Graduate Student Seminar

Abstract: The Mei Research Group at Zhejiang University bridges fundamental discovery and real-world innovation by integrating chemistry, materials science, engineering and medicine. We develop organic semiconductors and conductors with transformative potential for printed electronics, bioelectronics, and living electronics, pursuing both technological impact and fundamental scientific frontiers. In this seminar, I will highlight two complementary research directions: Electrochromic Technologies and Living Electronics. Both are rooted in the precise control of light, color, ions, and electrons, yet extend these principles toward very different applications. Through Ambilight Inc., our discoveries in flexible electrochromic thin films have been translated into roll-to-roll manufacturing and commercialized for applications ranging from electric vehicles to consumer electronics. These examples illustrate how fundamental discoveries made in an academic laboratory can evolve into market-ready technologies. Our second direction, Living Electronics, asks a more fundamental question: Can electronics become part of living systems rather than being implanted into them? Inspired by biological vision, our work on Organic Eyes seeks to emulate the sensing and processing functions of the human visual system. In parallel, we are exploring electronics that can grow within the brain, creating electronic materials that form and function directly within living neural tissue. While these goals remain at the frontier of science, they point toward a fundamentally different relationship between synthetic materials and biology. To illustrate the broader philosophy behind our research, I will discuss the journey of n-doped poly(benzodifurandione) (n-PBDF)-from an unexpected polymer discovery and scalable synthesis to applications in flexible electronics and bioelectronics. This case study captures our approach: coupling curiosity-driven discovery with mission-driven innovation. By connectin