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About

Dr. Zhezhi Liu is a pioneering researcher in the field of smart soft robotics and biomimetic materials, with a focus on photothermal-responsive actuators and intelligent hydrogels. Their most impactful work, the development of a sponge-like, semi-interpenetrating self-sensory hydrogel (2023), has garnered 61 citations, establishing a new paradigm for soft actuators that can simultaneously sense and respond to stimuli. This innovation mimics biological self-diagnostic intelligence, enabling real-time feedback and adaptive motion—a critical step toward autonomous soft robots. Dr. Liu further advanced the field by engineering reprogrammable soft actuators based on a photochromic organic–inorganic hybrid membrane (2025), which achieves modulatable near-infrared photothermal conversion, allowing on-demand shape reconfiguration. With a total of 68 citations across their top papers, Dr. Liu’s contributions bridge materials science and robotics, offering scalable solutions for wearable devices, medical implants, and adaptive systems. Their work stands out for integrating self-sensing capabilities directly into actuator structures, eliminating the need for external sensors and paving the way for truly intelligent, autonomous soft matter.