Academic Profile : Faculty

Chen Xiaodong.jpg picture
Prof Chen Xiaodong
Professor, School of Materials Science & Engineering
President’s Chair in Materials Science and Engineering
Professor, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (Courtesy Appointment)
Deputy Director, Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS)
External Links
 
Professor Chen Xiaodong is the President’s Chair Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, Professor of Chemistry (by courtesy) and Professor of Medicine (by courtesy) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU). He is the Director of Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX) at NTU and the Director of Max Planck – NTU Joint Lab for Artificial Senses.

He received his B.S. degree (Honours) in chemistry from Fuzhou University, China, in 1999, M.S. degree (Honours) in physical chemistry from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2002, and PhD degree (Summa Cum Laude) in biochemistry from the University of Münster, Germany, in 2006. After his postdoctoral fellow training at Northwestern University, USA, he joined NTU as a National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellow and Nanyang Assistant Professor (NAP) in 2009 in (MSE).  He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2013, and Full Professor in 2016.

Professor Chen’s research focuses on developing soft materials for the applications in flexible devices, energy storage, and healthcare.  His research topics cover interactive materials and devices, integrated nano-bio interface, and cyber-human interfaces and systems. So far, he has published over 280 high profiled articles in Nature Nano, Nature Electronics, Nature Chemistry, Nature Communications, Angewandte Chemie, JACS, Advanced Materials, and so on. His research work was highlighted by more than 100 local and overseas’ media. Professor Chen’s research work on generating industrial impact is evident from his more 50 filed/grant patents, nine of which had been licensed for commercial development, and more than 5 projects with industry. He is also the co-founder of a spin-off company, Quickcharge Pte Ltd, commercializing cutting-edge energy storage technology. 
 
Professor Chen’s achievement in research and innovation was recognized nationally and internationally with his many awards, namely the Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, Singapore NRF Investigatorship, Small Young Innovator Award, Singapore NRF Fellowship, Nanyang Research Award, Lubrizol Young Materials Science Investigator Award, Mitsui Chemicals-SNIC Industry Award in Materials and Nano-chemistry, and Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
 
Professor Chen exhibits strong student mentorship and supervision. He teaches undergraduate courses and students commended him as a passionate teacher.  More than 10 URECA, FYP, and PhD students have won different awards under his supervision. Among the PhD students and research fellows he supervised, more than 40 of them have secured academic position at different universities after training. As another evidence to his outstanding mentoring and supervising, he was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award by the School in 2013, 2016 and 2017, respectively.
 
Professor Chen served as Assistant Chair (Graduate Studies) at MSE in 2014-2016 and Associate Chair (Faculty) at MSE in 2016-2018. He initiated the MSE-Colloquium@NTU, which is a monthly event where distinguished scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and publishing editors are invited to give presentations to MSE PhD students and staff. In addition, he serves as a member to various committees at the school, college and university level. He was recognised by Singapore Ministry of Education for Service to Education Award in 2020.

Finally, he is actively involved in services to the global scientific community.  For instance, he has organized more than 10 international research symposia and workshops. Currently, he is an Associate Editor of ACS Materials Letters. He also is the member of editorial advisory board of Advanced Materials, ACS Nano, Small, Small Methods, Advanced Materials Technology, Advanced Intelligent Systems, Batteries & Supercaps, Materials Today Energy, ACS Applied Bio Materials, Nanoscale Horizons, Nanoscale, Nanoscale Advances, Small Structure and Analysis & Sensing.
Currently, Prof. Chen's research focuses on two directions:
(1) Integrated nano-bio interface: to develop programmable nanostructure-biomaterial hybrid systems for monitoring, manipulating, and mimicking biological processes.
(2) Programmable materials for energy conversion: to explore programmable modules for electrochemical energy conversion and storage.
 
  • Project 7 - Multi-mode Sensing Array for Soft Gripper
  • Project 9 - Computational Control and Design Approaches for Soft Robot Grippers
  • WP2: Scent Digitalization and Computation (SDC) - PI: Prof Chen Xiaodong
  • Scent Digitalization and Computation (SDC)
  • Developing biocompatible thin-film neural interfaces
  • A Flexible Optoacoustic Blood Stethoscope for Non-invasive Multiparametric Cardiovascular Monitoring
  • Addressing Challenges of Zn Aqueous Batteries for Stationary Energy Storage and Carbon Neutrality
  • IDMxS - Education Budget
  • IDMxS - Translation
  • Thrust 2- "Functional Materials, Processing & Sensors” under Singapore Hybrid-Integrated Next-Generation μ-Electronics (SHINE) Centre (NRF portion)
  • Thrust 2- "Functional Materials, Processing & Sensors” under Singapore Hybrid-Integrated Next-Generation μ-Electronics (SHINE) Centre (DSO portion)
  • IDMxS PI Account - Chen Xiaodong
  • IDMxS PI Accounts - All
  • Soft interconnects in stretchable electronic devices: overcoming the Achilles’ Heel for extensive deployment
  • BLISS: Beyond Liquids with In-Situ Solid-state Surficial Sensorics
  • WP1: Solvation-Diffusion- Adhesive Interface for Solid-state Analytes on Soft Surface (Co-PI: Prof Chen Xiaodong)
  • President's Chair in Materials Science and Engineering (Chen Xiaodong)
  • Ultra-Sensitive Stretchable Sensors for Advanced Muscle and Nerve Monitoring in Rehabilitation and Prosthetics
  • Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS)
  • Validation of the Scale up Process for Keratin Stratum Corneum Mimic
  • Artificial Intelligence for Complex Electrochemical Systems
US 2018/0292279 A1: Pressure Sensing Electronic Device, Methods Of Forming And Operating The Same (2020)
Abstract: Various embodiments may provide a pressure sensing electronic device. The electronic device may include a tactile sensor configured to determine an external pressure. The electronic device may also include a memory device electrically coupled to the tactile sensor. The memory device may be configured to switch from a first state to a second state upon the external pressure determined by the tactile sensor exceeding a predetermined threshold when a writing current flows through the tactile sensor and the memory device.

US 2020/0277184 A1: 3D-Structured Sensors Having Stretchable Multi-Functional Tactile Electronic Hairs (2023)
Abstract: A sensor comprising a support and a flexible structure arranged on the support is provided. The flexible structure comprises a frustum-shaped portion having a wider end and a narrower end, wherein the wider end of the frustum-shaped portion is arranged proximal to the support, and an elongated portion extending from the narrower end of the frustum-shaped portion, wherein the flexible structure further comprises a stretchable conducting film arranged on the frustum-shaped portion. A method of preparing such a sensor is also provided.
Courses Taught
D8628 Social Implications of Disruptive Technologies