Xiaowen Yuan

Xiaowen Yuan is a New Zealand materials scientist, and is a full professor at the Auckland University of Technology, specialising in novel composite materials from natural materials for high performance uses, such as improving supercapacitor performance.

Academic career
Yuan completed a PhD titled Plasma modification of natural fibres in polypropylene composites at the University of Auckland in 2002. Yuan worked at the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, and was an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore. Yuan then joined the faculty of Massey University and later the Auckland University of Technology. She was promoted to full professor at AUT in 2024. Yuan leads the Future Fibres Laboratory at AUT, and is a professor in the mechanical engineering department.

Yuan's research focuses on novel composite materials, especially from natural materials such as gelatine, cellulose and collagen. In 2018 Yuan received a Smart Ideas grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment worth just under $1 million, to research the use of harakeke (New Zealand flax) fibres to improve supercapacitor performance. Supercapacitors are more sustainable alternatives to batteries, but are limited by electrode problems. Yuan and her research team are also investigating the use of other plant and animal fibres such as industrial hemp and wool, in other high-performance uses, such as smart textiles and medical uses. They research fibre production and processing, including fibre surface modification, through to product development.