Papers
17
Total Citations
398
H-Index
12
About
Peibao Xu is a mechanical engineer and applied physicist whose research has pioneered the theoretical and computational modeling of self-sustained motion in liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) systems. His work sits at the intersection of smart materials, nonlinear dynamics, and soft robotics, focusing on how light- and heat-responsive materials can autonomously harvest environmental energy to generate continuous, complex motion without external control mechanisms. Xu has made particularly significant contributions in demonstrating how LCE structures — ranging from rods and beams to balloons and biomimetic cardiac models — can exhibit rich dynamic behaviors including rolling, bouncing, rotation, and even chaos under steady or periodic illumination. His 2024 study modeling chaotic left-ventricular self-beating has attracted 49 citations, reflecting the biomedical relevance of his framework, while his earlier work on light-powered bouncing and self-rolling has each garnered over 40 citations, establishing foundational understanding in the field. Collectively, his publications have accumulated hundreds of citations, underscoring their influence across soft robotics, energy harvesting, biomimetic design, and encrypted communication. Xu's body of work offers researchers powerful theoretical tools for designing next-generation autonomous soft machines driven entirely by ambient energy.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Chaotic self-beating of left ventricle modeled by liquid crystal elastomer49 citations · 2024
- 2Light-powered self-excited bouncing of a liquid crystal elastomer ball43 citations · 2021
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- 4Self-rotation of a liquid crystal elastomer rod under constant illumination40 citations · 2024
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- 7Heat-driven self-wobbling of a liquid crystal elastomer double-wheel linkage26 citations · 2025
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