We are delighted to celebrate the 2026 Nanoscale Advances Paper Prize, highlighting the most significant articles published in the journal in the previous calendar year! Find out more about Zhengji Wen and Wenchao Zhao, two of the the authors of the 2026 Nanoscale Advances Paper Prize runner up paper Multifunctional terahertz metamaterials device based on a dual-tunable structure incorporating graphene and vanadium oxide.
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Wenchao Zhao.
Wenchao Zhao is an Associate Professor at Huzhou University. His research interests include artificial electromagnetic structured materials (metamaterials), spectral regulation technology, and semiconductor optoelectronic materials and devices. |
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Zhengji Wen.
Zhengji Wen is an Associate Professor at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on the physics and applications of meta‑films for infrared thermal radiation control, including infrared stealth, radiative cooling, narrowband infrared thermal emitters, and infrared anti‑counterfeiting/encryption. |
What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment?
We are most excited about the dynamic tunability of our device – integrating graphene and vanadium oxide allows us to actively control both amplitude and polarization of terahertz waves, which opens new possibilities for smart, reconfigurable metamaterials.
How do you feel about Nanoscale Advances as a place to publish research on this topic?
We highly appreciate Nanoscale Advances for its rapid and rigorous peer‑review process, high‑quality editorial board, and open‑access policy. The journal provides excellent visibility for interdisciplinary research, and we are proud that our work was recognized as a runner‑up for the Paper Prize.
Can you share one piece of career‑related advice for early career scientists?
“Focus on solving a fundamental problem rather than chasing hot topics. Build a strong foundation in both theory and experiment, and do not hesitate to collaborate across disciplines – the most interesting results often come from the boundaries.”
