Professor Peidong Yang stands as a preeminent leader in nanoscience and sustainable energy research, currently holding the S.K. and Angela Chan Distinguished Professorship in Energy at the University of California, Berkeley. He maintains dual appointments as Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, while also serving as a Senior Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. After earning his B.S. in chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1993, he completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1997 under Professor Charles Lieber before conducting postdoctoral research with Professor Galen Stucky at UC Santa Barbara. He joined the Berkeley faculty in 1999 and has since established himself as one of the most influential figures in nanomaterials science, with leadership roles including Director of the Kavli Energy Nanoscience Institute and the California Research Alliance by BASF.
Yang's groundbreaking contributions to nanotechnology have revolutionized the field of semiconductor nanostructures, most notably through his invention of the first nanowire nanolaser in 2001, which marked a paradigm shift in nanoscale photonics and optical computing. His subsequent development of the gate-all-around nanowire transistor architecture in 2005 laid critical groundwork for next-generation semiconductor technologies as traditional silicon approaches reach their physical limits. Perhaps his most visionary contribution has been pioneering the integration of semiconductor nanowires with biological components to create artificial photosynthetic systems, exemplified by his 2015 breakthrough of the synthetic biophotonic leaf that mimics natural photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into chemical fuels. This work has positioned him as the most cited researcher worldwide in materials science, with his innovative approaches fundamentally transforming how scientists approach energy conversion and carbon-neutral chemical manufacturing.
Beyond his experimental achievements, Professor Yang has profoundly shaped the direction of nanoscience and energy research through his leadership in major initiatives including the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis and the Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet. His research group continues to push boundaries with projects like the liquid sunlight initiative aiming to develop scalable artificial photosynthesis technologies that could revolutionize renewable energy production. Recognized with the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2015 and election to the National Academy of Sciences, his work bridges chemistry, materials science, and biology to address pressing global energy challenges. As currently serving as Executive Editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.[1][2][3][4] and co-founder of startups Nanosys Inc. and Alphabet Energy Inc., he remains at the forefront of translating fundamental nanoscience discoveries into practical applications that could transform our energy future.
