Jianpei Lao

The Graduate Center, CUNY, City College of New York

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About

Jianpei Lao is a pioneering researcher in the field of bioinspired materials, with a focus on water-responsive (WR) actuators and their applications in soft robotics and energy harvesting. Their work delves into the molecular mechanisms that enable natural materials to deform in response to humidity changes, unlocking new possibilities for high-performance, muscle-like actuators. Lao’s major contributions include demonstrating that *Bacillus subtilis* peptidoglycan can achieve exceptional WR actuation energy and power density through super-viscous nanoconfined water, as detailed in their highly cited 2022 paper (30 citations). Additionally, their 2020 study on *Bombyx mori* silk (20 citations) revealed that β-sheet nanocrystals are key to dictating water responsiveness, providing design criteria for scalable, high-efficiency WR materials. With a cumulative impact of over 50 citations from these foundational works, Lao’s research bridges biology and engineering, offering transformative insights for developing sustainable actuators and energy systems. Their notable achievements include advancing the understanding of nanoconfined water dynamics, positioning them as a rising leader in smart materials innovation.