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About

Zhekun Shi is an emerging researcher specializing in bioinspired adhesive materials and surface engineering, with a particular focus on developing next-generation structured adhesives for applications in robotics, biomedicine, and electronics. Drawing inspiration from remarkable biological systems — including geckos, tree frogs, and other adhesion-capable organisms — Shi has made significant contributions to understanding and engineering switchable, robust, and tunable adhesive surfaces. Among Shi's most notable achievements is demonstrating light-regulated reversible adhesion through conformational changes in polydimethylsiloxane chains, a concept that opened new avenues for in situ controllable adhesion (37 citations). Subsequent work addressed long-standing challenges in the field, including achieving switchable adhesion on curved surfaces mimicking gecko toe mechanics (20 citations) and designing gradient micropillar arrays capable of maintaining strong adhesion on both dry and wet surfaces (17 citations). More recent contributions have explored bridged and core-shell micropillar architectures that enhance durability and anisotropic friction without relying on fragile submicron structures. Collectively accumulating over 100 citations, Shi's body of work reflects a thoughtful integration of biological principles with materials science, steadily advancing the practical viability of bioinspired adhesives for real-world technological applications.