Academic Qualification
Ph.D. in Materials Science, University of Connecticut , 2018
M.E. in Materials Physics and Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, 2012
B.S. in Materials Physics, Sun Yat-sen University, 2009
Teaching Area
Materials Science
Research Area
Smart materials, Biomimetic materials, Stretchable/flexible photonics/electronics, Structural color, Wrinkling instability.
Working Experience
Assistant Professor, MIMSE, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China, 2022 - present
Postdoc, The Chinese University of Hongkong, Hongkong, China, 2021 - 2022
Postdoc, University of Connecticut, US, 2018 – 2020
Academic Publication (selected) (#: Co-first authors made equal contribution；*: Co-corresponding author)
1. Zeng, S.; Zhang, D.; Huang, W.; Wang, Z.; Freire, S.; Yu, X.; Smith, A.; Huang, E.; Nguon, H.; Sun, L. Bio-inspired Sensitive and Reversible Mechanochromisms via Strain-dependent Cracks and Folds. Nature Communications 2016, 7:11802. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11802.
2. Zeng, S.; Yang, Z.; Hou, Z.; Park, C.; Jones, M.; Ding, H.; Shen, K.; Smith, A.; Wang, B.; Jiang, H.; Sun, L. Dynamic multi-functional devices enabled by ultrathin metal nanocoatings with optical/photothermal and morphological versatility. PNAS 2022, 119 (4), e2118991119.
3. Zeng, S.; Li, R.; Freire, S.; Garbellotto, V.; Huang, E.; Smith, A.; Hu, C.; Tait, W.; Bian, Z.; Zheng, G.; Zhang, D.; Sun, L. Moisture-Responsive Wrinkling Surfaces with Tunable Dynamics. Advanced Materials 2017, 29, 1700828.
4. Zeng, S.#; Shen, K.#; Liu, Y.; Chooi, A.; Smith, A.; Zhai, S.; Chen, Z.; Sun, L. Dynamic Thermal Radiation Modulators via Mechanically Tunable Surface Emissivity. Materials Today 2021, 45, 44-53
5. Zeng, S.; Smith, A.; Shen, K.; Sun, L*. Smart soft materials with multi-scale architecture and dynamic surface topographies. Accounts of Materials Research 2022, 3, 11, 1115–1126
6. Zeng, S.; Liu, Y.; Li, S.; Shen, K.; Hou, Z.; Chooi, A.; Smith, Andrew.; Chen, Z.; Sun, L. Smart laser-writable micropatterns with multi-scale photo/moisture reconstructible structure. Advanced Functional Materials 2020, 31, 2009481
7. Zeng, S.; Shen, K.; Li, S.; Li, R.; Hou, Z.; Zhang, X.; Tait, W.; Kajiwara, T.; Takahara, A.; Smith, A.; Jones, M.; Zhang, D.; Sun, L. Tailoring multi-stimuli responsive micropatterns activated by various mechanical modes. Advanced Functional Materials 2021, 31, 2100612.
8. Wu, C.#; Zeng, S.#; Wang, Z.; Wang, F.; Zhou, H.; Zhang, J.; Ci, Z.; L Sun. Efficient Mechanoluminescent Elastomers for Dual‐Responsive Anticounterfeiting Device and Stretching/Strain Sensor with Multimode Sensibility. Advanced Functional Materials 2018, 28, 1803168.
9. Zeng, S.; Li, R.; Tait, W.; Zhang, M.; Zhu, M.; Chov, N.; Xu, G.; Zhang, D.; Sun, L. Spontaneous Formation of Wrinkle-driven Tubular Structure as a Versatile Platform for Adaptive 3D Stretchable Electronics. Materials Horizons 2020, 7, 2368-2377.
10. Zeng, S.; Sun, H.; Park, C.; Zhang, M.; Zhu, M.; Chov, N.; Li, E.; Smith, A.; Xu, G.; Li, S.; Hou, Z.; Li, Y.; Wang, B.; Zhang, D.; Sun, L. Multi-stimuli responsive chromism with tailorable mechanochromic sensitivity for versatile interactive sensing under ambient conditions. Materials Horizons 2020, 7,164-172.
11. Hou, Z. #; Zeng, S.#*; Shen, K.; Healey, P.; Schipper, Holly.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, M.; Jones, M.; Sun, L.*; Interactive Deformable Electroluminescent Devices Enabled by an Adaptable Hydrogel System with Optical/Photothermal/Mechanical Tunability. Materials Horizons 2023 10, 5931-5941.
12. Zeng, S.; Wang, S.; Xiao, M.; Han, D.; Meng, Y. Preparation and Properties of Biodegradable Blend Containing Poly (propylene carbonate) and Starch Acetate with Different Degrees of Substitution. Carbohydrate Polymers 2011, 86, 1260-1265.
13. Tong, M., Kuang, S., Wang, Q., Li, X., Yu, H., Zeng, S. *, & Yu, X*. Dual cross-linked cellulose-based hydrogel for dendrites-inhibited flexible zinc-ion energy storage devices with ultra-long cycles and high energy density. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2024, 122444.
14. Zeng, S.; Hou, Z.; So, C.; Wai, H.; Jang, D.; Lai, W.; Sun, L.; Gao, Z. (2022). Simultaneously stiffening and toughening epoxy by urea treated hydroxylated halloysite nanotubes. Polymer 2022, 256, 125194.
15. Zeng, S.; Reyes, C.; Liu, J.; Rodgers, P. A.; Wentworth, S. H.; Sun, L. Facile Hydroxylation of Halloysite Nanotubes for Epoxy Nanocomposite Applications. Polymer 2014, 55, 6519-6528.
16. Mao, Z.#; Zeng, S. #; Shen, K.; Chooi, A.; Simth, A.; Jones, M.; Zhou, Y.; Liu, X.; Sun, L. Dynamic Mechanochromic Optics with Tunable Strain Sensitivity for Strain Responsive Digit Display. Advanced Optical Materials 2020, 8, 2001472
17. Smith, A. T.; Shen, K.; Hou, Z.; Zeng, S.; Jin, J.; Ning, C.; Zhao, Y.; Sun, L. Dual Photo‐and Mechanochromisms of Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Polyvinyl Alcohol Film. Advanced Functional Materials, 2022, 32, 2110285
18. Zhang, B.; Liu, J.; Ren, M.; Wu, C.; Moran, T. J.; Zeng, S.; Chavez, S. E.; Hou, Z.; Li, Z.; LaChance, A. M.; Jow, T. R.; Huey, B. D.; Cao, Y.; Sun, L. Reviving the “Schottky” Barrier for Flexible Polymer Dielectrics with a Superior 2D Nanoassembly Coating. Advanced Materials 2021, 33, 2101374.
19. Jia, L.; Zeng, S.; Ding, H.; Smith, A. T.; LaChance, A. M.; Farooqui, M.; Ma, J.; Gao, D.; Sun, L.; Leather-Based Multi-Stimuli Responsive Chromisms. Advanced Functional Materials 2021, 31, 2104427.
20. Sun, Y.; Liu, S.; Sun, L.; Wu, S.; Hu, G.; Pang, X.; Smith, A.; Hu, C.; Zeng, S.; Wang, W.; Liu, Y.; Zheng, M.; Ultralong lifetime and efficient room temperature phosphorescent carbon dots through multiconfinement structure design. Nature Communications 2020, 11, 5591.
21. Chen, S.; Zeng, S.; Liu, S.; Liu, H.; Zheng, R.; White, K. L.; Smith, A.T.; Liu, L.; Sun, L. A biomimetic interface with high adhesion, tailorable modulus for on-skin sensors and low-power actuators. Chemistry of Materials 2019, 31, 21, 8708–8716
22. Ding, F.; Liu, J.; Zeng, S.; Xia, Y.; Wells, K.; Nieh, M.; Sun, L. Biomimetic Nanocoatings with Exceptional Mechanical, Barrier, and Flame-retardant Properties from Large-scale One-step Coassembly. Science Advances 2017, 3(7), p.e1701212.
23. Ma, Z.; Zhou, J.; Zhang, J.; Zeng, S.; Zhou, H.; Smith, A. T.; Wang, W.; Sun, L.; Wang, Z. Mechanics Induced Triple-mode Anticounterfeiting and Moving Tactile Sensing by Simultaneously Utilizing Instantaneous and Persistent Mechanoluminescence. Materials Horizons 2019, 6, 2003-2008
24. Hu, M.; Gao, Y.; Jiang, Y.; Zeng, H.; Zeng, S.; Zhu, M.; Sun, L. High-performance strain sensors based on bilayer carbon black/PDMS hybrids. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials 2021, 4, 514–520
25. Smith, A.T.; Ding, H.; Gorski, A.; Zhang, M.; Gitman, P.A.; Park, C.; Hao, Z.; Jiang, Y.; Williams, B.L.; Zeng, S.; Kokkula, A.; Yu, Q.; Ding, G.; Zeng, H.; Sun, L.; Multi-color Reversible Photochromisms via Tunable Light-Dependent Responses. Matter 2020, 2(3),680-696
Patents：
1. Sun, L.; Zeng, S.; Zhang, D. Stimuli Responsive Materials, Methods of Making, and Methods of Use Thereof. U.S. Patent No. 10,828,876. (Approved non-provisional patent)
2. Sun, L.; Zeng, S.; Zhang, D. Moisture Responsive Materials and Methods of Making. U.S. Patent No. 10,950,146. (Approved non-provisional patent)
3. Sun, L.; Zeng, S.; Shen, K. Stretchable thermal radiation modulation system via mechanically tunable surface emissivity. U.S. Patent No. 11,718,078 (Approved non-provisional patent)
4. Sun, L.; Zeng, S.; Zhang, D.; Li, R. Shape adaptive wrinkle-driven 3D tubular structure for stretchable interactive electronics U.S. Patent No. US 11,752,745 (Approved non-provisional patent)
5. Sun, L.; Zeng, S.; Chen, Z.; Liu, Y. Method of Forming Micro-patterned Surface Using Dynamic Laser on Multi-scale Opto and Moisture Responsive Structure and a Multi-layer Film Useful in Such Method. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/089,746, application date: October 09, 2020. (Converting into non-provisional patent)
6. Sun, L.; Zeng, S. Multi-responsive Chromic Systems Made by 3D Integration and Multi-responsive devices. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/772,800
Student Awards
1. Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad (2018)
2. Samuel J. Huang Graduate Student Research Award (June 2016)
3. University of Connecticut Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2016 Fall)
4. The Society of Plastics Engineers Connecticut Section Scholarship (June 2015)
5. GE Graduate Fellowship for Innovation (2015)
6. “GuangHua Education Scholarship” (2011)
