Dr. Hongjie Dai is a preeminent scientist in the field of materials science and nanotechnology, currently serving as the Chair Professor of Chemistry at the University of Hong Kong since September 2023. Born in 1966 in Shaoyang, China, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Tsinghua University in 1989 and a Master of Science in Applied Sciences from Columbia University in 1991. He completed his doctoral studies at Harvard University in 1994, obtaining a PhD in Applied Physics and Physical Chemistry, followed by postdoctoral research with Nobel laureate Dr. Richard Smalley at Rice University. Dr. Dai joined the Stanford University faculty in 1997, where he served for two decades as a leading researcher before being named the J. G. Jackson and C. J. Wood Professor of Chemistry in 2007. His transition to the University of Hong Kong represents a continuation of his pioneering work in advanced materials with global impact.
Professor Dai has made transformative contributions to nanoscience through the development of groundbreaking materials and technologies that bridge chemistry, physics, and biomedical applications. He pioneered the widely adopted chemical vapor deposition method for carbon nanotubes, invented the first electrical nanosensors using nanotube transistors, and pushed nanotube transistors to the ballistic limit of electron transport. His research group has been instrumental in developing near-infrared-II fluorescence imaging for biological systems, enabling unprecedented visualization capabilities that have revolutionized non-invasive medical diagnostics and monitoring. Additionally, his team created a fast-charging aluminum battery that addresses critical limitations in current energy storage technology and developed affordable electrocatalysts that efficiently split water into oxygen and hydrogen fuels. These innovations demonstrate his ability to translate fundamental scientific discoveries into practical solutions for pressing global challenges.
As a leader in his field, Professor Dai has been elected to prestigious academic institutions including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and as a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His work has been recognized with numerous awards including the ACS Pure Chemistry Award, the APS James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials, and the Julius Springer Prize for Applied Physics for his exceptional contributions to nanoscience. He serves on the editorial boards of leading journals such as Nano Research, Nano Letters, and Advanced Materials, influencing the direction of research across multiple disciplines. Professor Dai continues to lead an active research program at the University of Hong Kong, mentoring the next generation of scientists and fostering international collaborations to advance the frontiers of nanotechnology. His ongoing work focuses on developing next-generation imaging technologies, energy storage solutions, and nanomedicine applications that promise to transform healthcare and sustainable technology development.
