HIC-ZJU 2025 Global Recruitment

2024-12-29

About HIC-ZJUEstablished in 1897, Zhejiang University (ZJU) is located in the historical and picturesque city of Hangzhou. After over 120 years' development, Zhejiang University has become a comprehensive research university with distinctive features and great impact at home and abroad. In the QS World University Rankings 2024, it is ranked 44th globally, and it holds the 27th position in ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center (HIC-ZJU), located in Xiaoshan District, was founded on February 28, 2019, through the new era’s deepened collaboration between Zhejiang University and Hangzhou City. Aligned with China’s national strategies, regional development goals, and global research frontiers, HIC-ZJU emphasizes the convergence of material science, information science, and life sciences. It concentrates on five key research areas: micro-nano intelligent manufacturing, synthetic biology, functional materials, electronic information, and ecological environmental protection, while building four innovation ecosystems in integrated circuits, synthetic biology, advanced materials, and instrumentation and equipment. By bridging cutting-edge scientific research, breakthrough technology development, and the full chain of technology commercialization, HIC-ZJU is committed to creating a innovative university campus for talent cultivation, frontier technology, and societal service; it also promotes an open sci-tech park for technology transfer and industrial investments, aiming to establish a pioneer innovation zone for advanced manufacturing, a source of innovation-driven economy, and a cluster for cutting-edge technology.Advantages01 Strong Research Platform SupportWith the support of 17 innovation platforms, including research institutes and innovation workshops, HIC-ZJU has built a comprehensive innovation system that includes 2 State Key Laboratories, 1 Provincial Technology Innovation Center, 5 Provincial Key Laboratories, 3 Provincial Engineering Research Centers, 2 Provincial International Joint Laboratories, and 1 Provincial International Cooperation Base.It has earned several prestigious national honors, such as the co-established Integrated Circuits (Manufacturing) Talent Training and Collaborative Innovation Base by the Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, as well as the National Postdoctoral Research Station. It has also been awarded the Provincial May 1 Labor Medal and received 18 provincial certifications, including Provincial Key Laboratories and Provincial Technology Innovation Centers.02 Well-structured talent pipelineThrough five years of rapid development, HIC-ZJU has built a high-level researchers team of over 500 members, led by chief scientists, anchored by top technological experts, and driven by young talents and outstanding engineers.The team includes 1 full-time academician, 5 part-time academicians, over 30 national-level leading talents, more than 160 national-level young talents and core technical experts, as well as over 160 postdoctoral researchers.03 Diverse and Clear Path to Career AdvancementHIC-ZJU deploys five flagship talent initiatives: Postdoctoral Researcher Elite Program, Industry Talent Starlink Program, Young Talent Excellence Program, Key Talent Development Program, and Top Talent Empowerment Program.Eligible candidates may be appointed as Qiushi Chair Professors or Qiushi Distinguished Scholar at Zhejiang University, with graduate student enrollment quota. They may also apply for tenured or tenure-track faculty positions through ZJU’s talent development pathways.HIC-ZJU holds the autonomous authority to evaluate and appoint senior professional and technical positions in Zhejiang Province's Natural Science Research series, as well as to independently recognize high-level talents in Hangzhou.04 Exceptional Research and Work EnvironmentZhejiang University's prestigious academic reputation, advanced research platforms, exceptional academic ecosystem, and open research environmentOffice and laboratory spaces with competitive advantages will be providedProvide one-stop personalized research support services and access to shared large-scale research facilities (Provincial Shared Large-scale Research Facilities Service Center)A comprehensive set of management policies for the technology transfer and encourages talents to commercialize their research outcomes - HIC-ZJU offers one-stop services, including intellectual property commercialization, incubation, financing, and industry development, while also assisting with applications for Xiaoshan District’s High-Level Talent Entrepreneurship and Innovation 5213 Program05 Remuneration and BenefitsSuccessful applicants will be provided with competitive remuneration, with terms customized on an individual basisEligible applicants will be provided with talent apartmentsEligible applicants can enjoy relevant talent policies in Hangzhou and XiaoshanAssistance will be given to the school enrollment for children, government-appointed talent apartments application, talent program applications, and high-level talent applicationsEnjoy one-stop support services, including amenities such as cafeterias, gyms, and sports facilitiesCategories of Positions01 Top TalentsRequirementsApplicants should be scholars with outstanding achievements and extensive academic recognition by international peers, and be capable of shaping HIC-ZJU's future development and driving the establishment of innovative platforms; such as Nobel Prize laureates, winners of the Turing Award, Fields Medal or other international awards, academicians of the Academy of Sciences or the Academy of Engineering of developed countries, and other international top scholars.Remuneration and BenefitsAs Chief Scientists in their respective fields at HIC-ZJU, eligible candidates may be appointed as Qiushi Chair Professors at Zhejiang University; bespoke research platforms, such as institutes and innovation workshops, can be tailored to meet their specific needs; offering talents and their teams robust support, including substantial research funding, competitive remuneration, high-quality working environment, and ample research space, with terms customized on an individual basis02 Key TalentsRequirementsApplicants should have achieved academic or technological accomplishments recognized by international peers in relevant fields. They should be capable of leading major national research projects or spearheading the commercialization and industrialization of scientific achievements; such as full professors at internationally renowned universities, CTOs of Fortune Global 500 companies, or equivalent talents from around the world.Remuneration and BenefitsPosition: Head of a research institution or leader of a research team; eligible applicants can be appointed as Qiushi Distinguished ScholarsRemuneration: Successful applicants will be provided with competitive remuneration, with terms customized on an individual basis; successful applicants for leading or top-tier talents programs at various levels via HIC-ZJU may receive additional subsidies or rewardsHousing: Eligible applicants will be provided with talent apartments from HIC-ZJU or from the government; eligible applicants can apply for Hangzhou B Category High-Caliber Talents and enjoy corresponding subsidiesResearch Funding: Provide startup funding ranging from 5 to 12 million CNY; successful applicants for leading or top-tier talents programs via HIC-ZJU may receive additional project funding supportOffice and Laboratory Space: Provide more than 150 m2 office and research spaceTeam Building: Team building is supported with a guaranteed number of graduate students enrolled each year; recruitment of “Young Talents + Industrial Talents + Postdoctoral Fellows + Engineers & Technicians + Support Staff” will be supportedService Guarantee: Provide one-stop support services; assistance will be given to the school enrollment for children and finding a job for the spouse; access to shared large-scale research facilities; support for talent and team members in applying for research and talent programs at various levels and types03 Young TalentsRequirementsApplicants should possess a strong professional foundation and deep academic expertise, with the ability to independently lead research projects as a Principal Investigator (PI). They should demonstrate the potential to become leaders in their academic or technical fields, such as associate professors or assistant professors at internationally renowned universities, distinguished postdoctoral researchers, or chief engineers, deputy chief engineers, technical directors, etc., at leading domestic or international companies. Equivalent-level young talents, both in China and abroad, are also welcome.The age limit is generally 35 years for academic positions (with exceptions up to 38 years for exceptionally outstanding applicants) and 38 years for technical positions (with exceptions up to 40 years for exceptionally outstanding applicants). Successful applicants will be appointed full-time as researchers under the HIC-ZJU100 Young Talent scheme and will be integrated into the ZJU100 Young Professorscheme at Zhejiang University.Remuneration and BenefitsPosition: Head or core member of a research teamRemuneration: Successful applicants will be provided with competitive remuneration, with terms customized on an individual basis; successful applicants for young talents programs at various levels via HIC-ZJU may receive additional subsidies or rewardsHousing: Eligible applicants will be provided with talent apartments from HIC-ZJU or from the government; eligible applicants can apply for Hangzhou C Category High-Caliber Talents and enjoy corresponding subsidiesResearch Funding: Provide startup funding up to 5 million CNY; successful applicants for leading or top-tier talents programs via HIC-ZJU may receive additional project funding supportOffice and Laboratory Space: Provide office and research space based on actual needsTeam Building: Priority will be given in graduate student admissions; recruitment of “Postdoctoral Researchers + Industrial Talents + Engineers & Technicians + Support Staff” will be supportedService Guarantee: Provide one-stop support services; assistance will be given to the school enrollment for children and finding a job for the spouse; access to shared large-scale research facilities; support for talent and team members in applying for research and talent programs at various levels and typesCareer Development: Successful applicants may also be appointed to hold a concurrent appointment in relevant departments at Zhejiang University, with senior experts in the field assigned as professional mentors; eligible applicants may apply for tenured or tenure-track faculty positions at Zhejiang University04 Industry TalentsRequirementsTechnical Manager: Applicants should have experience in independent entrepreneurship, positions at well-known domestic or international companies, or roles in technology transfer organizations. They should be familiar with relevant industry technologies and development trends both domestically and internationally, and possess knowledge and service capabilities necessary for conducting technology transfer and commercialization. Applicants should also be well-versed in government, enterprise, and market operations, with certain government and business resources, and an understanding of industrial policies and the business incubation process. Strong capabilities in technological innovation, commercial thinking, team-building, communication, coordination, and market development are essential.Senior Industrial Engineer: Applicants should have a strong foundation in professional theoretical knowledge and solid technical expertise, with the ability to independently or lead a team in solving complex engineering challenges. They should have led key industrialization projects or product development in the industry, achieving certain economic benefits. Applicants with experience in technology research and development roles at leading industry enterprises will be given priority consideration.Remuneration and BenefitsProvide competitive salary and performance-based rewardsProvide necessary office and laboratory space, as well as access to shared large-scale research facilitiesProvide technology development services such as intellectual property, market operations, tech financing, and industry trainingAssist in applying for various talent programs in Hangzhou and Xiaoshan District, and support applications for Xiaoshan District’s High-Level Talent Entrepreneurship and Innovation 5213 ProgramApplicants may refer to the evaluation criteria for the HIC-ZJU100 Young Talent technical researchers when applying for associate or senior level titles in the Natural Science Research series05 Postdoctoral ResearchersRequirementsApplicants should have obtained a Ph.D. degree within the past three years, be in good physical and mental health, and be under 35 years of age. They should have a relevant academic background, strong teamwork capabilities, and the ability to conduct independent research. Applicants must be able to dedicate themselves to full-time postdoctoral work and should have no prior record of prematurely leaving a postdoctoral program.Remuneration and BenefitsA competitive salary package will be offered, typically starting at 400,000 CNY per year or higher, which includes local government tax-exempt talent subsidies. For recent Ph.D. graduates, additional talent subsidies may be available to eligible applicants. Support will also be provided for applying to the postdoctoral overseas talent program, with benefits including a 3-year living allowance and settlement subsidies, in accordance with relevant policies.Applicants who are recipients of China Postdoctoral Science Fund or provincial-level postdoctoral research programs funds will be granted corresponding supplementary funding and rewards. Postdoctoral researchers with exceptional academic backgrounds or who achieve notable results will be eligible for additional rewards, which can be combined with other relevant incentives.Postdoctoral researchers who have finished their postdoctoral research period will be given priority for recommendation to higher-level Young Talents positions or other technical research and development roles at HIC-ZJU. They may also be recognized as Associate Researcher.Postdoctoral researchers who find a job in Hangzhou or Xiaoshan after completing their postdoctoral research period may apply for Hangzhou City's Category D High-Caliber Talent or Xiaoshan District's relevant talent policies. They will be eligible for benefits such as housing subsidies, relocation allowances, and other related benefits.Join UsQualified and interested applicants are invited to submit their CV (including personal information, educational and work experience, key academic achievements, research project involvement, publication list, patents, and awards) as a single PDF document. Please name the file in the format: Name + Research Institution + Research (Specialization) Direction + Position.Send your application directly to the following email: hr-hic@zju.edu.cnContact Information:Mr. Xu: +(86)571-82491973Mr. Zhang: +(86)571-82990681Email: hr-hic@zju.edu.cnWebsite: https://hic.zju.edu.cnAddress:No. 733, Jianshe 3rd Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang (Xinxigang Campus)No. 2118, Pinglan Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang (Shuibo Campus)

Modification of polypropylene separator with multifunctional layers to achieve highly stable sodium metal anode

2024-10-22

In the journey for sustainable energy solutions, sodium metal batteries (SMBs) have gained considerable attention as a feasible alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to the sodium abundance and lower cost. However, the practical application of SMBs is limited by issues such as dendrite growth, low cycling stability, and safety risks.  Recently, Prof. Muhammad Yousaf's research group at Future Science Research Institute, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center (HIC-ZJU), discovered how to address these challenges through a novel modification of the polypropylene (PP) separator, which significantly enhances battery performance and lifespan. Their results were published in Journal of Energy Chemistry in September 2024.   Innovative Separator Design The team developed a multifunctional double-layer separator (PP@HCS-NaF), combining nitrogen-doped mesoporous hollow carbon spheres (HCS) as an inner layer and sodium fluoride (NaF) as an outer layer. This structure not only enhances the uniform distribution of sodium ions (Na⁺) but also forms a robust NaF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that stabilizes the anode and reduces Na⁺ diffusion barriers.   Exciting Results in Practical Battery Use1. Long-Term Cycling Stability:     The PP@HCS-NaF separator demonstrated outstanding cycling stability in practical Na||Na symmetric cells, with a lifespan exceeding 6000 hours at 1 mA cm⁻². This stability marks a significant improvement, showing that the battery can perform reliably over extended periods, ideal for real-world applications.2. Fast Charging and Rate Capability:     When tested in Na||NVP full cells, the modified separator allowed for high rate capability. The battery retained a capacity of ~81 mAh g⁻¹ after 3500 cycles at 1C. Even at a very high rate of 15C, the capacity remained ~70 mAh g⁻¹, demonstrating that the battery can charge quickly while maintaining high capacity. This is particularly important for fast-charging applications like electric vehicles, where rapid energy replenishment is critical.3. Rate Capability:     The PP@HCS-NaF separator enabled the battery to charge at very high rates. In Na||NVP full cells, even at 15C, the battery maintained high capacity, demonstrating that fast charging is possible without significant loss of performance. This rate capability means the battery can charge in a fraction of the time required for conventional systems, positioning it as a strong candidate for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The breakthrough design for sodium metal batteries not only improves stability and cycling life but also offers the potential for fast charging at high rates. These innovations pave the way for next-generation sodium metal batteries to compete with, and possibly surpass, lithium-ion batteries in both cost-efficiency and practical application. “Stay tuned for more updates,” emphasized Prof. Yousaf, “as this technology is poised to revolutionize energy storage and electric vehicle markets.”

RISC-V Summit China Opens in Hangzhou

2024-08-23

RISC-V is an open standard Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). It is becoming increasingly popular in applications ranging from embedded systems to high-performance computing due to its open and free attributes. Hosted by ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center (HIC-ZJU), the 4th RISC-V Summit China (RVSC2024) kicked off in Hangzhou on August 21, 2024, attracting over 3,000 experts and scholars onsite, as well as 500,000+ participants online. More than 100 companies and research institutions will showcase their new products and services during the one-week summit.Experts and representatives are lined up to discuss the development of these new applications and how the advancement of research are outlining the future of computing in China. Keynote speakers at the summit included notable figures from RISC-V International, research institutions, businesses, and community partners.XU Weihua, Deputy Mayor of Hangzhou, emphasized RISC-V's role as a leading force in global technological innovation, aligning with Hangzhou’s vision of “innovation-driven, open and inclusive, cooperative and win-win”. The city plans to leverage this summit to focus on innovation leadership, collaborative ecosystem building, and market opportunities, using its talent, industry, and funding advantages to create a “large-scale incubator” for the RISC-V ecosystem and strengthen global partnerships.NI Guangnan, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Director of the RISC-V Ecosystem & Industry at the China Electronics Standardization Association (RVEI), highlighted the increasing importance of open source in shaping new technology ecosystems. He commended China’s notable successes in the open-source sector, especially in embedded systems, servers, and artificial intelligence. NI urged for ongoing support for open-source infrastructure and talent development in this field.WU Hanming, Member of CAE and Chief Scientist for the Field at HIC-ZJU, noted that since its inception, RISC-V has gained widespread attention and application due to its openness, flexibility, and scalability, and is now advancing into high-performance computing. He also mentioned that the School of Integrated Circuits at Zhejiang University has made valuable strides in developing virtual manufacturing technology, which integrates design and manufacturing processes to support innovations in RISC-V architecture.Other distinguished speakers such as Calista Redmond, CEO of RISC-V International, and Prof. Krste Asanović, Co-founder and Chief Architect of SiFive, shared their valuable insights on the latest advancements and future trends of RISC-V. RVSC2024 not only facilitated deepened cooperation among global RISC-V ecosystem partners but also held strategic significance for China’s integration into the international innovation chain. Moving forward, HIC-ZJU will keep advancing international collaboration, nurture the RISC-V innovation ecosystem, and drive industry growth.

A New Stride in International Collaboration: HIC-ZJU Delegation's Visit to Europe

2024-08-20

In August 2024, DONG Shihong, Secretary of HIC-ZJU’s Party Working Committee, led a delegation on a tour of leading European universities and research institutes to bolster key partnerships. Their itinerary included High Tech Campus Eindhoven and Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands; the University of Oslo, Oslo Science City, and the University of Bergen in Norway; and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. The primary purpose of the visit was to investigate academic and administrative practices in innovation promotion and implementation. Throughout the tour, the delegation engaged in productive discussions with researchers across various disciplines. Conversations focused on potential strategic collaborations, emphasizing deepening partnerships, enhancing two-way personnel exchanges, implementing joint talent development programs, and fostering innovative research.   ZHANG Xuan, a researcher at HIC-ZJU Future Science Research Institute, expressed hopes to align his work with international counterparts, leveraging joint laboratories to advance technological cooperation and transfer. Similarly, CHEN Songchao from the HIC-ZJU Soil Pollution Control and Remediation Innovation Workshop noted that experience drew from the Nordic countries' robust innovation systems could significantly benefit his research in soil information systems and enhance China's agro-ecological initiatives.  This visit marks the beginning of a new phase of cooperation across various dimensions. The delegation also used this opportunity to host several themed sessions aimed at attracting global talents to HIC-ZJU and unlocking their scientific potential.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) delegation visited HIC-ZJU

2024-07-17

On the morning of July 12, Professor Dr. Thomas Hirth, Vice-President Transfer and International Affairs at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), led a delegation on a tour of ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center (HIC-ZJU). WANG Lizhong, Vice President of Zhejiang University graciously received the distinguished guests. The meeting also saw participation from YANG Jianyi, Director of HIC-ZJU, together with HIC-ZJU officials, and leaders from the Global Sci-tech Innovation and Industrial Development Research Center at ZJU. During the meeting, YANG Jianyi provided the delegation with an overview of HIC-ZJU. In response, Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth introduced KIT’s history and recent development. The participants also engaged in a thorough exchange on international cooperation between HIC-ZJU and KIT, and explored viable collaboration patterns in areas such as soil pollution control and remediation, advanced semiconductor materials, extreme optical technology, as well as sci-tech finance and incubation.Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth lauded HIC-ZJU for its fruitful achievement. He expected to strengthen mutual understanding, and hoped that since HIC-ZJU and KIT are “anchored in research, and attuned to industry”, both institutions shall leverage this unique advantage to foster collaboration across multi-dimensional fields. He looked forward to collaborating with HIC-ZJU to further step up in international exchanges and cooperation, sharing of scientific and technological innovations and interaction among talents. WANG Lizhong, on behalf of Zhejiang University, extended a heartfelt welcome to Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth and his delegation. He indicated that KIT is a leading research university and Zhejiang University has always attached great importance to establishing cooperative relationships with world-class universities, including KIT. He expressed optimism about exploring future cooperation between HIC-ZJU and KIT in research projects, talent programs, talent cultivation and industrial development. Meanwhile, he shed light on Zhejiang's well-established business environment and encouraged KIT to take this advantage and implement more research projects here.Before the meeting, the delegation also toured HIC-ZJU’s Shuibo Zone exhibition hall, the State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials (Institute of Information and Functional Materials), and the State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation (Institute of Extreme Optical Technology and Instrumentation), gaining a more insightful understanding of HIC-ZJU’s infrastructure and development, as well as its cutting-edge technological prowess and scientific advancements in related fields.

Professor XU Yang Honored as IEEE Distinguished Lecturer

2022-03-24

Recently,    the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)  announced   the list of Distinguished Lecturers (DL) for the 2022 IEEE    Nanotechnology Council (NTC). Professor XU Yang from Future Science Research Institute and School of Micro-Nano Electronics at ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center was selected. A total of nine scholars from around the world were selected, among whom, two are Chinese scholars.The IEEE is an international association of engineers in electronics and information science.The DL program of the NTC, a part of the IEEE program, aims at recognizing outstanding scholars and experts who have made quality contributions to nanotechnology and science, and supporting the participation of outstanding scholars in the academic activities of the IEEE. Learn more about Distinguished Lecturer 2022：https://ieeenano.org/dl-program/distinguished-lecturers-2022

Catalysts can act as “power generators”? ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center reveals the secret for you!

2022-02-28

Have you ever thought whether there is a substance in the world that can act as both a catalyst and a “power generator” and can be prepared on a large scale and highly energy-efficient.Yes, there really is! Its name is: biological small molecule complexing agent. Through the R & D of γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) as a biological small molecule complexing agent, Tao Kai, a young PI from Future Science Research Institute of ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, and his team realized the performance of complexation effect comparable to that of traditional ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ( EDTA) complexing agent, showing excellent catalytic performance and piezoelectric properties!An Innovative CatalyzerResearcher Tao Kai said that traditional biocatalysis is made possible with biological enzymes, but biological enzymes demand good storage conditions, and it is difficult to prepare biological enzymes on a large scale, and to synthesize artificially. Most of them can only be extracted from living organisms.  However, the biological small molecule complexing agent developed by Tao Kai and his team under the new framework is featured by low cost, simple preparation, and better catalytic performance than traditional biological enzymes.The schematic diagram of the preparation of EDTA-like complex structures by Gla complex metal ions is shown in Figure 1. Similar to traditional EDTA, Gla participates in metal coordination with the carboxyl group on the molecular backbone so as to form a clamp-type chelating superstructural system.Fig.1 Constitutive model of Gla-metal ion complexationFurther studies show the Gla-metal ion complex system can be self-assembled to needle-like crystal structures (Fig. 2). In the assembly, each metal ion and five carboxyl groups of three Glas form complex bonds, thereby a superstructural system with high thermal stability is assembled.  Fig. 2 Mechanism analysis of Gla-metal ion complex assemblyAs copper ions [Cu (II)] play an important catalytic role in the metabolism of living organisms, the research team studied the catalytic performance of Gla+Cu (II) complex system at first and later it was found that Gla+Cu (II) had extremely high catalytic performance on the coupling reaction of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP) and 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AP) (Fig. 3). In the presence of Gla+Cu (II) system, the reaction solution reaches an obvious absorption peak at 507 nm, which proves that Gla+Cu (II) shows excellent catalytic performance, so it is expected to replace traditional biological enzyme catalysts.Figure 3. Catalytic performance test of Gla+Cu (II) complex superstructure.Magic “Power Generator” The piezoelectric performance, in some sense, can be understood as the capacity to generate mechanical power.Tao Kai and his team discovered that designing and manufacturing a piezoelectric generator with the Gla+Zn (II) complex system as a pressure-sensitive component, under the action of an applied pressure of 50N, an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.5 ± 0.3 V and a short-circuit current ( Isc) up to a signal output of 138.8 ± 26.5 nA can be realized, and it is equivalent to the power of an AA dry battery.Meanwhile, this structure is also particularly “strong” and can withstand “thousands of trials”. The high mechanical strength of the complex architecture ensures that the piezoelectric generator has high tolerance and can maintain a stable voltage output after 1000 50 N pressure cycling tests (Figure 4).Fig. 4. Piezoelectric generator fabricated by Gla+Zn (II) complex framework.(a) Gla+Zn (II), a pressure-sensitive component in the piezoelectric generator; (b,c) the relationship between device open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current (Isc) and load; (d) Piezoelectric generator durability test.There are bright prospects to design and manufacture piezoelectric generators with the Gla+Zn (II) complex system as a pressure-sensitive component because of its excellent piezoelectric properties.Is it wonderful that lead-containing inorganic piezoelectric materials are no longer needed in batteries if this kind of piezoelectric generators is used to make biological batteries? As long as there is some pressure from the outside, biological batteries can generate power, which will be more environment-friendly than traditional batteries, so new horizons can be opened up to help realize carbon neutrality.Meanwhile, this generator can also be applied to sensors. With the use of polypeptide biomaterials, it will be more suitable to be implanted into human body than other materials, so it will play a bigger role in wearable medical equipment to help the R & D of bionic electronic skin and the interactive equipment of bio-device interfaces. Be innovative and pioneer the future “Almost no research project will develop exactly as what we expect. Only by seizing some extraordinary moments can breakthroughs be achieved.” Tao Kai firmly believes that innovations can be achieved with breakthroughs, and innovations often originate from unexpectedness.The discovery of biological small molecule complexing agents achieved unexpected results just because Tao Kai and his team used amino acids to design an EDTA-like clamp-type complexing architecture system, and combined amino acids and metal ions in an innovative way.The complex architecture can be self-assembled to needle-like superstructures so as to significantly boost the activities of complexing metal ions and show excellent catalytic and piezoelectric properties; therefore, it can provide a new way of thinking for the design and manufacturing of multifunctional bio-organic soft devices with bio-organic small molecule complexing superstructures.

Only TWO in the world are selected every FOUR years! Songchao Chen, a young PI from ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center who does “physical examinations” for the soil, won this honor!

2022-02-22

The 2nd “Dan Yaalon Young Scientists Medal” winners were announced lately. Songchao Chen, a young PI from Soil Pollution Control and Remediation Innovation Workshop of the Center, won this honor.   The “Dan Yaalon Young Scientist Medal”, in memory of Dan Yaalon (1924-2014), a prestigious scientist in soil science, is awarded to the young scholars who have obtained their doctorates within the last five years and who have made significant contributions to and have great potential  in the fields of soil geography, soil occurrence, soil classification,  soil morphology and micromorphology, quantitative pedology, paleosol, as well as history of soil science, philosophy and sociology. As the only award by the International Union of Soil Sciences for young scholars, the medal is awarded every four years to a total of two winners.   Songchao Chen, a young PI of the  Center, got his Ph.D from National Research Institute for Agriculture,  Food and Environment, France and Agreenium (the agronomic, veterinary  and forestry institute of France), was granted the “Dan Yaalon Young Scientist Medal” (2022) and the 2019 Best Paper Award in Quantitative Soil Science of the International Union of Soil Sciences. So far he has published over 60 SCI papers, among which he has published more than 10 SCI papers as the first author in Geoderma and other top journals of soil science, and got 1 national invention patent.Dr. Songchao Chen, born in the 1990s, is a young scientist from Soil Pollution Control and Remediation Innovation Workshop of the Center. Why was he awarded this distinguished global honor? What has he achieved so far? The official statement goes like this:Dr. Songchao Chen’s  research is of great significance to large-scale soil quality  monitoring and management, soil ecological service function assessment,  etc., and he has made contributions to the field of soil temporal and spatial evolution.Large-scale  soil quality monitoring and management, soil ecological service  function assessment... What do these high-sounding terms mean? What  meaningful work is Dr. Chen doing? He introduced to us with a smile, “My research, put it bluntly, is doing ‘physical examinations’ of the soil”.  Big Data Modeling Makes Soil “Physical Examinations” AccurateSoil pollution prevention and control is a worldwide research project. Unlike air pollution or water pollution, once pollution occurs, it can be observed immediately; however, soil pollution can only be detected after a period of time, so there is a certain lag. Meanwhile, due to different industries and characteristic pollutants in different regions, it is impossible to generalize soil pollution, so we need to propose targeted solutions to precise prevention and control.Dr. Chen made an analogy that the polluted soil is like a “patient”. How to “cure” the polluted soil? The first thing is to “prescribe targeted medicine”. However, the spatial distribution of soil information was often inaccurate, and usually a large particular area was marked with a certain feature due to technical limitations in the past.  But, is this the truth? Even  soils in different villages or different patches of farmland are  different, let alone in different cities or countries. Therefore it is  significant to make an accurate calculation of these data, analyze the changes of soil quality in time and space sequence, integrate them into the same big data system, and make accurate prediction and analysis. “If we say traditional soil surveys are like taking the pulse in traditional Chinese medicine, only a rough guess is made about the general problems in a large strip of soil. Our research is like the ‘integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine’, which can make us realize the problems on the surface, and understand the specific location and characteristics of the ‘sick’ soil in detail as CT does,” Dr. Songchao Chen explained.Relying on the empirical judgment of experts, traditional soil survey and mapping technologies show problems of long cycle, high cost, slow updating and low accuracy, as well as inaccurate  monitoring and management of large-scale soil information. In response  to this situation, Dr. Chen proposed a new digital soil mapping  technology. With a hybrid spatial prediction model integrating machine learning and geostatistics, he has made key soil attributes (organic matter and pH) products of national-scale 90-meter spatial resolution for the first time in China.   Dr. Chen also said, “By  mining the correlation between soil sample information and  environmental variables, the accurate representation of soil data from  point to surface, and to  three-dimensional space can be realized, and the spatial distribution  of soil information can be intelligently analyzed in real time,  efficiently and accurately so as to provide strong support for territorial resources surveys, soil quality monitoring and pollution risk assessment.”In addition, Dr. Chen has developed the space fine representation technology of space-ground integrated soil information, discovered more soil-environment  remote sensing big data, coupled geostatistical and machine learning  models, and achieved high-resolution, high-precision digital soil  mapping. Currently being developed by ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, the technology aims at providing data support for understanding China’s soil resources, assessing the transformation of soil carbon sinks and sources and carbon neutrality under climate change, and promoting China’s soil big data information platform and serving China’s soil environmental management.Accurate Assessment, Dynamic Governance and Digital Soil Constructing Ecological ChinaAccurate monitoring is for accurate and dynamic governance. Dr. Songchao Chen said that soil pollution is caused by many factors, of which human activities have the greatest impact. For example, a patch of land used  to have the soil of good quality when it began to be monitored and  then, a factory with heavy pollution was built there and soil may be  polluted. For another case, for the same land near a factory, there are different pollution levels for the soil with different distances from the factory.  “Making a good soil big data platform is only the first step in soil pollution prevention and control. We also need to monitor and remediate soil dynamically,” Dr. Songchao Chen said, and he will work with other PI and post-doctoral fellows from Soil Pollution Control and Remediation Innovation Workshop of the Center, and make good use of the front-end remote sensing big data monitoring technology, as well as the back-end micro-nano remediation materials, technologies and equipment to form full-process remediation and governance.  Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets!Before returning to China, Dr. Songchao Chen worked at National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, France. He said, compared with European countries and the United States, China still faces severe soil environmental pollution and research gaps in related fields. Therefore, it is imperative to speed up  research and innovation in soil environment in-situ monitoring,  remediation technology, materials and equipment, and environmental  information management so as to work for national pollution prevention and control strategy and promote the commercialization and industrialization of soil pollution prevention and control.  Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. Dr. Songchao Chen is happy to find that eco-civilization has been more and more popular in the past few years, and there are great advances in soil pollution prevention and control in China. A series of initiatives have been made. In 2014, China launched the first national survey report on soil pollution; In 2016, China issued the “Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan” and initiated the Second National Pollution Source Census and Detailed Survey of Soil Pollution; in 2019, the “Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People’s Republic of China” came into effect. Recently, Third National Soil Census is to be conducted by the State Council. Behind the legislation are the changes of people’s awareness. Dr. Songchao Chen was born in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, a beautiful water town in the area to the south of the Yangtze River. Rapid industrial progress in Shaoxing used to bring a take-off to its economy, but it caused pollution too. However, with right environmental protection, his hometown is showing radiant beauty now, so he is full of confidence in China’s soil pollution control.There is a wide world and a lot to do. Let technology empower eco-civilization and make the land under our feet blossom. This is the original aspiration of Dr. Chen in his endeavors. Soil Pollution Control and Remediation Innovation WorkshopThe  Innovation Workshop was established by the College of Environmental  & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University, with Academician Lizhong  Zhu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering serving as the Chief  Scientist, to lead the scientific research in the directions relating to  soil environment and ecological remediation. Addressing China’s  major needs in soil pollution control and remediation, the Workshop  will, with the micro-nano manufacturing platform and innovative system  mechanism of the Center, focus on the technological innovation in the  fields of micro-nano process and detection of the soil environment,  environmental micro-nano remediation materials as well as environmental  information management, to drive breakthroughs in industries such as  environmental sensing, soil remediation and big data. The Workshop is  committed to building a domestically leading and world-class soil  environment research innovation platform, talent cultivation base and  think tank, and promoting the in-depth development and integration of  industry, university and research.

Application in Diffuse Electronics and Optoelectronics! 2D Heterostructures were revealed by ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center in Chemical Reviews

2022-02-16

A grand family of two-dimensional (2D) materials and their heterostructures have been widely applied in flexible sensors, photodetectors, high-frequency electronics, solar cells, data storage, low-power neuromorphic computing and ubiquitous electronics for their wide band gap selection, no dangling bonds, excellent mobility at atomic layer thickness, and high light absorption. These pioneering works contribute to realizing the fundamental platforms to explore and analyze new physical/chemical properties and technological phenomena at the micro–nano scales.   Recently, a paper entitled “2D Heterostructures for Ubiquitous Electronics and Optoelectronics: Principles, Opportunities, and Challenges” with the IF 60.6, written by by the research team of YU Bin, XU Yang and the team of DUAN Xiangfeng of the Future Science Research Institute at ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center was published on Chemical Reviews. Chemical Reviews is one of the top academic journals in the field of international chemistry and chemical engineering as well as the most authoritative review journal of American Chemical Society. Its 2020 impact factor released in 2021 was 60.6. With an elaboration of the latest progress in the representation of 2D materials, the review focuses on the great impact of preparation methods, characterization techniques and physical parameters on 2D heterostructures. The main emphasis is on 2D heterostructures and 3D-bulk (3D) hybrid systems exhibiting intrinsic quantum mechanical responses in the optical, valley, and topological states as well as the application and development of 2D heterostructures in future electronics and optoelectronics.Surfaces/Interfaces of 2D Heterostructures and Materials of Different Dimensions 01. Characteristics and challenges of 2D Heterostructures2D heterostructures are eessential to advancing the R&D of future electronics and optoelectronics, as they provide fundamental tools for exploring valleytronics, spintronics, and neuromorphism. However, the instability of the bonds on the surface of van der Waals nanoheterostructures restricts its extensive development and is in need of further in-depth research by researchers. Currently, 2D heterostructures have not yet developed large-scale fabrication and integration technologies that match existing silicon processes. There are still grave challenges in material synthesis, device fabrication, and integration although great progress has been made in the field of electronics for single devices and small circuits based on 2D materials.02. How should 2D heterostructures be put into industry in order to advance semiconductor field?One of the major advantages of CMOS compatibility is that 2D materials without surface dangling bonds can be integrated with any substrate. However, several challenges remain to be addressed, including low-temperature grown van der Waals heterostructures, self-cleaning transfer methods, 2D materials of continuum film deposition, and renewable metal contacts. At present, challenges still exist in the establishment of a separate production line for 2D materials in terms of technology and cost. All in all, the best option for commercializing van der Waals 2D heterostructure devices is to process these materials with existing silicon-based production lines. It is believed that more researchers will explore feasible solutions to integrating 2D materials with existing silicon-based processes so as to put 2D heterostructure device technology into industry sooner, to enhance China’s global competitiveness and impact in the semiconductor field and make due contribution to China’s sci-tech innovation.  “Grow Tree” based on van der Waals 2D heterostructure devicesMore importantly, it is an international co-authored paper. Thanks to the Future Science Research Institute of ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, the UCLA team of America. Special thanks to National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Fundamental Research Fund for the Universities Affiliated to Chinese Central Government Link to the paper:https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00735

35 Innovators Under 35! Yiming Mo, a Young PI of ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, is one of them

2022-01-26

Our life is changed by science and technology and young scientists full of innovation and enterprising spirit are constantly bringing infinite possibilities for future technological transformations.The winners of the 2021 edition of “35 Innovators Under 35 China” by the 5th MIT Technology Review (TR 35) were released on January 22. Yiming Mo, a young PI from the Institute of Biological and Molecular Smart Manufacturing of ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center was on the list, and he delivered a speech on innovation at the Chinese webinar as the representative.The winners, on biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc., are selected after a rigorous judging process for about one year, and the review is considered a major benchmark of Chinese young sci-tech power as it brought together 50 top science and technology leaders in the world. Ph.D. Yiming Mo, an outstanding young talent and doctoral supervisor at ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, got his bachelor’s degree from Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University, and pursued his doctorate at Chemical Engineering Department, MIT under the tutelage of Professor Klavs F. Jensen, Academician of the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences, the USA. With a wealth of cross-disciplinary research on electrochemical organic synthesis, high-throughput screening and artificial intelligence, Mo has so far published a number of papers on top journals, e.g. Science.  Why was Yiming Mo, a post-90s scientist, on the list?“MIT Technology Review” described his achievements as follows: He has realized the continuous intelligent pharmaceuticals manufacturing technology based on electrochemical microreactors and the world’s first nanomolar high-throughput microdroplet screening electrochemical platform to address increasingly pressing industrial needs for safety, green and miniaturization. So what exactly is the continuous intelligent pharmaceuticals manufacturing technology? What is the world’s first nanomolar high-throughput microdroplet screening electrochemical platform? What connection exists between them and ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center? Mr. Yiming Mo will share with us more. A greener and smaller pharmaceutical innovation technology for life and health is coming!Mr. Yiming Mo told us that rapid progress of pharmaceuticals technology has brought about better human health in modern times, and challenges in population growth and emergency public health need an adequate supply of pharmaceuticals in a more flexible, cheap and green way of production. Continuous intelligent pharmaceuticals manufacturing is not only a technology, but a new production paradigm as well. Traditional pharmaceutical production, usually in batch stirred tank reactions, has poor flexibility, unstable product quality, and low efficiency; while the continuous process uses flow chemical reactors for simultaneous input of raw materials and product output, which does not need the transfer of reaction intermediates as what traditional batch stirred tank reactors do, so it is an important technical means for continuous, miniaturized and safe pharmaceutical production. Since the technology makes flexible and miniaturized pharmaceutical production possible, it is of great significance to apply it in addressing drug shortages or public health emergencies.The continuous intelligent manufacturing technology of electrochemical microreactors, mainly developed by Mr. Yiming Mo, drives the oxidation/reduction reaction process by utilizing electric energy, controls the electrochemical reaction process precisely coupled with microreactor technology, and realizes the green synthesis of small pharmaceutical molecules with high atom economy. Being developed by ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, the technology is making the pharmaceuticals manufacturing environment-friendly and granting it broad application prospects due to its easy operation and small size.The world’s first platform device for nanomolar-level high-throughput microdroplet screening electrochemistry For faster development of new electrochemical synthesis methods, Mr. Yiming Mo constructed the world’s first platform device for nanomolar-level high-throughput microdroplet screening electrochemistry by integrating automation and microfluidic technology, realizing the rapid screening of electrochemical reaction conditions and accurate measurement of reaction kinetics.The nanomolar level is 10-9 mol, which is far smaller than 10-3 mol, the micromolar level used in traditional experiments, which means a high-precision screening can be performed with a slight dose of experimental reagents and high-throughput devices such as intelligent robotic arms. iChemFoundry Platform Intelligent Robotic ArmThis platform device for nanomolar-level high-throughput microdroplet screening electrochemistry is currently one of the important modules of iChemFoundry platform of the Institute of Biological and Molecular Smart Manufacturing of the Center. Mr. Yiming Mo and his team members also constructed an orbital positioning system that requires the use of large stroke and high precision, which tackled two major engineering challenges of large stroke movement and high precision positioning.Mr. Yiming Mo said that “35 Innovators Under 35” is looking for innovative young scientists who can make a significant impact. He also hopes to attract more like-minded young partners to the Center to explore the world of continuous intelligent technology and cross-disciplinary studies, so as to bring more possibilities for sci-tech innovation.