On September 20, Academician Zhonglin Wang, a world-renowned nanoscientist and Director of the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Systems at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was formally appointed Honorary Professor of WTU and delivered an academic lecture at Jianquan Hall on the Sunshine Campus. The event was attended by Xu Weilin, Party Secretary of WTU, and Fu Xin, President of WTU, both of whom delivered remarks. The ceremony was presided over by Vice President Feng Jun. Representatives from various university departments—including the Office of the President, the Science and Technology Development Institute, and the College of Textiles—as well as scholars from Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology in related disciplines, joined over 500 faculty members and students in attending the event.

In his address, President Fu Xin highlighted Academician Wang’s distinguished contributions to scientific research and officially announced his appointment as Honorary Professor, presenting him with the certificate during the ceremony.

Following the appointment ceremony, Academician Wang delivered a keynote lecture titled “Application of Triboelectric Nanogenerators in Textile Fibers.” He provided a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles and application potential of textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (Tex-TENG), emphasizing their capability to efficiently harvest mechanical energy from human motion and convert it into electrical energy. This technology enables the integration of self-powered systems with sensing functionalities, offering innovative solutions for smart wearable devices, human-machine interaction, and sustainable energy development. Academician Wang noted that with the rapid advancement of the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and wearable technologies, intelligent textiles are entering a new era characterized by the deep convergence of functionalization and intelligence. Attendees expressed that the presentation was highly insightful and offered valuable perspectives for their own research and academic development.

In his concluding remarks, Party Secretary Xu Weilin commended Academician Wang’s pioneering achievements in the interdisciplinary field of nanoelectronics and intelligent textiles, describing him as a role model for faculty and students alike. He further emphasized the importance of such academic exchanges in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and advancing the development of relevant disciplines and high-level scientific research at the university.

Prior to the lecture, Academician Wang and his delegation visited the University’s Textile Science and Technology Museum, where they were briefed on the institution’s significant accomplishments in the interdisciplinary innovation of textile science, materials engineering, and related technologies.

Academician Zhonglin Wang is a world-renowned pioneer in the field of nanoscale energy science and technology. He currently serves as Director of the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Systems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he leads groundbreaking research in triboelectric nanogenerators and self-powered systems. His pioneering contributions have significantly advanced the fields of energy harvesting, sensing technologies, and the Internet of Things. Among his numerous international honors are the Global Energy Prize (2023), the Albert Einstein World Award of Science (2019), and the ENI Award (2018)—widely regarded as the "Nobel Prize of Energy." He has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics for five consecutive years, reflecting the broad impact of his scholarly work.