Adjunct ProfessorTel：
Email：jiongzhao@polyu.edu.hk
IntroductionProfessor Zhao Jiong is currently a Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his Ph.D. from Tsinghua University in 2012 and, in 2023, co-founded the University Research Facility in Electron Microscopy (PolyU Atomic Electron Microscopy Center) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a founding member. His research focuses on low-dimensional physics, particularly in the areas of two-dimensional materials and in-situ electron microscopy techniques. Professor Zhao is dedicated to developing and applying testing methodologies for one-dimensional and two-dimensional materials under in-situ mechanical, electrical, heating, and electron-beam environments. His work systematically reveals key characteristics of various low-dimensional materials, including their atomic structures, chemical and physical properties, as well as structural dynamic responses. As first author or corresponding author, he has published numerous research papers in top-tier international journals, including Science, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Materials, PNAS, Physical Review Letters, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Nature Communications, and Science Advances. Professor Zhao has received several prestigious awards and honors, including: Research Scholar of the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Excellent Young Scientists Fund (A category), NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong & Macao), Member of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences Young Member of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering
Education Experience2007-2012 Ph.D Department of Materials Science and Engineering Tsinghua University
2003-2007 B. S. Department of Materials Science and Engineering Tsinghua University
Work Experience2025.6-Present Professor, Department of Applied Physics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
2023.7-2025.6
Associate Professor, Department of Applied Physics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
2017.4-2023.6 Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Physics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
2013.12- 2017.3 IBS Research Fellow / Research Professor, CINAP, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea
2012.9-2013.11 DAAD-Leibniz fellow, IFW Dresden, Germany
Solid State Lighting
Advanced Electron Microscopy
Materials Science
Low-Dimensional semiconductors
Low-Dimensional Ferroelectrics
Structures, properties, fabrications and characterizations of low-dimensional materials
Electron microscopy
In situ electron microscopy and atomic-scale dynamics under external fields
[1] Wong, L. W., Yang, K., Han, W., Zheng, X., Wong, H. Y., Tsang, C. S., Lee. C.S., Lau S.P., Ly T.H.*, Yang M.*, Zhao, J.* (2024). Deciphering the ultra-high plasticity in metal monochalcogenides. Nature Materials, 23(2), 196-204.
[2] Zheng X., Feng S,, Tsang C.S., Thi Q.H., Han W., Wong L.W., Liu H., Lee C.S, Lau S., Ly T.H.*, Xu Z.*, Zhao J* (2025) Twist-assisted intrinsic toughening in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, Nature Materials, 24, 1561
[3] Tsang C.S., Zheng X., Yang T., Yan Z., Han W., Wong L.W., Lee C.S., Lau S.P., Yang M.*, Zhao J.*, Ly T.H.* (2024) Polar and quasicrystal vortex observed in twisted bilayer molybdenum disulfide, Science, 386, 198.
[4] Han W., Zheng X., Yang K., Tsang C.S., Zheng F., Wong L.W., Lai K.H., Yang T., Wei Q., Li M., Io W.F., Guo F., Cai Y., Wang N., Hao J., Lee C.S., Ly T.H.*, Yang M.*, Zhao J.* (2023) Phase-controllable large-area two-dimensional In2Se3 and ferroelectric heterophase junction, Nature Nanotechnology 18, 55.
[5] Fu, Q., Wong, L. W., Zheng, F., Zheng, X., Tsang, C. S., Lai, K. H., Shen W., Ly T.H.*, Deng Q.*, Zhao, J.* (2023). Unraveling and leveraging in situ surface amorphization for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media. Nature Communications, 14(1), 6462.
[6] D. Sun, L W Wong, H Y Wong, K H Lai, L Ye, X Xv, T H Ly,* Q Deng,* J Zhao*, (2023) Direct Visualization of Atomic Structure in Multivariate Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Guiding Electrocatalysts Design, Angewandte Chemie 62, e202216008.
[7] Zheng X, Han W, Yang K, Wong LW, Tsang CS, Lai KH, Zheng F, Yang T, Shu Ping Lau, Ly TH*, Yang M*, Zhao J* (2022) Phase and polarization modulation in two-dimensional In2Se3 via in situ transmission electron microscopy Science Advances, 8 (42), eabo0773.
[8] Lingli Huang, Fangyuan Zheng, Qingming Deng, Quoc Huy Thi, Lok Wing Wong, Yuan Cai, Ning Wang, Chun-Sing Lee, Shu Ping Lau, Manish Chhowalla, Ju Li, Thuc Hue Ly*, Jiong Zhao*. (2020) In Situ Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Observations of Fracture at the Atomic Scale, Physical Review Letters, 125, 246102.
[9] Lingli Huang, Fangyuan Zheng, Qingming Deng, Quoc Huy Thi, Lok Wing Wong, Yuan Cai, Ning Wang, Chun-Sing Lee, Shu Ping Lau, Thuc Hue Ly*, Jiong Zhao* (2020) Anomalous fracture in two-dimensional rhenium disulfide, Science Advances 6, eabc2282
[10] [Patent] Zhao J, Han W, “一种大面积二维硒化铟薄膜晶体材料的相可控制备方法.”, 06/2022, PAT-1431-CN-NP, MP22006401, 202210617423.2, Filed and Authorized
2025 Fellow of Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences
2025 Young Member of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering
2025 RGC Research Fellow
2025 NSFC Distinguished Young Scholar
2022 Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Scholarly Activities: Outstanding Young Researcher (FAST, PolyU, HK)
2019 NSFC Young Scientist Award
2019 Shortlisted for Croucher Innovation Award (Croucher Foundation, HK)
2018 Early Career Scheme Grant (Hong Kong Research Grant Council, HK)
2017 Nanyang Assistant Professorship (Nanyang Technological Univ, Singapore)
2017 One Thousand Talent Youth Award (China Central Gov.)
2016 IBS Director's Award (Korea, IBS)
2013 Excellent Doctoral Thesis Award (Tsinghua University, China)
Copyright © 2025 Institute of Low-Dimensional Quantum Materials, Hubei University of Technology.
