On March 3, 2024, Prof. Zhihong Nie from Fudan University, delivered a talk entitled "Construction of a Metasurface by Precise Self-Assembly" at the Lihu Campus of Shenzhen University. Prof. Zhihong Nie was invited by Dr. Yage Zhang from the School of Biomedical Engineering of Shenzhen University Medical School, to help mark the 99^th talk of the Shenzhen University Medicine Forum.

Professor Nie Zhihong first introduced the concept of metamaterials and metasurfaces, and spent time to elaborate on their rich applications. Here, he pointed out that the current processing and preparation of metasurfaces/metamaterials have long relied on top-down micro/nanofabrication techniques, which are high in cost and low in efficiency. While it is expected that bottom-up self-assembly techniques will be the solution to this dilemma in the future, how to achieve precise control over the position, structure, and orientation of self assembly is the challenge for the large-scale, low-cost construction of metasurfaces and metamaterials. After outlining this problem, Professor Nie Zhihong shared the universal solution proposed by his research group that is based on a method of nanoimprinting, which achieves high-precision, large-area patterned arrays of nanoparticles. He exemplified his work by sharing some recent data generated by his group based on using block polymers to drive precise directional bonding of nanoparticles, and the precise orientation assembly of nanoparticles aided by external fields such as magnetic fields, electric fields, capillary forces, and photothermal effects. In this way, his group have achieved the construction of flexible optical metamaterial films and other metasurface materials from zero-dimensional nanoparticles. Professor Nie Zhihong explained that these methods are simple to operate, cost-effective, and conducive to large-scale production. Finally, Professor Nie Zhihong shared his experience and insights into the industrialization transformation of core microsphere materials, which are urgently needed in fields such as biomedicine and advanced manufacturing. Professor Nie Zhihong's lecture was engaging and rich in content, leading our faculty and students through a series of cutting-edge research and achievements. He answered doubts regarding the self-assembly of metasurfaces (e.g., the chiral assembly of metal nanomaterials through polymer material templates) and shared his unique insights on the future research directions for the field. The lecture sparked lively discussions with the audience, which greatly benefited all students and faculty in attendance.

Brief introduction of the Speaker:

Nie Zhihong, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Polymer Science and the State Key Laboratory of Polymer Molecular Engineering at Fudan University. Before returning to China, he held a tenure-track position at the University of Maryland. He is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. His research explores the construction, functionalization, and application of self-assembled functional sequential materials, focusing on the atomic/molecular characteristics of polymer-grafted nanoparticles and the synergistic properties of their assembled materials. To date, he has published more than 150 academic papers in journals including Science and Nature Materials, which have been cited more than 21,000 times. One of his achievements was selected as one of "China's Top Ten Technological Advances" in 2020, and 14 of his achievements have been featured in key reports or special topics by Science, Nature, and other elite journals. He has received numerous honors, including a Career Award from the National Science Foundation of the United States, a 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in the UK.

Prof. Siping Chen presented Prof. Zhihong Nie with the "Shenzhen University Medicine Forum" Honorary Medal