Professor, Founding Director of NanoTRIZ Institute. Former academic at Harvard, UofT, Fudan, Max Planck, TU Munich

Scientific Achievements, Research Interests, and Topics

Professor Alexander Solovev is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of man-made nanomachines, with more than 6,500 citations and an H-index of 34. His research group introduced the concept of strain-engineered nanomembranes, a transformative materials platform that integrates mechanical, electrical, optical, and quantum functionalities within a single system. This approach enables unprecedented control over material geometry, strain, and dynamic behavior, leading to fundamentally new device architectures.

A landmark contribution of Professor Solovev’s group was the development of the world’s smallest man-made nanomotor, a breakthrough acknowledged by Guinness World Records. This achievement catalyzed a new research direction in nanoscience, opening pathways to autonomous nanoscale motion, non-equilibrium physics, and active matter systems.

Building on these foundational advances, his research expanded into microfluidics and microscale systems for applications in biomedicine, energy conversion, materials science, and environmental sustainability. His group develops transformative paradigms by treating geometry, strain, and dynamics as active design variables, rather than passive constraints. Core research topics include:

1. Strain-engineered nanomembranes for reconfigurable photonic, electronic, and quantum devices 

2. Catalytic nanomachines and micromotors for probing non-equilibrium physics and autonomous motion
   Membraneless fuel cells with three-dimensional electrodes for efficient and environmentally clean energy conversion 

3. Microfluidic droplets and capsules with adaptive biomedical, diagnostic, and environmental functionalities 

4. Photocatalytic hydrogel microcapsules for water purification and sustainability applications

5. Collectively, these advances establish fundamentally new classes of functional matter with wide-ranging impact across materials science, clean energy technologies, biomedicine, and environmental science, bridging fundamental research with translational outcomes.

As Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator, Professor Solovev has secured approximately 6.4 million RMB in competitive research funding from major international funding agencies. Notable awards include the NSFC RFIS-II grant for the development of 3D-electrode membraneless environmentally clean fuel cells, the NSFC International Scholar Grant for photocatalytic water purification, a BRICS STI Framework grant for ultrasound-driven microbubbles in theranostic applications, and Fudan University’s “Zero to One” Program supporting energy harvesting in colloidal micromotors under non-equilibrium conditions.

Professor Solovev has supervised a diverse cohort of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have achieved significant academic and professional success. His teaching philosophy emphasizes immersion in authentic scientific practice, progressing from rigorous conceptual foundations to real-world data analysis, open-ended case studies, and interdisciplinary projects. He has developed and taught courses such as Integrative Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Microfluidics, Droplets and Capsules (Experimental), which combine experimental training with modern scientific communication and publication practices.

His mentees have received numerous awards and honors, including Outstanding Graduate Student recognitions, competitive national and international scholarships, and major innovation competition prizes. Many have continued their careers at leading global institutions such as Northwestern University, Cornell University, and the Max Planck Institute, while former postdoctoral fellows have progressed to professorial appointments or competitive research and industry positions worldwide. Collectively, these outcomes reflect the rigorous research culture, innovative training environment, and sustained mentorship fostered under Professor Solovev’s leadership.

Selected Publications

• Mohan, B.; Virender; Gupta, R. K.; Pombeiro, A. J. L.; Solovev, A. A.; Singh, G. Advancements in metal-organic, enzymatic, and nanocomposite platforms for wireless sensors of the next generation. Advanced Functional Materials, 34, 2405231 (2024).

• Mohan, B.; Singh, G.; Gupta, R. K.; Sharma, P. K.; Solovev, A. A.; Pombeiro, A. J. L. Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs): multifunctional material on analytical monitoring. TrAC – Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 170, 117436 (2024).

• Chen, G.; Zhu, F.; Gan, A. S. J.; Mohan, B.; Dey, K. K.; Xu, K.; Huang, G.; Cui, J.; Solovev, A. A. Towards the next generation nanorobots. Next Nanotechnology, 2, 100019 (2023).

• Yan, G.; Solovev, A. A.; Huang, G.; Cui, J.; Mei, Y. Soft microswimmers: material capabilities and biomedical applications. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science, 61, 101609 (2022).

• Zhao, Z.; Huang, G.; Kong, Y.; Cui, J.; Solovev, A. A.; Li, X.; Mei, Y. Atomic layer deposition for electrochemical energy: from design to industrialization. Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 5, 31–52 (2022).

• Mujtaba, J.; Liu, J.; Dey, K. K.; Li, T.; Chakraborty, R.; Xu, K.; Makarov, D.; Solovev, A. A.; Mei, Y. Micro-bio-chemo-mechanical systems: micromotors, microfluidics, and nanozymes for biomedical applications. Advanced Materials, 33, 2007465 (2021).

• Solovev, A. A.; Smith, E. J.; Bof’Bufon, C. C.; Sanchez, S.; Schmidt, O. G. Light-controlled propulsion of catalytic microengines. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 50, 10875–10878 (2011).

• Mei, Y.; Solovev, A. A.; Sanchez, S.; Schmidt, O. G. Rolled-up nanotech on polymers: from basic perception to self-propelled catalytic microengines. Chemical Society Reviews, 40, 2109–2119 (2011).

• Sanchez, S.; Solovev, A. A.; Harazim, S. M.; Schmidt, O. G. Microbots swimming in the flowing streams of microfluidic channels. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133, 701–703 (2011).

• Sanchez, S.; Solovev, A. A.; Schulze, S.; Schmidt, O. G. Controlled manipulation of multiple cells using catalytic microbots. Chemical Communications, 47, 698–700 (2011).

• Solovev, A. A.; Sanchez, S.; Mei, Y.; Schmidt, O. G. Dynamics of biocatalytic microengines mediated by variable friction control. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132, 13144–13145 (2010).

• Solovev, A. A.; Sanchez, S.; Pumera, M.; Mei, Y.; Schmidt, O. G. Magnetic control of tubular catalytic microbots for the transport, assembly, and delivery of micro-objects. Advanced Functional Materials, 20, 2430–2435 (2010).

• Solovev, A. A.; Mei, Y.; Bermúdez Ureña, E.; Huang, G.; Schmidt, O. G. Catalytic microtubular jet engines self-propelled by accumulated gas bubbles. Small, 5, 1688–1692 (2009).

• Mei, Y.; Huang, G.; Solovev, A. A.; Bermúdez Ureña, E.; Mönch, I.; Ding, F.; Reindl, T.; Schmidt, O. G. Versatile approach for integrative and functionalized tubes by strain engineering of nanomembranes on polymers. Advanced Materials, 20, 4085–4090 (2008).