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About

Xiangbo Zhou is pioneering the next generation of soft robotics through the innovative use of liquid metals. His research focuses on developing advanced actuator technologies that overcome the limitations of conventional artificial muscles, such as high driving voltages and water intolerance. Zhou’s most notable contribution is the creation of a liquid metal artificial muscle (2021, 147 citations), which demonstrates remarkable potential for robotics, exoskeletons, and prosthetics. He has also engineered variable stiffness wires using magnetorheological liquid metals (2022, 22 citations), enabling miniaturized, stretchable devices for applications like dampers and prosthetic joints. His bioinspired “Liquid Metal Chameleon Tongues” (2024, 5 citations) modulate surface tension and phase transitions to achieve unprecedented soft actuation. Most recently, Zhou developed LCST-phase-separated porous liquid metal-filled hydrogel actuators (2025, 3 citations) that combine fast electro-response, enhanced strength, and low electric field operation—safe for human exposure—while excelling in underwater tasks like object manipulation and directional locomotion. With a growing citation impact and a clear trajectory toward real-world applications, Zhou is establishing himself as a leading innovator in soft robotics and smart materials.