Dr. Lingyu Zhao is an Assistant Professor, PhD Supervisor, and Associate Researcher at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), and has been selected as the High-Level Talent in Shenzhen's Pengcheng Peacock Program. Dr. Zhao received her bachelor's degree from Beihang University in 2013 and her PhD from Peking University in 2019. Dr. Zhao's research focuses on the design of flexible devices, as well as smart structures and materials. In recent years, Dr. Zhao has published 19 papers as first or corresponding author in high-standard international journals, including Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, and ACS Nano, with more than 2,700 citations. She has filed eight patent applications, two of which have been granted. Besides, Dr. Zhao has served as the principal investigator for five fundings, including the Youth Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the General Program of the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, and the General Program of Shenzhen Basic Research General Program. Dr. Zhao currently serves as a member of the 11th Solid Mechanics Committee of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and as a reviewer for journals including ACS Nano, Materials Today Physics, and Applied Physics Letters.

Research Areas: Flexible sensors and system integration; human health monitoring; robotic tactile perception; smart structures and materials.

Working Experience:

Sep. 2026-Present  Assistant Professor, School of Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

Jul. 2021-Aug. 2026  Research Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

May 2019-Jun. 2021  Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

Education Background:

Sep. 2013-Jan. 2019  PhD, Peking University / National Center for Nanoscience and Technology

Sep. 2009-Jun. 2013  Bachelor's Degree, Beihang University

Publications:

Representative Publications (* corresponding author; # co-first author):

1. Li, G., Cai, M., Cao, C., Ouyang, Z., Fu, H.*, Zhao, L.*, Xu, B.* Double-Sided Mechanical Interlocking Enables Soft-Rigid Conductive Interfaces with a Record High Toughness for Flexible Electronics. Adv. Mater. 2026, 38, e73649.

2. Liang, Y.*, Yin, L., Ouyang, Z., Zhao, L.*, Leng, J.* Stress-Triggered Ionic Rearrangement Produces Self-Strengthening Eutectogels with Decoupled Mechanical Rigidity and Ionic Conductivity. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2026, 36, e76284.

3. Yang, J.#, Zhao, L.#*, Zhao, C., Zhang, N., Ouyang, Z., Li, X., Wu, W., Cai, M., Xu, F., Wang, L., Shi, J.* Breathable Pulse Sensing Wristband with Full-Module Shape Adaptivity for Machine Learning-Assisted Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2026, 36, e75298.

4. Guo, J.#, Zhao, L.#*, Ouyang, Z., Zuo, Q., Liang, Y., Leng, J.* All-in-One Soft Capacitive Pressure Sensor with Adaptive Self-Healing Property in Diverse Harsh Environments. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2026, 36, e25419.

5. Zuo, Q.#, Zhao, L.#*, Du, Q., Ouyang, Z., Wang, Y., Sun, D., Leng, J.* Photothermal Shape-Memory Nanofibrous Membrane for Efficient Recovery of High-Viscosity Crude Oil. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2026, 18, 33150-33160.

6. Zhao, L.#*, Cai, M.#, Lu, S., Li, G., Zheng, X., Shi, J.* Iontronic Pressure Sensor with a Wide Linearity Range for "Plug-and-Play" Fingertip Pulse Recording and Statistical Cardiovascular Monitoring. Mater. Horiz. 2026, 13, 2469-2478.

7. Zuo, Q.#, Zhao, L.#*, Guo, J., Leng, J.* Oil-Responsive Shape Memory Polymer Foam for Heat-Free Recovery of Crude Oil. Chem. Eng. J. 2025, 526, 170895.

8. Liu, S., Lu, S., Zheng, X., Li, X., Chen, Z., Zhao, L.*, Xu, F., Shi, J.* Laser-Induced Graphene/ITO Heterostructure for Self-Powered Ion Sensing via Ionovoltaic Effect. Chem. Eng. J. 2025, 525, 170252.

9. Zuo, Q.#, Zhao, L.#*, Ouyang, Z., Guo, J., Liang, Y., Leng, J.* Shape Memory Polymers with Rapid Multi-Solvent Responsiveness for Dual-Mode Vapor Sensing. Small 2025, 21, e09216.

10. Zheng, Z., Huang, Z., Zhang, N., Liu, S., Zhao, L.*, Li, X., Wang, L.*, Xu, F., Shi, J.* Stretch-Tolerant Interconnects Derived from Silanization-Assisted Capping Layer Lamination for Smart Skin-Attachable Electronics. Mater. Today Phys. 2024, 46, 101494.

11. Huang, Y.#, Zhao, L.#*, Cai, M., Zhu, J., Wang, L., Chen, X., Zeng, Y., Zhang, L., Shi, J.*, Guo, C. F.* Arteriosclerosis Assessment Based on Single-Point Fingertip Pulse Monitoring Using a Wearable Iontronic Sensor. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2023, 12, 2301838.

12.Zhao, L.#, Wang, L.#, Shi, J., Hou, X., Wang, Q., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Bai, N., Yang, J., Zhang, J., Yu, B., Guo, C. F.* Shape-Programmable Interfacial Solar Evaporator with Salt-Precipitation Monitoring Function. ACS Nano 2021, 15, 5752-5761.

13. Zhao, L., Zhang, L., Zhao, J.*, Shi, J., Dai, Z., Wang, G., Zhang, C., Li, B., Feng, X., Zhang, H., Zhang, J., Zhang, Z.* Engineering Surface Patterns with Shape Memory Polymers: Multiple Design Dimensions for Diverse and Hierarchical Structures. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2019, 11, 1563-1570.

14. Li, W.#, Zhao, L.#, Dai, Z., Jin, H.*, Duan, F., Liu, J., Zeng, Z., Zhao, J.*, Zhang, Z.* A Temperature-Activated Nanocomposite Metamaterial Absorber with Wide Tunability. Nano Res. 2018, 11, 3931-3942.

15. Zhao, L., Zhao, J.*, Liu, Y., Guo, Y., Zhang, L., Chen, Z., Zhang, H., Zhang, Z.* Continuously Tunable Wettability by Using Surface Patterned Shape Memory Polymers with Giant Deformability. Small 2016, 12, 3327-3333.

Patents:

1. A flexible sensor and preparation method thereof, Chinese patent, Publication No. CN119714617B, granted.

2. A flexible sensor array and preparation method thereof, Chinese patent, Publication No. CN119659033B, granted.

3. A self-healing conductive composite material, a method for preparing a homogeneous all-in-one flexible capacitive pressure sensor, and a flexible robot, Chinese patent, Application No. CN202511954857.1, filed on Dec. 23, 2025.

4. A flexible capacitive pressure sensor and methods for its preparation and regeneration, Chinese patent, Application No. CN202511731900.8, filed on Nov. 24, 2025.

5. A flexible pulse-wave sensor, a preparation method thereof, and pulse detection equipment, Chinese patent, Application No. CN202410018809.0, filed on Jan. 3, 2024.

6. A solvent-responsive shape-memory polymer and preparation method thereof, Chinese patent, Application No. CN202510657994.2, filed on May 21, 2025.

7. An oil-absorbing foam and preparation method thereof, Chinese patent, Application No. CN202510658975.1, filed on May 21, 2025.

8. A gas-sensing element, an organic-gas sensor, and a detection device, Chinese patent, Application No. CN202510657997.6, filed on May 21, 2025.