Faculty

Sihong Wang

  • Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering in the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
  • Research and Scholarly Interests: Soft Electronic Materials and Devices, Bio-electronics, Organic Electronics, Functional Polymers, Energy Harvesting, Nanotechnology
  • Websites: Wang Group
  • Contact: sihongwang@uchicago.edu
    773.834.2630
  • Assistant: Misha Maxey
  • Office Location:
    Eckhardt Research Center
    Room 385
    5640 South Ellis Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60637

Sihong Wang’s research focuses on the development of biomimetic polymer electronics and bio-energy harvesting for interfacing with the human body and other biological systems as wearable and implantable devices. The overarching goal of the research is to develop functional polymers and devices that combine advanced electronic/photonic properties with biomimetic mechanical, chemical properties, and operation principles, for realizing the continuous, efficient, and long-term stable acquisition and processing of health data. Currently, the research in the Wang group has mainly four directions:

  1. Human-interfaced biosensors (chemical, mechanical, electrical);
  2. Immune-compatible electronic polymers and devices;
  3. Stretchable optoelectronics;
  4. Neuromorphic computing for artificial intelligence.

Wang has published 70 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including Nature, Science, Nature Materials, Nature Electronics, Matter, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Advanced Materials, etc., with >20,600 citations to his work and a Google Scholar H-index of 59. Wang is also a named inventor on 8 US patents.

Professional and Education Experiences:
The University of Chicago, Assistant Professor, Sep. 2018 – present
Argonne National Laboratory, Joint Appointee, Sep. 2021 – present
Stanford University, Postdoctoral Scholar in chemical engineering, 2015 – 2018
Georgia Institute of Technology, Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, 2014
Tsinghua University, B.S. in materials science and engineering, 2009

Selected Awards and Honors:

  • ACS Polymeric Materials Science & Engineering (PMSE) Early-Stage Investigator Award, 2023
  • Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials, 2023
  • NSF CAREER Award, 2022
  • Highly Cited Researcher for 2021 by Clarivate Analytics, 2022
  • NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, 2022
  • Selected Participant for EU-US National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2022
  • Advanced Materials Rising Star Award, 2022
  • iCANX Young Scientist Award, 2021
  • Highly Cited Researcher for 2020 by Clarivate Analytics, 2021                                    
  • Office of Naval Research (ONR) Young Investigator Award, 2021
  • Invited contributor to the 50th Anniversary Issue of The Bridge by National Academy of Engineering, 2020
  • Highly Cited Researcher for 2019 by Clarivate Analytics, 2020
  • MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 (TR35, Global List), 2020
  • Material Research Society Postdoc Travel Award, 2017
  • Material Research Society Graduate Student Award, 2014
  • Self-charging power cell (first-authored invention) selected as the Top 10 Breakthroughs in Physics Science for 2012, by the Institute of Physics magazine Physics World

**Postdoc position available (as of Feb. 2023):

The Wang group has several postdoc position openings for candidates with a background in biomaterials, immunology, bioelectronics, soft mechanical sensors, soft robotics, circuit design, organic and polymer optoelectronics, and photo-physics. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Candidates with experiences in cell culture and animal experiments will be positively considered.

Motivated graduate and undergraduate students are always welcome to join the Wang group.

Selected Publications:

  1. N. Li, Y. Li, Z. Cheng, Y. Liu, Y. Dai, S. Kang, S. Li, N. Shan, S. Wai, A. Ziaja, Y. Wang, J. Strzalka, W. Liu, C. Zhang, X. Gu, J. A. Hubbell, B. Tian, S. Wang “Bioadhesive polymer semiconductors and electrochemical transistors for intimate biointerfaces” Science, 381, 686-693 (2023).
  2. Y. Li, N. Li, W. Liu, A. Prominski, S. Kang, Y. Dai, Y. Liu, H. Hu, S. Wai, S. Dai, Z. Cheng, Q. Su, P. Cheng, C. Wei, L. Jin, J. A. Hubbell, B. Tian, S. Wang “Achieving tissue-level softness on stretchable electronics through a generalizable soft interlayer design” Nature Communications, 14, 4488 (2023).
  3. W. Liu, C. Zhang, R. Alessandri, B. T. Diroll, Y. Li, X. Fan, K. Wang, H. Cho, Y. Liu, Y. Dai, Q. Su, N.  Li, S. Li, S. Wai, Q. Li, S. Shao, L. Wang, J. Xu, X. Zhang, D. V. Talapin., J. J. de Pablo, S. Wang. High-efficiency stretchable light-emitting polymers from thermally activated delayed fluorescence. Nature Materials, 22, 737-745 (2023).
  4. Y. Jiang, S. Ji, J. Sun, J. Huang, Y. Li, G. Zou, T. Salim, C. Wang, W. Li, H. Jin, J. Xu , S. Wang, T. Lei, X. Yan, W. Y. X. Peh, S. Yen, Z. Liu, M Yu, H. Zhao, Z. Lu, G. Li, H. Gao, Z. Liu, Z. Bao, X. Chen “A universal interface for plug-and-play assembly of stretchable devices” Nature, 615, 456-462 (2023)
  5. Y. Dai, S. Dai, N. Li, Y. Li, M. Moser, J. Strzalka, A. Prominski, Y. Liu, Q. Zhang, S. Li, H. Hu, W. Liu, S. Chatterji, P. Cheng, B. Tian, I. McCulloch, J. Xu, S. Wang, Stretchable redox-active semiconducting polymers for high-performance organic electrochemical transistors. Advanced Materials, 34, 2201178 (2022).
  6. S. Dai, Y. Dai, Z. Zhao, F. Xia, Y. Li, Y. Liu, P. Cheng, J. Strzalka, S. Li, N. Li, Q. Su, S. Wai, W. Liu, C. Zhang, J. Yin, J. J. Yang, R. Stevens, J. Xu, J. Huang, S. Wang, Intrinsically stretchable neuromorphic devices for on-body processing of health data with artificial intelligence. Matter, 5, 3375-3390 (2022).
  7. Q. Su, Q. Zou, Y. Li, Y. Chen, S. Teng, J. T. Kelleher, R. Nith, P. Cheng, N. Li, W. Liu, S. Dai, Y. Liu, A. Mazursky, L. Jin, P. Lopes, S. Wang, A stretchable and strain-unperturbed pressure sensor for motion-interference-free tactile monitoring on skins. Science Advances, 7, eabi4563 (2021).
  8. N. Li, Y. Dai, Y. Li, S. Dai, J. Strzalka, Q. Su, N. De Oliveira, Q. Zhang, P. B. J. St. Onge, S. Rondeau-Gagné, Y. Wang, X. Gu, J. Xu, S. Wang, A universal and facile approach for building new functions into conjugated polymers. Matter, 4, 3015 (2021).
  9. Y. Li, N. Li, N. De Oliveira, S. Wang “Implantable Bioelectronics towards Long-Term Stability and Sustainability. Matter, 4, 1125 (2021).
  10. Y. Dai, H. Hu, M. Wang, J. Xu, S. Wang, Stretchable transistors and functional circuits for the next generation of human-integrated electronics. Nature Electronics 4, 17 (2021).
  11. W. Wang†, S. Wang†,*, R. Rastak, Y. Ochiai, S. Niu, Y. Jiang, P. K. Arunachala, Y. Zheng, J. Xu, N. Matsuhisa, X. Yan, S.-K. Kwon, M. Miyakawa, Z. Zhang, R. Ning, A. M. Foudeh, Y. Yun, C. Linder, J. B.-H. Tok, Z. Bao*, Strain-insensitive intrinsically stretchable transistors and circuits. Nature Electronics 4, 143 (2021). 
  12. J. Xu, H.-C. Wu, C. Zhu, A. Ehrlich, L. Shaw, M. Nikolka, S. Wang, F. Molina-Lopez, X. Gu, S. Luo, D. Zhou, Y.-H. Kim, G.-J. N. Wang, K. Gu, V. R. Feig, S. Chen, Y. Kim, T. Katsumata, Y.-Q. Zheng, H. Yan, J. W. Chung, J. Lopez, B. Murmann, Z. Bao, Multi-scale ordering in highly stretchable polymer semiconducting films. Nature Materials 18, 594 (2019).
  13. S. Wang†, J. Xu†, W. Wang, G.-J. N. Wang, R. Rastak, F. Molina-Lopez, J. W. Chung, V. R. Feig, J. Lopez, T. Lei, S.-K. Kwon, Y. Kim, S. Niu, A. M. Foudeh, A. Ehrlich, A. Gasperini, Y. Yun, B. Murmann, J. B.-H. Tok, Z. Bao, Skin electronics from scalable fabrication of an intrinsically stretchable transistor array. Nature 555, 83-88 (2018).
  14. J. Xu†, S. Wang†, G.-J. N. Wang, C. Zhu, S. Luo, L. Jin, X. Gu, S. Chen, V. R. Feig, J.W.F. To, S. Rondeau-Gagné, J. Park, B. C. Schroeder, C. Lu, J. Y. Oh, Y. Wang, Y.-H. Kim, H. Yan, R. Sinclair, D. Zhou, G. Xue, B. Murmann, C. Linder, W Cai, J. B.-H. Tok, J. W. Chung, Z. Bao, Highly stretchable polymer semiconductor films through the nanoconfinement effect. Science 355, 59-64 (2017).

Intrinsically stretchable neuromorphic devices for on-body processing of health data with artificial intelligence
S. Dai, Y. Dai, Z. Zhao, F. Xia, Y. Li, Y. Liu, P. Cheng, J. Strzalka, S. Li, N. Li, Q. Su, S. Wai, W. Liu, C. Zhang, J. Yin, J. J. Yang, R. Stevens, J. Xu, J. Huang, S. Wang, Intrinsically stretchable neuromorphic devices for on-body processing of health data with artificial intelligence Matter, 5, 3375-3390 (2022).

Stretchable Redox-Active Semiconducting Polymers for High-Performance Organic Electrochemical Transistors
Y. Dai, S. Dai, N. Li, Y. Li, M. Moser, J. Strzalka, A. Prominski, Y. Liu, Q. Zhang, S. Li, H. Hu, W. Liu, S. Chatterji, P. Cheng, B. Tian, I. McCulloch, J. Xu, S. Wang, Stretchable redox-active semiconducting polymers for high-performance organic electrochemical transistors Advanced Materials, 34, 2201178 (2022).

A stretchable and strain-unperturbed pressure sensor for motion-interference-free tactile monitoring on skins, Science Advances
Q. Su, Q. Zou, Y. Li, Y. Chen, S. Teng, J. T. Kelleher, R. Nith, P. Cheng, N. Li, W. Liu, S. Dai, Y. Liu, A. Mazursky, L. Jin, P. Lopes, S. Wang, A stretchable and strain-unperturbed pressure sensor for motion-interference-free tactile monitoring on skins, Science Advances, 7, eabi4563 (2021).

A universal and facile approach for building new functions into conjugated polymers
N. Li, Y. Dai, Y. Li, S. Dai, J. Strzalka, Q. Su, N. De Oliveira, Q. Zhang, P. B. J. St. Onge, S. Rondeau-Gagné, Y. Wang, X. Gu, J. Xu, S. Wang, A universal and facile approach for building new functions into conjugated polymers, Matter, 4, 3015 (2021).

Implantable Bioelectronics towards Long-Term Stability and Sustainability
Y. Li, N. Li, N. De Oliveira, S. Wang “Implantable Bioelectronics towards Long-Term Stability and Sustainability, Matter, 4, 1125 (2021).

Strain-insensitive intrinsically stretchable transistors and circuits
W. Wang†, S. Wang†,*, R. Rastak, Y. Ochiai, S. Niu, Y. Jiang, P. K. Arunachala, Y. Zheng, J. Xu, N. Matsuhisa, X. Yan, S.-K. Kwon, M. Miyakawa, Z. Zhang, R. Ning, A. M. Foudeh, Y. Yun, C. Linder, J. B.-H. Tok, Z. Bao*, Strain-insensitive intrinsically stretchable transistors and circuits, Nature Electronics 4, 143 (2021).

Stretchable transistors and functional circuits for the next generation of human-integrated electronics
Y. Dai, H. Hu, M. Wang, J. Xu, S. Wang, Stretchable transistors and functional circuits for the next generation of human-integrated electronics, Nature Electronics 4, 17 (2021).

Multi-scale ordering in highly stretchable polymer semiconducting films
J. Xu, H.-C. Wu, C. Zhu, A. Ehrlich, L. Shaw, M. Nikolka, S. Wang, F. Molina-Lopez, X. Gu, S. Luo, D. Zhou, Y.-H. Kim, G.-J. N. Wang, K. Gu, V. R. Feig, S. Chen, Y. Kim, T. Katsumata, Y.-Q. Zheng, H. Yan, J. W. Chung, J. Lopez, B. Murmann, Z. Bao, Multi-scale ordering in highly stretchable polymer semiconducting films, Nature Materials 18, 594 (2019).

Skin electronics from scalable fabrication of an intrinsically stretchable transistor array
S. Wang†, J. Xu†, W. Wang, G.-J. N. Wang, R. Rastak, F. Molina-Lopez, J. W. Chung, V. R. Feig, J. Lopez, T. Lei, S.-K. Kwon, Y. Kim, S. Niu, A. M. Foudeh, A. Ehrlich, A. Gasperini, Y. Yun, B. Murmann, J. B.-H. Tok, Z. Bao, Skin electronics from scalable fabrication of an intrinsically stretchable transistor array, Nature 555, 83-88 (2018).

Highly stretchable polymer semiconductor films through the nanoconfinement effect
J. Xu†, S. Wang†, G.-J. N. Wang, C. Zhu, S. Luo, L. Jin, X. Gu, S. Chen, V. R. Feig, J.W.F. To, S. Rondeau-Gagné, J. Park, B. C. Schroeder, C. Lu, J. Y. Oh, Y. Wang, Y.-H. Kim, H. Yan, R. Sinclair, D. Zhou, G. Xue, B. Murmann, C. Linder, W Cai, J. B.-H. Tok, J. W. Chung, Z. Bao, Highly stretchable polymer semiconductor films through the nanoconfinement effect, Science 355, 59-64 (2017).