Jianan Deng

Papers

Total Citations

702

H-Index

About

Jianan Deng is a leading innovator at the intersection of smart materials and self-powered systems, with a primary focus on soft robotics, energy harvesting, and intelligent sensing. His most celebrated contributions involve pioneering the use of shape memory polymers and triboelectric nanogenerators to create transformative, self-powered devices. In his highly cited 2018 work (359 citations), Deng introduced the first transformable smart energy harvester using shape memory polymers, enabling body motion energy harvesting and self-powered mechanosensation—a breakthrough for stretchable, durable portable electronics. Complementing this, his development of a highly extensible, sensitive triboelectric proximity- and pressure-sensing skin (343 citations) has been instrumental in advancing soft robotics. This "smart skin" allows robots to actively perceive and respond to their environment, mimicking organism-like adaptability. Deng’s work has garnered significant attention for its potential to revolutionize human-robot interaction and wearable technology. By seamlessly integrating material intelligence with energy autonomy, his research provides foundational solutions for next-generation soft, responsive, and self-sustaining electronic systems.