Name: Xiaoxiao Cheng
Title: Professor, Soochow University, China
Address: Room 1110, Building 912, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, China
Email: xxcheng@suda.edu.cn
Education and Work Experience:
Xiaoxiao Cheng, Ph.D., Professor. He received his B.S. in 2017 from the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University. From Sep. to Dec. 2018, he was a visiting student at Prof. Tamaki Nakano group, Hokkaido University, Japan. In 2021, he was awarded a CSC scholarship for a joint Ph.D. program at Prof. Eiji Yashima group, Nagoya University, Japan (cancelled due to the COVID-19). He obtained his Ph.D. in 2022 from Prof. Wei Zhang group, the College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Soochow University. In 2024, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Japan (Prof. Katsuhiro Maeda). In Dec. 2025, he was appointed as a full Professor at the College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University.
Research Summary:
He has authored over 60 publications, including Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (11), Chem, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Acc. Chem. Res., Chem. Sci. (3), and Macromolecules, among which 8 cover papers, 3 VIP papers, 2 ESI Highly Cited Papers, 2 Hot Papers. He holds 16 Chinese patent applications, 1 WIPO patent, and 1 Japanese patent, and has contributed 1 book chapter. As PI, he has obtained 8 projects, including 2 national projects in Japan (WPI Transdisciplinary Research Promotion Grant, JSPS KAKENHI grant) and 6 in China (NSFC Young Scientists Grant, Jiangsu Provincial Young Talent Program, etc.). He serves as a Young Editorial Board Member for journals like Nano-Micro Lett. and Chin. Chem. Lett.
Research Interests:
1. Precision Polymer Synthesis, Polymerization Methodology
2. Supramolecular Assembly, Supramolecular Chirality
3. Functional Polymer Materials, Helical Polymers
Selected Publications:
[34] Cheng X.* et al., Conventional versus triplet thermal stability in chiral copolymers: Reversal dynamics and programmable chiroptical switches. Chem2026, accepted.
[33] He Z.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Helix-Sense Selective Polymerization versus Polymerization-Induced Helix-Sense Selective Self-Assembly: From Controlled Synthesis to In-Situ Self-Assembly. Acc. Chem. Res.2026, doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.5c00909.
[32] Cheng X., Tatsuya Nishimura, Ritsuko Yamase, Hiromi Nishikawa, Sumana Mandal, Sandip Das, Masaya Ueno, Hiroshi Arakawa, Shafiqur Rahman, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Tomoki Ogoshi, Yasufumi Takahashi, Yuri Korchev, Atsushi Hirao, Yanjun Zhang*, Katsuhiro Maeda*, Functionalized Pillar[6]arene Nanomembrane Probe for Ultrasensitive Sensing of Clinically Valuable 1-Methylnicotinamide in Mouse Urine. Nano Lett.2026, 26, 944-952.
[31] He Z.*; Yuan X.; Ma H.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Tunable Chiroptical Switching via 2-Fold Chiral Conflict in Statistical Racemic Copolymer Assemblies. ACS Macro Lett.2025, 14, 1646.
[30] He Z.*; Ma H.; Wang L.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Liquid Crystallinity and Solvophobic Interaction Drive the Differential Global Chirality in Racemic Block Copolymers. Chinese J. Chem.2025, 43, 2497-2504.
[29] He Z.; Ma H.; Tang Z.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Chiral Communication between Enantiomeric Sergeants and Achiral Soldiers in Racemic Triblock Copolymers with Heterochiral Cores for Triggering Multiple Helicity Inversions, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2025, 64, e202500444. (Hot Topic: Liquid Crystals, Frontispiece)
[28] Zhou Zhen.+; Cheng X.*,+; Tang Z.+; Wang Y.; He Z.; Zhang W.*, Construction of liquid-crystalline assemblies with tunable chiroptical properties through tailoring solvophilic chains in polymerization-induced chiral self-assembly, Chem. Commun.2025, 61, 3880-3883.
[27] He Z.; Guo J.; Wang Y.; Ma H.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Dynamically Switchable Global Chirality in Racemic Polymer Systems. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2025, 64, e202417495. (VIP)
[26] Wang X.+; Song Q.+, He Z.; Zhang G.*; Miao T.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Constructing diverse switchable circularly polarized luminescence via a single azobenzene polymer film, Chinese Chem. Lett.2025, 36, 110047.
[25] Yu Z.; Tan R.*; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.; Wang Y.; Zhang J.; Zhou N.*; Zhang Z.*; Zhu X., Activation and Deactivation of Chirality Transfer in the Superbundles of Sequence-defined Stereoisomers. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2025, 64, e202416853. (Hot Paper)
[24] Wang Y.; Guo J., He Z.; Zhou Z.; Shi S.*; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Regulating the chiroptical expression of aggregated solvophobic core by solvophilic segments. Macromol. Rapid Commun.2025, 46, 2400178. (Special Issue: Functional Polymeric Materials and Interfaces)
[23] Liu D.*; Zhao J.; Zhao X.; Shi S.; Li S.; Wang Y.; Song Q.*; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Chiral polymer micro/nano-objects: evolving preparation strategies in heterogeneous polymerization. Sci. China Chem.2025, 68, 1779-1793.
[22] Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Polymerization-induced Chiral Self-assembly for the In-situ Construction, Modulation, Amplification and Applications of Asymmetric Suprastructures. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2024, 63, e202414332.
[21] Guo J.+; Tang Z.+; Dai H.; Liu D.*; He Z.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Odd-even effect in chiral side-chain cyanobiphenyl block copolymer assemblies prepared by polymerization-induced chiral self-assembly. Nanoscale2024, 16, 14269-14274.
[20] He Z.; Cheng X.*; Wang Z.*; Zhang W.*, Chiral structures in azobenzene-containing systems: construction, regulation and application. Responsive Materials2024, 2, e20240010.
[19] Liu D.*; Zhao J.; Ma Y.; Zhao X.; Shi S.; Li S.; Song Q.*; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, Construction of secondary and tertiary chiral structures in side-chain azobenzene polymers with flexible main chains. Polym. Chem.2024, 15, 1469-1474.
[18] Wang X.; Yu Z.; Huang Z.; Zhou N.; Cheng X.*; Zhang Z.*; Zhang W.*; Zhu X., Unraveling Dynamic Helicity Inversion and Chirality Transfer through the Synthesis of Discrete Azobenzene Oligomers by an Iterative Exponential Growth Strategy. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2024, 63, e202315686. (Chemistry at Soochow University 110th Anniversary)
[17] Dai H.+; Hong R.+; Ma Y.; Cheng X.*; Zhang W.*, A Subtle Change in the Flexible Achiral Spacer Does Matter in Supramolecular Chirality: Two-Fold Odd-Even Effect in Polymer Assemblies. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2023, 62, e202314848. (VIP)
[16] Yi S.; Wang L.; Cheng X.*; Fujiki M.*; Zhang W.*, Chiroptical Generation, Switching, and Long-Term Memory in Supramolecular Azobenzene-Pendant Polymer: Regulation by Cellulose Peralkyl Esters, D-/L-Glucose Permethyl Esters, Solvents, UV Light Irradiation, and Thermal Annealing Process. Chinese J. Chem.2023, 41, 3625-3632. (Cover Paper)
[15] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Zhang G.; Guo J.; Zhou Z.; Zhang W.*, Switchable Phase Helicity Independent of the Absolute Configuration of the Stereocenter: Anomalous Induction between Sergeants and Soldiers in Chiral Liquid-Crystalline Polymers. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2023, 145, 16474-16487. (Supplementary Cover Paper)
[14] Cheng X.; Gan Y.; Zhang G.; Song Q.*; Zhang Z.*; Zhang W.*, Conformationally supramolecular chirality prevails over configurational point chirality in side-chain liquid crystalline polymers. Chem. Sci.2023, 14, 5116.
[13] He Z.; Shen S.; Zhang G.; Miao T.; Cheng X.*; Wang Z.; Song Q.*; Zhang W.*, Photo-induced Fusion of Monodisperse Polymer Microspheres: A Novel Strategy for Constructing Topological Microsphere Clusters with Improved Stability. Aggregate2023, 4, e351.
[12] Book Chapter: Ma Y., Cheng X., Zhang W. "Polymer Supramolecular Chiral Aggregate Materials" in China Frontier Research in New Materials Report 2022 (In Chinese).
[11] Ma Y.; Cheng X.*; Ma H.; He Z.; Zhang Z.; Zhang W*., Unexpected chirality transition and inversion mediated by dissolution–aggregation and the odd-even effect. Chem. Sci.2022, 13, 13623-13630.
[10] Gan Y.; Dai H.; Ma Y.; Cheng X.*; Wang Z.; Zhang W.*, Regulating Chiral Helical Structures in Liquid-Crystalline Block Copolymers with Chiroptical Response by Synergistic Asymmetric Effect. Macromolecules2022, 55, 8556-8565.
[9] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Ma Y.; Zhang W.*, Chiral Expression and Morphology Control in Polymer Dispersion Systems. ChemPlusChem2022, 87, e202100556. (VIP)
[8] Sun Y.+; Cheng X.+; Miao T.; Ma H.; Zhang W.*; Zhu X., Reversible CO2-, Photo- and Thermo- Triple Responsive Supramolecular Chirality of Azo-containing Block Copolymer Assemblies Prepared by Polymerization-induced Chiral Self-assembly. Chinese J. Polym. Sci.2022, 40, 56-66.
[7] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Ma Y.; Zhu X.; Zhang W.*; Zhu X., Controlling the Multiple Chiroptical Inversion in Biphasic Liquid-Crystalline Polymers. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2021, 60, 24430-24436. (Hot paper, Chemistry at Soochow University 110th Anniversary)
[6] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Ma H.; Zhang J.; Zhang Z.; Zhang W.*; Zhu X., Polymerization-Induced Helicity Inversion Driven by Stacking Modes and Self-Assembly Pathway Differentiation. Small2021, 17, 2103177.
[5] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Yin L.; Zhang W.*; Zhu X., Construction of Supramolecular Chirality in Polymer Systems: Chiral Induction, Transfer and Application. Chinese J. Polym. Sci.2021, 39, 1357-1375. (Cover Paper)
[4] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Yin L.; Ji Y.; Li Y.; Zhang Z.; Zhang W.*; Zhu X., In Situ Controlled Construction of a Hierarchical Supramolecular Chiral Liquid‐Crystalline Polymer Assembly. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2020, 59, 9669-9677.
[3] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Ma H.; Yin L.; Zhang W.*; Zhang Z.; Zhu X., The construction of photoresponsive polymer particles with supramolecular helicity from achiral monomers by helix-sense-selective polymerization. Polym. Chem.2020, 11, 2089-2097.
[2] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Qian Y.; Zhang Z.; Zhang W.*; Zhu X., Supramolecular Chirality in Azobenzene-Containing Polymer System: Traditional Postpolymerization Self-Assembly Versus In Situ Supramolecular Self-Assembly Strategy. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2020, 21, 6186.
[1] Cheng X.; Miao T.; Yin L.; et al., Recent Progress in Chiral Oligomer/Polymer Induced Chiral Assembly of Achiral Substances. Journal of Functional Polymers (In Chinese), 2019, 32, 647-659. (Cover Paper)