Welcome to Zhang Research Lab!

Zhang Research Lab (ZRL) is dedicated to an interdisciplinary research programme that bridges micro-/nanotechnology and functional materials with MEMS and robotics technology at small scales. The primary research objectives of the Laboratory range from development of functional nanomaterials to intelligent micro-/nanoscale machines and robotic systems for biomedical, energy storage and environmental applications. The motivation of our research is to develop enabling materials, tools and systems, and technologies for the sustainable society and a better life.

Recent Highlights

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Jun. 16, 2024: Prof. Zhang has been appointed as a Senior Editor for the top-tier robotics journal IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO). The position will commence on July 1, 2024.

May. 20, 2024: Prof. Zhang has been elected as a Fellow of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). Congratulations to Prof. Zhang!

Apr. 23, 2024: Prof. Zhang has been elected as an Outstanding Editor for journal Research in 2023. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang!
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mtQEgf7RWzJjpxbjV4F7Lw

Apr. 2, 2024: Our recent work published in Science Advances and Science Robotics has been highlighted in a CUHK press conference. Congratulations to Professor Simon Yu Chun-ho, Professor Zhang Li, Dr Bonaventure Ip Yiu-ming, Professor Tony Chan Kai-fung, Professor Thomas Leung Wai-hong!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/171154/

Mar. 19, 2024: Our recent collaborative EU project has been highlighted in Office of Academic Links CUHK. Congratulations to Prof. Menciassi, Prof. Iacovacci and Prof. Zhang!
https://www.oal.cuhk.edu.hk/202403-59-postdoctoral-fellowships/

Feb. 7, 2024: Our recent work RefluxChip and Magnetic Slimebot has won the Gold Medal and Silver Medal respectively in 14th International Invention Fair in the Middle East 2024. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang, Prof. Chiu, Prof. Chan, Dr. Sun, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Liu!
https://www.orkts.cuhk.edu.hk/en/news-events/announcements/4111-event-highlight-14th-international-invention-fair-in-the-middle-east-iifme-4-to-7-february-2024

Feb. 6, 2024: Our recent work published in Science Advances has been elected as Hong Kong’s Top Ten Innovation and Technology News in 2023.  Congratulations to Prof. Zhang!
https://www.bhkaec.org.hk/a/136028-cht

Jan. 25, 2024: Our recent work published in Science Advances has been highlighted in a CUHK press conference. Congratulations to Prof. Chiu, Prof. Zhang and Prof. Chan!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-develops-new-modular-magnetic-microrobot-to-deliver-cells-into-the-bile-duct-for-targeted-therapy/

Dec. 8, 2023: Our recent work RefluxChip and Magnetic Slimebot has won the Gold Award respectively in 3rd Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong 2023. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang, Prof. Chiu, Prof. Chan, Dr. Sun, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Liu!
https://www.orkts.cuhk.edu.hk/en/news-events/announcements/4022-event-highlight-3rd-asia-exhibition-of-innovations-and-inventions-hong-kong-7-8-dec-2023

Sep. 14, 2023: Our recent work published in Advanced Intelligent Systems has been highlighted in a CUHK press conference. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang and Prof. Chan!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-develops-magnetic-hydrogel-micromachines-with-on-demand-reactive-oxygen-species-release-for-anti-biofilm-treatment/

Jun. 11, 2023: Researchers from SIAT and Prof. Zhang have won the finalist of the best TMECH paper in 2023. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang!
http://www.ieee-asme-mechatronics.info/2023-results/

May. 16, 2023: Our recent work published in Science Advances has been highlighted in a CUHK press release. Congratulations to Prof. Yu, Prof. Zhang and Prof. Chan!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-develops-an-interventional-catheterisation-integrated-swarming-microrobotic-platform-for-aneurysm-embolisation-treatment-a-new-non-invasive-approach/?fbclid=IwAR0NcCfb5A7dq07NTagV-ekkhIH2D16Zi9imnr822f9xLUp-UAEqrpiBT9w

Apr. 29, 2023: Our recent work RefluxChip and Magnetic Slimebot has won the Gold Medal with Congratulation of the Jury and Gold Medal respectively in Geneva 2023. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang, Prof. Chiu, Prof. Chan, Dr. Sun, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Liu!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-innovations-win-26-awards-at-international-exhibition-of-inventions-geneva-2023/

Mar. 22, 2023: Our recent work published in Science Advances has been highlighted in a CUHK press conference. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang and Prof. Chan!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-develops-wirelessly-powered-electronic-stents-for-gastric-acid-reflux-treatment-a-new-non-invasive-therapy/.

Jan. 3, 2023: Prof. Zhang has been elected as IEEE Fellow for 2023. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/three-cuhk-engineering-professors-elected-ieee-fellows-for-2023/

Dec. 31, 2022: Our recent work published in Advanced Functional Materials has been elected as Hong Kong’s Top Ten Innovation and Technology News in 2022.  Congratulations to Prof. Zhang! 
https://www.bhkaec.org.hk/a/129827-cht

Dec. 19, 2022: Prof. Zhang has been elected as AAIA Fellow (Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association Fellow). Congratulations to Prof. Zhang! https://www.aaia-ai.org/fellows?page=37

Dec. 3, 2022: Lidong Yang has won the Hong Kong Young Scientist Finalist Award 2022 (Engineering) from Hong Kong Institute of Science. Congratulations to Lidong Yang and Prof. Zhang! 

Nov. 22, 2022: Prof. Zhang has been elected as IEEE Fellow 2023 for his contribution in Micro-/nanorobot swarms and platforms for translational biomedicine. Congratulations to Prof. Zhang!
https://www.erg.cuhk.edu.hk/erg/node/2496

Jul. 29, 2022: Moqiu Zhang won the Best Student Paper Award in MARSS 2022. Congratulations to Moqiu, Prof. Zhang and co-authors! https://marss-conference.org/awards/winners_of_best_student_paper_awards/

Jul. 13, 2022: Our recent work, published in Science Advances has been highlighted in a CUHK press conference today and in the New Scientist “Robot made of sticky tape and metal powder could crawl on your organs” on Jul. 15, 2022.
https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/2328467-robot-made-of-sticky-tape-and-metal-powder-could-crawl-on-your-organs/

Apr. 1, 2022: Our recent work, published in Advanced Functional Materials has been highlighted in the New Scientist “Robot made of magnetic slime could grab objects inside your body” and on Twitter on Apr. 1, 2022. The tweet has more than 3 million views in just 24 hours! https://www.newscientist.com/article/2314395-robot-made-of-magnetic-slime-could-grab-objects-inside-your-body/

Nov. 20, 2021: Wai Shing Liu and Chak Kit Cheng won the EMedic Global 2021 Engineering Medical Innovation Global Competition Clinical Readiness Award. Congratulations to Wai Shing Liu, Chak Kit Cheng and Prof. Zhang!
http://www.emedicglobal.org/index.php

Sep. 24, 2021: Our recent collaborative work with CU Medicine, which was published in Science Robotics, has been highlighted in the Nature website (https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00401-2). The highlights has also been published in the print issue of “Nature Spotlight on Biomedical Engineering in China” on Oct. 6, 2021 (https://www.nature.com/collections/ebajiafdeh).

Sep. 24, 2021: Lidong Yang won the 2021 Chinese Association of Automation Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Finalist Award. Congratulations to Lidong Yang and Prof. Zhang!
http://caa.org.cn/article/192/2465.html

Sep. 16, 2021: Our graduated Ph.D. student, Jiangfan Yu has been selected in Forbes 30 under 30 China 2021. Congratulations to Prof. Jiangfan Yu (CUHK-SZ)!
https://www.forbeschina.com/entrepreneur/57412

Aug. 5, 2021: Article entitled “Motion characteristics and control of magnetic microbeads by magnetic gradient fields” has received IEEE 3M-NANO 2021 Best Conference Paper Award. Congratulations to Prof. Tiantian Xu (SIAT, CAS), Prof. Zhang and co-authors! 

Jul. 18, 2021: Fengtong Ji won the Best Oral Presentation Awards (1st class) in The International Youth Conference of Bionic Science and Engineering Conference 2021 (IYCBSE2021) with his paper titled “Mimicking schooling fishes to construst a 3D reconfigurable microswarm for on-demand reaction-rate control”. Congratulations!

Apr. 8, 2021: Our recent collaboration result with Prof. Joseph Sung and Prof. Philip Chiu has been publish on Science Robotics. Check out the photos section and the following link for more detail of our press conference. Congratulations all!
https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-develops-biohybrid-soft-microrobots-with-a-rapid-endoluminal-delivery-strategy-for-gastrointestinal-gi-diseases/

Jan. 29, 2021: Prof. Zhang has been re-appointed by IEEE Nanotechnology Council (IEEE NTC) as a Distinguished Lecturer for 2021. Congratulations! https://ieeenano.org/dl-program/distinguished-lecturers-2021

Dec. 20, 2020: Xingzhou Du won the Toshio Fukuda Best Paper Award in Mechatronics in IEEE ARM2020 with his paper titled “RoboMag: A Magnetic Actuation System Based on Mobile Electromagnetic Coils With Tunable Working Space”. Congratulations!

Nov. 11, 2020: An “News & Views” article, “Microrobotics – Embodied intelligence weaves a better future”, from Dongdong Jin and Prof. Zhang is published in Nature Machine Intelligence. Congratulations!

Oct. 1, 2020: Our monograph “Micro- and Nanorobots: From Individual to Swarm” is available NOW!

Sep. 24, 2020: Interview of Prof Zhang, Edwin Yu, Wai Shing Liu and Xingzhou Du from United College is featured in “United We Advance”. https://www.uc.cuhk.edu.hk/publication/sep-2020-vol-17/

Sep. 1, 2020: Review Article from B. Wang et al. is accepted by Advanced Materials (Wiley). Congratulations!

Aug. 21, 2020: Lidong Yang won the Best Student Paper Award in IEEE CASE2020 with his paper titled “Large-Workspace and High-Resolution Magnetic Microrobot Navigation Using Global-Local Path Planning and Eye-In-Hand Visual Servoing”. Congratulations!
https://www.ieee-ras.org/awards-recognition/conference-awards/69-awards-recognition/society-awards/80-ieee-case-best-student-conference-paper-award

June 23, 2020: Article entitled “Reversible swelling and shrinking of paramagnetic nanoparticle swarm in biofluids with high ionic strength” has received 2020 IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (TMECH) Best Paper Award Finalist. Congratulations to Jiangfan Yu and Prof. Zhang! http://www.ieee-asme-mechatronics.info/2020-results/

May 7, 2020: Prof. Zhang has been appointed as an Associate Editor for the top-tier robotics journal IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO). The position will commence on July 1, 2020.

Mar. 9, 2020: Prof. Zhang is appointed by IEEE NTC as a distinguished lecturer for 2020. Congratulations!
https://ieeenano.org/dl-program/distinguished-lecturers-2020/

Oct. 26, 2019: Dr. Ben Wang’s paper, entitled “Bubble-assisted three-dimensional ensemble of nanomotors for improved catalytic performance” has been highlighted as the front cover of iScience. Congratulations to Ben and co-authors!

Oct. 21, 2019: The research work of our group has been highlighted by C&EN. Congratulations to Jiangfan Yu and co-authors! https://cen.acs.org/materials/molecular-machines/Swarms-microrobots-show-power-numbers/97/i41

July 20, 2019: Article entitled “Ultra-extensible ribbon-like magnetic microswarm” is in the Top 50 most read Nature Communication physics articles published in 2018 (rank 8th). Congratulations to Jiangfan Yu and co-authors!
https://www.nature.com/collections/cfjbjdecce/

May 9, 2019: Dongdong Jin and Jiangfan Yu’s paper, entitled “Mimicking the structure and function of ant bridge in reconfigurable microswarm for electronic applications” has been published in ACS Nano and highlighted by SITN @ Harvard University, C&EN and Chemistry World. Congratulations to Dongdong, Jiangfan and co-authors!
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/ant-bridge-inspired-nanoparticle-assembly-fixes-broken-electrical-circuits/, https://cen.acs.org/materials/nanomaterials/Swarming-nanoparticles-bridge-gaps-electronic/97/web/2019/05, https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/magnetite-microswarm-repairs-circuit-by-mimicking-bridge-building-ants/3010483.article

Jan. 12, 2019: Paper entitled “Real-time tracking of fluorescent magnetic spore–based microrobots for remote detection of C. diff toxins” has been published in Science Advances. Congratulations to Yabin Zhang and co-authors!
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/1/eaau9650

Dec. 3, 2018: Prof. Zhang’s presentation, entitled “Magnetic Colloidal Microswarm for Targeted Delivery” in the symposium GI02: “Materials for Next-Generation Robotics”, has been highlighted by the 2018 Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, on Nov. 25-30, 2018.
https://materials.typepad.com/mrs_meeting_scene/2018/11/symposium-gi02-materials-for-next-generation-robotics.html

Nov. 22, 2018: Dr. Yabin Zhang’s paper, entitled “Enhanced removal of toxic heavy metals using swarming biohybrid adsorbents”, which was published in Advanced Functional Materials, has been highlighted by New Scientists (online and in the magazine). Congratulations! https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24032051-700-microbots-made-from-mushroom-spores-could-clean-polluted-water/

Jul. 27, 2018: Congratulations to Jiangfan Yu for his successful PhD thesis defenses and the acceptance of his work in Nature Communications! This work has also been highlighted in Nature video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTdx5zfEeiQ&ab_channel=naturevideo

Mar. 28, 2018: Our paper entitled “Multifunctional biohybrid magnetite microrobots for imaging-guided therapy” published in Science Robotics has been highlighted in the Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC) YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2NQfgW8tSQ

Mar. 1, 2018: Dr. Zhang joins the Editorial Board of IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L) as Associate Editor.

Dec. 1, 2017: The workshop, entitled “30 Years of Small-Scale Robotics: from Nano-, to Millimeter-Sized Robotic Systems and Applications”, is accepted for the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA2018), to be held in Brisbane, Australia, on May 21-25, 2018. Congratulations to the organizers (Prof. Igor Paprotny, Prof. Eric Diller, Prof. Aaron Ohta and Prof. Li Zhang)!

Nov. 23, 2017: Paper entitled “Multifunctional biohybrid magnetite microrobots for imaging-guided therapy” has been published in Science Robotics (DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aaq1155). Congratulations to Xiaohui Yan and co-authors! The work is also highlighted in Science News (AAAS). http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/11/robot-made-algae-can-swim-through-your-body-thanks-magnets

Apr. 5, 2017: Paper entitled “On-demand Disassembly of Paramagnetic Nanoparticle Chains for Microrobotic Cargo Delivery” has been accepted in IEEE Transactions on Robotics. Congratulations to Jeff Yu and co-authors!

Apr. 5, 2017: Dr. Zhang Li serves for The 2017 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2017) as an Associate Editor.

Jan. 16, 2017: Dr. Zhang Li serves for the 17th IEEE International Conference on Nanotechnology (IEEE NANO 2017, Pittsburgh, USA, July 25-28, 2017) as a Program Co-Chair.

Jan. 5, 2017: Our paper by Q. Zhou et al. was highlighted in Advanced Functional Materials as the front cover in its first issue of 2017.

Nov. 21, 2016: Mr. Vong Chi-ian (M. Phil. student) won the second award in the China College Students Entrepreneurship Competition in 2016. Congratulations!

Oct. 13, 2016: Mr. Wang Shijie and Mr. Liu Wai-shing won the Merit Award in the competition with the FYP project “Activated Carbon Derived from Flesh of Fruits for Electric Double-Layer Capacitors”, and “Development of a microrobotic platform for biomanipulation”, respectively. Congratulations!

Sept. 16, 2016: Dr. Zhang Li serves for the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2017) as an Associate Editor.

Aug. 12, 2016: Dr. Zhang Li joins the Editorial Board of Journal of Micro-Bio Robotics (Springer) as Associate Editor.

Jul. 26, 2016: Congratulations to Yan Xiaohui and Wong Wing-sze for their successful PhD thesis defenses!

Jul. 4, 2016: Mr. Vong Chi-ian (M. Phil. student) and Mr. Liu Wai-shing (undergraduate student) have won the Second Class Award in the Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2016 with their project regarding magnetic actuation setup. They are also invited to join the “Challenge Cup” National Competition in Nov. 2016 which will be held in Chengdu, Sichuan. Congratulations!

May 3, 2016: The Workshop on “Microrobots for next generation biomedical applications” has been accepted for The 2016 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2016), Oct. 9-14, 2016, Daejeon, Korea. Organizers: Prof. Hongsoo Choi (DGIST), Prof. Brad Nelson (ETHZ) and Prof. Li Zhang (CUHK).

Mar. 3, 2016: Mr. Wang Shijie, the FYP student, won the prestigious UGC Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2016/17. He will join our group next semester for pursuing his PhD. Congratulations! 

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