RESEARCH INTERESTS

The research in Cao’s Group is mainly focused on carbon nanomaterials and applications. We have fabricated the world’s smallest nanotube brushes, 3D porous carbon nanotube sponges and battery electrodes, and high efficiency CNT/Si heterojunction solar cells. In the future, we will continue to develop carbon nanomaterial-based high performance electronic and optoelectronic devices, thermally conductive/insulating as well as artificial muscle functional materials, next-generation energy conversion and storage systems and environmental materials. Along the road of carbon nanotubes, to explore, discover, and create.

EDUCATION

1996–2001, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University (Supervisor: Prof. Dehai Wu)

1991–1996, B.S., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2020-present, Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing China

2009-2019, Assistant Professor to Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing China

2005-2008, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, US

2002–2005, Postdoc, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Advisor: Prof. Pulickel M. Ajayan)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Y. Wu, B. Zhao, X. Zhao, L. Han, Y. Shang, Z. Niu,Y. Liang, X. Zhang, Z. Jiang, F. Li, A. Cao^*, Compressible, Gradient-Immersion, Regenerable Carbon Nanotube Sponges as High-Performance Lithium–Oxygen Battery Cathodes. Mater. Today 2022, 10.1016/j.mattod.2022.07.005

2. B. Zhao, Y. Wu, L. Han, Z. Xia, Q. Wang, S. Chang, B. Liu, G. Wang, Y. Shang, A. Cao*, Collective, Bifunctional 1D CNT/2D TMOH Hybrid Sponge as High-Capacity and Long-Cycle Li-O₂ Cathode. Energy Storage Mater. 2022, 50, 344-354.

3. S. Chang, H. Lou, W. Meng, M. Li, F. Guo, R. Pang, J. Xu, Y. Zhang, Y. Shang,* A. Cao.* Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Coaxial Cables with Strong Interface for Damping Composites and Stretchable Conductors. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 2112231.

4. Y. Guo, E. Shi, A. Cao,* J. Kong,* et al. Soft-Lock Drawing of Super-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Bundles for Nanometre Electrical Contacts. Nature Nanotechnology 2022, 17, 278-284.

5. Y. Wu, X. Zhao, Y. Shang, S. Chang, L. Dai, A. Cao.* Application-Driven Carbon Nanotube Functional Materials. ACS Nano 2021, 15, 7946-7974.