Center for Advancing Materials Performance from the Nanoscale
State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials & School of Materials Science and Engineering,
28 West Xianning Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
E-mail:zwshan@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Vice President, Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an, China
Director, Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Magnesium-based New Materials
Deputy Director, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials
To date, Zhiwei Shan has published over 160 academic papers in top international journals, including four in Science, one in Nature, and seven in Nature Materials. His achievements include two Second Prizes of the National Natural Science Award, four First Prizes at provincial and ministerial levels, the First Prize for Technological Invention from the Chinese Materials Research Society (C-MRS), the Process Innovation Award, the Wrought Product Award and the Person of the Year honor from the International Magnesium Association (IMA), the Grand Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Scientific Research from Higher Education Institutions in Shaanxi Province, the Best Paper Award for Basic Research from the Light Metals Division of TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society) in the United States, inclusion in the 100 Most Influential International Academic Papers in China, and recognition as one of the Top Ten Scientific and Technological Progresses in Chinese Higher Education Institutions.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Research Center for Magnesium-based New Materials. His research focuses on the initiation and evolution of deformation and damage in metallic materials, as well as the design, preparation, and application of high-quality magnesium-based materials.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
1. Rui Zheng, Bo Yang, Yue-Cun Wang, Bo-Yu Liu, Wei-Yi Yang, Zhi-Wei Shan*, Removing aluminium impurities in primary magnesium at an ultra-low cost. Nature Materials, 25: 922–929, 2026.
2. Y.-N. Zhang, C. Liu, Z.-W. Shan*, and G. Wu*, “ Crystal-Glass Nano-Dual-Phase Alloys Achieve Ultrahigh Strength and Large Homogeneous Plastic Deformation.” ADVANCED MATERIALS, 38, e17926, 2026.
3. Fei Liu, Boyu Liu*, Jin Zhang, Yuyang Wang, Yaofeng Li, Hangwei Cui, Upadrasta Ramamurty, Bin Li*, Zhiwei Shan*, In-situ quantitative investigations of differential mobilities of edge and screw pyramidal dislocations in magnesium,Acta Materialia, 302:121630, 2026.
4. Xin-Yu Peng, De-Gang Xie, Lei Cai, Shao-Chuan Zheng, Kai-Xuan Feng, Rong-Chang Zeng*, Zhi-Wei Shan*, Effect of manganese content on the corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg alloys fabricated from high-purity magnesium, Acta Materialia, 301:121600, 2025.
5. Fei Liu, Bo-Yu Liu*, Yu-Han Tian, Si-Yuan Wei, Song Xiang, Upadrasta Ramamurty, Zhi-Wei Shan*, Anomalous temperature effects on the twinning-dislocation transition in magnesium: in-situ quantitative thermal-mechanical investigations, Acta Materialia, 301:121571, 2025.
6. Yurong Zhao, Jiamin Wang, Huajing Fang*, Shenghui Wang, Xin Ma, Lei Cai, Xiangyu Chen*, Rongchang Zeng, Zhiwei Shan*, Multifunctional coatings on magnesium alloy: Integrating superhydrophobicity, anticorrosion, and energy harvesting, Nano Energy, 144: 111381, 2025.
7. L. Wang, X.G. Wang, Y.Q. Zhang, Y.C. Wang*, Z.W. Shan*, Impact of Native Point Defects on Elastic Properties of GaN Nanowires. Small, 21: 2412486, 2025.
8. Le Wang, Yongqiang Zhang, Xiaoguang Wang, Yuecun Wang*, Kai Chen*, and Zhiwei Shan*, Nano Letters, 25: 8227-8234, 2025.
9. Yuecun Wang, Xudong Wang, Jun Ding, Beiming Liang, Lingling Zuo, Shaochuan Zheng, Longchao Huang, Wei Xu, Chuanwei Fan, Zhanqiang Duan, Chunde Jia, Rui Zheng, Zhang Liu, Wei Zhang, Ju Li, En Ma*, Zhiwei Shan*. Inward motion of diamond nanoparticles inside an iron crystal. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 15:4659, 2024.
10. Wei Xu,Jinhua Yu,Jun Ding,Yunna Guo,Lei Deng,Liqiang Zhang,Xiaoxuan Wan, Shaochuan Zheng,Yuecun Wang*, Zhiwei Shan*, Uniting Ultrahigh Plasticity with Near-Theoretical Strengthin Submicron-Scale Si via Surface Healing, ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, 34: 2404694, 2024.
11. Ge Wu*, Chang Liu, Yong-Qiang Yan, Sida Liu, Xinyu Ma, Shengying Yue, Zhi-Wei Shan*. Elemental partitioning-mediated crystalline-to-amorphous phase transformation under quasi-static deformation. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 15, 1223 (2024).
12. Degang Xie*, Rongrong Zhang, Xiaohan Dai, Zhiyu Nie, Xinyao Wang, En Ma, Ju Li, Zhiwei Shan*, Long-distance interface diffusion induced non-volume-conserved deformation in self-supported submicron-sized aluminum pillars, Acta Materialia, 255: 119092, 2023.
13. Longchao Huang, Dengke Chen, Degang Xie*, Suzhi Li, Yin Zhang, Ting Zhu, Dierk Raabe, En Ma, Ju Li, Zhiwei Shan*. Quantitative tests revealing hydrogen-enhanced dislocation motion in α-iron. Nature Materials, 22: 710–716, 2023.
14. Panchao Zhao*, Qigao Cao*, Wei Yi*, Xiaodong Hao*, Jigang LiBosheng, ZhangLong Huang, Yujie Huang, Yunbo Jiang, Bingshe Xu, Zhiwei Shan*, Jialin Chen*, Facile and General Method to Synthesize Pt-Based High-Entropy-Alloy Nanoparticles, ACS NANO, 16: 14017-14028, 2022.
15. Zhi-Yu Nie, Yuji Sato, Shigenobu Ogata, Maria Jazmin Duarte, Gerhard Dehm, Ju Li, Evan Ma, De-Gang Xie*, Zhi-Wei Shan*, Ultralong one-dimensional plastic zone created in aluminum underneath a nanoscale indent, Acta Materialia, 232: 117944, 2022.
16. Bo-Yu Liu, Zhen Zhang*, Fei Liu, Nan Yang, Bin Li, Peng Chen, Yu Wang, Jin-Hua Peng, Ju Li*, En Ma*, Zhi-Wei Shan* . Rejuvenation of plasticity via deformation graining in magnesium. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 13, 1060: 2022.
17. Yuecun Wang, Jun Ding, Zhao Fan, Lin Tian, Meng Li, Huanhuan Lu, Yongqiang Zhang, En Ma*, Ju Li*, Zhiwei Shan*. Tension–compression asymmetry in amorphous silicon. Nature Materials. 20: 1371–1377, 2021.
18. K. Chen*, R. Q. Huang, Y. Li, S. C. Lin, W. X. Zhu, , N. Tamura, J. Li*, Z. W. Shan*, E. Ma*, Rafting-enabled recovery avoids recrystallization in 3D-printing repaired single-crystal superalloys, Advanced Mateirals, doi: 10.1002/adma.201907164, 2020.
19. Y. C. Wang, B. M. Liang, S. G. Xu, L. Tian, A. M. Minor, Z. W. Shan*, Tunable anelasticity in amorphous Si nanowires, Nano Letters, 20, 1, 449-455, 2020.
20. B.Y. Liu, F. Liu, N. Yang, X. B. Zhai, L. Zhang, Y. Yang, B. Li*, J. Li, E. Ma, J. F. Nie*, Z. W. Shan*, Large plasticity in magnesium mediated by pyramidal dislocations, SCIENCE, 365: 73–75, 2019.
21. D. G. Xie, Z. Y. Nie, S. Shinzato, Y. Q. Yang, F. X. Liu, S. Ogata*, J. Li, E. Ma, Z. W. Shan*, Controlled growth of single-crystalline metal nanowires via thermomigration across a nanoscale junction, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10: 4478, 2019.
22. B. Y. Liu, K. E. Prasad, N. Yang, F. Liu, Z. W. Shan*, In-situ quantitative TEM investigation on the dynamic evolution of individual twin boundary in muyhagnesium under cyclic loading. Acta Materialia, 179: 414-423, 2019.
23. R. L. Narayan, L. Tian, D. L. Zhang, M. Dao*, Z. W. Shan*, K. J. Hsia*, Effects of notches on the deformation behavior of submicron sized metallic glasses: Insights from in situ experiments, Acta Materialia, 154: 172-181, 2018.
24. Y. C. Wang, B. Y. Liu, X. A. Zhao, X. H. Zhang, Y. C. Miao, N. Yang, B. Yang, L. Q. Zhang*, W. J. Kuang, J. Li, E. Ma* and Z. W. Shan*, Turning a native or corroded Mg alloy surface into an anti-corrosion coating in excited CO2, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 9:4058, 2018.
25. L. Q. Zhang, Y. S. Tang, Q. M. Peng, T. T. Yang, Q. N. Liu, Y. C. Wang, Y. F. Li*, C. C. Du, Y. Sun, L. S. Cui, F. Yang, T. D. Shen, Z. W. Shan*, and J. Y. Huang*, Ceramic Nanowelding, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 9:96, 2018.
26. Z. J. Wang, Q. J. Li, Y. Li, L. C. Huang, L. Lu, M. Dao*; J. Li, E. Ma*; S. Suresh, Z. W. Shan*, Sliding of coherent twin boundaries, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 8:1108, 2017.
27. W. Z. Han, J. Zhang, M. S. Ding, L. Lv, W. L. Wang, G, H. Wu, Z. W. Shan*; J. Li*, Helium Nanobubbles Enhance Superelasticity and Retard Shear Localization in Small-Volume Shape Memory Alloy, Nano Letters, 17(6): 3725-3730, 2017.
28. M. Li, D. G. Xie, E. Ma, J. Li, X. X. Zhang* and Z. W. Shan*, Effect of hydrogen on the integrity of aluminium-oxide interface at elevated temperatures, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 8: 14564, 2017.
29. N. Xu, W. Z. Han, Y. C. Wang, J. Li, Z. W. Shan*, Nanoscratching of copper surface by CeO2, Acta Materialia, 124: 343-350, 2017.
30. Z. J. Wang, F. I. Allen, Z. W Shan*, P. Hosemann*, Mechanical behavior of copper containing a gas-bubble superlattice, Acta Materialia, 121: 78-84, 2016.
31. M. S. Ding, L. Tian, W. Z. Han*, J. Li, E. Ma, Z. W. Shan*, Nanobubble Fragmentation and Bubble-Free-Channel Shear Localization in Helium-Irradiated Submicron-Sized Copper, Physical Review Letters, 117(21): 215501, 2016.
32. D. G. Xie, S. Z. Li, Z. J. Wang, P. Gumbsch, J. Sun, E. Ma*, J. Li*, and Z. W. Shan*, Hydrogenated vacancies lock dislocations in aluminum, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 7:13341, 2016.
33. Q. J. Li, J. Li*, Z. W. Shan*, En Ma*, Strongly correlated breeding of high-speed dislocations, Acta Materialia, 119, 229-241, 2016.
34. Q. J. Li, J. Li*, Z. W. Shan*, En Ma*, Surface Rebound of Relativistic Dislocations Directly and Efficiently Initiates Deformation Twinning, Physical Review Letters, 117(16): 165501, 2016.
35. X. G. Wang, K. Chen, Y. Q. Zhang, J. C. Wan, O. L. Warren, R. Major, Y. Oh, J. Li, E. Ma, Z. W. Shan*, Growth conditions control the elastic and electrical properties of ZnO nanowires, Nano Letters, 15, 7886-7892, 2015.
36. Z. J. Wang, Q. J. Li, Y. N. Cui, Z. L. Liu, E. Ma, J. Li, J. Sun, Z. Zhuang, M. Dao*, Z. W. Shan*, and S. Suresh*, Cyclic deformation leads to defect healing and strengthening of small-volume metal crystals, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112, 13502–13507, 2015.
37. D. G. Xie, Z. J. Wang, J. Sun, J. Li*, E. Ma* and Z. W. Shan*, In situ study of the initiation of hydrogen bubbles at the aluminium metal/oxide interface, NATURE MATERIALS, 14, 899-903, 2015.
38. W. Z. Han, L. Huang, S. Ogata, H. Kimizuka, Z. C. Yang, C. Weinberger, Q. J. Li, B. Y. Liu, X. X. Zhang*, J. Li, E. Ma and Z. W. Shan*, From "smaller is stronger" to "size-independent strength plateau": towards measuring the ideal strength of iron, Advanced Materials, 27, 3385-3390, 2015.
39. B. Y. Liu, J. Wang, B. Li, L. Lu, X. Y. Zhang, Z. W. Shan*, J. Li, C. L. Jia, J. Sun, E. Ma, Twinning-like lattice reorientation without a crystallographic twinning plane, NATURE COMMUNIC ATIONS, 5, 3297, 2014.
40. C. C. Wang, Y. W. Mao, Z. W. Shan*, Ming Dao*, J. Li, J. Sun, E. Ma, and S. Suresh*, Real-time, high-resolution study of nanocrystallization and fatigue cracking in a cyclically strained metallic glass, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(49): 19725-19730, 2013.
41. L. Tian, Z. W. Shan*, E. Ma*. Ductile necking behavior of nanoscale metallic glasses under uniaxial tension at room temperature. Acta Materialia, 61: 4823-4830, 2013.
42. L. Tian, Y. Q. Cheng, Z. W. Shan*, J. Li, C. C. Wang, X. D. Han, J. Sun, E. Ma*, Approaching the ideal elastic limit of metallic glasses. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 3: 609, 2012.
43. C. C. Wang, J. Ding, Y. Q. Cheng, J. C. Wan, L. Tian, J. Sun, Z. W. Shan*, Ju Li*, E. Ma*, Sample size matters for Al88Fe7Gd5 metallic glass: Smaller is stronger, Acta Materialia, 60, 5370-5379, 2012.
44. Z. J. Wang., Z. W. Shan*, J. Li*, J. Sun, E. Ma*. Pristine-to-pristine regime of plastic deformation in submicron-sized single crystal gold particles. Acta Materialia, 60, 1368-1377, 2012.
45. L. Huang, Q. J. Li, Z. W. Shan*, J. Li*, J. Sun, E. Ma, A new regime for mechanical annealing and strong sample-size strengthening in body-centred cubic molybdenum, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 2: 547, 2011.
46. H. Guo, K. Chen, Y. Oh, K. Wang, C. Dejoie, S.A.S. Asif, O.L. Warren, Z.W. Shan*, J. Wu*, A.M. Minor*, Mechanics and dynamics of the strain-induced M1-M2 structural phase transition in individual VO2 nanowires; Nano Letters, 11: 3207-3213, 2011.
47. K. Zheng, C. C. Wang, Y. Q Cheng, Y. H. Yue, X. D. Han, Z. Zhang*, Z. W. Shan*, S. X. Mao, M. M. Ye, Y. D. Yin, E. Ma*, Electron-beam-assisted superplastic shaping of nanoscale amorphous silica, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 1(24):1-8, 2010.
48. Q. Yu, Z. W. Shan, J. Li, X. X. Huang, L. Xiao, J. Sun and E. Ma, Strong Crystal Size Effect on Deformation Twinning, NATURE, e, 463, 335-338, 2010.
49. Z. W. Shan, A. Cabot, A. Minor, D. Chrzan, S. Asif, O. Warren, P. A. Alivisatos. Ultrahigh strength and ductility of nanocrystalline hollow spheres, NATURE MATERIALS, 7: 947-952, 2008.
50. Z. W. Shan, J.A. Knapp, D. M. Follstaedt, E. A. Stach, J. M. K Wiezorek, S. X. Mao, Inter- and intra-agglomerate fracture in nanocrystalline nickel, Physical Review letters, 100: 105502, 2008.
51. Z. W. Shan, R. K. Mishra, S.A. Syed Asif, O. L. Warren, A. M. Minor, Mechanical annealing and source limited deformation in subscale Ni crystals, NATURE MATERIALS, 7(2): 115-119, 2008.
52. Z. W. Shan, J. M. K Wiezorek, E.A. Stach, D. M. Follstaedt, J.A. Knapp, S. X. Mao, Dislocation dynamics in nanocrystalline nickel, Physical Review Letters, 98(9): 095502, 2007.
53. A. M. Minor, S. A. Syed Asif, Z. W. Shan, E.A. Stach, E. Cyrankowki, T. J. Wyrobek, O. L. Warren, A new view of the onset of plasticity during the nanoindentation of aluminum. NATURE MATERIALS, 5: 697-702, 2006.
54. Z. W. Shan, E. A. Stach, J. M. K. Wiezorek, J. A. Knapp, D. M. Follstaedt, S. X. Mao, Response to comment on “Grain boundary mediated plasticity in nanocrystalline Ni”, SCIENCE, 308(5720): 356, 2005.
55. Z. W. Shan, E. A. Stach, J. M. K. Wiezorek, J. A. Knapp, D. M. Follstaedt, S. X. Mao, Grain Boundary Mediated Plasticity in Nanocrystalline Nickel, SCIENCE, 305 (5684): p654-657, 2004.
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORYDatePosition
Talent Plan Honors
2017 Member, Asia Pacific Academy of Materials Sciences
2015 Supported by the program of “Millions of talents”, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, PRC
2009 Winner of National Outstanding Young Scientist Fund
