Principal Investigator
Our mission is to empower every surface to clean itself, through precision engineering at micro, nano, and molecular scales. Our technology aims to conserve energy and combat global environmental challenges, to deliver a sustainable future where materials and nature thrive in harmony.
We are hosting a conference “2nd International Meeting on Wetting and Carbon Neutralisation (IMWCN 2025)” to find out new solutions to tackle the global Net Zero challenges by exploiting the knowledge of wetting, and new technologies in functional surfaces/coatings and advanced materials. The meeting is now calling for abstract submission and we look forward to your contribution.
Career Summary
08/2023 – Present Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), London, UK.
08/2019 – 07/2023 Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), London, UK.
04/2017 – 07/2019 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK.
Education
09/2013 – 03/2017 PhD in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University College London, London, UK.
09/2010 – 06/2013 Master of Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
Key Publications (Google Scholar)
- Y. Lu, S. Sathasivam, J. Song, C. R. Crick, C. J. Carmalt, I. P. Parkin, Robust self-cleaning surfaces that function when exposed to either air or oil, Science 2015, 347, 1132–1135.
- J. Li, X. Qiao, B. He, Y. Zhang, S. Pal, L. Sun, M. Bilal, Z. Su, X. Gao, J. Briscoe, I. Abrahams, M. Li*, Z. Li*, Y. Lu*, Biomass-derived functional additive for highly efficient and stable lead halide perovskite solar cells with built-in lead immobilisation, Energy Environ. Sci. 2025, 18, 5632-5642.
- L. Sun, Q. Zhao, L. Che, M. Li, X. Leng, Y. Long, Y. Lu*, Multi-stimuli-responsive weldable bilayer actuator with programmable patterns and 3D shapes, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2024, 34, 2311398.
- X. Yang, K. Zhuang, Y. Lu*, X. Wang*, Creation of topological ultra-slippery surfaces for droplet motion control, ACS Nano 2021, 15, 2589–2599. (Featured on issue supplementary cover)
- F. Chen, Y. Wang, Y. Tian,* D. Zhang, J. Song,* C. R. Crick, C. J. Carmalt, I. P. Parkin, Y. Lu*, Robust and durable liquid-repellent surfaces, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2022, 51, 8476-8583. (Featured on issue outside front cover)
Selected Media Highlights
- Reuters: New self-cleaning paint offers stain and damage-free future
- Daily Mail: Never clean your house again! Super water-resistant spray stops grime, germs and dust from sticking to ANY surface
- Washington Post: New paint makes crazy waterproof surfaces (and gorgeous artwork)
- NBC News: Chemists Use Nanoparticles in Tough, Self-Cleaning Paint
- Independent: Revolutionary new self-clean coating could spell the end of washdays
- Welt der Physik: Selbstreinigende Farbe wird kratzfest
- Le Scienze: Una vernice superidrofobica per auto e vestitiEPSRC: Self-cleaning surfaces for windows, cars, clothes…
- Advanced Science News: Artificial Intelligence Models New Functional Materials
Selected Prizes and Awards
- Winner of Bayer Open Science Start-up Pitch at 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Chemistry.
- Qualification in a global competition among young scientists worldwide to participate in the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Chemistry.
- Chinese government award for outstanding self-financed students abroad.
- Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK national teaching recognition.
- UCL Oversea Research Scholarship.
Academic Activities
- 04/2025 – Present Lindau Alumni Reviewer for the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.
- 11/2022 – Present Accreditation Evaluator of national qualifications for Malta Further & Higher Education, Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).
- 09/2022 – Present Founding Editor, Section Editor-in-Chief: Physical Sciences & Engineering of International Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
- 02/2022 – Present Associate Editor of Droplet (Wiley).
- 04/2020 – Present Editorial Board Member of Transactions of Tianjin University (Springer).
- 03/2018 – Present Executive Committee Member. Doctoral Researcher Awards of Association of British Turkish Academics (ABTA), UK.
Yao Lu 