Academician JIANG Lei from the Institute of Chemistry, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), delivered a lecture titled “Design of bio-inspired smart multi-scale interfacial materials” on the evening of 12 May, 2011 at the Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (GUCAS). It was the fourth lecture organized by the CAS Science 100 Forum to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry 2011, which was designated by the 63rd United Nations General Assembly.
Prof. JIANG began by encouraging the GUCAS graduate students to focus on basic scientific research. Drawing on his own research experience, Prof. JIANG explained why the surface of lotus leaves have a self-cleaning function. He noted that the purity of the lotus was attributed to the water- and soil-repellent characteristics of its leaves' micro-nano-binary structure (MNBs). The nanostructures and the super-hydrophobic materials are the dominant causative factors of these phenomena. One of their most important applications is on the surface glass of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, which he illustrated with slides. In addition, he and the students discussed the role of philosophy in scientific research.
Academician JIANG’s lecture concluded with the students’ enthusiastic applause.
