Zhenan BaoAs selected by the Editors of Materials Today , we are delighted to announce that the 2022 Materials Today Innovation Award will be presented to Prof. Zhenan Bao (Stanford University) for her contributions to (i) the development of flexible organic electronics (incl. skin-like displays and circuits) and (ii) revolutionizing human machine interactions, including non-invasive health monitoring and stimulating devices.
Dr. Zhenan Bao is K.K. Lee Professor of Chemical Engineering & Chair, Dept of Chemical Engineering and by courtesy, Professor of Chemistry & Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University. She received her MS (1993) and PhD (1995) from University of Chicago, IL.
Prof. Bao is an established world-leader in the field of organic electronics. Her pioneering work has launched a new field of skin-inspired organic electronics. She is the key figure in setting the vision of this field, and subsequently leading with her breakthrough conceptual chemical and engineering developments. Her work in new materials, next-generation sensors and electronics that will benefit our daily lives through revolutionizing human machine interactions, for instance, non-invasive health monitoring devices and skin-like displays and circuits. Novel applications enabled by the skin-like electronic materials include ultra-thin flexible displays; a new type of implantable electronics that was able to ‘grow’ along with organ that can monitor organs’ health and operation; stretchable neurotransmitter devices that can both sensors & stimulate various organs, etc. She has published >700 peer-reviewed papers, total citation ~137,800, with an H-index of 192 and was selected as Clarivate Citation Laurate in Chemistry category, 2022.
Prof. Bao’s research contributed to several impressive commercialization projects. She is the co-founder for C3 Nano (that develops transparent conductive films for touchscreen displays) and the co-founder for PyrAmes (that develops blood pressure monitoring). Moreover, the research from her lab also resulted in a Flexible Display startup Royole in 2012 that introduced the world’s thinnest (10 micron) full-color flexible display in 2014.
Bao has a strong track record for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and mentorship. She is the member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences (elected 2021), the foreign member of Chinese Academy of Science (elected 2021), the member of National Academy of Inventors (elected 2017) and National Academy of Engineering (elected 2016).
The Materials Today Innovation Award recognizes “monumental” work, which has opened a new, significant field of research and resulted in impactful, practical applications. Previous winners include Prof M Stanley Whittingham (Institute for Materials Research and the Materials Science and Engineering program at Binghamton University), Prof Russell Dupuis (Georgia Tech), Prof Michael Grätzel (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) and Prof Yury Gogotsi for their work on lithium-ion batteries, MO-CVD, solar energy conversion and inorganic nanomaterials, respectively.
Prof Zhenan Bao (2nd from left) is presented with the 2022 Materials Today Innovation Award by Editors-in-Chief of Materials Today, Prof Jun Lou (left) and Prof Gleb Yushin (2nd from right), and Daniel Staemmler (right), managing publisher.