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

Research interests:

My research program establishes transformative paradigms in low-dimensional condensed matter and fluid dynamics by utilizing geometric topology, elastic strain, and non-equilibrium kinetics as active degrees of freedom in material design. I pioneered the development of strain-engineered functional nanomembranes, successfully integrating multi-physical properties—mechanical, electronic, and photonic—to realize reconfigurable architectures for quantum and optoelectronic applications. This work extends into the domain of autonomous nanomachines and catalytic micromotors, where my group probes the fundamental physics of motion at the nanoscale, a trajectory highlighted by our Guinness World Record for the world’s smallest man-made jet engine.

Expanding into advanced microfluidics and interfacial phenomena, my investigations address critical challenges in energy and environmental sustainability through the development of 3D-electrode membraneless fuel cells, photocatalytic hydrogel microcapsules for selective water purification, and ultrasound-triggered microbubbles for precision theranostics. By bridging fundamental nanoscience with translational engineering, my research creates fundamentally new classes of adaptive functional matter designed for high-impact applications in sustainable energy, environmental remediation, and next-generation biotechnology.