Qian Yang

Dr. Qian Yang is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at The University of Manchester, specializing in condensed matter physics and nanofluidics. She leads pioneering research on molecular transport in atomically thin nanocapillaries and capillary condensation phenomena, collaborating with Nobel laureate Prof. Andre Geim. Her work bridges fundamental physics and applied materials science, with breakthroughs in understanding nanoscale fluid behavior.

Education

• Doctor of Science in Graphene-based 2D nanocapillaries (Southwest Jiaotong University, 2018)
• Doctor of Science at The University of Manchester (2017)
• Bachelor of Science in Materials Science (Southwest Jiaotong University, 2013)

Research Focus

Dr. Yang’s research explores molecular structures and transport in van der Waals nanocapillaries, focusing on capillary condensation at atomic scales. Her team uses advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, and computational methods to study phenomena like hydrogen bonding in confined water and electric-field-driven molecular behavior. Recent work validated the Kelvin equation’s applicability at sub-nanometer scales, resolving a 150-year-old physics mystery.

Key Achievements

• Recipient of multiple prestigious awards including the Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2023–2027) and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellowship
• Principal Investigator for projects like "Smart van der Waals Sieves" funded by £4M grants
• Published 18+ peer-reviewed articles in Nature, Nano Letters, and other top journals

Labs & Collaborations

Her research is conducted in the Condensed Matter Physics Group at the National Graphene Institute. Collaborators include Prof. Andre Geim’s team, enabling cutting-edge experiments with atomically precise materials. Current projects include developing graphene-based nanosieves for molecular separation and probing confined water dynamics under extreme conditions.