PEOPLE
Director：Prof. Wei Li（李巍）
Dr. Li received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, and Michigan State University, USA (Advisor: Nelson Sepulveda), respectively. He subsequently completed his postdoctoral training in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) and at the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC) at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, for three years (Advisors: Kristofer Pister and Michel Maharbiz). In addition, he worked as an Affiliate Postdoctoral Fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), USA (Advisor: Paul Ashby). Dr. Li was appointed as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Vermont, USA, before joining Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China, where he currently holds the position of Professor. His first-authored or corresponding-authored papers published in Nature Communications, Cell Reports Physical Science, Nano Energy, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, ICRA, Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, etc. Over 20 patents have been filed or granted based on his work. Some of his research has been highlighted by media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, Voice of America, Daily Mail, Phys.org, Yahoo!, NPR-WKAR, and NSF Science360, 人民日報（海外版）, 新華網, etc. Dr. Li’s research focuses on microrobotics, MEMS, and mechatronics.
Dr. Xianfa Cai（蔡先法）
Dr. Cai earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Yanshan University, China. He has participated in several National Natural Science Foundation projects and National Key R&D Program projects. He has served as a vice CTO for a high-tech company in Jiangsu Province since 2014. As the first author, his papers have been published in academic journals such as IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and Nonlinear Dynamics. Over 7 patents have been filed or granted based on his work. He serves as a reviewer for journals including IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part N: Journal of Nanomaterials, Nanoengineering and Nanosystems. His research interests include Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Microrobots, and Sensors.
Dr. Tahir Bashir
Dr. Bashir holds his Ph.D. in Information and Electronic Engineering from Muroran Institute of Technology (Japan) and M.S. from Chongqing University (China). He has received several awards, including the CIF22 Best Paper Award, the Muroran Institute of Technology Outstanding Research Achievement Award (Rangaku Award), the China Scholarship Council (CSC) Full Scholarship, and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Full Scholarship. Currently, he is a member of IEEE and has published more than ten academic papers as the first author. His research interests include electromagnetic computation, waveguide design, reflective array antenna design, as well as applications in microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz technologies.
Dr. Qiannan Tao（陶倩楠）
Dr. Tao completed her B.S. and M.S degrees at Beijing Institute of Technology and her Ph.D. degree at Beihang University (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics). She has participated in several major national fundamental research projects. As the first author, she has published a series of academic papers in journals such as Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, Micromachines, Coatings, Journal of Aerospace Power, and Flight Dynamics. Additionally, she has published six patents and software copyrights. Her research interests include robot dynamics, robot control technology, interface mechanics, and multiphysics coupling simulations.
Dr. Jiaqi Xie（謝佳琪）
Dr. Xie completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Toronto, Canada, and his PhD at Fudan University. He has participated in several research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Shanghai International Cooperation Projects, and the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee. As the first author, he has published papers in journals such as Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Science, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, and Journal of Materials Chemistry A. His research interests include flexible and wearable electronic devices, organic solar cells, and related technologies.
Dr. Min Liu（劉敏）
Dr. Liu received the Chinese Government Scholarship for High-Level Graduate Programs, and pursued his Ph.D. at ENSCP, France. As a key contributor, he has participated in National Natural Science Foundation of China projects and national key research programs. His research focuses on micro/nano electronic materials and devices, particularly in areas such as flexible electronics, flexible batteries, and energy devices for micro-systems including MEMS and microrobotics. He has published multiple papers as first or corresponding author in Advanced Functional Materials, Nano-Micro Letters, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and Advanced Materials Interfaces, etc. His research has been cited and reviewed in prestigious journals such as Nature Reviews Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, and Chemical Reviews.
Dr. Pengfei Xu（徐鵬飛）
Dr. Xu completed his bachelor’s and master’s Degrees at China University of Petroleum (East China), and PhD at Dalian University of Technology. His previous research focused on micro/nano fabrication and devices, and the related achievements have been published in Nature Communications, Microsystems & Nanoengineering and Materials & Design, etc. His research interests now include smart micro actuators & sensors, electrohydrodynamic jet printing and related technologies.
ALBUM
FACILITIES
Superior office environment
Provide researchers with comfortable and spacious individual workspaces and efficient team collaboration areas to help stimulate thinking and inspire creativity.
Complete research facilities
Top-notch hardware facilities and a strong research atmosphere provide a nurturing environment for cultivating research dreams and witnessing the innovative power of young scholars.
EQUIPMENT
STUDENTS
(Sorted by grade and surname pinyin)
Zhi Cao（曹智） Ph.D. student
Research interests: MEMS, robotics, sensors and actuators, phase change functional materials.
Zhengdong Feng（馮正棟） Ph.D. student
Research interests: smart materials, MEMS device.
Xinshuai Wang（王鑫帥） Ph.D. student
My name is Wang Xinshuai and I am from Liaocheng in Shandong Province. I am cheerful and I love life. I hope that I will be neither arrogant nor impatient. I hope to be down-to-earth and daring enough to innovate and pick my own fruit on the road of scientific research!
Zhi Chen（陳摯） M.S. student
I am Zhi, with a cheerful and optimistic personality, who likes to take on new challenges and is willing to learn new things. I have strong teamwork abilities, excellent practical skills, and a high level of adaptability. In my life, I love basketball and cycling, which brings me joy and relaxation, and keeps me physically and mentally healthy after studying and working.
Ziling Song（宋子玲） M.S. student
My name is Ziling Song, from Jiangxi Province. My research focuses on ferroelectret nanogenerators, flexible materials, and piezoelectric sensor.
Yuhang Song（宋宇航） M.S. student
I maintain an optimistic and positive attitude, work diligently and conscientiously, and treat others with kindness and mutual assistance. In life, I adhere to strict self-discipline, and I possess a solid foundation of professional knowledge. I also have a certain level of creativity and the ability to think independently and solve problems.
Xiaowen Han（韓曉雯） M.S. student
I am from Anyang, Henan. I am optimistic and cheerful. Research interests: ferroelectret nanogenerators, sensors, flexible functional materials.
Yuhang He（何宇航） M.S. student
Hello, I’m Yuhang He. My research focuses on Ion-Propelled Aircraft. I’m grateful for the collaboration and look forward to future research challenges.
Fei Lv（呂飛） M.S. student
My name is Lu Fei, and I'm from Xi'an, ShanXi Province. I have a passion for badminton, and my current research focuses on micro crawling robots.
Yuwang Shen（沈玉旺） M.S. student
Hello everyone, my name is Yuwang Shen and I am from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. I consistently maintain a positive outlook on life and am eager to embrace new ideas. At present, I have mastered part of the semiconductor preparation process, and I am still actively learning new preparation processes. In my free time, I like to play board games with friends or watch anime.
Yingxu Tian（田穎旭） M.S. student
I am from Baoding, Hebei, China, and my undergraduate degree is from North China University of Technology. I am an idealist in work and life, and I hope to do my best in research and work. My usual hobbies include playing guitar, singing, and I am a romantic man of science and technology!
Fu Xu（徐甫） M.S. student
My name is Xu Fu, I love life. I have a passion for playing badminton. Additionally, I’m deeply interested in scientific research.
Xiongkai Yang（楊雄凱） M.S. student
I'm Xiongkai Yang, from Yancheng, Jiangsu. I'm optimistic and cheerful. My research direction is nanoscale sensors, and I hope to make progress in my own topic.
Xu Chen（陳旭） M.S. student
Hello everyone, I'm Xu Chen from Lianyungang, Jiangsu. I'm an optimist who can strike a balance between life and study. I’m passionate about basketball and reading as they serve as effective ways to relax my body and mind. I’m also very interested in robots.
Hongji Hui（惠弘基） M.S. student
I am from Rizhao, Shandong. I love photography and billiards, they sharpen focus and my eye for detail. I have an optimistic personality and am helpful. Driven to pursue excellence with thoroughness, I’m eager to bring enthusiasm to the team.
Hongzheng Liu（劉宏政） M.S. student
My name is Hongzheng Liu, from Hubei Province. I have a great passion for table tennis. I work hard and stay optimistic, and I am full of yearning for scientific research.
Zhuocheng Li（李卓成） M.S. student
Hello, my name is Zhuocheng Li. I am from Shandong. In my spare time, I enjoy playing badminton. I have strong team collaboration skills and hold a keen interest in analog electronics.
Zhiwei Pi（皮智偉） M.S. student
My name is Zhiwei Pi. I graduated from the School of Aeronautical Engineering at Civil Aviation University of China, majoring in Mechanical and Electronic Engineering. I have a good command of English. In my spare time, I enjoy fitness, playing the guitar, playing Go and calligraphy.
Pengbo Wang（王鵬博） M.S. student
My name is Pengbo Wang, and I am from Zhengzhou, Henan. In my daily life, I have a cheerful personality and a proactive attitude. In my work, I am diligent and responsible, with strong teamwork skills. I am passionate about cycling, as it not only keeps me fit but also helps alleviate stress.
Yi Yang（楊奕） M.S. student
Hello everyone, my name is Yi Yang and I come from Hefei, Anhui. I am passionate about sports and enjoy playing badminton, table tennis, and basketball, with some proficiency in each. These sports keep me energetic, maintain a positive and optimistic mindset, and enable me to better focus on my studies and research. I possess good communication skills and a strong spirit of teamwork.
ALUMNI
Yang Gu（顧洋） M.S. student
Ph.D. candidate in Nanjing University (南京大學）.
Yiqin Wang（王怡欽） M.S. student
R&D Engineer in China Telecommunications Corporation（中國電信）.
PUBLICATIONS
Xianfa Cai, Xinshuai Wang, Zhengdong Feng, Yunqi Cao, Xuqian Zheng, and Wei Li (2025). Room-Temperature Single-Molecule Mass Detection via Feedback Control of ZnO Nanowire Resonator. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2025: acsami.5c06688 (pdf).
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c06688
Xianfa Cai, Xiaowen Han, Jiaqi Xie, Yunqi Cao and Wei Li (2025). Exploring the Application of Ferroelectret Nanogenerators in Medical Engineering. Flexmat 2025, 1-24. (pdf).
https://doi.org/10.1002/flm2.44
Tao, Q., Wang, X., Gu, Y., & Li, W. (2025). An Ion Discharge-Driven Thruster Based on a Lithium Niobate Piezoelectric Transformer. Micromachines, 16(3), 277. (pdf)
https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16030277
Fu, M., Ma, Z., Gao, C., Ye, Y., Li, W., Hou, D., and Cao, Y. (2025). A Multi-Functional VOC Sensor Based on Cascaded Quartz Crystal Resonators. IEEE Electron Device Letter., 1–1. (pdf)
https://doi.org/10.1109/LED.2025.3528024
Gao, C., Fan, S., Li, W., Wang, Y., Xia, Q., Hou, D., and Cao, Y. (2025). A High-Performance Miniaturized Frequency Shift Detection System for QCM-Based Gravimetric Sensing. Advanced Sensor Research, 4(5), 2400148. (pdf)
Gu, Y., Cai, X., Thakuri, K., Yang, W., Guo, Y., and Li, W. (2024). Microrobotic Flight Enabled by Ultralight Ion Thrusters with High Thrust-to-Weight Ratio and Low Fabrication Cost. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), pp. 6036–6042. (pdf)
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICRA57147.2024.10611166
Wang, Y., Cai, X., Guo, Y., Chen, Z., Cao, Y., Du, W., Xia, T., Sepulveda, N., and Li, W. (2024). Self-powered highly stretchable ferroelectret nanogenerator towards intelligent sports. Nano Trends 8, 100053. (pdf)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwnano.2024.100053
Ma, Z., Fu, M., Gao, C., Fan, S., Chi, H., Li, W., Hou, D., and Cao, Y. (2024). Trenched microwave resonator integrated with porous PDMS for detection and classification of VOCs with enhanced performance. Journal of Hazardous Materials 472, 134553. (pdf)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134553
Song, Z., Cai, X., Chen, Z., Zhu, Z., Cao, Y., and Li, W. (2024). Ultrathin, Stretchable, and Twistable Ferroelectret Nanogenerator for Facial Muscle Detection. Nanoenergy Advances 4, 344–354. (pdf)
https://doi.org/10.3390/nanoenergyadv4040021
Du, W., Wang, S., Chi, H., Chen, X., Li, W., Wan, H., Hou, D., and Cao, Y. (2024). Evaluating head impact intensities and accelerations using flexible wearable sensors for traumatic brain injury assessment. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 373, 115443. (pdf)
Cai, X., Wang, Y., Cao, Y., Yang, W., Xia, T., and Li, W. (2024). Flexural-Mode Piezoelectric Resonators: Structure, Performance, and Emerging Applications in Physical Sensing Technology, Micropower Systems, and Biomedicine. Sensors 24, 3625. (pdf)
Song, Z., Cai, X., Wang, Y., Yang, W., and Li, W. (2023). Leveraging Ferroelectret Nanogenerators for Acoustic Applications. Micromachines 14, 2145. (Cover) (pdf)
Li, W., Cao, Y., Wang, C., and Sepúlveda, N. (2023). Ferroelectret nanogenerators for the development of bioengineering systems. Cell Reports Physical Science, 101388. (pdf)
Li, W., Cao, Y., and Sepúlveda, N. (2023). Thin Film Piezoelectric Nanogenerator Based on (100)-Oriented Nanocrystalline AlN Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition at Room Temperature. Micromachines 14, 99. (pdf)
Fath, A., Xia, T., and Li, W. (2022). Recent Advances in the Application of Piezoelectric Materials in Microrobotic Systems. Micromachines 13, 1422. (pdf)
Velez, N.R., Allen, F.I., Jones, M.A., Donohue, J., Li, W., Pister, K., Govindjee, S., Meyers, G.F., and Minor, A.M. (2021). Nanomechanical testing of freestanding polymer films: in situ tensile testing and Tg measurement. Journal of Materials Research 36, 2456–2464. (pdf)
Murphy, C., Cao, Y., Sepúlveda, N., and Li, W. (2021). Quick self-assembly of bio-inspired multi-dimensional well-ordered structures induced by ultrasonic wave energy. PLoS ONE 16, e0246453. (pdf)
Schindler, C.B., Gomez, H.C., Acker-James, D., Teal, D., Li, W., and Pister, K.S.J. (2020). 15 Millinewton Force, 1 Millimeter Displacement, Low-Power MEMS Gripper. In 2020 IEEE 33rd International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (IEEE MEMS), pp. 485–488. (pdf)
Cao, Y., Li, W., and Sepulveda, N. (2019). Performance of Self-Powered, Water-Resistant Bending Sensor Using Transverse Piezoelectric Effect of Polypropylene Ferroelectret Polymer. IEEE Sensors Journal 19, 10327–10335. (pdf)
Cao, Y., Figueroa, J., Pastrana, J.J., Li, W., Chen, Z., Wang, Z.L., and Sepulveda, N. (2019). Flexible Ferroelectret Polymer for Self-Powering Devices and Energy Storage Systems. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11, 17400–17409. (pdf)
Cao, Y., Figueroa, J., Li, W., Chen, Z., Wang, Z.L., and Sepulveda, N. (2019). Understanding the dynamic response in ferroelectret nanogenerators to enable self-powered tactile systems and human-controlled micro-robots. Nano Energy 63, 103852. (pdf)
Cao, Y., Li, W., Figueroa, J., Wang, T., Torres, D., Wang, C., Wang, Z.L., and Sepulveda, N. (2018). Impact-activated programming of electro-mechanical resonators through ferroelectret nanogenerator (FENG) and vanadium dioxide. Nano Energy 43, 278–284. (pdf)
Li, W., Torres, D., Diaz, R., Wang, Z., Wu, C., Wang, C., Wang, Z.L., and Sepulveda, N. (2017). Nanogenerator-based dual-functional and self-powered thin patch loudspeaker or microphone for flexible electronics. Nature Communications 8, 15310. (pdf)
Zhang, S., Cai, L., Li, W., Miao, J., Wang, T., Yeom, J., Sepúlveda, N., and Wang, C. (2017). Fully Printed Silver‐Nanoparticle‐Based Strain Gauges with Record High Sensitivity. Advanced Electronic Materials 3, 1700067. (pdf)
Li, W., Torres, D., Wang, T., Wang, C., and Sepulveda, N. (2016). Flexible and biocompatible polypropylene ferroelectret nanogenerator (FENG): On the path toward wearable devices powered by human motion. Nano Energy 30, 649–657. (pdf)
Chen, X., and Li, W. (2015). A Monolithic Self-Sensing Precision Stage: Design, Modeling, Calibration, and Hysteresis Compensation. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics 20, 812–823. (pdf)
Li, W., Chen, X., and Li, Z. (2013). Inverse compensation for hysteresis in piezoelectric actuator using an asymmetric rate-dependent model. Review of Scientific Instruments 84, 115003. (pdf)
Li, W., and Chen, X. (2013). Compensation of hysteresis in piezoelectric actuators without dynamics modeling. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 199, 89–97. (pdf)
