Laboratory of Biological and
Bio-inspired Materials
Materials Science and Engineering
@ University of Pennsylvania
+: Corresponding author
*: equal contributions
^: student author
56. Lee, E.; Jia, Z.; Yang, T.; Li L.^ Multiscale mechanical design of the lightweight, stiff, and energy dissipative cuttlebone: a computational study”, Acta Biomaterialia. 2022, Accepted.
55. Soh, E. J. H.; Astier, H. PAG.; Daniel, D.; Chua, J. Q. I.; Miserez, A.; Jia, Z.; Li, L.; O’Shea, S. J.; Bhaskaran, H.; Tomczak, N.; Nijhuis, C. A. AFM manipulation of EGaln microdroplets to generate controlled, on-demand contacts on molecular self-assembly monolayers. ACS Nano. 2022, Accepted.
54. Zhong, J.; Song, Z.; Zhang, L.; Li, X.; He, Q.; Lu, Y.; Kariko, S.; Shaw, P.; Liu, L.; Ye, F.^; Li, L.^; Shuai, J.^ Assembly of guanine crystals as a low-polarizing broadband multilayer reflector in a spider, Phoroncidia rubrargentea. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2022, 14 (29), 32982-32993.
53. Cheng, H.; Jia, Z.; Li, L.^ Lightweight lattice-based skeleton of the sponge Euplectella aspergillum: On the multifunctional design. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 2022, 105448.
52. Yang, T.; Jia, Z.; Wu, Z.; Chen, H.; Deng, Z.; Chen, L.; Zhu, Y.; Li, L.^ “High strength and damage-tolerance in echinoderm stereom as a natural bicontinuous ceramic cellular solid”. Nature Communications. Accepted.
51. Wang, W.; Deng, Z.; Li, L.; Cai, W.; Lu, K. Effects of processing temperature on the corrosion and tribocorrosion resistance of perhydropolysilazane-derived coatings on AISI 304 steel. Surface & Coatings Technology. 2022, 439: 128463. DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2022.128463.
50. Jia, Z.; Liu, F.; Li L.; Wang L. “Hollow sphere foam: mechanical anisotropy, band-gap engineering, and multifunctional design”, Comp. Struct. 2022: 115540. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.115540.
49. T. Yang*, H. Chen*, Z. Jia, Z. Deng, L. Chen, E.M. Peterman, J.C. Weaver, L. Li+. A damage-tolerant, dual-scale, single-crystalline microlattice in nature. Science (2022). 375, 647-652. (Link)
- Featured as Front Cover.
- Featured in multiple media reports, including VT News, Science Daily, ScienceNews, Yahoo News, and more. See News for details.
48. S. Thangadurai, V. Brumfeld, J. Milgram, L. Li, R. Shahar. Osteodentin in the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus): Dentin or bone? Journal of Morphology 2022 Feb;283(2):219-235. doi: 10.1002/jmor.21438
47. (Review Article) Z. Jia, Z. Deng, and L. Li. Biomineralized materials as model systems for structural composites: 3D architecture. Advanced Materials (2022). 2106259. (Link)
46. (Review Article) Z. Deng, Z. Jia, and L. Li. Biomineralized materials as model systems for structural composites: intrinsic strengthening and toughening strategies. Advanced Science (2022). 2103524. (Link).
45. S. M. Khan, Z. Deng, T. Yang, L. Li. Bio-inspired Ceramic-Metal Composites using Ceramic 3D Printing and Centrifugal Infiltration. Advanced Engineering Materials (2020). 2101009. (Link)
44. P. Ying, B. Ai, Y. Geng, L. Li, K. Sun, S. C. Tan, W. Zhang, M. Li. Light-trapping and salt-rejecting nanocomposite membrane with bioinspired designs for solar-driven interfacial evaporation. Nano Energy (2021). 89, 106443. (Link)
43. Y. J. Cho, D. Garcia, H. Z. Yu, Z. Deng, L. Li, K. Lu. Oxidation behaviors of matrix-grade graphite during water vapor ingress accidents for high temperature gas-cooled reactors. Carbon (2021). 185, 161-176. (Link)
42. Z. Deng, H. Loh, Z. Jia, C. A. Stifler, A. Masic, P. U. P. A. Gilbert, R. Shahar, and L. Li+. Black Drum Fish Teeth: Built for Crushing Mollusk Shells. Acta Biomaterialia (2022). 137. 147-161. (Link)
41. L. Li+, C. Goodrich, H. Yang, K. R. Phillips, Zian Jia, H. Chen, L. Wang. Microscopic origins of the crystallographically preferred growth in evaporation-induced colloidal crystals. PNAS (2021). 118 (32) e2107588118. (Link)
40. Z. Jia, M. C. Fernandes, Z. Deng, T. Yang, Q. Zhang, A. Lethbridge, J. Yin, J. H. Lee, L. Han, J. C. Weaver, K. Bertoldi, J. Aizenberg, M. Kolle+, P. Vukusic+, L. Li+. Microstructural design for mechanical-optical multifunctionality in the exoskeleton of the flower beetle Torynorrhina flammea. PNAS (2021). 118 (25) e2101017118. (Link)
39. B. Wu, Y. Liu, F. Chen, Y. Ma, J. Li, T. Yu, Y. Zhou, L. Li, and J. Xiao. Investigation on the formation mechanism of twinned crystals of hypoxanthine-doped beta-phase anhydrous guanine microplatelets. CrystEngComm. (2021). 23, 3444-3452. (Link)
38. Z. Deng^ and L. Li+. Intrinsic mechanical properties of individual biogenic mineral units in biomineralized skeletons. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering. (2021). (Link)
37. Z. Wu, A. Alorf, T. Yang^, L. Li+, and Y. Zhu+. Robust X-ray sparse-view phase tomography via hierarchical synthesis convolutional neural networks. Submitted.
36. H. C. Hendrikse, A. Weijden, M. Ronda-Lloret, T. Yang^, R. Bliem, N. R. Shiju, M. Hecke, L. Li, W. L. Noorduin. Shape-preserving chemical conversion of architected nanocomposites. Advanced Materials (2020). 2003999. (Link)
35. Y. Geng, W. Sun, P. Ying, Y. Zheng, J. Ding, K. Sun, L. Li+, M. Li+. Bio-inspired fractal design of waste biomass derived solar-thermal materials for highly efficient solar evaporation. Advanced Functional Materials (2021). 31, 2007648. (Link)
34. Z. Deng^, H. Chen^, T. Yang^, Z. Jia, J. C. Weaver, P. D. Shevchenko, F. De Carlo, R. Mirzaeifar, and L. Li+. Strategies for simultaneous strengthening and toughening via nanoscopic intracrystalline defects in a biogenic ceramic. Nature Communications (2020). 11 (1) 1-11. (Link)
33. F. Chen, Y. Liu, L. Li+, L. Qi+, and Y. Ma+. Synthesis of bio-inspired guanine microplatelets: morphological and crystallographic control. Chemistry - A European Journal (2020). 26 (69) 16228-16235. (Link)
- Featured as Front Cover.
- Selected as a "Hot Paper".
32. E. Kanimba*, T. Yang*, S. T. Hustable, L. Li+, and Z. Tian+. Thermomechanical analysis of a bio-inspired lightweight multifunctional structure. Advanced Engineering Materials (2020). 2000371 1-8. (Link)
- Featured as Back Cover.
31. T. Yang*, Z. Jia*, Z. Deng, H. Chen, W. Liu, L. Chen, L. Li+. On the mechanical design of the lightweight cuttlebone structures. PNAS (2020) 117 (38), 23450-23459. (Link)
- Featured in "In This Issue", PNAS. (Link)
- Featured in multiple media reports, including VT News, EurekAlert, Science Daily, Phys.org, and more. See News for details.
30. H. Chen^, T. Yang^, Z. Wu, Z. Deng^, Y. Zhu, and L. Li+. Quantitative 3D structural analysis of the cellular microstructures of sea urchin spines (II): Large scale analysis. Acta Biomaterialia (2020) 107, 218-231. (Link)
- Featured at Materials Today: Structural control gives sea urchins strength.
29. T. Yang*^, Z. Wu*, H. Chen^, Y. Zhu+, and L. Li+. Quantitative 3D structural analysis of the cellular microstructures of sea urchin spines (I): Methodology. Acta Biomaterialia (2020) 107, 204-217. (Link)
28. K. R. Phillips, C. T. Zhang, T. Yang^, T. Kay, C. Gao, S. Brandt, L. Liu, H. Yang, Y. Li, J. Aizenberg, L. Li+. Fabrication of photonic microbricks via crack engineering of colloidal crystals. Advanced Functional Materials (2020), 30 (26) 1-11. (Link)
- Featured as Front Cover.
27. M. Connors*, T. Yang*^, A. Hosny, Z. Deng^, F. Yazdandoost, H. Massaadi, D. Eernisse, R. Mirzaefar, M. N. Dean, J. C. Weaver, C. Ortiz, L. Li+. Bioinspired design of flexible armor based on chiton scales. Nature Communications (2019) 10(1), 1-13. (Link)
26. (Invited) Z. Wu*, T. Yang*^, Z. Deng, B. Huang, H. Liu, Y. Wang, Y. Chen, M.C. Stoddard, L. Li+, Y. Zhu+. Automatic crack detection and analysis for biological cellular materials in X-ray in-situ tomography measurement. Integrating Materials and Manufacturing Innovation (2019) 8(4), 559-569. (Link)
25. Z. Wu, T. Yang^, L. Li, Y. Zhu. Hierarchical convolutional network for sparse-view X-ray CT reconstruction. SPIE 2019, 10990, 109900V. (Link)
24. T. Zhang, L. Li, and H. Yang. 3D crystal image analysis based on fast synchrosqueezed transforms. Communications in Mathematical Sciences (2019) 17(8), 2113-2140. (Link)
23. R. Seidel*, A. Roschger*, L. Li*, J. J. Bizzarro, Q. Zhang, J. Yin, T. Yang^, J. C. Weaver, P. Fratzl, P. Roschger, M. N. Dean. Mechanical properties of stingray tesserae: High-resolution correlative analysis of mineral density and indentation moduli in tessellated cartilage. Acta Biomaterialia (2019) 96, 421-435. (Link)
22. Z. Wu, T. Yang^, L. Li, Y. Zhu. A hierarchical reconstruction of x-ray phase tomography based on transferred non-local structural features. SPIE 2019, 10999, 109990N. (Link)
21. Z. Wu, T. Yang^, Y. Zhu, L. Li+. Feature-based sparse angle tomography reconstruction for dynamic characterization of bio-cellular materials. Computational Imaging III. (2018) 10669, 106690O. (Link)
20. C. Gao, B. P. J. Hasseldine, L. Li, J. C. Weaver, and Y. Li. Amplifying strength, toughness, and auxeticity via wavy sutural tessellation in plant seedcoats. Advanced Materials (2018) 30(36), 1800579. (Link)
19. S. C. Cao, J. Liu, L. Zhu, L. Li, M. Dao, J. Lu, and R. O. Ritchie. Nature-inspired hierarchical steels. Scientific Reports (2018) 8,1-7. (Link)
18. L. Li, A. J. Fijneman, J. A. Kaandorp, J. Aizenberg, and W. Noorduin. Directed nucleation and growth by balancing local supersaturation and substrate/nucleus lattice mismatch. PNAS (2018) 115, 3375-3580. (Link)
17. S. Kariko, J. V. I. Timonen, J. C. Weaver, D. Gur, C. Marks, L. Leiserowitz, M. Kolle and L. Li+. Structural origins of coloration in the spider Phoroncidia rubroargentea, Berland, 1913 (Araneae: Theridiidae) from Madagascar. Journal of Royal Society Interface, (2018) 15, 20170930. (Link)
- Featured as Front Cover.
16. N. Kaplan, W. L. Noorduin, L. Li, R. Sadza, L. Folkertsma, J. Aizenberg, L. Mahadevan. Controlled growth and form of precipitating microsculptures. Science, (2017) 355, 1395-1399. (Link)
Prior to Virginia Tech
15. L. Li*, M. J. Connors*, M. Kolle, G. T. England, D. Speiser, X. Xiang, J. Aizenberg and C. Ortiz, Multifunctionality of Chiton Biomineralized Armor with an Integreated Visual System, Science, (2015) 350, 952-956. Featured in Front Cover. (Link)
- Featured in research highlights of Science, (2015) 350, 899, also featured in more than 100 media reports, including MIT news, Yahoo News, Harvard SEAS and WYSS news, ScienceNews, PHYS.ORG, NATURE WORLD NEWS and more. See News for details.
14. L. Li+ and C. Ortiz, A Natural 3D Interconnected Laminated Composite with Enhanced Damage Resistance, Advanced Functional Materials, (2015) 25, 3463-3471. Featured in Front Cover. (Link)
- Argonne National Laboratory Press release. See News for details.
13. L. Li*, S. Kolle*, M. Kolle, J. C. Weaver, C. Ortiz and J. Aizenberg, Bio-mineralized Photonic Structures in the Shell of the Limpet Patella pellucida, Nature Communications, 6:6322 doi: 10.1038/ncomms7322 (2015). (Link)
- Selected for Feature Image in Nature Communications; also featured in multiple media reports, including MIT news, Harvard SEAS news, Science News, Nature World News, BetaBoston, and more. See News for details.
12. L. Li+, J. C. Weaver, and C. Ortiz, Hierarchical Structural Design for Enhanced Fracture Resistancein the Shell of a Pteropod Clio pyramidata, Nature Communications, 6:6216 doi: 10.1038/ncomms7216 (2015). (Link)
- Selected for Feature Image in Nature Communications.
11. L. Li and C. Ortiz, Pervasive Nanoscale Deformation Twinning as a Catalyst for the Efficient EnergyDissipation in a Bioceramic Armor, Nature Materials, (2014) 13, 501-507. (Link)
- Featured in research highlights of Nature Materials, (2014) 13, 435-437, also featured in more than 100 media reports, including MIT news, Fox News, NBC News, Science Daily, Discovery News, New-Scientist Magazine, Physics World, C&EN, Chemistry World, International Buisiness Times and more. See News for details.
10. L. Li and C. Ortiz, Biological Design for Simultaneous Optical Transparency and Mechanical Robustnessin the Shell of Placuna placenta, Advanced Materials (2013) 25, 2344-2350. (Link)
9. L. Li, Y. Yang, J. Ding, and J. Xue, Synthesis of Magnetite Nanooctahedra and Their Magnetic Field-Induced Two-/Three-Dimensional Superstructures, Chemistry of Materials (2010) 22, 3183-3191. (Link)
8. X. Tang, E. S. G. Choo, L. Li, J. Ding, and J. Xue, Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles with Tunable Emission Colors and Their Cell Labeling Applications, Chemistry of Materials (2010) 22, 3383-3388. (Link)
7. L. Li, E. S. G. Choo, X. Tang, J. Ding, and J. Xue, Ag/Au-Decorated Fe3O4/SiO2 Composite Nanospheres for Catalytic Applications, Acta Materialia (2010) 58, 3825-3831. (Link)
6. L. Li, D. Jun, and J. Xue, A Facile Green Approach for Synthesizing Monodisperse Magnetite Nanoparticles, Journal of Materials Research (2010) 25, 810-813. (Link)
5. L. Li, E. S. G. Choo, X. Tang, J. Ding, and J. Xue, A Facile One-Step Route to Synthesize Cage-Like Silica Hollow Microspheres Loaded with Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Their Shells, Chemical Communications (2009) 8, 938-940. (Link)
4. X. Tang, E. S. G. Choo, L. Li, and J. Xue, One-pot synthesis of water-stable ZnO nanoparticles via a polyol hydrolysis route and their cell labeling applications, Langmuir (2009) 25, 5271-5275. (Link)
3. L. Li, J. Ding, and J. Xue, Macroporous Silica Hollow Microspheres as Nanoparticles Collectors,Chemistry of Materials (2009) 21, 3629-3637. (Link)
2. L. Li, E. S. G. Choo, X. Tang, J. Ding, J. Yi, and J. Xue, Superparamagnetic Silica Composite Nanospheres (SSCNs) with Ultra-High Loading of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles via an Oil-in-DEG Microemulsion Route, Chemistry of Materials (2008) 20, 6292-6294. (Link)
-This work has been highlighted at MRS Bulletin (2008) 33, 1133-1134.
1. L. Li, E. S. G. Choo, Z. Liu, D. Jun, and J. Xue, Double-Layer Silica Core-Shell Nanospheres with Superparamagnetic and Fluorescent Functionalities, Chemical Physics Letters (2008) 461, 114-117. (Link)