Professor Jun Liu is a distinguished scientist and leading authority in organic semiconductor materials at the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has served as a full Professor at this prestigious institution since March 2013, conducting groundbreaking research within the State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry. Dr. Liu received his earlier education at Wuhan University before advancing his expertise in polymer chemistry and materials science, establishing himself as a prominent figure in China's scientific community. His institutional affiliation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences places him within one of Asia's most respected research ecosystems for materials innovation, where he has developed a robust research program focused on advanced functional polymers.
Professor Liu's pioneering research on boron-nitrogen coordinated polymers has revolutionized the development of high-performance organic semiconductors, with his innovative work on polymer acceptors featuring B←N units representing a significant advancement in the field. His recent breakthrough in short-wavelength infrared photodetection technology, achieved through the strategic molecular design of NBN-4 featuring thiophene-fused BODIPY tetramers with resonant N—B←N bonds, has enabled organic photodetectors to achieve unprecedented 1200 nm peak responsivity. This discovery demonstrates how precisely engineered oligomer frameworks and tailored end-group chemistry can promote J-aggregation, effectively broadening the optical response of organic semiconductors into the infrared spectrum. The practical implications of this work are substantial, offering potential pathways to flexible, lightweight, and cost-effective infrared sensors that could transform applications in non-invasive medical imaging, autonomous navigation systems, and secure optical communications.
Recognized among the World's Top 2% Scientists with a ranking of 93 out of 27,165 scientists in Enabling & Strategic Technologies, Professor Liu's contributions have significantly elevated China's standing in advanced materials research. His work bridges fundamental chemical principles with practical electronic applications, establishing new design paradigms for next-generation organic semiconductors that balance synthetic complexity with functional performance. The cyanation-driven J-aggregation approach he pioneered provides a general strategy that researchers worldwide are now adopting to develop improved organic optoelectronic materials. Looking forward, Professor Liu continues to explore the boundaries of molecular engineering to create novel organic semiconductor systems with enhanced charge transport properties and spectral response ranges, promising to further advance the commercial viability of organic electronic devices while inspiring a new generation of materials scientists.
