Yanlei Yu

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Yanlei Yu

Title: Professor; PhD supervisor; Chang Jiang Scholars; honered with the National Science
Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars

Address: Room 725 of Advanced Materials Building, Jiangwan Campus, Fudan University

Tel.: 021-31243661

Email: ylyu@fudan.edu.cn

Yanlei Yu is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science at Fudan University. She graduated in applied chemistry from Anhui University in 1993 and obtained her Master's degree in polymer chemistry and physics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1996. She gained her Doctoral degree in environmental chemistry and engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology and was promoted to Full Professor at Fudan University in 2004. She obtained New Century Excellent Talents in University of Ministry of Education of China (2005), Shanghai Shuguang Scholar (2005), Shanghai Science and Technology Rising Star (2006), Distinguished Young Scholars Award from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (2012), Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leader Program (2015), ChangJiang (Cheung Kong) Scholar Chair Professor (2016), Youth Science and Technology Innovation Leader from Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2016), Scientific and Technological Innovation Leading Talents of National '10000 People Plan' (2017), Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leaders Plan (2017), Chinese Chemical Society-Evonik Chemical Innovation Award for Distinguished Scientist (2018) and First Prize of Shanghai Natural Science Award (2019), etc. Her research interests focus on the development of photodeformable smart materials and light-controllable interface materials with photosensitive polymers and liquid crystal polymers. She has over 70 publications in the peer-reviewed journals, such as Nature, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Mater., etc., with more than 7000 citations. Prof. Yu is currently an Editorial Board Member of Advanced Optical Materials, European Polymer Journal, Chinese Journal of Polymer Science and Journal of Materials Science & Technology, and an Editorial Advisory Board Member of Langmuir.

Principal Education and Working Experience

1989.9 —— 1993.7 B.S., Anhui University, China
1993.9 —— 1996.7 M.S., University of Science and Technology of China
1996.8 —— 2004.3 Assistant Professor and Lecturer, Fudan University, China
2001.4 —— 2004.3 Ph.D., Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
2004.4 —— Professor, Fudan University, China
2015.1 —— 2017.9 Associate Director of Department of Materials Science, Fudan University, China
2017.10 —— 2022.1 Director of Talent Office, Fudan University, China
2022.1 —— Director and Deputy Secretary of Department of Materials Science, Fudan University, China

Principal Honors and Recognition

2005.1 Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of Ministry Education of China
2005.12 Shanghai Shuguang Scholar
2006.6 Shanghai Youth Star of Science and Technology
2012.9 National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars
2015.6 Shanghai Excellent Academic Leader
2016.12 Changjiang Scholar of China
2016 Youth Science and Technology Innovation Leader
2017.12 Shanghai Leading Talents
2017.12 The Third Group of Leading Talents in Scientific and Technological Innovation under the National 'Ten Thousands Plan'
2017.12 The 4th China Chemical Society - Winning the Chemistry Innovation Award - Outstanding Scientist Award
2019.1 First prize of Shanghai Award for Natural Science (as first accomplisher)
2019.9 Shanghai Yucai Award

Principal Research Directions and Contents

Research directions: Liquid crystal polymers; photo-responsive polymer materials; photo-responsive smart interface materials
Research contents: Photodeformable polymer materials are considered uniquely superior smart polymer materials, because their shapes are controllable by externally supplied non-contact energy without need for direct contact and material exchange with chemical substances. Featuring anisotropic alignment and synergic movement, liquid crystals occur the phase transition from liquid crystal phase to isotropic phase when stimulated by outfield. As a result, the alignment of molecules changes from orderly to disorderly . In recent years, we have developed cross-linked liquid crystal polymer materials featuring light-induced bending by regulating the liquid crystal molecular alignment through UV light by means of the integration of azobenzene photoisomerization with the synergy of liquid crystal molecules. Furthermore, the bending direction is precisely controlled by the polarized light due to the selective absorption of liquid crystal molecules. The properties of photodeformable materials were optimized in their entirety through the constant adjustment of the molecular structure and microstructure of liquid crystal (liquid crystal mesogen alignment and phase structure). Besides, multi-wavelength light (UV/Vis/NIR) responsive novel materials featuring rapid deformation at room temperature were developed. On this basis, the development of flexible micro-devices characterized by the direct conversion from light energy to mechanical energy were launched. Prototypes of light-controlled micropumps, micro-valves, micro-motors, etc. were developed, and all-light-driven multi-joint and multi-DOF micro-robots were assembled. Furthermore, studies on outfield controllable functional interface materials were performed through the organized combination of azo liquid crystal polymers and micro-nano structure interfaces. The adhesive superhydrophobic functional interface with light response characteristics was established; moreover, adhesive fast in-situ reversible light regulation was achieved through the controllable and reversible changes in molecular and microscopic structures such as the changes in the molecular structure and polarity of azo and the orientation of mesogen, which enabled the fast lossless transfer of trace liquid.

Principal Academic Positions

Council Member of Chinese Materials Research Society
Council Member of Chinese Materials Research Society-Youth Branch
Council Member, Nanomaterials and Devices Branch of Chinese Materials Research Society
Council Member, Micro-nano Actuator and Micro-system Branch, Chinese Society of Micro-Nano Technology
Member of the Specialized Committee, Chinese Physical Society-Liquid Crystal Branch
Member of the Academic Committee for the Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on UV Light Emitting Materials and Technologies (Northeast Normal University)
Editorial Board Member of Advanced Optical Materials
Editorial Board Member of Chinese Journal of Polymer Science
Editorial Board Member of Journal of Materials Science & Technology
Editorial Board Member of European Polymer Journal
International Advisory Editorial Board Member of Langmuir
Editorial Board Member of Journal of Functional Materials
Editorial Board Member of Chinese Journal of Liquid Crystals and Displays
Editorial Board Member of Journal of Functional Polymers
Editorial Board Member of China Rubber Industry

Principal Courses Taught

Liquid Crystal Materials and Displays
Functional Polymer Materials

Selected Papers in Recent Years