Yuanyuan Zhan

South China Normal University, Eindhoven University of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

119

H-Index

About

Yuanyuan Zhan is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics, biomimetic materials, and liquid crystal polymers. Her work focuses on engineering artificial skins and surfaces that can actively secrete fluids—mimicking biological processes like perspiration to dynamically control surface properties. Zhan’s major contributions include the development of “perspiring” soft robotic skins that can reversibly secrete liquids of different polarities, a breakthrough that enables adaptive friction, self-cooling, and tactile feedback in synthetic systems. Her 2020 paper on field-induced liquid secretion from an artificial organic skin (39 citations) introduced a novel mechanism for active fluid release, while her 2023 work on polarity-switching porous liquid crystal membranes (23 citations) expanded this capability to programmable liquid exchange. Zhan’s 2018 review on liquid crystal polymers with motile surfaces (36 citations) has become a foundational reference in the field. Her recent recreation of human-like fingertip perspiration in cholesteric liquid crystals (21 citations) demonstrates the potential for next-generation haptic interfaces and adaptive grippers. With a growing citation impact and a clear trajectory toward functional biomimetic surfaces, Zhan is shaping the future of soft robotics and smart materials.