About

Xufeng Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, who joined the university in January 2022. His research focuses on nonlinear photonic devices and quantum optics for sensing applications, with a particular emphasis on spin wave dynamics and hybrid magnonic devices for coherent and quantum information processing. He has been awarded multiple grants, including a $420,000 NSF award for harnessing magnonic nonreciprocity through dissipation engineering and a $500,000 NSF grant for enhancing wireless transceiver resilience by harnessing magnon-phonon coupling. Dr. Zhang's work involves experimental studies of device physics and applications in the fields of electromagnetics, plasma, optics, microsystems, materials, and devices. He has contributed to advancing the understanding of magnonic systems, quantum computing, and the development of novel quantum bit platforms. His research collaborations include institutions such as Boston University, Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of Notre Dame, and his work has been recognized through prestigious awards and high-impact publications.

Research topics

• Metallurgy
• Materials science
• Optics
• Thermodynamics
• Nuclear magnetic resonance
• Physics
• Crystallography
• Condensed matter physics
• Chemistry
• Chromatography

Selected publications

• Driving rapid atomic order in MnAl via low-magnitude magnetic field annealing

  Acta Materialia · 2025-02-24 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Application of a mild (60 mT), uniform magnetic field during short-term thermal treatment of kinetically retained, atomically disordered (paramagnetic) ε-MnAl was found to deliver a significant ~50 % increase in the formation of L1₀ atomically ordered (ferromagnetic) τ-MnAl product phase, compared to that produced by conventional (i.e., zero-field) annealing under identical thermal conditions. The magnetic field, applied in a passive closed-circuit configuration during annealing, induced significant changes in the structural, magnetic, and phase evolution of the material. Computational results based on electronic structure calculations demonstrate that the effective magnetic susceptibility of τ-MnAl is sensitive to the orientation, rather than the magnitude, of an applied magnetic field in the vicinity of the Curie temperature. The uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the L1₀ structure is proposed to act as a filter for selective propagation of the population of τ-MnAl variants that are favorably aligned with the applied field. In this manner, crystallographic “gridlock” is alleviated that would otherwise arise from the coexistence of multiple, energetically equivalent τ-phase variants within the parent ε-phase matrix. These results confirm that static, low-magnitude magnetic field annealing is able to accelerate L1₀ atomic ordering in the MnAl system and likely can exert similar influences in relevant magnetic systems, facilitating efficient tailoring of structure-sensitive magnetic properties for the manufacture of magnetic materials.

  PublisherDOI

• Electrical and magnetic stimulation separately modulates the extent and direction of neurite outgrowth in an ionically conductive hydrogel

  Journal of Neural Engineering · 2025-02-27 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Objective . The use of conductive materials for aiding peripheral nerve regeneration is a promising method to recapitulate native conductance of nerve tissue and facilitate the delivery of exogeneous stimulation for enhanced recovery. This study systematically investigated the effects of applying electrical (ES) or magnetic stimulation (MS) to neurons within new ionically conductive hydrogels. Approach . The material properties of ionically conductive Gel-Amin hydrogels (Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) + Choline acrylate) were compared to those of GelMA hydrogels. Neonatal rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were encapsulated in both hydrogel formulations, subjected to ES or MS, and evaluated for differences in neuronal extension. Peripheral glia, Schwann cells (SCs), were subjected to the same stimuli and their secretion of various neurotrophic analytes were investigated. Main results . Gel-Amin hydrogels are 4x more ionically conductive than GelMA hydrogels. The application of electrical stimulation to the encapsulated cells led to a significant decrease (76%) in DRG outgrowth when encapsulated in GelMA versus the Gel-Amin hydrogel. In contrast, MS led to directional neurite extension in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field gradient. Significance . We present here the first report of a controlled, direct comparison of ES and MS on whole DRG in synthetic materials. The combination of ES and MS decreased total neurite outgrowth but led to more directional growth. Aspects of the material and type of stimuli were noted to reduce several cytokine secretion levels from primary SC cultures. These results highlight the importance of understanding material and biophysical interactions to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration.

  PublisherDOI

• Driving Rapid Atomic Order in MnAl via Low-Magnitude Magnetic Field Annealing

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Static Magnetic Stimulation and Magnetic Microwires Synergistically Enhance and Guide Neurite Outgrowth

  Advanced Healthcare Materials · 2024-11-20 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Axonal growth is heavily influenced by topography and biophysical stimuli including magnetic and electrical fields. Despite extensive investigation, the degree of influence and the underlying genetic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, a novel approach to guide neurite growth is undertaken using an innovative ferromagnetic composite material - glass-coated magnetic microwire - to furnish a synergistic combination of magnetic and topographical cues. Whole rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are cultured under five different conditions: control, static magnetic field, magnetic microwire, static magnetic field + glass fiber, and static magnetic field + magnetic microwire. DRG outgrowth responses under each condition, including total neurite outgrowth and directionality, are compared. The combination of both magnetic stimulation and topography significantly increases total neurite outgrowth compared to the controls. The combination of magnetic stimulation and magnetic microwire lead to a strong directional bias of growth along the microwire, double what is observed with the glass fiber. Next generation RNA sequencing of DRG exposed to static magnetic field + magnetic microwire reveals the downregulation of genes relating to the immune response, interleukin signaling, and signal transduction. These results set the stage for contemplating future biophysical stimulation for axonal guidance and improved understanding of material-tissue interactions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Roadmap on electromagnetic metamaterials and metasurfaces

  Journal of Physics Photonics · 2024 · 78 citations

  • Physics
  • Optics

  Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAM

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• L10 Ordering in MnAl and FeNi Influenced by Magnetic Field and Strain

  Microscopy and Microanalysis · 2023-07-22 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Due to various materials supply chain challenges, magnets free of constrained elements are attracting increasing interest. Magnetic materials such as rare-earth free FeNi and MnAl have been receiving considerable attention due to the high magnetocrystalline anisotropy and other associated magnetic properties derived from their unique chemically ordered tetragonal crystal structure, denoted as the L1₀ structure. However, synthesis of L1₀ FeNi has had limited success due to the extremely low atomic mobilities of Fe and Ni. In this work, isostructural MnAl was first studied as proxy to understand the L1₀ ordering process. Here, evidence of L1₀ ordering in FeNi derived from TEM studies is presented, where ordering was facilitated by the application of strain and magnetic field provided during thermal treatment of a severely plastically deformed FeNi alloy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• En route to next-generation nerve repair: static passive magnetostimulation modulates neurite outgrowth

  Journal of Neural Engineering · 2023-01-06 · 5 citations

  article

  Abstract Objective . Regeneration of damaged nerves is required for recovery following nervous system injury. While neural cell behavior may be modified by neuromodulation techniques, the impact of static direct current (DC) magnetic stimulation remains unclear. Approach . This study quantifies the effects of DC magnetostimulation on primary neuronal outgrowth in vitro . The extension of neurites of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) subjected to two different low-strength (mT) static magnetic flux configurations was investigated. Main results . After 3 d of 1 h in-plane (IP) magnetic field stimulation, a 62.5% increase in neurite outgrowth area was seen relative to unstimulated controls. The combined action of in-plane + out-of-plane (IP + OOP) magnetic field application produced a directional outgrowth bias parallel to the IP field direction. At the same time, the diverse magnetic field conditions produced no changes in two soluble neurotrophic factors, nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, released from resident glia. Significance . These results demonstrate the potential for DC magnetostimulation to enhance neuronal regrowth and improve clinical outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Enhancing Biocidal Capability in Cuprite Coatings

  ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering · 2023-06-02 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic has reinvigorated interest in the creation and widespread deployment of durable, cost-effective, and environmentally benign antipathogenic coatings for high-touch public surfaces. While the contact-kill capability and mechanism of metallic copper and its alloys are well established, the biocidal activity of the refractory oxide forms remains poorly understood. In this study, commercial cuprous oxide (Cu2O, cuprite) powder was rapidly nanostructured using high-energy cryomechanical processing. Coatings made from these processed powders demonstrated a passive “contact-kill” response to Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria that was 4× (400%) faster than coatings made from unprocessed powder. No viable bacteria (>99.999% (5-log10) reduction) were detected in bioassays performed after two hours of exposure of E. coli to coatings of processed cuprous oxide, while a greater than 99% bacterial reduction was achieved within 30 min of exposure. Further, these coatings were hydrophobic and no external energy input was required to activate their contact-kill capability. The upregulated antibacterial response of the processed powders is positively correlated with extensive induced crystallographic disorder and microstrain in the Cu2O lattice accompanied by color changes that are consistent with an increased semiconducting bandgap energy. It is deduced that cryomilling creates well-crystallized nanoscale regions enmeshed within the highly lattice-defective particle matrix. Increasing the relative proportion of lattice-defective cuprous oxide exposed to the environment at the coating surface is anticipated to further enhance the antipathogenic capability of this abundant, inexpensive, robust, and easily handled material for wider application in contact-kill surfaces.

  PublisherDOI

• Toward remote and secure authentication: Disambiguation of magnetic microwire signatures using neural networks

  MRS Communications · 2022-12-05 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Effects of tensile loading during annealing of alnico melt spun ribbons

  AIP Advances · 2022-03-01 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Conventional magnetic annealing (MA) of the permanent magnet alloy alnico involves application of an external magnetic field at temperatures within the spinodal decomposition range. This field biases the growth of the Fe-Co rich, ferromagnetic α1-phase in an energetically favorable 〈001〉 direction in alignment with the applied field within an Al-Ni rich, paramagnetic α2-phase. Utilizing a magnetic field to bias the α1-phase may limit alnico from reaching theoretical coercivity due to (1) the field having maximum biasing ability at temperatures near the Curie temperature where large α1-phase nanorods form and (2) connectivity of the α1-phase occurs unavoidably during MA. Both decrease the effective shape anisotropy of the α1-phase, thereby reducing coercivity. Herein, we explore tensile-loading as a biasing mechanism to control and optimize the final alnico nanostructure beyond that achieved by MA. Two samples of melt-spun alnico were heat-treated at 860 °C for 5 minutes: one sample was subjected to 10 MPa tensile stress for comparison with a stress-free control sample. Structural and magnetic characterization revealed that the stress-annealed ribbon sample possessed expected phase assemblages, but was distinguished by a ∼2× larger grain diameter and an elongated anisotropic α1-phase within grains that were oriented to a shear stress along 〈001〉 directions at an angle of ∼45° relative to the loading direction. Both types of annealing produced a similar increase in the coercivity and remanence, but a decrease in saturation magnetization.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• L. H. Lewis

  Northeastern University

  13 shared

• B.T. Lejeune

  7 shared

• R. P. del Real

  Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid

  4 shared

• M. Vázquez

  Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

  4 shared

• Iver E. Anderson

  Iowa State University

  3 shared

• M. J. Kramer

  Ames National Laboratory

  3 shared

• Wei Tang

  Shenzhen University

  3 shared

• Emily Rinko

  National Nuclear Security Administration

  3 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

  Northeastern University

  2023

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering

  Boston University

  2015

Awards & honors

• Young Investigator Program Award, Office of Naval Research (…
• ONR YIP Award (2022)