Xiaoting Cao

Changzhou University, Yangzhou University

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Xiaoting Cao is a rising leader in the field of soft robotics and smart materials, with a research focus on the design and fabrication of high-performance artificial muscles and actuators. Her major contributions center on developing novel, scalable methods for creating monodomain liquid crystal elastomer (m-LCE) fibers, which are capable of large, reversible deformations under heat or light stimuli. Her 2023 paper on this topic, which has already garnered 30 citations, reports a remarkable reversible contraction ratio of 55.6%, setting a new benchmark for mechanical and actuation properties in bionic muscle fibers. Building on this, Cao has pioneered the development of direct catalysis-driven yarn artificial muscles, a groundbreaking approach that converts chemical energy directly into mechanical work—a significant step toward mimicking biological muscle efficiency. This work, published in 2024, addresses a long-standing challenge in the field of chemically induced actuation. Her innovative, scalable fabrication techniques and focus on energy conversion mechanisms are positioning her as a key figure in the next generation of soft robotics and smart textile technologies.