Chao Liu
Associate professor, School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University
Research interests: Liquid photonic device and imaging technology
Email：chaoliu@buaa.edu.cn
Work Experience
01/2021-present, Associate Professor, School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University
11/2018-01/2021, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University
06/2016-11/2018, Lecturer, College of Physics and Optoelectronics, Taiyuan University of Technology
Education History
09/2011-06/2016, Ph. D, School of Electronic Information, Sichuan University
09/2007-06/2011, B.S, School of Physics and Electronic Science, Shanxi Datong University,
Awards/Honors
2024 First Prize for Natural Science from the Chinese Society for Image and Graphics (ranked 2nd)
Fundings (Selected)
[1]National Natural Science Foundation of China project “Centimeter aperture electrowetting liquid lens technology with fast response and large zoom ratio” （62575012）, 2026~2029 (Project leader)
[2]National Natural Science Foundation of China project “Large field of view continuous optical zoom microscopy imaging based on liquid lens” （62175006）, 2022~2025 (Project leader)
[3]National Key Research and Development Program of China “Materials and devices for color electronic paper display” (2021YFB3600600), 2022~2025 (Sub-project leader)
[4]Beijing Natural Science Foundation “Research on adaptive zoom microscopic imaging” (4222069), 2022~2024 (Project leader)
[5]National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund Project “Electrowetting liquid zoom bionic compound eye based on graphene film” (61805169), 2019~2021 (Project leader)
[6]Special Funding Project of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation “Continuous optical zoom microscopic imaging based on optofluidic lens” (2020T130038), 2020~2021 (Project leader)
Fields of Research Interests and Accomplishments
Dr. Liu’s research interests are in liquid photonic devices and imaging technology. His representative technical accomplishments are listed below.
[1]The low voltage and rapid driving mechanism of microdroplets was revealed, the principle of electrowetting dielectric failure was explained theoretically, and electrowetting liquid lenses with different apertures of 2~10mm were developed. The electromagnetic driven liquid lens technology has been broken through, and electromagnetic liquid lenses with different apertures of 10mm-15mm have been developed.
[2]10×-60×, 10×-100× continuous optical zoom microscopes and large field continuous zoom microscopes based on liquid lenses have been developed to achieve jitter free, fast magnification switching and high-resolution microscopic imaging.
[3]High performance imaging equipment such as zoom camera, zoom telescope, zoom endoscope, zoom micro-projection lens and zoom rifle scope based on electrowetting liquid lens have been developed to realize rapid zoom function without mechanical movement.
Books, Papers and patents
Chao Liu authored 1 book and published 91 papers. He holds 1 U.S patent and 33 Chinese invention patents.
1. Book
[1]Wang Q H, Liu C, Wang D, Li L, Liquid Photonic Device, Science Press (Beijing), 2021 (in Chinese).
2. Journal Papers
[1]Chao Liu#, Zhao Jiang#, Xin Wang, Yi Zheng, Yi-Wei Zheng, and Qiong-Hua Wang*, Continuous optical zoom microscope with extended depth of field and 3D reconstruction [J]. PhotoniX, 2022, 3:20.
[2]Chao Liu, Yi Zheng, Rong-Ying Yuan, Zhao Jiang, Jin-Bo Xu, You-Ran Zhao, Xin Wang, Xiao-Wei Li, Yan Xing, and Qiong-Hua Wang*, Tunable liquid lenses: emerging technologies and future perspectives[J].Laser & Photonics Reviews, 2023, 17(11):2300274.
[3]Di Wang#, Chao Liu#, Chuan Shen, Yan Xing, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Holographic capture and projection system of real object based on tunable zoom lens [J]. PhotoniX, 2020, 1:6.
[4]Zhao-Song Li#, Chao Liu#, Xiao-Wei Li, Yi Zheng, Qian Huang, Yi-Wei Zheng,Ye-Hao Hou, Chen-Liang Chang, Da-Wei Zhang, Song-Lin Zhuang, Di Wang and Qiong-Hua Wang, Real-time holographic camera for obtaining real 3D scene hologram. Light: Science & Applications, 2025, 14:74.
[5]You-Ran Zhao, Zhao-Song Li, Yi Zheng, Di Wang, Xiao-Ke Lu, Yu-Cheng Lin, Hao-Ran Zhang, Chao Liu* and Qiong-Hua Wang*, Non-aqueous electrowetting liquid lens with centimeter-level large aperture based on dielectric failure suppression principle, Light: Science & Applications, 2025, 14:120.
[6]Chao Liu#, Yi Zheng#, Di Wang, Qian Huang, Xiao-Wei Li, Fan-Chuan Lin, You-Ran Zhao, Yi-Wei Zheng, Xiao-Ke Lu, Xin-Ru Li, Xin-Ru Zheng, Xin Xie, Kun Song, Zhen-Fei Li, Wei Lu, Din Ping Tsai, Ruo-Nan Ji,* and Qiong-Hua Wang*, Multi-wavelength achromatic 3D meta-holography with zoom function. Advanced Science. 2025, 2501881.
[7]Yi Zheng, Xin Wang, Zhao Jiang, Jin-Bo Xu, Rong-Ying Yuan, You-Ran Zhao, Hao-Ran Zhang, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*, Adaptive multiscale microscope with fast zooming,extended working distance,and large field of view, Light: Advanced Manufacturing, 5, 8, 2024.
[8]Yi Zheng#, Hao-Ran Zhang#, Xiao-Wei Li, You-Ran Zhao, Zhao-Song Li, Ye-Hao Hou, Chao Liu* and Qiong-Hua Wang*, Fast-zoom and high-resolution sparse compound-eye camera based on dual-end collaborative optimization. Opto-Electronic Advances. 2025, 8, 240285.
[9]Zhao Jiang, Di Wang, Yi Zheng, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Continuous optical zoom microscopy imaging system based on liquid lens [J]. Optics Express, 2021, 29(13): 20322-20335.
[10]Di Wang, Jin-Bo Xu, Rong-Ying Yuan, You-Ran Zhao, Chao Liu, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. High stability liquid lens with optical path modulation function [J]. Optics Express, 2021, 29(17): 27104-27117.
[11]Rong-Ying Yuan, Xiao-Li Ma, Fan Chu, Guang-Xu Wang, Min-Yang He, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Optofluidic lenticular lens array for a 2D/3D switchable display [J]. Optics Express, 2021, 29(23): 37418-37428.
[12]Yi Zheng, Di Wang, Zhao Jiang, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Continuous zoom compound eye imaging system based on liquid lenses [J]. Optics Express, 2021, 29(23): 37565-37579.
[13]Jin-Bo Xu, You-Ran Zhao, Chao Liu* and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Triple-layer spherical electrowetting liquid lens with large-aperture and high zoom ratio [J]. Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 2023, 160:107311.
[14]Rong-Ying Yuan, Xiao-Li Ma, Yi Zheng, Zhao Jiang, Xin Wang, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*.3D microscope image acquisition method based on zoom objective[J]. Optics Express, 2023, 31(10): 16067-16080.
[15]Jin-Bo Xu, You-Ran Zhao, Rong-Ying Yuan, Xiao-Wei Li, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Electrowetting liquid lens integrating adaptive liquid iris[J]. Optics and Laser Technology, 2024, 169:110023.
[16]Jin-Bo Xu, Rong-Ying Yuan, You-Ran Zhao, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Three-phase electrowetting liquid lens with deformable liquid iris[J]. Optics Express, 2023, 31(26): 43416-43426.
[17]Sandar Tun†, You-Ran Zhao†, Jin-Bo Xu, Xiao-Wei Li, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Dual interface trapezium liquid prism with beam steering function[J]. Optics Express, 2024, 32(3): 3394-3401.
[18]You-Ran Zhao, Jin-Bo Xu, Rong-Ying Yuan, Xin Wang, Lei Li, Chao Liu* and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Tunable optofluidic Fresnel lens with ring-shaped electrodes [J]. Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 2024, 176:108087.
[19]Zhao Jiang, Di Wang, Yi Zheng, Chao Liu*, and Qiong-Hua Wang*. Continuous optical zoom telescopic system based on liquid lenses [J]. Optics Express, 2024, 32(9): 15269-15279.
[20]Yi Zheng, Xiao-Wei Li, Zhi-Yu Wang, Jia-Ni Li, Hao-Ran Zhang, Qiong-Hua Wang, Chao Liu*, Fast zoom portable night vision telescope based on liquid lenses and folded optical structure, Optics & Laser Technology, 2025, 186, 112620.
3. Patents (Selected)
[1]Di Wang, Qiong-Hua Wang, Chao Liu, Chu Fan, and Yi-Long Li, Tunable crystal grating-based holographic true 3D display system and method，美国专利号：US 11860385B2
[1]Liu C, Li S L, Nie Z Q, Tian Y T, Zhai A P, A mirror type optical navigation device based on electrowetting, Chinese Patent ZL201811542822.7
[2]Liu C, Wang Q H, Wang D, Wang G X, Jiang Z, A liquid optical switch with adaptive switching between visible and infrared light, Chinese Patent ZL202010142298.5
[3]Liu C, Wang Q H, Wang D, A real-time holographic acquisition and projection system based on adaptive zoom camera, Chinese Patent ZL201911375160.3
[4]Liu C, Wang Q H, Wang D, An adaptive zoom telescope, Chinese Patent ZL201910956274.0
[5]Liu C, Wang Q H, Jiang Z, Zheng Y, Wang D, A continuous zoom stereomicroscope with adjustable viewing angle, Chinese Patent ZL202110456676.1
[6]Wang Q H, Liu C, Xu J B, Jiang Z, Wang D, An electrowetting liquid lens with high stability and adjustable optical path, Chinese Patent ZL202110170943.9
[7]Wang Q H, Liu C, Wang D, Wang G Z, Jiang Z, A multifunctional mirror which can realize light switching and beam navigation, Chinese Patent ZL201910923431.8
[8]Wang Q H, Liu C, Wang D, A liquid refractive index measuring instrument based on electrowetting lens, Chinese Patent ZL201910246163.0
[9]Wang Q H, Liu C, Wang D, Yao L X, Li L, A total reflection liquid optical switch based on electrowetting effect, Chinese Patent ZL201510016631.7
[10]Wang Q H, Liu C, Li L, A double channel liquid optical switch based on electrowetting effect, Chinese Patent ZL201310104146.6
Professional Society (Selected)
[1]Member of the three-dimensional imaging and display special committee of the Chinese Society of Image Graphics (CSIG)
[2]Member of the holographic and optical information special committee of the Chinese Optical Society (COS)
