Dr. He’s research focuses on biologically inspired materials based on stimuli-responsive polymers and micro/nano-structure fabrication, for applications in biomedicine, environment, and energy. The interdisciplinary research across “design – synthesis – properties – functions” involves polymer chemistry and physics, molecular design and synthesis, and studies of mechanical, optical and electrical properties of soft materials. There are openings for postdocs and PhD students. Students with background in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Optics, and Mechanics, may send CV to ximinhe@ucla.edu

• Optical sensing of chemical and biological molecules
• Bioinspired self-regulating materials
• Chemo-mechanically modulated separation of metal ions and cancer cells
• Novel stimuli-responsive polymers for soft robots
• Photo-responsive materials for optics, photonics, waveguides, and photo-harvesting
• Biomaterials for controlled cell adhesion and migration
• 3-D printing technology

• J. Choi, M. Hua, S. Y. Lee, W. Jo, C.-Y. Lo, S.-H. Kim, H.-T. Kim, X. He, Hydrocipher: Bioinspired Dynamic Structural Color-based Cryptographic Surface, Adv. Opt. Mater. 2019, 201901259
• X. Qian, Y. Zhao, Y. Alsaid, X. Wang, M. Hua, T. Galy, H. Gopalakrishna, Y. Yang, J. Cui, N. Liu, M. Marszewski, L. Pilon, H. Jiang, X. He, Artificial Phototropism for Omnidirectional Tracking and Harvesting of Light, Nature Nanotechnology 2019, 19030441
• Y. Zhao, C. Xuan, X. Qian, Y. Alsaid, M. Hua, L. Jin, X. He, Soft Phototactic Swimmer Based on Self-sustained Hydrogel Oscillator, Science Robotics 2019, 4, eaax7112
• Y. Zhang, Y. Zhao, D. Wu, J. Xue, Y. Qiu, M. Liao, Q. Pei, M. Goorsky, X. He, Homogeneous Freestanding Luminescent Perovskite Organogel with Superior Water Stability, Advanced Materials 2019, 1902928
• M. Qin, M. Sun, M. Hua, X. He, Bioinspired structural color sensors based on responsive soft materials, Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science 2019, 23, 13–27
• X. Yang, M. Sun, Y. Bian, X. He, A Room-temperature High-conductivity Metal Printing Paradigm with Visible-light Projection Lithography, Advanced Functional Materials 2018, 1807615
• M. Sun, R. Bai, X. Yang, J. Song, M. Qin, Z. Suo, X. He, Femtomol-level Ultra-sensitive and High-selective Chemical Sensors Based on Hydrogel Interferometer, Advanced Materials 2018, 1804916
• M. Qin, M. Sun, R. Bai, Y. Mao, X. Qian, D. Sikka, Y. Zhao, H. J. Qi, Z. Suo, X. He, Hydrogel Interferometer for Adaptive Coloration and Chemical Sensing, Advanced Materials 2018, 30, 1800468f
• A. Shastri, L. McGregor, Y. Liu, V. Harris, H. Nan, M. Mujica, Y. Vasquez, A. Bhattacharya, Y. Ma, M. Aizenberg, O. Kuksenok, A. Balazs, J. Aizenberg, X. He, An Aptamer-functionalized Chemomechanically-modulated Biomolecule Catch-and-release System, Nature Chemistry 2015, 7, 447
• Z. Zhao, N. Wang, H. Nan, L. Shen, C. Durkan, X. He, A novel paradigm for fabricating highly uniform nanowire arrays using residual stress-induced patterning, Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2016, 4, 5814
• Z. Zhao, H. Han, M. Sun, X. He, Simultaneous Topographic and Chemical Patterning via Imprinting Defined Nano-reactors, RSC Advances, 2016, 6, 96538
• X. He, M. Aizenberg, O. Kuksenok, L. Zarzar, A. Shastri, A. Balazs, J. Aizenberg, Synthetic Homeostatic Materials displaying Chemo-mechano-chemical Self-regulation, Nature, 2012, 487, 214
• X. He, F. Gao, G. Tu, D. Hasko, S. Hüttner, U. Steiner, N. C. Greenham, R. Friend, W. Huck, Formation of nanostructured polymer blends in photovoltaic devices, Nano Lett., 2010, 10, 1302

• Stretchy Electrodes Shrink When Wet to Fit Snugly Around Organs | New Scientist, December 2023
• Hydrogel Ionotronics with Ultra-Low Impedance and High Signal Fidelity across Broad Frequency and Temperature Ranges | Advanced Functional Materials, November 2021
• UCLA researchers develop new hydrogel material for soft robots | Daily Bruin, October 2021
• Army Engineers Develop Ice Adhesion Patent | Paint Square, September 2021
• Stretchy hydrogel mimics motion of living organisms | Materials Today, August 2021
• Soft Focus: A Flexible Future for Robots | UCLA Newsroom, June 2021
• Newswise, Tough, yet tender: Scientists firm up research on durable hydrogels, 3/2021
• Popular Mechanics, New Anti-Ice Coating Could Prevent Frozen Cars and Pipes, 2/2020
• UCLA Samueli, UCLA engineers received $1.5 million grant to make environmentally friendly concrete, 8/2019

• CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar (2019-2021)
• International Society of Bionic Engineering (ISBE) Outstanding Youth Award (2019)
• Hellman Fellows Award (2018)
• UCLA Faculty Career Development Award (2017; 2018)
• Air Force Young Investigators Research Program (YIP) Award (2016)
• NSF CAREER Award (2016)
• Harvard Postdoctoral Award for Professional Development (2013)
• National Outstanding Students Award of UK (2010)
• W.Wing Yip & Brothers Excellent Young Scientist Award of UK (2009)
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship (2006-2010)
• UK Overseas Research Scholarship (2006-2010)