Xiaodong Chen is a Singaporean materials scientist and Distinguished University Professor at Nanyang Technological University. He holds a primary appointment as Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor of Chemistry and Medicine (by courtesy) at the university. He is a fellow of the Royal Society, the UKâÂÂs national academy of sciences, member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, fellow of Singapore National Academy of Science, fellow of Academy of Engineering Singapore, fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). His other current roles include the director of the Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX) at NTU, the director of Max Planck â NTU Joint Lab for Artificial Senses and the deputy director of the Singapore Hybrid-Integrated Next-Generation ü-Electronics (SHINE) Center at NTU. He is also the Editor-in-chief of ACS Nano. He was the Scientific Director at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) between 2021 and 2023. So far, Chen has co-authored over 400 research publications and holds over 50 patents in Singapore and overseas.
Chen is known for his development of soft conformal materials for bioelectronic interfaces in elevating the sensing capability of sensor systems beyond human senses, and contributions to material science, chemistry, nanotechnology, energy storage and flexible electronics. He was listed as one of the most cited researchers in Materials Science by Web of Science for seven consecutive years between 2018 and 2024, and on the Asian Scientist 100 list by Asian Scientist magazine in 2022
Chen received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Fuzhou University, China, his M.S. in Physical Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, and his PhD in Biochemistry (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Münster, Germany. In 2006, he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, USA, where he worked with Professor Chad Mirkin on molecular electronics based on nanomaterials. In 2009, He started his professorship career at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Chen's research focuses on developing methods for controlling molecules and nanomaterials, using engineering principles and applying them to the design and synthesis of new materials with targeted properties of improving the sensitivity of the traditional method. He incorporates other disciplines, including computer science for algorithm development and engineering principles for developing flexible electronics, biosensors and wearable device manufacturing towards improving the sensitivity of biodiagnostics and related material applications.
Chen delves into artificial intelligence-based multi-modal sensing fusion, which involves using highly efficient sensing techniques merged with machine learning and vast high-quality data sets, a cornerstone to mimic the sensitivity of human perception. He integrated nanomaterial design and algorithm development to create the plant-based robot, and enabled the synthesis of artificial neurons that receive/release the neurotransmitter dopamine. He dives deeper into material development to derive a biphasic nano-dispersed interface (BIND interface) that performs as a 'plug-and-play' universal connector for assembling stretchable devices efficiently in a snap fit manner.
Chen's research team's discovery of "Water-Responsive Supercontractile Polymer Films for Bioelectronic Interfaces" (Nature, 2023) signifies a significant advancement in Water-Responsive Shape-Adaptive Polymer (WRAP) films inspired by spider silk's properties, providing ambient stability and rapid contraction in water. This biomaterial addresses challenges in integrating diverse tissue shapes, potentially revolutionizing bioelectronics. The versatility of WRAP films can pave the way for better medical devices such as pacemakers and bio-monitors in the future.