Liang Zhang

2008.09 - 2012.06 Department of Chemistry, Fudan University. Bachelor in Chemistry 

2012.09 - 2015.06 Department of Chemistry, Fudan University. Msc. in Organic Chemistry (Supervisor: Zhanting Li and Danwei Zhang)

2015.09 - 2018.09 School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester. Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (Supervisor: David A. Leigh FRS)

2020.01 -  Zijiang Outstanding Young Professor, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

2018.10 - 2019.12 Post-Doctoral Research Associate, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester. (Supervisor: David A. Leigh FRS)

Prof. Dr. Liang Zhang obtained his bachelor and master degree from Fudan University under supervision of Prof. Zhan-ting Li and Dan-wei Zhang, he then joined Prof. David Leigh (FRS) group in Manchester and finished his Ph.D. on 'The synthesis of topologically complex molecules'. In 2020, Liang joined East China Normal University (ECNU) as a Zijiang Outstand Young Professor and was elected as a member of Young Talent Project. Over the past few years, Liang has introduced biomimetic concept to the molecular machinery and developed the molecular weaving to a range of knotted molecules. Currently, Liang’s group mainly works on probing the underlying physical mechanisms behind biological and artificial molecular machines via different single molecular techniques and the construction of highly entangled polymers and weaving materials through different molecular nanotopologies.

Frontiers in Chemistry Review Editor in Supramolecular Chemistry

Chinese Chemical Letters Young Editoral Board

1. Molecular Nanotopology 

    Efficient Synthesis of Topologically Complex Molecules

    Effects of Topological Chirality

    Molecular Weaving

2. Single-molecule Technique

    Single-molecule Electronics

    Single-molecule Force Spectroscopy  

3. Molecular Machinery and Molecular Robtics 

    Synthesis of Biomimetic Molecular Machines

    Functional Materials with Molecular Machine Components

Independent Research Publication:

1. 'Mechanical tightening of a synthetic molecular knot', M. Calvaresi, A.-S. Duwez*, D. A. Leigh*, D. Sluysmans, Y. Song, F. Zerbetto* and L. Zhang* Chem, 9, 65-75 (2023). Featured on the cover of Chem. 

      —Highlighted by Nature: 'Tied up but resilient: synthetic knots show their strength'. 12th Jan. 2023.

2. 'Completely stereospecific synthesis of a molecular cinquefoil (51) knot', Z.-H. Zhang, Q. Zhou, Z. Li, N. Zhang and L. Zhang^* Chem Doi:10.1016/j.chempr.2022.11.009 (2023). Back-to-Back Articles

3. ‘A Star of David [2]catenane of single handedness’, H.-N. Feng^†, Z. Sun^†, S. Chen, Z.-H. Zhang, Z. Li, Z. Zhong, T. Sun, Y. Ma and L. Zhang^*. Chem Doi:10.1016/j.chempr.2022.11.010 (2023). Back-to-Back Articles

4. ‘Strain imposed by Knotting’, L. Zhang^* and J. F. Stoddart^*, Chem 8, 2909-2911 (2022). Invited Preview.

5. 'Real-time observation of the dynamics of an individual rotaxane molecular shuttle using a single molecule junction', S. Chen, D. Su, C. Jia, Y. Li, X. Li, X. Guo*, D. A. Leigh* and L. Zhang*. Chem 8, 243-252 (2022).

6. 'Molecular weaving', Z.-H. Zhang, B. J. Andreassen, D. P. August, D. A. Leigh* and L. Zhang*. Nature Mater. 21, 275-283 (2022). Featured on the cover of Nat. Mater.

7. 'When push comes to shove', L. Zhang*. Nature Chem. 14, 125-128 (2022). Invited N&Vs.

8. 'Doping Free and Amorphous NiOx Film via UV Irradiation for Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells', Q. Lian, P.-L. Wang, G. Wang, X. Zhang, Y. Huang, D. Li, G. Mi, R. Shi, A. Amini, L. Zhang*, and C. Cheng*. Adv. Sci. 2201543 (2022).

9. 'New synthetic strategies hold promise for the future of molecular nanotopology', L. Zhang*. Chem 7, 1407-1409 (2021). Invited Preview.

Ph.D. and Master Research Publication (10 Selected Publication):

1. 'Knotting matters: orderly molecular entanglements', Z. Ashbridge, S. D. P. Fielden, D. A. Leigh*, L. Pirvu, F. Schaufelberger and L. Zhang. Chem. Soc. Rev. Advance Article (2022).

2. ‘Self-sorting assembly of molecular trefoil knots of single handedness’, J. Zhong,^# L. Zhang,^# D. August, G. F. S. Whitehead and D. A Leigh*. J. Am. Chem. Soc.141, 14249-14256 (2019).

3. ‘Coordination chemistry of a molecular pentafoil knot’, L. Zhang, A. J. Stephens, J.-F. Lemonnier, L. Pirvu, I. J. Vitorica-Yrezabal, C. J. Robinson and D. A. Leigh*. J. Am. Chem. Soc.141, 3952-3958 (2019).

4. ‘Effects of knot tightness at the molecular level’, L. Zhang, J.-F. Lemonnier, A. Acocella, M. Calvaresi, F. Zerbetto and D. A. Leigh*. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA116, 2452-2457 (2019).

5. ‘Stereoselective synthesis of a composite knot with nine crossings’, L. Zhang^#, A. J. Stephens^#, A. L. Nussbaumer, J.-F. Lemonnier, P. Jurček, I. J. Vitorica-Yrezabal and D. A. Leigh*. Nature Chem. 10, 1083-1088 (2018). Featured on the cover of Nat. Chem.

6. ‘Securing a supramolecular architecture by tying a stopper knot’, D. A. Leigh*, L. Pirvu, F. Schaufelberger, D. J. Tetlow and L. Zhang. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.57, 10484-10488 (2018). [VIP paper] Featured as the Frontispiece.

7. ‘A molecular trefoil knot from a trimeric circular helicate’, L. Zhang, D. P. August, J. Zhong, G. F. S. Whitehead, I. J. Vitorica-Yrezabal and D. A. Leigh*. J. Am. Chem. Soc.140, 4982-4985 (2018).

8. ‘Molecular machines with bio-inspired mechanisms’, L. Zhang, V. Marcos and D. A. Leigh*. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA115, 9397-9404 (2018).

9. ‘pH-Responsive Single-layer Honeycomb Supramolecular Organic Frameworks that Exhibit Antimicrobial Activity', L. Zhang, Y. L. Jia, H. Wang, D. W. Zhang*, Q. Zhang*, Z. T. Li*. Polym. Chem.7, 1861-1865 (2016).

10. ‘Two-dimensional Single-layer Supramolecular Organic Framework That is Driven by Viologen Radical Cation Dimerization and Further Promoted by Cucurbit[8]uril', L. Zhang, T. Y. Zhou, J. Tian, H. Wang, D. W. Zhang*, X. Zhao, Y. Liu*, Z. T. Li*. Polym. Chem.5, 4715-4720 (2014).

2020 Outstanding Young Tanlent Project

2019 Chinese Goverment Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad

2019 Finalist of Elsevier Reaxys PhD Thesis Prize

2019 CAS Future Leader 

2019 RSC-BMCS International Travel Prize

2019 UoM Annual Outstand Output 

2018 RSC-MASC PhD. Thesis Award 

2015-2018 President's Doctoral Scholar Award