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Academic Staff

Prof. Franco K.C. Leung
PolyU Scholars Hub

Prof. Leung King-chi, Franco

Associate Professor

PolyU Scholars Hub
ORCID ID
SCOPUS ID

Research Overview

Our research direction uses the advanced synthetic methodologies for developing novel stimuli-responsive molecular switches, out-of-equilibrium supramolecular systems, and next-generation supramolecular soft matters towards application in biomedical materials and drug deliveries.

Research Interests

  • Supramolecular Assembly
  • Molecular Machinery
  • Soft Robotic Material
  • Biomedical Material
  • Supramolecular Dynamics

Education and Academic Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Master of Philosophy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Doctor of Science in Electronic Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Professional Qualifications

  • Croucher Fellowship for postdoctoral research at University of Groningen, the Netherlands

Achievements

  • ABCT Excellent Award 2024 (Teaching) (2024)
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
  • ABCT Excellent Award 2024 (Research Output) – Chemistry (2024)
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
  • Young Investigator Award (2024)
    Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry, Germany
  • Rising Stars in Polymer Science (2023)
    Polymer Journal, Springer Nature & The Society of Polymer Science, Japan
  • Outstanding Young Alumni Award of Faculty of Science (2023)
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
  • Outstanding Young Alumni Award of Department of ABCT (2023)
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
  • Young Innovative Researcher Award (2022)
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
  • Croucher Innovation Award (2021)
    Croucher Foundation, Hong Kong, China
  • Croucher Postdoctoral Fellowships (2017-2019)
    Croucher Foundation, Hong Kong, China

  1. Ren, Y.; Cheung, L.-H.; Kajitani, T.; Leung, F. K.-C. Nanoarchitectonics with photoresponsive Hemiindigo amphiphiles into supramolecularly assembled soft robotics for controlled macroscopic motions. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2026, 702, 138850. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.138850
  2. Liu, B. B.; Zhang, H.; Wong, W.-K.; Chau, M.-H.; Cheung, L.-H.; Kajitani, T.; Leung, F. K.-C. Supramolecular Interactions Determined Macroscopic Robotic Actuation Processes of Azobenzene Amphiphiles. Small 2025, 21, 2503359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202503359
  3. Yau, J. C.-K.; Hung, K.-L.; Ren, Y.; Kajitani, T.; Stuart, M. C. A.; Leung, F. K.-C. Red-light-controlled supramolecular assemblies of indigo amphiphiles at multiple length scales. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2024, 662, 391–403. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2024.02.075
  4. Cheung, L.-H.; To, J. C.; Wong, W.-K.; Stuart, M. C. A.; Kajitani, T.; Keng, V. W.; Leung, F. K.-C. Tailoring Multicontrolled Supramolecular Assemblies of Stiff-Stilbene Amphiphiles into Macroscopic Soft Scaffolds as Cell-Material Interfaces. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2024, 16, 4056–4070. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c16795
  5. Chau, M.-H.; Wong, W.-K.; Kajitani, T.; Leung, F. K.-C. Blue Light Controlled Supramolecular Soft Robotics of Phenylazothiazole Amphiphiles for Rapid Macroscopic Actuations. Advanced Science 2024, 11, 2407130. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202407130
  6. Chau, A. K.-H.; Leung, F. K.-C. Exploration of molecular machines in supramolecular soft robotic systems. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 2023, 315, 102892. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2023.102892
  7. Cheung, L.-H.; Kajitani, T.; Leung, F. K.-C. Visible-light controlled supramolecular transformations of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts amphiphiles at multiple length-scale. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2022, 628, 984–993. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2022.08.034
  8. Chen, S.; Yang, L.; Leung, F. K.-C.; Kajitani, T.; Stuart, M. C. A.; Fukushima, T.; van Rijn, P.; Feringa, B. L. Photoactuating Artificial Muscles of Motor Amphiphiles as an Extracellular Matrix Mimetic Scaffold for Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144, 3543–3553. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c12318
  9. Chen, S.; Costil, R.; Leung, F. K.-C.; Feringa, B. L. Self-Assembly of Photoresponsive Molecular Amphiphiles in Aqueous Media. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2021, 60, 11604–11627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202007693
  10. Chen, S.; Leung, F. K.-C.; Stuart, M. C. A.; Wang, C.; Feringa, B. L. Dynamic Assemblies of Molecular Motor Amphiphiles Control Macroscopic Foam Properties. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2020, 142, 10163–10172. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c03153

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