Zhan Kang

About

Zhan Kang is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics, stretchable electronics, and bioinspired sensors. His work has fundamentally advanced the design of flexible, environment-adaptable devices for healthcare, human–machine interaction, and robotic sensations. Kang’s most influential contribution is his 2010 paper on waterproof AlInGaP optoelectronics on stretchable substrates, which has garnered over 639 citations and laid critical groundwork for biomedical and robotic applications. He has since developed a super-stretchable, highly sensitive carbon nanotube capacitive strain sensor (89 citations) and an ultrasensitive multifunctional electronic skin that operates in harsh environments such as high temperatures and underwater (22 citations). Kang also explores auxetic kirigami metamaterials that maintain negative Poisson’s ratios under large stretching (34 citations) and has advanced soft pneumatic robots through chamber layout design optimization (20 citations). His recent work includes a nanonewton-scale biomimetic mechanosensor (10 citations) and a hollow shell-lattice soft robot for pipeline inspection with flowing fluids (6 citations). With a career spanning from robust vibration control for SCARA robots (1997) to cutting-edge soft robotics and e-skins, Kang’s research consistently pushes the boundaries of adaptability, sensitivity, and real-world applicability.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Waterproof AlInGaP optoelectronics on stretchable substrates with applications in biomedicine and robotics

   639 citations · 2010
2. 2
   A Super‐Stretchable and Highly Sensitive Carbon Nanotube Capacitive Strain Sensor for Wearable Applications and Soft Robotics

   89 citations · 2021
3. 3
   Auxetic Kirigami Metamaterials upon Large Stretching

   34 citations · 2023
4. 4
   ROBUST VIBRATION CONTROL FOR SCARA-TYPE ROBOT MANIPULATORS

   24 citations · 1997
5. 5
   Bioinspired Environment‐Adaptable and Ultrasensitive Multifunctional Electronic Skin for Human Healthcare and Robotic Sensations

   22 citations · 2023
6. 6
   Chamber layout design optimization of soft pneumatic robots

   20 citations · 2019
7. 7
   A nanonewton-scale biomimetic mechanosensor

   10 citations · 2023
8. 8
   A Hollow Shell‐Lattice Soft Robot in Flexible Pipelines with Flowing Fluids

   6 citations · 2025
9. 9
   Bioinspired Environment‐Adaptable and Ultrasensitive Multifunctional Electronic Skin for Human Healthcare and Robotic Sensations (Small 41/2023)

   2 citations · 2023

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links