Assistant Professor

Aug. 2017 – Jul. 2023, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Aug. 2013 – Jul. 2017, B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Sep. 2023 – Dec. 2024, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Dec. 2024 – Present, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Micro/Nano Fabrication and IC Equipment

Research Areas:

Micro/nano joining, ultrafast laser processing, artificial intelligence, electronic and silicon photonic devices

Research Overview:

Focusing on the interdisciplinary theme of “AI for Material, Material for AI,” Dr. Huo conducts systematic research in two major directions: AI-driven material design and novel materials for emerging AI computing systems.

In the direction of “AI for Material,” he addresses key challenges in traditional material development, such as dependence on expert experience, long development cycles, and low efficiency. By introducing deep learning and other AI technologies, he builds direct mapping models between microstructure and macroscopic performance using multimodal data (e.g., images and spectra), significantly improving efficiency in performance prediction and process optimization, minimizing human bias, and enabling high-throughput and intelligent materials discovery.

In the direction of “Material for AI,” he explores novel semiconductor materials (e.g., 2D materials, ferroelectric materials, nanothermal conductors, electro-optic modulators) and their heterogeneous integration with silicon-based systems to tackle material and architectural challenges beyond Moore’s Law. He investigates emerging chip architectures—such as optoelectronic co-processing and in-sensor computing—to support heterogeneous packaging, low-latency communication, and energy-efficient computation for high-performance AI chips.

1. J. Huo, G. Zou, Y. Xiao, T. Sun, B. Feng, D. Shen, C. Du, J. Peng, L. Lin, L. Liu*, Multifunctional van der Waals heterostructures enabled by femtosecond laser-controlled band alignment engineering. Nano Energy 113, 108548 (2023).

2. J. Huo, G. Zou, Y. Xiao, T. Sun, B. Feng, D. Shen, L. Lin, W. Wang, Z. A, L. Liu*, High performance 1D–2D CuO/MoS 2 photodetectors enhanced by femtosecond laser-induced contact engineering. Mater. Horiz. 10, 524–535 (2023).

3. J. Huo, Y. Xiao, T. Sun, G. Zou, D. Shen, B. Feng, L. Lin, W. Wang, G. Zhao, L. Liu*, Femtosecond Laser Irradiation-Mediated MoS 2 –Metal Contact Engineering for High-Performance Field-Effect Transistors and Photodetectors. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13, 54246–54257 (2021).

4. Huo Jinpeng 霍金鹏, Xiao Yu 肖宇, Sun Tianming 孙天鸣, Xing Songling 邢松龄, Lin Luchan 林路禅, Liu Lei 刘磊*, Electrical Enhancement of SiC Nanowire Joints Based on Femtosecond Laser Reduction of GO. Chin. J. Lasers 48, 0802007 (2021).

5. J. Huo, G. Zou, L. Lin, K. Wang, S. Xing, G. Zhao, L. Liu*, Y. Norman Zhou*, Highly focused femtosecond laser directed selective boron doping in single SiC nanowire device for n-p conversion. Appl. Phys. Lett. 115, 133104 (2019).

6. J. Peng, G. Zou, J. Huo, Z. Li, T. Sun, B. Feng, C. Du, J. Huo*, L. Liu*, Robust Neuromorphic Computing Enabled by Femtosecond Laser‐Modulated Divergent Ion Dynamics in CuInP2 S6. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2504334 (2025).

7. T. Sun, B. Feng, J. Huo, Y. Xiao, W. Wang, J. Peng, Z. Li, C. Du, W. Wang, G. Zou, L. Liu, Artificial Intelligence Meets Flexible Sensors: Emerging Smart Flexible Sensing Systems Driven by Machine Learning and Artificial Synapses. Nano-Micro Lett. 16, 14 (2024).

8. Y. Xiao, G. Zou, J. Huo, T. Sun, J. Peng, Z. Li, D. Shen, L. Liu, Local modulation of Au/MoS 2 Schottky barriers using a top ZnO nanowire gate for high-performance photodetection. Nanoscale Horiz. 9, 285–294 (2024).

9. J. Peng, G. Zou, J. Huo, Y. Xiao, T. Sun, Z. Li, B. Feng, L. Liu, Asymmetric Schottky contacts induced via localized ultrafast laser irradiation for ultrasensitive, self-powered, 2D photodetectors. Nano Energy 117, 108891 (2023).

10. A. Zhanwen, G. Zou, W. Li, Y. You, B. Feng, Z. Sheng, C. Du, Y. Xiao, J. Huo, L. Liu, Deep learning driven multifeature extraction for quality evaluation of ultrafast laser drilled microhole arrays. J. Laser Appl. 35, 042006 (2023).

11. C. Du, G. Zou, J. Huo, B. Feng, Z. A, L. Liu, Generative AI-enabled microstructure design of porous thermal interface materials with desired effective thermal conductivity. J. Mater. Sci. 58, 16160–16171 (2023).

12. C. Du, G. Zou, B. Feng, J. Huo, Z. A, Y. Xiao, W. Wang, L. Liu, Predicting Effective Thermal Conductivity of Sintered Silver by Microstructural-Simulation-Based Machine Learning. J. Electron. Mater. 52, 2347–2358 (2023).

13. B. Feng, T. Sun, W. Wang, Y. Xiao, J. Huo, Z. Deng, G. Bian, Y. Wu, G. Zou, W. Wang, T. Ren, L. Liu, Venation‐Mimicking, Ultrastretchable, Room‐Temperature‐Attachable Metal Tapes for Integrated Electronic Skins. Adv. Mater. 35, 2208568 (2023).

14. C. Du, G. Zou, Z. A, B. Lu, B. Feng, J. Huo, Y. Xiao, Y. Jiang, L. Liu, Highly accurate and efficient prediction of effective thermal conductivity of sintered silver based on deep learning method. Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 201, 123654 (2023).

15. Z. A, G. Zou, W. Zhao, B. Feng, C. Du, Y. Wu, Y. Xiao, J. Huo, Y. Wu, L. Liu, The mechanism of irregular hole-shape formation during ultrafast laser micro-drilling of metals. Appl. Phys. A 129, 120 (2023).

16. Y. Xiao, G. Zou, J. Huo, T. Sun, B. Feng, L. Liu, Locally Thinned, Core–Shell Nanowire-Integrated Multi-gate MoS 2 Transistors for Active Control of Extendable Logic. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 15, 1563–1573 (2023).

17. T. Sun, B. Feng, J. Huo, Y. Xiao, J. Peng, Z. Li, W. Wang, L. Liu, G. Zou, W. Wang, Switching ultra-stretchability and sensitivity in metal films for electronic skins: a pufferfish-inspired, interlayer regulation strategy. Mater. Horiz. 10, 2525–2534 (2023).

18. Z. A, G. Zou, Y. Wu, Y. Wu, B. Feng, Y. Xiao, J. Huo, Q. Jia, C. Du, L. Liu, Temporal and spatial heat input regulation strategy for high-throughput micro-drilling based on multi-beam ultrafast laser. Opt. Laser Technol. 155, 108424 (2022).

19. T. Sun, J. Huo, Y. Xiao, L. Liu, B. Feng, X. Zhai, W. Wang, G. Zou, Atomic bonding-engineered heterogeneous integration of semiconductor nanowires by femtosecond laser irradiation for a miniaturized photodetector. Appl. Surf. Sci. 575, 151709 (2022).

20. Xing Songling 邢松龄, Xiao Yu 肖宇, Huo Jinpeng 霍金鹏, Lin Luchan 林路禅, Shen Daozhi 沈道智, Liu Lei 刘磊, Nanowelding and Electrical Performance Tuning of Pt-TiO2 Induced by Femtosecond Laser. Chin. J. Lasers 48, 0802004 (2021).

21. Xiao Yu 肖宇, Huo Jinpeng 霍金鹏, Sun Tianming 孙天鸣, Xing Songling 邢松龄, Shen Daozhi 沈道智, Lin Luchan 林路禅, Zou Guisheng 邹贵生, Nanojoining of p-Type Copper Oxide Nanowires Using Femtosecond Laser. Chin. J. Lasers 48, 0802005 (2021).

22. Sun Tianming 孙天鸣, Xiao Yu 肖宇, Huo Jinpeng 霍金鹏, Shen Daozhi 沈道智, Wang Wenxian 王文先, Zou Guisheng 邹贵生, Nanojoining and Electrical Performance Modulation of Metal Oxide Nanowires Based on Femtosecond Laser Irradiation. Chin. J. Lasers 48, 0802006 (2021).

23. Lin Luchan 林路禅, Xing Songling 邢松龄, Huo Jinpeng 霍金鹏, Xiao Yu 肖宇, Peng Peng 彭鹏, Shen Daozhi 沈道智, Liu Lei 刘磊, Zou Guisheng 邹贵生, Research Progress of Ultrafast Laser-Induced Nanowires Joining Technology. Chin. J. Lasers 48, 0802001 (2021).

24. L. Lin, J. Huo, G. Zou, L. Liu, L. P. H. Jeurgens, Y. N. Zhou, Maskless Patterning of Metal Outflow in Alternating Metal/Ceramic Multiple Nanolayers by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation. J. Phys. Chem. C 124, 1178–1189 (2020).

25. L. Lin, J. Huo, P. Peng, G. Zou, L. Liu, W. W. Duley, Y. N. Zhou, Contact engineering of single core/shell SiC/SiO 2 nanowire memory unit with high current tolerance using focused femtosecond laser irradiation. Nanoscale 12, 5618–5626 (2020).

26. S. Xing, L. Lin, J. Huo, G. Zou, X. Sheng, L. Liu, Y. N. Zhou, Plasmon-Induced Heterointerface Thinning for Schottky Barrier Modification of Core/Shell SiC/SiO 2 Nanowires. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 11, 9326–9332 (2019).

27. Z. Li, G. Zou, Y. Xiao, B. Feng, J. Huo, J. Peng, T. Sun, L. Liu, MoS2/ZnO-heterostructured optoelectronic synapse for multiwavelength optical information-based sensing, memory, and processing. Nano Energy 127, 109733 (2024).

Second Prize, Beijing Science and Technology Award, 2024 (Ranked 7th)