Zihan Lei

University of Science and Technology of China

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Dr. Zihan Lei is pioneering the frontier of programmable active materials, with a focus on liquid crystal networks and their transformative applications in soft robotics. Her research elegantly bridges physics, materials science, and engineering to create smart materials that respond to external stimuli with precision. Lei’s most cited work, “Liquid crystal based programmable active materials” (2025, 17 citations), lays the foundation for designing materials with controllable behavior, opening new avenues for intelligent systems. She further advanced this field by developing wavelength-selective multimodal locomotion in liquid crystal networks, enabling complex actuation through photothermal and photochemical pathways (2024, 8 citations). Her innovative “Aquatic Topological Liquid Crystal Gel Kirigami” (2025, 7 citations) tackles the challenge of soft material operation in water, demonstrating intricate shape transformations and unique swimming performance—a critical step for underwater soft robotics. Despite the rapid heat dissipation in aquatic environments, Lei’s work showcases remarkable adaptability. With a growing citation record and a clear trajectory toward real-world applications, Dr. Lei is establishing herself as a leading voice in active materials and biomimetic soft robotics, inspiring future innovations in smart material design.