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About

Mengjiao Cheng is a rising star at the intersection of bioinspired materials, supramolecular chemistry, and active matter. Her research focuses on designing smart, self-propelling systems—from light-driven flying films to Marangoni-effect motors—that mimic natural locomotion and assembly. In her most cited work, Cheng engineered bioinspired rotary flight in light-driven composite films (41 citations), overcoming challenges of slow response and low force output by emulating the structure of vine maple seeds. She has also pioneered the use of hydrolyzable supra-amphiphiles as “fuel” for Marangoni self-propulsion, enabling efficient macroscopic supramolecular self-assembly (22 citations) and achieving precise ON–OFF control of motion (9 citations). Her contributions extend to self-propelling mini-motors for energy conversion and cargo delivery, as well as functionally cooperating systems using single-material liquid metal. With a growing citation record and a knack for translating molecular design into macroscopic motion, Cheng’s work is paving the way for next-generation soft robots, autonomous devices, and adaptive materials. Her research is a compelling example of how bioinspiration and supramolecular engineering can unlock new modes of movement and assembly.