Chen Weipeng, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2021 and conducted postdoctoral research at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences from 2021 to 2024. His research primarily focuses on the soft matter for smart ion transport. By leveraging the synergistic effects of ion channel structural changes and the different interfacial ion transfer energy barriers, he aims to achieve ion gating and tunable differential transport, developing applications in bioinspired energy conversion and multi-stage neural signal transduction. In recent years, he has led a postdoctoral project and participated as a key technical member in two national key R&D projects. He has published over 10 papers as the first or corresponding author in top journals such as Science, J. Am. Chem. Soc., and Adv. Mater.

Education

Ph.D.     September 2018 - June 2021

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Master     September 2015 - June 2018

Hainan University, China

Bachelor      September 2011 - June 2015

Hainan University, China

Working and Research Experience

Research Assistant Professor    July 2024 - Now

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology

Postdoctoral Research Fellow     July 2021 - March 2024

Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Research Interests

(1) Dynamic micro-nano channels based on soft matter

(2) Transduction and transmission of neural signals

(3) Bioinspired salinity gradient energy conversion

Representative Publications

1. Weipeng Chen, Ke Zhou, Zhixin Wu, Linsen Yang, Yahui Xie, Xue Meng, Ziguang Zhao*, and Liping Wen*. Ion-concentration-hopping heterolayer gel for ultrahigh gradient energy conversion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146(19), 13191-13200.

2. Weipeng Chen, Linxin Zhai, Suli Zhang, Ziguagn Zhao*, Yuhao Hu, Yun Xiang, Huirong Liu, Zhiping Xu, Lei Jiang, and Liping Wen*. Cascade-heterogated biphasic gel iontronics for electronic-to-multi-ionic signal transmission. Science 2023, 382(6670), 559-565.

3. Yanglansen Cui#, Weipeng Chen#, Weiwen Xin, Haoyang Ling, Yuhao Hu, Zhehua Zhang, Xiaofeng He, Yong Zhao, Xiang‐Yu Kong, Liping Wen*, and Lei Jiang. Gradient quasi‐solid electrolyte enables selective and fast ion transport for robust aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. Adv. Mater. 2023, 36(06), 2308639.

4. Zhehua Zhang, Teng Zhou, Xiang-Yu Kong, Yadong Wu, Weiwen Xin, Yanglansen Cui, Linsen Yang, Tingyang Li, Xin Li, Qingchen Wang, Weipeng Chen*, Lei Jiang, and Liping Wen*. Temperature difference-enhanced salinity gradient energy conversion enabled by thermostable hydrogel membrane with antiswelling property. Nano Res. 2023, 16(8), 11288-11295.

5. Weipeng Chen, Tiandu Dong, Yun Xiang, Yongchao Qian, Xiaolu Zhao, Weiwen Xin, Xiang-Yu Kong, Lei Jiang, and Liping Wen*. Ionic crosslinking-induced nanochannels: nanophase separation for ion transport promotion. Adv. Mater. 2022, 34(03), 2108410.

6. Weipeng Chen, Yun Xiang, Xiang-Yu Kong, and Liping Wen*. Polymer-based membranes for promoting osmotic energy conversion. Giant 2022, 10, 100094.

7. Weipeng Chen, Qin Wang, Jianjun Chen, Qianru Zhang, Yongchao Qian, Congcong Zhu, Linsen Yang, Yuanyuan Zhao, Xiang-Yu Kong*, Lei Jiang, and Liping Wen*. Improved ion transport and high energy conversion through hydrogel membrane with 3D interconnected nanopores. Nano Lett. 2020, 20(08), 5705-5713.

8. Weipeng Chen, Qianru Zhang, Yongchao Qian, Weiwen Xin, Dezhao Hao, Xiaolu Zhao, Congcong Zhu, Xiang-Yu Kong, Benzhuo Lu, Lei Jiang, and Liping Wen*. Improved ion transport in hydrogel-based nanofluidics for osmotic energy conversion. ACS Cent. Sci. 2020, 06(11), 2097-2104.  

9. Weipeng Chen, Dezhao Hao, Xinglin Guo*, Wanjun Hao*, and Lei Jiang. Preventing diatom adhesion using a hydrogel with an orthosilicic acid analog as a deceptive food. J. Mater. Chem. A 2018, 06(39): 19125-19132.

10. Wei-Peng Chen, De-Zhao Hao, Wan-Jun Hao*, Xing-Lin Guo*, and Lei Jiang. Hydrogel with ultrafast self-healing property both in air and underwater. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 10(01), 1258-1265.