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 served as a Postdoctoral Scholar 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 (Advisors: Kristofer Pister and Michel Maharbiz). In addition, he worked as an Affiliate Postdoctoral Fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), USA. 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. Dr. Li’s research focuses on microrobotics, MEMS, and mechatronics. His first-authored or corresponding-authored papers published in Nature Communications, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, Nano Energy, Cell Reports Physical Science, ICRA, and Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 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. Xianfa Cai（蔡先法）
Dr. Cai earned his PhD in Mechanical Design and Theory from Yanshan University. He has participated in several National Natural Science Foundation projects and National Key R&D Program projects. As the first author, his papers have been published in academic journals such as IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, and Nonlinear Dynamics. 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 a PhD in Information and Electronic Engineering from Muroran Institute of Technology (Japan) and a Master’s degree from Chongqing University. He has received several prestigious 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 his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Beijing Institute of Technology and his PhD at Beihang University (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics). He has participated in several major national fundamental research projects. As the first author, he has published a series of academic papers in journals such as Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, Coatings, Micromachines, Journal of Aerospace Power, and Flight Dynamics. Additionally, he has published five patents and software copyrights. His research interests include high-temperature electronic packaging reliability, interface mechanics, structural vibration analysis, multiphysics coupling simulations, and high-temperature material performance testing.
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 is a government-sponsored overseas PhD (CSC) and is dedicated to research in the field of micro-nano electronic materials and devices. He has participated in several National Natural Science Foundation projects and National Key R&D Program projects. As the first author or corresponding author, he has published multiple papers in academic journals such as Advanced Functional Materials, Nano-Micro Letters, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and Advanced Materials Interfaces. He also serves as a reviewer for journals like ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Dr. Pengfei Xu（徐鵬飛）
Dr. Xu, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from China University of Petroleum (East China), and a PhD from Dalian University of Technology, has participated as a key member in national key R&D programs, key funding for equipment pre-research, JKW major projects, and more. As the first author, his papers have been published in Nature Communications, Materials & Design, Advanced Electronic Materials, and other journals.
ALBUM
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: Microelectronic devices, flexible functional materials, piezoelectric devices, sensors.
Xinshuai Wang（王鑫帥） Ph.D. student
My name is Wang Xinshuai, and I am from Liaocheng, Shandong. I have an optimistic personality, love life, and am patient in both work and study. I am dedicated and always striving to improve. Besides that, I have many hobbies, such as hiking, writing, and watching movies.
Yang Gu（顧洋） M.S. student
I am diligent, hardworking, and eager to learn. I am optimistic, enthusiastic, and always maintain a positive attitude. Currently, I am dedicated to the development of autonomous micro-robots. In my spare time, I enjoy sports such as basketball, swimming, and badminton.
Yiqin Wang（王怡欽） M.S. student
I am from Qujing, Yunnan, and I am currently pursuing my graduate studies at the School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications. My research focuses on flexible electronic devices.
Zhi Chen（陳摯） M.S. student
I have a cheerful and optimistic personality, and I enjoy embracing new challenges and learning new things. I possess strong teamwork skills, hands-on ability, and adaptability to different environments. I am passionate about basketball and also enjoy playing badminton and table tennis. At the same time, I aim to "lose my fat" through consistent running and skipping rope, and I strive to "expand my horizon" through traveling and reading.
Ziling Song（宋子玲） M.S. student
I am a person who is dedicated to my work, hardworking, and brave in innovation.
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, cheerful, and always strive to improve. I am persistent in my learning, with a strong sense of teamwork and learning ability. I have a great capacity for handling pressure, and I am passionate about both learning and life.
Yuhang He（何宇航） M.S. student
I am from Chengdu, Sichuan. I am easygoing and optimistic, always staying positive. I am curious about new things and never indulge in self-pity. I have strong adaptability and a certain level of programming skills.
Fei Lv（呂飛） M.S. student
I am from Xi'an, Shaanxi. I have an outgoing personality and find it easy to get along with others. In my free time, I enjoy playing badminton. During my time at university, I won the first prize in the university-level Mathematical Modeling Competition and received multiple university-level scholarships.
Yuwang Shen（沈玉旺） M.S. student
I am from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. I enjoy playing badminton and basketball, and I hope to have the opportunity to play and have fun with everyone in the future.
Yingxu Tian（田穎旭） M.S. student
I am a kind-hearted guy, but I tend to pursue perfection when it comes to my studies. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the guitar and listening to music, or I like to play badminton or tennis.
Fu Xu（徐甫） M.S. student
I am from Bengbu, Anhui. I maintain a positive attitude towards life and am keen on learning new ideas. In my studies, I am diligent, always asking questions, and working hard. I am observant, creative, and willing to try new things. In my free time, I enjoy playing badminton and reading popular science books.
Xiongkai Yang（楊雄凱） M.S. student
I am from Yancheng, Jiangsu. My hobbies include playing basketball and watching movies. I have an optimistic attitude and treat others with sincerity. I strive to improve myself, aim for excellence, and focus on doing every task thoroughly.
PUBLICATIONS
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)
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)
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) (IEEE), pp. 6036–6042. (pdf)
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)
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)
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)
Gao, C., Fan, S., Li, W., Wang, Y., Xia, Q., Hou, D., and Cao, Y. (2024). A High-Performance Miniaturized Frequency Shift Detection System for QCM-Based Gravimetric Sensing. Advanced Sensor Research n/a, 2400148. (pdf)
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 (MEMS) (IEEE), 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)
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
