Tel: +86-21-6779-2975
Email: zgchen@dhu.edu.cn
Homepage: http://pilab.dhu.edu.cn/zgchen/
1. Education Experience
(1) Sep. 1998—Jul. 2002: B.S. Candidate in Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University
(2) Sep. 2002—Jul. 2005: M.S. Candidate in Institute of Nano-science and Technology, Central China Normal University. Advisor: Prof. Yiwen Tang
(3) Sep. 2005—Jun. 2008: Ph.D. candidate in Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University. Advisor: Prof. Chunhui Huang
2. Working Experience
(1) Jul. 2008—Aug. 2010 Lecturer, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University
(2) Oct. 2008—Dec. 2009 Humboldt Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Germany (Advisor: Prof. Dayang Wang and Helmuth Möhwald)
(3) Sep. 2010—Aug. 2013 Associate Professor, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University
(4) Jul. 2015—Feb. 2016 Visiting Professor in Prof. Xiaogang LIU group, National University of Singapore
(5) Sep. 2012—Jul. 2013 Visiting scholar in Prof. Dongyuan ZHAO group, Fudan University.
(6) Sep. 2013—Now Professor, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University
3. Main research field
(1) Photothermal nanomaterials and fibrous membranes for biomedical applications (e.g., cancer theranostics, wound healing, brain-computer interfaces).
(2) Photothermal fibrous membranes for solar energy utilization, seawater desalination, and related fields.
(3) Photochromic fibrous membranes for smart wearable devices.
(4) Functional fibrous membranes with high-temperature resistance and sound absorption/noise reduction properties.
(5) Nanophotocatalytic materials and their applications in wastewater purification and organic catalytic reactions.
4. Major research achievements:
The research has focused on the development of light-converting nanomaterials and functional fibrous membranes, exploring their applications in biomedicine, energy, catalysis, seawater desalination, and related fields. Until June 2026, over 240 SCI-indexed papers have been published in journals such as Chem. Soc. Rev., Adv. Mater., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Adv. Funct. Mater., ACS Nano, and Biomaterials, among which more than 80 papers have an impact factor greater than 10. The total number of citations exceeds 23000, with over 22000 non-self citations; the H-index is 71. The researcher has been repeatedly named as Highly Cited Researcher globally and Highly Cited Chinese Researcher.
5 Selected Representative Publications (updated on Jun. 2026)
[1] Zhigang Chen, Huili Chen, He Hu, Mengxiao Yu, Fuyou Li*, Qiang Zhang, Zhiguo Zhou, Tao Yi, Chunhui Huang*. Versatile synthesis strategy for carboxylic acid-functionalized upconverting nanophosphors as biological labels. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2008,130, 3023. (Link)
[2] Zhigang Chen*, et al. 980-nm laser-driven photovoltaic cells based on rare-earth up-converting phosphors for biomedical applications. Advanced Functional Materials, 2009, 19, 3815. (Link)
[3] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Hydrophilic flower-like CuS superstructures as an efficient 980 nm laser-driven photothermal agent for ablation of cancer cells. Advanced Materials, 2011, 23, 3542. (Link)
[4] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Flexible fiber-shaped CuInSe2 solar cells with single-wire-structure: Design, construction and performance. Nano Energy, 2012, 1, 769. (Link)
[5] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Ultrathin PEGylated W18O49 Nanowires as a New 980 nm-Laser-Driven Photothermal Agent for Efficient Ablation of Cancer Cells In Vivo. Advanced Materials, 2013, 25, 2095. (Link)
[6] Zhigang Chen*, et al. NIR-laser-switched in-vivo smart nanocapsules for synergic photothermal-chemo-therapy of tumor. Advanced Materials, 2016, 28, 245. (Link)
[7]Zhigang Chen*, et al. Design and Synthesis of “All-in-One” Multifunctional FeS2 Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance and Near-Infrared Imaging Guided Photothermal Therapy of Tumors. Advanced Functional Materials, 2016, 26, 8231. (Link)
[8] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Growth of C3N4 nanosheets on carbon-fiber cloth as flexible and macroscale filter-membrane-shaped photocatalyst for degrading the flowing wastewater. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2017, 219, 425. (Link)
[9] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Thiol-capped Bi nanoparticles as stable and all-in-one type theranostic nanoagents for tumor imaging and thermoradiotherapy.Biomaterials, 2018, 161, 279. (Link)
[10] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Continuously Producing Watersteam and Concentrated Brine from Seawater by Hanging Photothermal Fabrics under Sunlight. Advanced Functional Materials, 2019, 29, 1905485. (Link)
[11] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Biocompatible Fe-Hematoporphyrin coordination nanoplatforms with efficient sonodynamic-chemo effects on deep-seated tumors. Biomaterials, 2020, 257, 120239. (Link)
[12]Zhigang Chen*, et al. Hierarchical Photothermal Fabrics with Low Evaporation Enthalpy as Heliotropic Evaporators for Efficient, Continuous, Salt-Free Desalination. ACS Nano, 2021, 15, 13007.(Link)
[13] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Transforming a Sword into a Knife: Persistent Phototoxicity Inhibition and Alternative Therapeutical Activation of Highly-Photosensitive Phytochlorin.ACS Nano, 2021, 15, 19793. (Link)
[14] Zhigang Chen*, et al. On-demand assembly of polymeric nanoparticles for longer-blood-circulation and disassembly in tumor for boosting sonodynamic therapy. Bioactive Materials,2022, 18, 242. (Link)
[15] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Janus Nanofiber Membranes with Photothermal-Enhanced Biofluid Drainage and Sterilization for Diabetic Wounds.Advanced Functional Materials, 2024, 34, 2315020. (Link)
[16] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Biomimetic polymeric nanoreactors with photooxidation-initiated therapies and reinvigoration of antigen-dependent and antigen-free immunity. Biomaterials, 2025, 314, 122884. (Link)
[17] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Multifunctional nanozymes for sonodynamic-enhanced immune checkpoint blockade therapy by inactivating PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Biomaterials, 2025, 318, 123125. (Link)
[18] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Biomimetic Design of Photothermal/Electrothermal Fabric Composed of Carbon-Core /Nanorod-Array-Shell Fibers for Efficient All-Weather Seawater Evaporation. Advanced Functional Materials, 2025, 35, 2423472. (Link)
[19] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Photothermal fabrics for solar-driven seawater desalination.Progress in Materials Science, 2025, 150, 101407. (Link)
[20] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Biomimetic Design of Breathable 2D Photothermal Fabric with Three-Layered Structure for Efficient Four-Plane Evaporation of Seawater. Advanced Materials, 2025, 37, 2420482. (Link)
[21] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Sequential Magneto-Activation Platforms Break Multiple Cellular Defenses to Potentiate Mildthermal-Oxidative-Immunotherapeutics. Advanced Functional Materials, 2026, 36, e20668. (Link)
[22] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Hydrogel Fiber Evaporator with Vertical Channels Integrated with Dual Heat Supply/Insulation Model for Continuous Solar Desalination.Nano-Micro Letters, 2026, 18, 261. (Link)
[23] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Nature-Inspired Upward Hanging Evaporator with Photothermal 3D Spacer Fabric for Zero-Liquid-Discharge Desalination.Nano-Micro Letters, 2026, 18, 22. (Link)
[24] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Cactus Thorn-Inspired Janus Nanofiber Membranes as a Water Diode for Light-Enhanced Diabetic Wound Healing.Nano-Micro Letters, 2026, 18, 101. (Link)
[25] Zhigang Chen*, et al. Self-Pumping Janus Membranes for Calcium Delivery in Diabetic Wound Healing. Advanced Functional Materials,2026, 36, e00053. (Link)