Overview
Future Research Vision
Chemical Design of van der Waals Materials
Topological Graphene Nanoribbons
I found a class of nanoribbons whose topological phase is determined by the direction of the electric field. Topological 0D soliton states can be generated with energy levels within the finite gaps, at an interface where a change of the sign of the electric field occurs. Our work predicts, for the first time, synthesizable graphene nanoribbons with tunable topologial phases.
Publication:
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Haiyue Huang+, Mumun Sarker+, Percy Zahl, C Stephen Hellberg, Jeremy Levy, Ioannis Petrides*, Alexander Sinitskii*, Prineha Narang*, “Topological Solitons in Square-Root Graphene Nanoribbons Controlled by Electric Fields”, Physical Review Letters, 2025, 134, 256601.
Massive States in Graphitic Networks
I extended the topological phenomenon from 1D nanoribbons to 2D graphitic networks, by desiging four classes of graphitic structures, each of them has different topological features. When the four classes are stitched together, this 2D bulk phase gives rise to 0D topological corner states at the intersection, indicating a topological phase transition in a higher-order regime.
By tuning the smoothness of the domain wall, we further demonstrate the appearance of additional massive localized states carrying non-zero angular momentum, an effect not previously demonstrated in two dimensions. Our results provide a practical framework for realizing experimentally accessible SOTIs and uncover the existence of massive bound states beyond conventional massless ones.
Massive states with angular momentum
Smooth Topological Domain Wall
Publication:
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Haiyue Huang, Prineha Narang, Ioannis Petrides*, “Bound States in Bound States in Second-Order Topological Graphitic Structures”, arXiv:2605.11164, under review.
First-Principles Calculations
I use first-principles calculations to investigate electronic structure and molecular interactions in low-dimensional materials and molecular systems. Current projects include ongoing collaborative studies that are not yet publicly available.
Graphene Oxide (GO) Chemistry
Self-crosslinking of GO sheets
For the first time, I discovered self-crosslinking reactions between GO single layers. This new insight refreshes what people know about a fundamental chemical property of GO. It also reveals a new mode of intrinsic interlayer interaction between GO sheets, which is a foundational structural feature in all GO-based and related graphene materials. It offers guidance on how GO should be processed during manufacturing and applications.
Publication:
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Haiyue Huang*, “To Disperse or Not to Disperse: A Hidden Piece of Chemistry of Graphene Oxide.” Chem, 2022, 8, 2319.
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Haiyue Huang+, Hun Park+, and Jiaxing Huang*, “Self-Crosslinking of Graphene Oxide by Dehydration”, Chem, 2022, 8, 2432.
Processability of GO doughs
Graphene oxide (GO) is a two-dimensional soft carbon sheet that has a wide range of promising applications. It has been studied for years yet it is still challenging to standardize its processing and applications. I discovered that the dough state of GO is a good form for manufacturing, especially during storage and transportation. It can be readily dispersed back to single layers in water and offers drastic space and weight saving in comparison to dispersions and avoids safety hazards associated with dry GO solids.
Publication:
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Christian Machado+, Benjamin Stern+, Haiyue Huang, Asma Ul Hosna Meem, Jiaxing Huang, Kyoo-Chul Kenneth Park*, “Robust Hybrid Diffusion Control for Long-Term Scalable Frost Prevention”, Science Advances, 2024, 10, eadq8525.
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Che-Ning Yeh, Haiyue Huang, Alane Tarianna O. Lim, Ren-Huai Jhang, Chun-Hu Chen* and Jiaxing Huang*, “Binder-Free Graphene Oxide Doughs”, Nature Communications, 2019, 10, 422.
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Zhizhi Kong, Matthias Daab, Hitomi Yano, Haiyue Huang, Josef Breu, Takayoshi Sasaki, SonBinh T. Nguyen* and Jiaxing Huang*, “Visualizing Transparent 2D Sheets by Fluorescence Quenching Microscopy”, Small Methods, 2020, 2000036C.
MXene Nanostructures
My ongoing research on MXenes combines experimental studies with first-principles calculations to connect chemical and structural design with electronic properties. More results coming soon.
Materials for Public Health
As is with the rest of the world, my research about GO was also interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of the grave tragedy and uncertainty, the struggle, sacrifice and resilience demonstrated by ordinary people and healthcare workers so deeply moved my heart that I felt I had to do something, at least try. I joined my advisor, Prof. Jiaxing Huang in studying literature and textbooks in the field of virology and public health, and discussing with healthcare professionals. I was surprised to quickly realize that there is actually much we can do in this global crisis.
COVID-19: A call for physical scientists and engineers
Together with nine brilliant frontline public health workers, clinicians, biomedical researchers in China, and my advisor, I wrote the very first article that serves to share basics about viruses and infectious diseases, define research needs and problems, share hypotheses and new ideas, and call for action in the field of physical science. Later we were fortunate enough to receive funding to actually pursue two of the concepts brought up in the perspective paper.
Making droplets less infectious
We developed a chemical modulation layer that can change the composition of outgoing respiratory droplets released by the wearer. A model system with polyaniline and copper salts/phosphoric acids is demonstrated. The results show even loosely packed fabrics can modify a significant volume of escaped droplets. Reducing the infectiousness of the sources can cut down direct person-to-person transmission, reduce indirect transmission through fomites, and lower the burden of other measures along the transmission pathways of infectious respiratory diseases.
Self-sanitizing surface
We found a facile one-step solution processing method to retrofit stainless steels with a conformal, continuous, and ultrathin coating. It is shown that copper ions can be released from the coating and induce an antimicrobial effect, which could contribute to reducing fomite infections and slow down the transmission of infectious diseases. The coating is rub-resistant due to the lack of a sharp interface, making it suitable for sanitization purposes for touch surfaces.
Publication:
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Haiyue Huang, Olivia Willilams Barber, Zhilong Yu, Hun Park, Xiaobing Hu, Xinqi Chen, Chun-Hu Chen, Erica M. Hartmann* and Jiaxing Huang*, “Rub-Resistant Antibacterial Surface Conversion Layer on Stainless Steel”, Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2022, 2200251.
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Haiyue Huang+, Hun Park+, Yihan Liu, and Jiaxing Huang*, “On-Mask Chemical Modulation of Respiratory Droplets”, Matter, 2020, 3, 1791-1810.
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Haiyue Huang, Chunhai Fan, Min Li, Hua-Li Nie, Fu-Bing Wang, Hui Wang, Ruilan Wang, Jianbo Xia, Xin Zheng, Xiaolei Zuo, and Jiaxing Huang*, “COVID-19: A Call for Physical Scientists and Engineers”, ACS Nano, 2020, 14, 3747-3754.