu, Xiangyi Gao, Qian Wang, et al. Lutetium‐substituted high-TC Bi5Ti3FeO15 exhibiting superior piezoelectric performance. Ceramics International.

Industries need ceramics that work at high temperatures above 400 °C. Bismuth titanate-ferrite (Bi5Ti3FeO15) shows potential but has weak electrical performance and stability. This study improved it by adding lutetium ions, boosting its electrical output by over three times and enhancing stability. The optimized version (BTF-4Lu) performed well at 400 °C, maintaining excellent electrical resistance and temperature stability.

Harvard Summit for Young Leader in China

In August 2023, I had the privilege of participating in the Harvard Summit for Young Leaders in China, held in Hangzhou. During the program, I explored diverse subjects through courses on Viking history, game theory, and decision theory, all taught by Harvard undergraduates. As part of a group project, I applied decision theory and the analytic hierarchy process to analyze factors affecting consumer choices in domestic services. Together, we produced a poster presentation to share our findings, which was well-received by the instructors. This experience deepened my analytical skills and broadened my perspective on decision-making in real-world contexts.

I was listening to a lecture about decision theory. The mentor was teaching opportunity cost for us.

I completed a poster with my group members to display what we had learned from the class.

Our poster discussed how to select the best babysitter for households.

After the classes were over, I took photos with my teachers.

The Princeton Global Young Leaders Program

In July 2023, I participated in the Princeton Global Young Leaders Program, a two-week workshop focused on public speaking and academic writing. The program provided a unique opportunity to discuss science fiction with Zhixue Yang, the screenwriter of The Wandering Earth, which deepened my appreciation for storytelling in complex topics. Working in a team of five, I helped develop a 20-minute presentation on the role of African governments in addressing the refugee crisis, an experience that sharpened my research and presentation skills while enhancing my global awareness.

Students were listening to the lecture about astrophysics.

I was doing presentation on the role of African governments in addressing the refugee crisis.

More about PGYL:
[final report] [final essay]