Dr. Su Yang is an Assistant Professor and PhD Supervisor at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). She obtained her PhD from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and subsequently served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and the Research Centre for Advanced and Green Composite Materials at PolyU. She was also a Visiting Scholar at the National University of Singapore.

After joining SUSTech, she founded the ICAN Lab (Intelligent Composites for Autonomous Nexus Lab). Her research interests focus on the design and intelligent manufacturing of low-carbon energy devices, self-powered electronic systems, and multimodal sensing and interaction for embodied intelligence, etc.

She has published over 20 academic papers as the first author or co-author in top international journals including Nature Communications and Advanced Materials, among which two papers have been selected as Web of Science Highly Cited Papers. She is invited to serve as an independent reviewer for multiple SCI-indexed journals, such as Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, and Advanced Functional Materials. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship.

Education Background

2021.12: PhD Degree, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,

Faculty of Applied Science and Textile, Supervisor: Prof. Xiao-Ming Tao;

2017.06: Master's Degree, Sichuan University,

College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Supervisors: Prof. Zhong-Ming Li & Prof. Jia-Zhuang Xu;

2014.06: Bachelor's Degree, Sichuan University,

College of Polymer Science and Engineering;

Working Experience

2026.04-Present: Assistant Professor, Southern University of Science and Technology, School of Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing;               

2024.04-2026.04: Postdoctoral Fellow, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 

the PolyU-SCUT Joint Research Centre for Advanced and Green Composite Materials (CAGCOM), Supervisor: Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai;  

2022.01-2024.03: Postdoctoral Fellow, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,

Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Supervisor: Prof. Xiao-Ming Tao;   

Research Area

1. Design and Intelligent Manufacturing of Low-Carbon Energy Devices

2. Design and Intelligent Manufacturing of Self-Powered Electronic Systems

3. Big Data-Driven Multifunctional Integrated Systems

4. Sustainable Upcycling of Composite Devices Toward Dual Carbon Goals

5. Intelligent Manufacturing Technology for Flexible Intelligent Medical Devices

6. Multimodal Sensing and Interaction Toward Embodied Intelligence

Publications

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Su-Yang-52 

1. Yang, S., Zhang, L., Mao, J. F., Guo, J. M., Chai, Y., Hao, J. H., Chen, W., Tao, X. M.* (2024). Green moisture-electric generator based on supramolecular hydrogel with tens of milliamp electricity toward practical applications. Nature Communications, 15, 3329. （highly cited）

2. Yang, S., Li, S. R., Zhou, S. Y., Yang, H. R., Xu, L., Zhong, G. J., Xu, J. Z.*, Li, Z. M.*, Tao, X. M., Mai, Y. W. (2024). Cold crystallization behavior of poly (lactic acid) induced by poly (ethylene glycol)-grafted graphene oxide: Crystallization kinetics and polymorphism. Composites Science and Technology, 258, 110871.

3. Yang, S., Tao, X. M.*, Chen, W., Mao, J. F., Luo, H., Lin, S. P., Zhang, L. S., Hao, J. H. (2022). Ionic hydrogel for efficient and scalable moisture-electric generation. Advanced Materials, 34, 2200693. （highly cited）

4. Yang, S., Liu, S., Ding, X. J., Zhu, B., Shi, J. D., Yang, B., Liu, S. R., Chen, W., Tao, X. M.* (2021). Permeable and washable electronics based on polyamide fibrous membrane for wearable applications. Composites Science and Technology, 207, 108729.

5. Shi, J. D.*, Yang, S., Zheng, Z. T., Li, J. Y., Wang, L., Zeng, W., Yang, L. S., Xiong, Y., Jin, Z. Y., Tao, X. M.* (2023). Textile-based piezocatalytic platform for organics degradation under low-frequency water flow. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 11, 7596-7604.

6. Niu, B., Yang, S., Yang, Y. Y., Hua, T. * (2023). Highly conductive fiber with design of dual conductive Ag/CB layers for ultrasensitive and wide-range strain sensing. SmartMat, 4, e1178.

7. Wang, L. Y., Wang, Y.*, Yang, S., Tao, X. M., Zi, Y. L., Daoud, W. A.* (2022). Solvent-free adhesive ionic elastomer for multifunctional stretchable electronics. Nano Energy, 91, 106611.

8. Niu, B., Yang, S., Hua, T.*, Tian, X., Koo, M. K. (2021). Facile fabrication of highly conductive, waterproof, and washable e-textiles for wearable applications. Nano Research, 14, 1043-1052.

9. Niu, B., Yang, S., Tian, X., Hua, T.* (2021). Highly sensitive and stretchable fiber strain sensors empowered by synergetic conductive network of silver nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. Applied Materials Today, 25, 101221.

10. Yang, S., Xu, J. Z.*, Li, Y., Lei, J., Zhong, G. J., Wang, R. Y., Li, Z. M. (2017). Effects of solvents on stereocomplex crystallization of high-molecular-weight polylactic acid racemic blends in the presence of carbon nanotubes. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 218, 1700292.

11. Yang, S., Zhong, G. J., Xu, J. Z.*, Li, Z. M.* (2016). Preferential formation of stereocomplex in high-molecular-weight polylactic acid racemic blend induced by carbon nanotubes. Polymer, 105, 167-171.

12. Yang, S., Li, Y., Liang, Y. Y., Wang, W. J., Luo, Y., Xu, J. Z.*, Li, Z. M. (2016). Graphene oxide induced isotactic polypropylene crystallization: role of structural reduction. RSC Advances, 6, 23930-23941.

13. Li, Y., Yang, S., Li, Y. K., Xu, J. Z.*, Ni, H. W., Su, Z. H., Li, Z. M.* (2016). Robust interfacial cylindrites of polylactic acid modulated by an intense shear flow field. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 4, 3558-3566.

14. Liang, Y. Y., Yang, S., Jiang, X., Zhong, G. J., Xu, J. Z.*, Li, Z. M.* (2015). Nucleation ability of thermally reduced graphene oxide for polylactide: Role of size and structural integrity. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 119, 4777-4787.

Patents

1. Moisture enabled electric power generation materials and device, U. S. Patent, Application No. 17/806,108, Granted.

2. Moisture enabled electric power generation materials and device, CN Patent Application No. 202210577026.7, Granted.

Awards

1. 2022: The Outstanding Study Award at International Conference of Intelligent Wearable Systems;

2. 2022: Selected for the Postdoctoral Programme of the Research Talent Hub for ITF Projects (RTH-ITF), Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of Hong Kong;  

3. 2018: Endowed Professorship Fund Scholarship for PhD study; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;  

Other：

Student Cultivation

Dr. Su Yang has supervised numerous graduate and undergraduate students to publish papers in SCI-indexed journals. Under her guidance, undergraduate graduates have pursued further studies at Imperial College London, the University of Manchester, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and other prestigious institutions worldwide.

Open Positions

We are recruiting master/PhD students, research assistants, and postdocs globally, offering excellent research conditions and international collaboration opportunities. Welcome scholars for academic exchange.

Contact: yangs6@sustech.edu.cn