The Small.
The Big.
The Living.

Nanoscale fascinating
Geoscale feasible
Living, Adapative and Functional

We connect nanoscale science and large-scale feasibility to address challanges in energy, water, enviroment, and devices

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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

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THE SMALL

NANOSCALE SCIENCE

We uncover and control natural materials at the nanoscale to understand and manipulate their interactions with light, heat, ions, water, and molecules.

Selected Publications

Li, T. et al. Developing fibrillated cellulose as a sustainable technological material. Nature 590, 47–56 (2021).

Li, T. et al. Cellulose ionic conductors with high differential thermal voltage for low-grade heat harvesting. Nature Materials 18, 608–613 (2019).

Li, T. et al. A nanofluidic ion regulation membrane with aligned cellulose nanofibers. Science Advances 5, eaav4238 (2019).

Dong, Q. et al. A cellulose-derived supramolecule for fast ion transport. Science Advances 8, eabl9927 (2022).

Deng, P. et al. Self-powered smart textile based on dynamic Schottky diode for human–machine interactions. Advanced Science 10, 2207298 (2023).
Li, T., et al. Thermoelectric properties and performance of flexible reduced graphene oxide films up to 3,000 K. Nature Energy 3(2), 148–156 (2018).

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THE BIG

LARGE-SCALE FEASIBILITY

We translate nanoscale understanding into scalable, manufacturable, and deployable technologies for buildings, water, energy, environment, and wearable devices.

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Selected Publications

Li, T. et al. A radiative cooling structural material. Science 364, 6442 (2019).
Li, T. et al. Anisotropic, lightweight, strong, and super thermally insulating nanowood with naturally aligned nanocellulose. Science Advances 4, eaap3724 (2018).
Li, T. et al. Wood composite as an energy efficient building material: guided sunlight transmittance and effective thermal insulation. Advanced Energy Materials 6, 1502298 (2016).
Zhang, Y. et al. Atmospheric water harvesting via radiative cooling fabric. Nano Letters 22, 2618–2626 (2022).
Du, F. et al. In-situ Ceramic Nanoparticle Assembly within Wood Microstructure for Strong, Tough, and Resilient Ceramic Wood. Nature Communications (2026)

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THE LIVING

LIVING METAMATERIALS

We develop mycelium as a living metamaterial platform where biological growth and activity become design variables for adaptive and active functions.

Selected Publications

Cheng, Q., et al. Self-Grown Mycelium in Confined Geometries as Nanofluidic Devices. Nature Communications (2026)
Liu, X., et al. Living mycelium biomulch for directed atmospheric water capture and soil irrigation. Nature Water (2026)

Xia, B., et al. Living Co-culture Fabrication for Biologically Crosslinked Mycelium–Cellulose Hydrogels and Films. Nature Communications, in revision
Deng, P., et al. Adhesive-free asymmetric mycelium bilayers via living self-assembly. Nature Communications, in revision
Hong, S., et al. MycoTronics: Harnessing Living Mycelium Hydrogel Substrates for Sustainable Electronics. Nature Communications, in review