Research Interests

1) Bio-inspired adhesives; 2) Bio-inspired shape-morphing materials; 3) Flexible sensors for smart agriculture.

Smart adhesion and shape transformation play a vital role in biological systems. Researches on natural adhesion and actuation systems have been a frontier hotspot in the field of smart adhesive materials and actuators, which not only helps to explore the nature of living organisms, but also provides new strategies for the design and preparation of new materials. 

In recent years, we have re-examined feathers exhibiting special adhesion properties and pine cones with hygroscopic deformation ability. 

1) We discovered a cascade slide-lock system in feathers, which is a stretchable interlocker and contributes to the high stretchability and durable self-healing capability of feathers; 

2) We revealed that the hygroscopic movement of the vascular bundle (VB) was the main driving force for the movement of pine cone scales, while the outer sclereids with good water retention slowed down the speed of movement. A typical heterogeneous structure of spring/quare microtubules was found in VBs, which drives the deformation of VB and inspires the design and fabrication of artificial ultraslow hygroscopic actuators; 

3) We further developed a shape morphing strategy suitable for plastic films by virtue of peeling-induced asymmetric plastic strains and realized the controllable transformation of two-dimensional circuits to three-dimensional circuits extending their functions;

4) We explored the application of flexible electronics in insect motion control and the preparation of Cyborg insects.