Jiaxi Cui

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Harvard University

Papers

Total Citations

428

H-Index

About

Jiaxi Cui is a leading innovator in the design of dynamic polymer networks, with a focus on smart hydrogels, liquid-crystalline elastomers, and vitrimers. His work addresses fundamental challenges in soft materials, particularly in achieving robust underwater adhesion and programmable shape-morphing. In a landmark 2019 study (271 citations), Cui introduced a self-hydrophobizing dynamic hydrogel that enables repeatable, long-term stable adhesion under wet conditions—a critical breakthrough for biomedical and underwater applications. He further advanced the field of responsive microstructures by developing multiresponsive polymeric systems with encoded, predetermined deformability (133 citations), using magnetic-field-guided molecular anisotropy in liquid-crystalline elastomers. More recently, Cui has explored water-assisted reprocessing and shape programming of epoxy vitrimers, offering sustainable pathways for reshaping thermosetting plastics without heat or light. His 2025 work on crystallization-induced network growth, inspired by actin-myosin mechanisms in skeletal muscle, demonstrates a novel approach to enhancing hydrogel mechanical properties through cyclic crystallization. With over 400 citations across his most-cited works, Cui’s research continues to push the boundaries of adaptive, functional polymers for applications in soft robotics, tissue engineering, and sustainable materials.