Principal Investigator
I am Yao Lu, a Lecturer in Chemistry at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). I have broad interests in functional materials, and I am very keen to collaborate with both academic and industry to develop and transfer new knowledge and technology.
Career Summary
08/2019 – Present Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 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.
- 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)
- X. Zhang, B. Ding, R. Cheng*, S. C. Dixon, Y. Lu*, Computational intelligence assisted understanding of nature-inspired superhydrophobic behavior, Adv. Sci. 2018, 5, 1700520.
- J. Liu*, H. Guo, M. Li, C. Zhang, Y. Chu, L. Che, Z. Zhang, R. Li, J. Sun, Y. Lu*, Photolithography-assisted precise patterning of nanocracks for ultrasensitive strain sensors, J. Mater. Chem. A 2021, 9, 4262–4272.
Selected Interviews
- 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 vestiti
- EPSRC: Self-cleaning surfaces for windows, cars, clothes…
- Advanced Science News: Artificial Intelligence Models New Functional Materials
Selected Prizes and Awards
- 06/2017 Winner of Bayer Open Science Start-up Pitch at 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Chemistry.
- 06/2017 Qualification in a global competition among young scientists worldwide to participate in the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Chemistry.
- 03/2016 Chinese government award for outstanding self-financed students abroad.
- 09/2013 UCL Oversea Research Scholarship.
Academic Activities
- 11/2020 – Present Honorary Reader of Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
- 04/2020 – Present Editorial Board Member of Transactions of Tianjin University.
- 10/2020 – Present Executive Committee Member. Doctoral competition in the Doctoral Forum of Chinese Students and Scholars Association, UK.
- 03/2018 – Present Executive Committee Member. Doctoral Researcher Awards of Association of British Turkish Academics (ABTA), UK.
Yao Lu 