Lizhi Xu

2014   Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Advisor: Dr. John Rogers)

2009   B.S. in Applied Physics, Beihang University (Advisor: Dr. Guang-Hong Lu)

2018 -           Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

2015 - 2018   Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan (Advisor: Dr. Nicholas Kotov)

We aim to develop advanced soft materials and devices that can naturally integrate with biological organs and tissues. Our research imparts biomimetic concepts to the engineering of nanocomposite materials that replicate the structures and functions of soft tissues. We employ advanced fabrication techniques to generate reconfigurable 3D structures, allowing for integration of high-performance electronic components and biomaterials into organ-compliant forms. The integrative scientific and engineering approaches seek to enable fully functional devices for implantable biomedical tools, tissue engineering platforms, wearable electronics, and many other applications.

1. H. Liu, X. Ji, Z. Guo, X. Wei, J. Fan, P. Shi, X. Pu*, F. Gong*, and L. Xu*, “A High-Current Hydrogel Generator with Engineered Mechanoionic Asymmetry” Nature Communications 15, 1494 (2024).

2. H. Li, W. Zhang, X. Liao, and L. Xu*, “Kirigami enabled reconfigurable three-dimensional evaporator arrays for dynamic solar tracking and high efficiency desalination” Science Advances, 10, (2024)

3. H. He†, H. Li†, A. Pu, W. Li, K. Ban, and L. Xu*, “Hybrid Assembly of Polymeric Nanofiber Network for Robust and Electronically Conductive Hydrogels” Nature Communications 14, 759 (2023).

4. M. Sun†, H. Li†, Y. Hou, N. Huang, X. Xia, H. Zhu, Q. Xu, Y. Lin, and L. Xu*, “Multifunctional Tendon-Mimetic Hydrogels” Science Advances 9, eade697 (2023).

5. Z. Wang†, H. Zhu†, H. Li, Z. Wang, M. Sun, B. Yang, Y. Wang, L. Wang, and L. Xu*, “High-Strength Magnetic Hydrogels with Photoweldability Made by Stepwise Assembly of Magnetic-Nanoparticle-Integrated Aramid Nanofiber Composites” ACS Nano 17, 9622 (2023).

6. H. Li, W. Zhang, J. Liu, M. Sun, L. Wang, and L. Xu*, “Self-Assembled Nanofibrous Hydrogels with Tunable Porous Network for Highly Efficient Solar Desalination in Strong Brine” Advanced Functional Materials 33, 2308492 (2023).

7. H. Liu†, H. Li†, Z. Wang†, X. Wei, H. Zhu, M. Sun, Y. Lin, and L. Xu*, “Robust and Multifunctional Kirigami Electronics with Tough and Permeable Aramid Nanofiber Framework” Advanced Materials 34, 2207350 (2022).

8. H. Li, Z. Wang, M. Sun, H. Zhu, H. Liu, C.Y. Tang and L. Xu*, “Breathable and Skin-Conformal Electronics with Hybrid Integration of Microfabricated Multifunctional Sensors and Kirigami-Structured Nanofibrous Substrates” Advanced Functional Materials 32, 2202792 (2022).

9. H. He†, X. Wei†, B. Yang, H. Liu, M. Sun, Y. Li, A. Yan, C.Y. Tang, Y. Lin*, and L. Xu*, “Ultrastrong and Multifunctional Aerogels with Hyperconnective Network of Composite Polymeric Nanofibers” Nature Communications 13, 4242 (2022).

10. H. Li, H. Liu, M. Sun, Y.A. Huang*, and L. Xu*, “3D Interfacing Between Soft Electronic Tools and Complex Biological Tissues” Advanced Materials 33, 2004425 (2021).

Full publication list link:

https://www.xulizhi.hku.hk/publications

2023 Microsystems & Nanoengineering Young Scientist Award                                                  2020 Croucher Innovation Award Finalist                                                                                      2019 RGC Early Career Scheme