High-Performance Light-/Heat-Regulation Materials by Associate Professor Zhang Rufan

04 May 2026 02.30 PM - 03.30 PM MSE E-Studio (N4.1-B2-02) Alumni, Current Students

NTU MSE Seminar Hosted by Nanyang Assistant Professor Wu Ronghui

Abstract

The development of high-performance, low-energy-consumption light-/heat-regulation technologies is of great significance for achieving efficient building energy conservation and outdoor personal thermal management. Active electrochromic technology and passive radiative cooling technology are two types of widely studied light-/heat-regulation approaches, both of which exhibit distinct advantages and promising application prospects. Currently, to enable large-scale applications of electrochromic and radiative cooling technologies, several challenges must be addressed, including structural control of materials, cost reduction, mass production, overcoming performance limitations, and achieving multifunctionality. In recent years, our research team has conducted extensive work on high-performance electrochromic materials and radiative cooling materials. We have developed a series of advanced light-/heat-regulation materials and explored their potential applications in building energy efficiency, automotive energy conservation, and human thermal management.

Keywords: Photothermal regulation, Radiative cooling, thermal management, electrochromic, energy-saving.

References

  1. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Nature Sustainability, 2023, 6, 1446–1454.
  2. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Nature Communications, 2024, 15: 815.
  3. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Energy & Environmental Science, 2025, 18 (4), 24-1834.
  4. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Energy & Environmental Science, 2025,18, 10088-10101.
  5. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Advanced Materials, 2025, 202505012.
  6. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Advanced Functional Materials, 2025, 35, 202419378.
  7. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Advanced Functional Materials, 2024, doi: 10.1002/adfm.202500122
  8. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Advanced Functional Materials, 2025, 35, 2419357.
  9. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Nano Letters, 2024, 24 (47), 15178-15185.
  10. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Nano Letters, 2024, 24 (46), 14854-14861.
  11. Rufan Zhang*, et al., Nano Letters, 2022, 22(9), 3713–3720.
  12. Rufan Zhang*, et al., ACS Nano, 2025, 19 (1), 826-836.

Biography
Dr Zhang Rufan, Associate Professor
Tsinghua University 

Prof. Rufan Zhang is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University. His research interests focus on carbon nanomaterials and light-/heat-regulation materials. Dr. Zhang published more than 149 peer-reviewed papers on prestigious journals such as Science, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, Nano Letters, ACS Nano, etc. Prof. Zhang has won many awards such as the Chinese Society of Particuology Natural Science and Technology Award - First Price (2024), China National Textile and Apparel Council Science and Technology Award - Second Prize in Natural Science (2024), Red Avenue Innovator Award (2024), 2022 Emerging Investigators of Particuology (2024), MIT Technology Review "35 Innovators Under 35"-China (2018), Young Chemistry Award of Chinese Chemical Society (2018), First Prize of the Natural Science Awards of Ministry of Education of China (2016), Dimitris N Chorafas Foundation Award of Switzerland (2015), etc.

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