在激光物理和激光技术领域，长期从事可调谐激光、全固态激光和光学非线性过程研究，激光波长范围覆盖深紫外至中远红外，在科学研究、航空航天、先进制造、生物医疗和资源环保等方面均有重要应用。目前主要研究内容：1、光学非线性过程；2、可调谐激光；3、全固态激光研究和应用。

1. Direct observation of Fermi pocket in high temperature cuprate superconductors, J. Meng, C. Chen, Z. Xu and X.J. Zhou et al. Nature, 462 (2009)335； 2. High  efficiency 355 nm generation in a borate crystal BABF，Y Zhou，Z Xu et al. Opt. Lett. 34 (2009) 746；3. Theoretical and experimental investigations of nanosecond 177.3nm deep-ultraviolet light by second harmonic generation in KBBF, F.Yang, Z Xu et al. Appl.Phys. B 96 (2009)415； 4. 12.95mW sixth harmonic generation with KBBF crystal，G.Wang, Z. Xu et al. Appl.Phys. B91 (2008)95; 5. Picosecond laser amplification system with 93 W high average power，R. Peng, Z. Xu et al. Opt.Commu. 281(2008)2879; 6. Generation of 7.6 W of blue laser by frequency-tripling of a Nd:YAG laser in LBO crystals, H.Peng, Z.Xu et al. Opt.Express, 14(2006)6543; 7. Generation of vacuum-ultraviolet light by an optically contacted, prism-coupled KBBF crystal, T.Togashi, T.Kanai, T.Sekikawa, S.Watanable, C.Chen, C. Zhang, Z.Xu et al.,  Opt. Lett. 28(2003)254; 8. The vacuum ultraviolet phase-matching characteristics of nonlinear optical KBBF crystal, C. Chen, Z. Xu et al., Appl. Phys.Lett. 68(1996)2930; 9. Multi-wavelength optical parametric amplification with angle tuned lithium triborate; Z Xu et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. B12(1995)2222； 10. Retracing behavior of the phase matching angle of nonlinear crystals in optical parametric oscillators,X.Liu, Z.Xu et al. J. Appl. Phys. 74(1993)2989.

承担的科研项目：“深紫外全固激光源前沿装备研制”重大项目（首席科学家）、国家973、国家863、国家自然科学重大基金和中国科学院创新工程等项目。