Prof. Tao XIE's Group

Education and Work Experience

2013 - Present    Qiushi Chair Professor, College of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Zhejiang University, China
2012 - 2013         Senior Chief Research Scientist, HRL Laboratories, USA
2006 - 2012         Chief Research Scientist, General Motors Global Research & Development Center, USA.
2001 - 2006         Senior Research Scientist, General Motors Global Research & Development Center, USA.
1997 - 2001         Ph. D. in Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
1996 - 1997         M. S. in Chemistry, University of Louvain, Belgium
1993 - 1996         M. S. in Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Zhejiang University, China
1989 - 1993         B. S. in Chemistry, Zhejiang University, China

Research Activities
1. Shape memory polymer, liquid crystalline elastomers, responsive hydrogels;
2. Dynamic covalent polymer networks;
3. 3D/4D printing.

Awards
2019   Wang Baoren award for outstanding contribution to fundamental polymer science (Chinese Chemical Society);

2013   R&D 100 award for reversible dry adhesive system (R&D Magzine);

2011   Innovations that could change the way you manufacture, for Solid based high strength reversible dry adhesives (Society of Manufacturing Engineering);
2011   Campbell award, for outstanding contribution to the fundamentals of chemical durability of fuel cell membrane (the highest scientific award General Motors Company);
2010   Patent milestone award (General Motors Company);
2001   Omnova award (outstanding research at Silvio O. Conte National Center for Polymer Research, UMass Amherst).

Honors and Selected Media Coverage

Nature Highlight: Self-folding origami master, 2016
Science News: New material can fold itself into hundreds of shapes, 2016
Nature Cover Highlight: Shape memory polymer: Four is better than one, 2010
MIT Tech Review: Super Velcro, 2010
MIT Tech Review: Teaching an old polymer memory tricks, 2010
Royal Society of Chemistry Chemistry World: Shape shifting polymers, 2010
ACS Chemical & Engineering News: Quadruple shape shifter, 2010
Physicsorg.com: Polymers remember four shapes, 2010
Science News: Polymer shifts shape with changing temperature, 2010
Softpedia: GM experts create remarkable adhesive, 2010
Tech News Daily: Heat sensitive material remembers four shapes, 2010
Featured scientist on GM external website
Inside Cover Art for Advanced Materials, 2011
Front Cover Art for Polymer, 2011

Services

Associate Editor, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Principal Editor, Journal of Materials Research
Symposium organizer, American Chemical Society Meeting (PMSE division), spring 2013
Symposium session organizer and chair, International Symposium of Stimuli-Responsive Materials, Oct 2012
Symposium organizer, Materials Society Meeting, fall 2011
Session chair, Materials Society Meeting, fall 2010
Journal Reviewer for Nature, Science, Nature Materials, Nature Chemistry etc.

Selected Recent Publications

1. Xie T,* Tunable polymer multi-shape memory effect. Nature, 2010, 464, 267. Highlighted by MIT Tech Review, C&E news, Chemistry world, New Scientist, MRS 369, C&I news, Science News, Tech News Daily, and others.

2. Fang MQ, Liu T, Xu Y, Jin BJ, Zheng N,* Zhao Q, Jia Z,* Xie T.* Ultrafast digital fabrication of designable architectured liquid crystalline elastomer. Adv. Mater., 2021, 2105597.

3. Peng WJ, Zhang GG, Zhao  Q, Xie T.* Autonomous off-equilibrium morphing pathways of a supramolecular shape-memory polymer. Adv. Mater., 2021, 33, 2102473.

4. Xu Y, Li Y, Zheng N*, Zhao Q, Xie T.* Transparent origami glass. Nat. Commun., 2021, 12, 4261.

5. Zheng N, Xu Y, Zhao Q, Xie T.*  Dynamic covalent polymer networks: A molecular platform for designing functions beyond chemical recycling and self-healing. Chem. Rev., 2021, 121, 1716.

6. Miao WS, Zou WK, Jin BJ, Ni CJ, Zheng N, Zhao Q, Xie T.*  On demand shape memory polymer via light regulated topological defects in a dynamic covalent network. Nat. Commun., 2020, 11, 4257.

7. Zou WK,# Jin BJ,# Wu Y, Song HJ, Luo YW, Huang FH, Qian J, Zhao Q,* Xie T.* Light-triggered topological programmability in a dynamic covalent polymer network. Sci. Adv., 2020, 6, eaaz2362.

8. Deng SH, Wu JJ,* Dickey MD, Zhao Q, Xie T.* Rapid open‐air digital light 3D printing of thermoplastic polymer. Adv. Mater., 2019, 31, 1903970.

9. Jin BJ, Song HJ, Jiang RQ, Song JZ, Zhao Q* Xie T.* Programming a crystalline shape memory polymer network with thermo- and photo-reversible bonds toward a single component soft robot. Sci. Adv., 2018, 4, eaao3865.

10. Huang LM, Jiang RQ, Wu JJ, Song JZ, Bai H, Li BG, Zhao Q,* Xie T.* Ultrafast digital printing toward 4D shape changing materials. Adv. Mater., 2017, 29, 1605390.

11. Zheng N, Fang ZZ, Zou WK, Zhao Q*, Xie T.* Thermoset Shape-Memory Polyurethane with Intrinsic Plasticity Enabled by Transcarbamoylation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2016, 55, 11421. Very Important Paper. Chosen as inside cover.

12. Zhao Q, Zou WK, Luo YW, Xie T.* Shape memory polymer network with thermally distinct elasticity and plasticity. Sci. Adv., 2016, e1501297. Highlighted by Science News, Nature, Wall Street Journal, Chemistry World, Popular Mechanics, and others.

Selected Patents

1. Xie, T. US8198369Shape memory polymers with surface dangling adhesive polymer chains and methods of making and using the same.

2. Xie, T.;Xiao, X. US8043459Reversible dry adhesives for wet and dry conditions.

3. Xie, T.;Xiao, X.; Wang, R. US20100203342Reversible welding process for polymers.

4. Xie, T. US20100028686Polymer systems with multiple shape memory effect.

5. Xie, T.; Wang, R. US20100098932Self-cleaning dry adhesives.

6. Cheng, YT.;Xie, T.;et alUS8057891Remote actuation of thermo-reversible dry adhesives.

7. Xiao, X.;Xie, T.;Cheng, YT.US8198349Self-healing and scratch resistant shape memory polymer system.

8. Xie, T.;Wang, R.; Xiao, X. US8093340High strength reversible noncovalent adhesion method for a solid polymer-polymer interface.

9. Cai, W.; Tyckoski, P; Xie, T. US8114242Dimension-set method for joining parts.

10. Xie, T.;Hulway, J.A.Xiao, X.US20090280330Shape memory polymer and adhesive combination and methods of making and using the same.

11. Xie, T.;Xiao, X.; Wang, R.US7976665Method of minimizing residue adhesion for thermo-reversible dry adhesives.

12. Xie, T. US7732081: Hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterned surfaces and methods of making and using the same.

13. Xie, T. US8012292Three-dimensional hydrophilic porous structures for fuel cell plates.

14. Xie, T.; et al. US20080292848: Multilayer adhesive for thermal reversible joining of substrates.

15. Xie, T.; Xiao, X.; Wang, R. US20080289757: Attachment pad with thermal reversible adhesive and methods of making and using the same.

16. Xie, T.; Rodak, D.; Rodgers, W. US20080262188: Epoxy shape memory polymers.

17. Xie, T.; Xiao, X. US8043460: Reversible dry adhesives.

18. Xie, T.; Xiao, X. US8012292: Multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives.

19. Xie, T.; Xiao, X. US20080257615: Climbing devices based on thermo-reversible dry adhesives.

20. Xie, T.; et al. US20080257094: Methods for robotic handling using thermo-reversible dry adhesives.

21. Ulicny J.; Xie T.; Golden M.; Snavely K.; Mance A. US2008185554:Treated magnetizable particles and methods of making and using the same.

22.Fuller T. Xie, T. et al. US7220509: Constituents and methods for protecting fuel cell components including PEMs.

23. Liu, P.;Xie, T.;Adbelhamid, M. US2008113245: Methods of making hydrophilic fuel cell bipolar plates.

24. Qi, Y.;Xie, T.; Fuller T. US2008176965: Enhancing proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes.

25. Mance A. Xie, T. et al. US7739764:Method for making nitrogen aromatic oligomers and polymers.

26. Mance A. Xie, T. et al. US7598204: Metallic reagent.

27. Zhong, F.;Xie, T.; Adbelhamid, M.; Blunk, R. US8133591: Adhesion of polymeric coatings to bipolar plate surfaces using silane coupling agents.

28. Vyas, G.; Xie, T.; Trabold T. US7622211:Method of making hydrophilic fuel cell bipolar plate coating by plasma induced polymerization.

29. Xie, T.; Owens, J.; Blunk, R. US2006040148: Method of treating composite plates.

30. Xie, T.; Ji, C.; Cheng YT. US2006240312: Diffusion media, fuel cells, and fuel cell powered systems.

31. Blunk, R.; Xie, T.;Elhamid, M.; Mikhail, Y.; Vyas, G.; Lisi, D. 20060040148:Hydrophilic treatment for composite plates.

32. Xie, T.US2006172172: Hydrophilic bipolar plates.

33. Xie, T.; Fuller, T. US7547733: Composite proton exchange membrane.

34. Mance, A.; Xie, T.;Merzougui, B.; Halalay, I. US7220509: Constituents and methods for fuel cell component, including PEMs.

35. Lee, H.; Wang, Y. M.; Xie, T. US6875471: Metallization of polymer parts for painting.

36. Lee, H.; Wang, Y. M.; Xie, T. US6872294: Metallization of polymer composite parts for painting.

37. Lee, H.; Wang, Y. M.; Xie, T. WO2003093539: Metallization of polymer composite parts for painting.

38. Penelle, J.; Xie, T.; Das, K. US6486344: Polymer Coatings with Improved Adhesion Properties on Metallic Surfaces.