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Welcome to our research lab Smart Materials and Interfaces Lab (SMILe) at USTC, where we are at the forefront of developing smart materials and surfaces/interfaces through multidisciplinary approaches.

Functional Surfaces

Addressing the critical industrial demands in fields such as self-cleaning surfaces and robotic adhesion, our research achieves effective control over interfacial friction and adhesion behaviors by regulating the geometric morphology and chemical structure of material surfaces, alongside a systematic analysis of the involved tribological mechanisms. The related investigations span multiple aspects, including the photo-/electro-responsive tribological properties of coatings, temporal memory control of surface topography, and the adhesion mechanisms between clay and polymer chains. Devices and products developed based on these findings have been successfully applied in practical scenarios such as self-cleaning photovoltaic modules and controllable grasping for underwater robots.

Soft Robots based on Physical Intelligence

Soft robots exhibit highly adaptable postures and remote controllability, providing advanced robotic systems with enhanced flexibility in movement and manipulation. By leveraging Physical Intelligence, these robots achieve real-time environmental perception, intelligent actuation, and autonomous decision-making, thereby facilitating systematic investigation into the fundamental principles and core technologies of intelligent soft robotics. Our research focuses on smart materials—such as liquid crystal polymers and magnetic polymers—comprehensively exploring their deformation mechanisms, interfacial interactions, and control strategies under external field stimulation (e.g., magnetic or optical fields). These advancements demonstrate broad application potential in areas such as minimally invasive surgery, environmental sensing, and human-machine interaction.