Tracking cell activity is essential for understanding biological processes. An ultimate aspiration in biology is to map the dynamics of all cells of interest within an intact organ or organism in space and time, a goal yet to be achieved. In my career, I am committed to fulfilling this ambition through a new sensing modality … Continued
Semiconductor technologies have enabled the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI). However, as artificial intelligence applications become more widespread and even ubiquitous, their power consumption and consequent CO2 emissions will surge, posing significant sustainability challenges. To address this sustainability crisis, there is a pressing need to enhance the efficiency of information processing and storage. My … Continued
Physical sensations, such as a stomach knot when experiencing anxiety or trembling in the face of fear, have long been associated with our emotions. However, discerning the relationship between emotions and bodily functions has proven difficult due to the challenges in independently controlling the brain or body. Here we propose to develop biohybrid technologies that … Continued
Imaging science is a critical enabler of revolutionary scientific advances across disciplines. However, current imaging technologies face prohibitive trade-offs in resolution, penetration depth and experimental complexity. I envision a future where imaging science is unencumbered by these challenges. Here, I introduce “acoustoplasmonic metasurfaces” a new class of nanostructured materials to enable imaging at unprecedented resolution … Continued
Understanding the dynamics of energy carriers is crucial to processes ranging from photosynthesis to photovoltaics and batteries. While carriers in the equilibrium state are well studied, perturbation of carrier dynamics by multiple independent internal and external stimuli in energy conversion devices is not understood, thus limiting the potential of high-performance materials. I will tackle foundational … Continued
Carbon dioxide capture from the point of generation or the ambient environment is broadly recognized to play a key role in climate change mitigation. However, the incumbent methods are energy-intensive and fossil fuel-dependent. My research program aims to revolutionize the technological landscape for carbon capture by developing an entirely new mechanistic platform powered by renewable … Continued
The Li Group’s long term goal is to understand and develop new technologies (e.g. batteries) that will play a major role in renewable energy, sustainability, and global climate change, all of which represent grand challenges for the 21st century. To accomplish this, our research program pursues two main thrusts: (1) to develop state-of-the-art experimental tools … Continued
My group builds robots the size of microorganisms (10-100 um) with top-down nanofabrication. By perusing sophisticated machines that move, sense, and compute, we hope to achieve two goals. First, we want to develop a physics of living systems that can both describe biology and extend beyond it. Microscopic in size, these robots experience the same … Continued
Our group uses transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy to understand nanomaterials and devices at the atomic scale. Using recent advances in aberration-corrected electron microscopy, we aim to image the structure, bonding, electronic, optical properties of materials with unprecedented precision. This research aims to harness the incredible insights that can be obtained by … Continued
My team and I produce textile-based electronic devices that retain the comfort, breathability, and feel of everyday fabrics and garments. We develop vapor-phase coating chemistries to imperceptibly coat mass-produced threads and textiles or readily-available premade garments with a range of conjugated polymer materials. We then use traditional textile and garment manufacturing routines, such as weaving, … Continued