Kejun Liu (Dr. nat. rer, Professor)
Distinguished Professor & Ph.D. Supervisor
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University
Biography
Kejun Liu received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Engineering from Sichuan University in 2011 and 2014, respectively (Supervisor: Prof. Jie Zhang). He obtained his Ph.D. from Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany, in October 2020 (Supervisor: Prof. Xinliang Feng). He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at TU Dresden, the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Germany), the University of Bern (Switzerland), and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Germany).
In April 2024, he joined the Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) at Soochow University as a Distinguished Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor. He has been selected as a Jiangsu Distinguished Professor and is a recipient of the National Key Youth Talent Program.
Academic Experience
●2024/04 - Present: Distinguished Professor
○ Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, China
●2023/09 - 2024/04: Postdoctoral Researcher
○ Department of Molecular Spectroscopy, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Germany
○ Supervisor: Prof. Mischa Bonn
●2022/09 - 2023/08: Postdoctoral Researcher
○ Femtosecond Spectroscopy of Organic Materials, University of Bern, Switzerland
○ Supervisor: Prof. Natalie Banerji
●2021/11 - 2022/08: Postdoctoral Researcher
○ Department of Synthetic Materials and Functional Devices, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Germany
○ Supervisor: Prof. Xinliang Feng
●2020/10 - 2021/10: Postdoctoral Researcher
○ Chair for Molecular Functional Materials, TU Dresden, Germany
○ Supervisor: Prof. Xinliang Feng
●2015/03 - 2020/10: Ph.D. Researcher
○ Chair for Molecular Functional Materials, TU Dresden, Germany
○ Supervisor: Prof. Xinliang Feng (Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and ACATECH)
●2014/10 - 2015/02: Ph.D. Student / Visiting Scholar
○ Experimental Polymer Physics, University of Freiburg, Germany
○ Supervisor: Prof. Günter Reiter
●2011/09 - 2014/06: Master of Engineering
○ College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, China
○ Supervisor: Prof. Jie Zhang
●2007/09 - 2011/06: Bachelor of Engineering
○ Department of Polymer Processing, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, China
Contact Information
E-mail: kjliu@suda.edu.cn
Tel: 0512-65880675
Group Website: https://web.suda.edu.cn/lkj/
Address: Room 4416, Building 304, Dushu Lake Campus, Soochow University
Research Interests
1. Semiconductor and Device Nondestructive Testing (NDT)
This direction focuses on the frontier of non-contact, nondestructive testing technology for semiconductor chips and micro-nano devices. Relying on Terahertz (THz) Spectroscopy and Ultrafast Transient Absorption Microscopy systems, we are building an "all-optical" metrology platform that combines femtosecond-level temporal resolution with nanometer-level spatial resolution.
Research Focus: Deep integration of carrier dynamics in novel semiconductors with engineering-grade inspection needs.
Methodology: Using ultrafast spectroscopy to reveal charge transport and energy conversion mechanisms in new systems such as 2D materials and organic semiconductors. Simultaneously, utilizing microscopic imaging technology to achieve device-level defect visualization and failure analysis.
Goal: To observe the trapping, accumulation, and recombination processes of carriers at microscopic defects in real-time and in-situ without destroying the sample. This research aims to analyze device operation mechanisms at the microscopic physical level, providing core technical support for semiconductor process optimization and yield improvement.
2. New Energy — High-Value Downstream Conversion of Clean Energy
Based on the national strategy of "Green Electricity - Green Hydrogen," this direction is dedicated to exploring downstream high-value conversion technologies for alcohol-based clean energy (methanol, ethanol, etc.).
Research Focus: Using frontier methods such as photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and thermal catalysis to focus on the selective activation of C-H bonds and precise "molecular tailoring" mechanisms of alcohol molecules.
Goal: To break through traditional conversion barriers under mild conditions and achieve the directional synthesis of aldehydes, acids, esters, and high-value-added pharmaceutical intermediates from simple alcohols. This provides new strategies for the transition from clean energy to green fine chemicals.
3. New Batteries — High Ion Conductive Materials
This direction focuses on the core challenges of future energy storage systems—high safety, long life, and high energy density.
Research Focus: Rational design and development based on porous polymer solid-state electrolytes and high ion conductive materials, aiming to break the bottlenecks of traditional liquid electrolytes in safety and electrochemical performance.
Content: Synthesis, structural characterization, and ion transport mechanism analysis of porous polymer solid-state electrolytes, exploring ion migration paths and dynamics at the atomic or molecular level.
Methodology: Combining synchrotron radiation, in-situ electrochemistry, and other advanced characterization techniques.
Goal: Discovery and optimization of solid-state electrolyte materials with ultra-high ionic conductivity, excellent interface stability, and wide electrochemical windows, laying a key material foundation for the industrialization of all-solid-state lithium batteries and other advanced battery systems.
Key Achievements
Publications: Published 25 research papers in high-impact international academic journals, including Nature Chemistry, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, and Advanced Materials.
Patents: 1 international patent authorized.
Collaboration
Our group relies on the team led by Academician Lifeng Chi and maintains stable cooperative relationships with multiple research groups both domestically and internationally, including:
TU Dresden (Prof. Xinliang Feng)
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Prof. Mischa Bonn)
Utrecht University (Prof. Hai Wang)
Sichuan University
China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP)
Recruitment
Our group warmly welcomes students and colleagues dedicated to Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, 2D Materials, and Transient Laser
Spectroscopy.
Openings: Master's students, Ph.D. students, and Postdocs.
Backgrounds: Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, and related fields.
Contact: Interested candidates are welcome to consult and exchange ideas.
Selected Publications
After Joining Soochow University
Li X*, Lv G, Hu Y, Tsao YH, Hu R, Tian Z, Liu K*, Ma H*. High Through-Thickness Thermal Conductivity in an Edge-On Two-Dimensional Polyamide Thin Film. Nano Lett., 2025, 25(22): 8948-8953.
Prior to Soochow University
Liu, Kejun; Qi, Haoyuan; Dong, Renhao; Shivhare, Rishi; Addicoat, Matthew; Zhang, Tao; Sahabudeen, Hafeesudeen; Heine, Thomas; Mannsfeld, Stefan; Kaiser, Ute; Zheng, Zhikun; Feng, Xinliang. On-water surface synthesis of crystalline, few-layer two-dimensional polymers assisted by surfactant monolayers. Nat. Chem., 2019, 11(11): 994-1000.
Liu, Kejun; Li, Jiang; Qi, Haoyuan; Hambsch, Mike; Rawle, Jonathan; Vázquez, Adrián Romani; Nia, Ali Shaygan; Pashkin, Alexej; Schneider, Harald; Polozij, Miroslav. A two-dimensional polyimide-graphene heterostructure with ultra-fast interlayer charge transfer. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60(25): 13859-13864.
Liu, Kejun; Rehault, Julien; Liang, Baokun; Hambsch, Mike; Zhang, Yingying; Seçkin, Sezer; Zhou, Yunxia; Shivhare, Rishi; Zhang, Peng; Polozij, Miroslav; König, Tobias A. F.; Qi, Haoyuan; Zhou, Shengqiang; Fery, Andreas; Mannsfeld, Stefan C. B.; Kaiser, Ute; Heine, Thomas; Banerji, Natalie; Dong, Renhao; Feng, Xinliang. A quasi-2D polypyrrole film with band-like transport behavior and high charge carrier mobility. Adv. Mater., 2023, 35(40): 2303288.
Liu, Kejun; Wang, Lihuan; Dong, Renhao. Two-dimensional conjugated polymer films via liquid-interface-assisted synthesis toward organic electronic devices. J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020, 8(31): 10696-10718.
Liu, Kejun; Pastukhova, Nadiia; Pavlica, Egon; Bratina, Gvido; Feng, Xinliang. Air-Water Interface-Assisted Synthesis and Charge Transport Characterization of Quasi-2D Polyacetylene Films with Enhanced Electron Mobility via Ring-Opening Polymerization of Pyrrole, 2024. arXiv:2404.05402.
Prasoon, Anupam; Yu, Xiaoqing; Hambsch, Mike; Bodesheim, David; Liu, Kejun; Zacarias, Angelica; Nguyen, Nguyen Ngan; Seki, Takakazu; Dianat, Aerzoo; Croy, Alexander; Cuniberti, Gianaurelio; Fontaine, Philippe; Nagata, Yuki; Mannsfeld, Stefan C.B.; Dong, Renhao; Bonn, Mischa; Feng, Xinliang. Site-selective chemical reactions by on-water surface sequential assembly. Nat. Commun., 2023, 14(1): 8313.
Seki, Takakazu; Yu, Xiaoqing; Zhang, Peng; Yu, Chun-Chieh; Liu, Kejun; Gunkel, Lucas; Dong, Renhao; Nagata, Yuki; Feng, Xinliang; Bonn, Mischa. Real-time study of on-water chemistry: Surfactant monolayer-assisted growth of a crystalline quasi-2D polymer. Chem, 2021, 7(10): 2758-2770.
Sahabudeen, Hafeesudeen; Qi, Haoyuan; Ballabio, Marco; Položij, Miroslav; Olthof, Selina; Shivhare, Rishi; Jing, Yu; Park, SangWook; Liu, Kejun; Zhang, Tao; Ma, Ji; Rellinghaus, Bernd; Mannsfeld, Stefan; Heine, Thomas; Bonn, Mischa; Novas, Enrique C; Zheng, Zhikun; Kaiser, Ute; Dong, Renhao; Feng, Xinliang. Highly crystalline and semiconducting imine-based two-dimensional polymers enabled by interfacial synthesis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2020, 132(15): 6084-6092.
Edited by Juan Yang