RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Research focuses on conducting systematic and innovative research on functional carbon nanorings and belts, novel macrocyclic molecules, and molecular machines.
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC CAREER:
2026.1–Present Professor, School of Chemistry, Sichuan University
2018.11–2026.1 Distinguished Researcher, School of Chemistry, Sichuan University
2016.7–2018.8 Postdoctoral Researcher, Northwestern University (with Prof. J. Fraser Stoddart)
2011.9–2016.5 PhD Northwestern University (Advisor: Prof. J. Fraser Stoddart)
2007.9–2011.7 BS, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University (Advisor: Prof. Jian Pei)
HONORS AND AWARDS:
2025 Emerging Investigator of Science China Chemistry
2021 Reserve Candidates for Academic and Technical Leaders in Sichuan Province
2020 The Youth Project of the National Overseas High-level Talent Program Startup
2019 Sichuan Province Distinguished Expert for High-level Talents Fellowship
2017 Foresight Fellowship in Molecular Machines
2016 Reaxys PhD Prize Shortlist (10 out of 45 finalists)
2016 International Institute for Nanotechnology Outstanding Research Award
2016 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad
2015 Foresight Institute Distinguished Student Award
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
11) Zhang, D.; Liu, J.; Ming, J.; Lan, K.; Jiang, J.; Zhong, H.; Zhang, X.; Bin, Z.*; Cheng, C.* Incorporating a Pyridinium into a Cycloparaphenylene: a Cationic Donor–acceptor Nanohoop with Reversible Redox Properties, Sci. China Chem. 2026, in press, DOI: 10.1007/s11426-025-3313-9DOI: 10.1007/s11426-025-3313-9
10) Li, P.; Lan, K.; Zhang, X.; Zhong, H.; Cheng, C.* Dynamic Covalent Assembly of Low-symmetry Chiral Organic Nanotubes via Disulfide-bridged Pillar[5]arene Dimerization, Sci. China Chem. 2025, 68, 6591–6599. DOI: 10.1007/s11426-025-3087-0DOI: 10.1007/s11426-025-3087-0
9) Zhang, X.; Jiang, J.; Lan, K.; Zhang, D.; Cheng, C.* Cycloparaphenylene-Type Hoops with Adaptive Cavities Derived from N,N’-diphenyldihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine, Org. Lett. 2025, 27, 10484–10488. DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5c03356
8) Lan, K.; Zhang, C. (co-first author); Li, Y.; Hu, C.; Su, Z.; Cheng, C.* Strain Energy Prompted Tunable Aggregation-Induced Emission Property of Tetraphenylethylene, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202507763. DOI: 10.1002/ange.202507763
7) Duan, X.; Lan, K.; Su, Y.; Cheng, C.* Facile Synthesis of a Contorted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Derivative, Org. Chem. Front. 2025, 12, 5504–5510. DOI: 10.1039/D5QO00604J
6) Lan, K.; Zhang, S. (co-first author); Lu, Y.; Yu, P.*; Chen, J.*; Cheng, C.* Strain energy induced rotary speed acceleration in a light-driven molecular motor, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202507487. DOI: 10.1002/anie.202507487
5) Zhong, H.; Lan, K.; Ming, J.; Zhang, D.; Cheng, C.* Stereoisomerism in trimacrocyclic structures fused by a pillar[6]arene and two [8]cycloparaphenylenes, Org. Lett. 2025, 27, 4349–4354. DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5c01097
4) Zhang, X.; Lan, K.; Cheng, C.* Figure-eight bismacrocycles derived from a tetraphenylmethane core and oligoparaphenylene loops, Org. Lett. 2024, 26, 7853–7857. DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c02701
3) Lan, K.; Cheng, C.*, Supramolecular chemistry and mechanostereochemistry of cycloparaphenylenes, Scientia Sinica Chimica, 2023, 53, 2402–2419. DOI: 10.1360/SSC-2023-0170
2) Luo, J.; Guo, Y.; Li, P.; Sue, A. C.-H.; Cheng, C.* Dynamic combinatorial libraries of a dimercaptopillar[5]arene, Chem. Commun., 2022, 58, 8646—8649. DOI: 10.1039/d2cc02752f
1) Jin, J.; Miao, J.; Cheng, C.* Mono-mercapto-functionalized pillar[5]arene: a host-guest complexation accelerated reversible redox dimerization, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 7950—7953. DOI: 10.1039/D1CC03010H
