Papers
15
Total Citations
640
H-Index
13
About
Lanying Zhang is a materials scientist whose research sits at the forefront of stimuli-responsive soft matter, smart actuators, and bioinspired robotics. Her work centers on engineering liquid crystalline networks (LCNs) and liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) that convert external stimuli—including light, humidity, and temperature—into precise, controlled macroscopic motion. Among her most celebrated contributions is the development of near-infrared photodriven polymeric oscillators that achieve self-sustained, contactless actuation, garnering 173 citations and establishing her as a leader in soft robotic systems. Zhang has made particularly significant strides in harnessing molecular motors—especially overcrowded alkene-based systems—to amplify nanoscale rotary motion into complex, multi-mode macroscopic movements, work that bridges molecular engineering and functional device fabrication. Her innovations in reprogrammable and healable actuators, enabled by dynamic ionic and disulfide bonds, push boundaries in material adaptability and longevity. Zhang has also explored multi-stimuli responsiveness, demonstrating LCN films gated by SO₂ gas and humidity, and extended her expertise into 4D printing with shape-memory polymer blends. With over 578 cumulative citations across her top works, her research meaningfully advances the design of intelligent soft materials for artificial muscles, autonomous robots, and biomimetic devices.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10