Prof. Steven WANG
BEng (The University of Melbourne), PhD (Monash), Postdoc(MIT)
Associate Vice President (Resources Planning), Office of the Vice-President (Talent and International Strategy)
Deputy Director, Center for Nature-Inspired Engineering
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering (Home), City University of Hong Kong
Associate Professor, School of Energy and Environment (Affiliate), City University of Hong Kong
Previous Experience
2016 - 2019, Assistant Professor/Lecturer, Newcastle University, United Kingdom.
2015 - 2016, Postdoc Fellow, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
2014 - 2015, Postdoc Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
About the Group
At CityU, Steven’s group aims to initiate practical engaged solutions to the real-world issues that combine different disciplines. In particular, we aim to tackle the heat/fluid/energy problems using experimental, computational and theoretical approaches.
Consulting Projects and Collaborators:
Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, HKSAR Government
Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government
Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSAR Government
Local listed companies
Hospitals (public and private)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
1. Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), HKSAR Government (2021-2024), Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51) Appeal Board Panel
2. Complex Fluid and Thermal Engineering Research Centre (COFTEC), Japan, International advisor
3. Social Implementation of Renewable Energy Research Centre (SIREC), Japan, International advisor
4. Centre for Nature-Inspired Engineering (CNIE), Member
5. Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy(HKICE), Member
6. Low-Carbon and Climate Impact Research Centre (LCCIC), Member
7 Deputy Admission Tutor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong
8. Deputy Program Leader, Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong
Awards and Achievements
- 2021 “Game-changer Competition- Winner” 2021 Asian Conference on Emergency Medicine.
- 2021 “Chun Wo Innovation Student Awards 2020 (CWISA) -Two PhD students: Ling Chen and Xiaoxue Yao” 俊和學生創新獎. Gold Award (金奬).
- 2021 “HK Tech 300 Seed Fund ” CityU.
- 2021 “ASM Technology Award 2021 ” ASM. Outstanding Award (Student: Lo Wai Kin).
- 2018 “Newcastle Teaching Award ” Newcastle University, United Kingdom.
- 2022 “ Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury ” the 48th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions. (10 out of 800 projects).
- 2022 “CENG Outstanding Teaching Award” CENG, City University of Hong Kong.
- 2024 “Research Project of the Year: STEM ” Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2024. The only team in Hong Kong to win this prestigious award this year.
Research Grants
- A novel energy nano-generator , Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, HKSAR, Dr. Steven Wang(Co-PI).
- Aero e-bike integrated with a high-performance, highly-stable and long-life battery pack, ITF, Steven Wang (PI) .
- Development of A large Scale Outdoor Atmospheric Water Harvester, ITF, Steven Wang (PI).
- Development of A Novel Passive Super Hygroscopic System for Indoor Humidity Control, ITF, Steven Wang (PI).
- Development of A Vehicle-Induced Energy Harvesting System, ITF, Steven Wang (PI) Pending for approval.
- Development of Scalable Ultra-Strength Bamboo Materials with Zero Toxic Adhesive for Bulk Production and Industrial Applications, ITF, Steven Wang (PI).
- Fast Track Ventilation System for COVID 19 Patients, ITF, Dr. Steven Wang (PI).
- Harvesting water and energy from the air: developing a fog-based self-powered system (FSS) for efficient fog harvesting, GRF, Steven Wang (PI).
- Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting driven by Sunlight, Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Grant (SIRG) , Dr. Steven Wang (Co-PI).
- Integrated In-situ Manufacturing and Application of Thermal Functional Structures of the Electrode for Power Batteries, ITF, Steven Wang (PI).
- Long Term Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitoring and Management in Hong Kong Hospitals in the Post COVID-19 Era, Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Grant (SIRG) , Steven Wang (PI).
- Preparation of High Performance Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) on Femtosecond Laser Textured-Matrix and their Multi-Scale Mechanical Characterization, ITF, Steven Wang (PI).
- Turning Rivers and Streams in Hong Kong into the Source of Solar Hydrogen via Photocatalyst Panel , Green Tech Fund, Steven Wang (Co-PI).
- Vented individual patient enclosures for respiratory (VIPER) infectious disease control , HMRF, Steven Wang (PI).
Journal
- Zhang, Zhenwen et al. & Wang, Steven*. (2025). A Self-Sufficient System for Fog-to-Water Conversion and Nitrogen Fertilizer Production to Enhance Crop Growth. Nature Communications, in press.
- Zhang, Zhi. & Wang, Steven*. (2025). Capillary Leidenfrost Effect. Nature Physics, in review.
- Xu, Qili et al.,. & Wang, Steven*. (2025). Electricity-Free Hydrogen Production from the Air. Nature Communications, in review.
- Yang, Siyan et al. , Wang, Steven. , Ma, Xuehu. & Wang, Zuankai. (2025). Electrostatics-driven inter-droplet freezing relay via ice needle shooting. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in press.
- Pu, Yiru. & Wang, Steven*. (2025). Large-scale 3D printed fouling-resistant self-floating evaporator. Nature Communications, in press.
- Yuan, youngjiu. , Jiang, Lan*. & Wang, Steven*. (2025). Laser-Architected MXene Photocapacitors. Sciences Advances, in revision.
- Lo, Wai Kin. , Liu, Yuyi. , Wang, Xiong. , Zhao, Zhipeng. , Kahouadji, Lyes. , Jiang, Shaojun. , Wu, Chenyang. , Yang, Chao*. , Matar, Omar*. & Wang, Steven*. (2025). Liquid Droplet Mops. Nautre Sustainability, in review.
- Hua, Lisha. , Irwin, Michael G.*. & Wang, Steven*. (2025). Piezocatalytic PCSK9 Inhibitor for T Cell-mediated 1 Anti-Tumor Therapy. in review.
- Zhao, Zhipeng et al. , Wang, Steven. & Wang, Liqiu. (2025). The limit of droplet rebound angle. Nature Communications, in press.
- Zhang, Huanhuan. , Zhang, Wei. , Jin, Yuankai. , Wu, Chenyang. , Xu, Zhenyu. , Yang, Siyan. , Gao, Shouwei. , Liu, Fayu. , Xu, Wanghuai. , Wang, Steven. , Yao, Haimin. & Wang, Zuankai. (2024). Droplet ejection by spring-like elastic pillars. Nature Chemical Engineering, accepted.
- Jin, Yuankai. , Yang, Siyan. , Sun, Mingzi. , Gao, Shouwei. , Cheng, Yaqi. , Wu, Chengyang. , Xu, Zhenyu. , Guo, Yunting. , Xu, Wanghuai. , Gao, Xuefeng. , Wang, Steven. , Huang, Bolong. & Wang, Zuankai. (2024). How does liquid charge the superhydrophobic surfaces. Nature Communications,15,4762,2024.
- Tao, Ran. , Hao, Chonglei. , JI, Bingqiang. , Yu, Fanfei. , Wang, Xiong. , Wang, Jinpei. , Sun, Pengcheng. , jin, Yunakai. , Li, Bing. , Wang, Steven*. & Wang, Zuankai. (2024). Surface Nanostructures Promote Droplet Splash on Hot Substrates. Nano Letters. 24. 7188 - 7194.
- Li, Tong. , Yuan, Yongjiu. , Gu, Long. , Li, Jun. , Shao, Yan. , Zhao, Yunhe. , Carlos, Corey. , Dong, Yutao. , Qian, Hong. , Xiong, Wang. , Wu, Welong. , Wang, Steven*. , Wang, Zuankai*. & Wang, Xudong*. (2024). Ultra-Stable Piezoelectric Biomaterial Nanofibers for Implantable Fabrics as A Gastrointestinal Monitor. Science Advances, in press.
- Lin, Wenzhu. , Yao, Xiaoxue. , Manoj Kumar, Nallapaneni. , Lo, Wai Kin. , Chopra, Shauhrat. , Ng, Yun Hau. & Wang, Steven*. (2023). Camel-fur-inspired graphite-based hygroscopic membrane for passive air cooling with ultrahigh cooling power. Advanced Energy Materials,14,2303470,2024 (front cover).
- Yuan, Yongjiu. , Huang, Junhao. , Li, Xin. , Jiang, Lan. , Li, Tong. , Sun, Pengcheng. , Yin, Yingying. , Wang, Sumei. , Cheng, Qian. , Xu, Wanghuai. , Qu, Liangti. & Wang, Steven. (Wiley 2023). Laser-Induced Electron Synchronization Excitation for Photochemical Synthesis And Patterning Graphene-based Electrode. Advanced Materials, 36,2308368,2024.
- Liu, Minjie. , Dang, Chaoquan. , Zhao, Fuwang. , Zhang, Chao. , Jin, Yuankai. , Jiang, Mengnan. , Lu, Yang. , Tang, Hui. , Wang, Steven*. & Wang, Zuankai*. (2023). Leidenfrost effect-induced efficient mixing of highly viscous droplets. Advanced Materials, accepted.
- Dai, Yuhang. , Li, Minfei. , Ji, Bingqiang. , Wang, Xiong. , Yang, Siyan. , Wang, Steven*. , Hao, Chonglei*. & Wang, Zuankai*. (2023). Liquid metal droplets bouncing higher on thicker water layer. Nature Communications. 14: 3532.
- Peng, Liang. , Peng, Huarong. , Wang, Steven. , Li, Xingjin. , Mo, Jiaying. , Wang, Xiong. , Tang, Yun. , Che, Renchao. , Wang, Zuankai. , Li, Wei. & Zhao, Dongyuan. (2023). One-dimensionally oriented self-assembly of ordered mesoporous nanofibers featuring tailorable mesophases via kinetic control. Nature Communications, 14,8148,2023.
- Zheng, H. , Wu, H. , Yi, Z. , Song, Y. , Xu, W. , Yan, X. , Zhou, X. , Wang, S. & Wang, ZK. (2023). Remote-Controlled Droplet Chains-Based Electricity Generators. Advanced Energy Materials, 13, 2203825, 2023.
- Li, Tong. , Wei, ZHidong. , Jin, Fei. , Wang, Hongbo. , Hua, Lisha. , Zheng, Weiying. , Qian, Lili. , Irwin, Michael. , Wang, Ting. , Steven, Wang*. , Zuankai, Wang*. & Feng, Zhang-Qi*. (2023). Soft Ferroelectret Ultrasound Receiver for Targeted Peripheral Neuromodulation. Nature Communications, 14,8368,2023.
- Masuda, Hayato. , Nakagawa, Kanta. , Iyota, Hiroyuki. , Wang, Steven. & Ohmura, Naoto. (2023). Thermo-fluid dynamics and synergistic enhancement of heat transfer by interaction between Taylor–Couette flow with axial temperature gradient and heat convection. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A.
- Yan, Xiantong. , Xu, Wanghuai. , Deng, Yajun. , Zhang, Chao. , Zheng, Huanxi. , Yang, Siyan. , Song, Yuxin. , Li, Pengyu. , Xu, Xiaote. , Hu, Yun. , Zhang, Luwen. , Yang, Zhengbao. , Wang, Steven. & Wang, Zuankai. (2022). Bubble energy generator. Science Advances, 8, 25, 2022.
- Wang, Yang. , Gao, Shuowei. , Zhong, Hongmei. , Zhang, Baoping. , Cui, Miaomiao. , Jiang, Mengnan. , Wang, Steven. & Wang, Zuankai. (2022). Heterogeneous wettability and radiative cooling for efficient deliquescent sorbentsbased atmospheric water harvesting. Cell Reports Physical Science.
- Zhao, Zhijian. , Yao, Xiaoxue. , Zhao, Wen. , Shi, Bo. , Sridhar, Sreepathy. , Pu, Yuan. , Pramana, Stevin. , Wang, Dan. & Wang, Steven. (2022). Highly Transparent Liquid Marble in Liquid (HT-LMIL) as 3D Miniaturized Reactor for Real-time Bio-/Chemical Assays. Chemical Engineering Journal.
- Jiang, Mengnan. , Wang, Yang. , Liu, Fayu. , Du, Hanheng. , Li, Yuchao. , Zhang, Huanghuang. , To, Suet. , Wang, Steven. , Pan, Chin. , Jihong, Yu. , Quere, David. & Wang, Zuankai. (2022). Inhibiting the Leidenfrost effect above 1,000?°C for sustained thermal cooling. Nature. 601.
- Yao, Xiaoxue. , Wenzhu, Lin. , Mingmei, Wang. & Wang, Steven*. (2022). Nature-inspired, High Temperature Scale-resistant Slippery Lubricant-induced Porous Surfaces (HTS-SLIPS). Small (feature as inside front cover).
- Wang, Guanqi. , McDonough, Jonathan. , Zivkovic, Vladimir. , Teng, Long. , Wang, Zuankai. & Wang, Steven*. (2022). Terminal velocities of a deformed Leidenfrost liquid: Experiments and self-propulsion model. Physical Review Fluids.
- Wu, Hao. , Wang, Steven. , Wang, Zuankai. & Zi, Yunlong. (2021). Achieving 10 MW/m2 Ultrahigh-power-density by leveraging the opposite-charge-enhanced transistor-like triboelectric nanogenerator (OCT-TENG). Nature Communications. 5470 (2021).
- Liu, Minjie. , Du, Hanheng. , Cheng, Yaqi. , Zheng, Huanxi. , Jin, Yuankai. , To, Suet. , Wang, Steven*. & Wang, Zuankai*. (2021). Explosive pancake bouncing on hot superhydrophilic surfaces. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
- Wang, Lili. , Song, Yuxin. , Xu, Wanghuai. , Li, Wanbo. , Wang, Steven*. & Wang, Zuankai*. (2021). Harvesting energy from high frequency impinging water droplets by a droplet-based electricity generator. EcoMat.
- Saczek, Joshua. , Yao, Xiaoxue. , Zivkovic, Vladmir. , Mamlouk, Mohamed. , Wang, Dan. , Pramana, Stevin. & Wang, Steven*. (Wiley 2021). Long-lived liquid marbles for green applications. Advanced Functional Materials.
- Wang, Guanqi. , McDonough, Jonathan. , Zivkovic, Vladmir. , Long, Teng. & Wang, Steven*. (Sep 2020). From Thermal Energy to Kinetic Energy: Droplet Motion Triggered by the Leidenfrost Effect. Advanced Materials Interfaces.
- Wang, Ding. , Liu, Yingzhi. , Sridhar, Sreepathy. , Li, Yifan. , McHale, Glen. , Lu, Haibao. , Yu, Ziyi. , Wang, Steven*. & Xu, Ben. (Jul 2020). Biaxially Morphing Droplet Shape by an Active Surface. Advanced Materials Interfaces. doi:10.1002/admi.202001199
- Zhao, zhijian. , Ling, Chen. , Wang, Dan. , Wang, Jie-Xin. , Saczek, Joshua. , Pramana, Stevin. , Sridhar, Sreepathy. , Shang, Jin. , Xu, Ben. , Tsang, Dan. , Chen, Jian-Feng. & Wang, Steven*. (Jul 2020). Liquid Marbles in Liquid. Small. doi:10.1002/smll.202002802
- Liu, Minjie. , Li, Jing. , Zhou, Xiaofeng. , Li, Jiaqian. , Feng, Shile. , Cheng, Yaqi. , Wang, Steven. & Wang, Zuankai. (Wiley 2020). Inhibiting random droplet motion on hot surface by engineering symmetry-breaking Janus-mushroom structure. Advanced Materials. 1907999.
- Wang, Steven*. , Metcafle, Guy. , Steward, Robert. , Wu, Jie. , Ohmura, Naoto. , Feng, Xin. & Yang, Chao. (2014). Solid–liquid separation by particle-flow-instability. Energy and Environmental Science. 7. 3982 - 3988.
Last update date :
10 Jun 2025
