I am Pengcheng Zhao, currently a Professor at the School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University (BUAA), China. Previously, I have worked at the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology in Germany and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. I received my Ph.D. from BUAA and my B.S. from Jilin University.
My research interests include laser spectroscopy, fiber-optic sensors and devices. I have led 3 research grant projects as PI or Co-PI, published over 10 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Nature Communications, Laser & Photonics Reviews, and co-authored 3 national patents. Throughout my academic career, I have received numerous fellowships/scholarships and awards, including National-level Young Talents Program, Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers, "China's Top 10 Optical Breakthroughs in 2020" , OFS-China 2024 Best Oral Presentation Award, and the Excellent Doctoral Thesis Awards of both Beijing and BUAA.
Selected Publications：
1. Micro-/nano-structured optical fibers
(1) P. Zhao, Y. Zhao, H. Bao, et al., “Mode-phase-difference photothermal spectroscopy for gas detection with an anti-resonant hollow-core optical fiber,” Nature Communications 11(1), 1–8, 2020. （IF = 15.7，ESI Highly Cited Paper）
(2) P. Zhao*, H. L. Ho, S. Fan, and W. Jin*, “Evanescent wave lab-on-fiber for high sensitivity gas spectroscopy with wide dynamic range and long-term stability,” Laser & Photonics Reviews 17(5), 2200972, 2023. （IF = 10.0）
(3) P. Zhao*, H. Bao, H. L. Ho, S. Zhao, and W. Jin*, “Ultrasensitive gas detection via polarization-mode photothermal interferometry in a single-mode nanofiber coupler,” Nano Letters 26(6), 2249–2255, 2026. （IF = 9.1）
(4) P. Zhao, H. L. Ho, W. Jin*, et al., “Hollow-core fiber photothermal methane sensor with temperature compensation,” Optics Letters 46(11), 2762–2765, 2021.
(5) P. Zhao, H. L. Ho, W. Jin*, et al., “Gas sensing with mode-phase-difference photothermal spectroscopy assisted by a long period grating in a dual-mode negative-curvature hollow-core optical fiber,” Optics Letters 45(20), 5660–5663, 2020.
(6) J. Wu, P. Zhao*, H. Bao, H. L. Ho, and W. Jin, “Hollow-core fiber Fabry–Pérot photothermal gas sensor: Temperature-dependent behavior,” Journal of Lightwave Technology 43(19), 9458–9464, 2025.
(7) L. Guo, P. Zhao*, H. L. Ho, et al., “Pump-probe-alternating photothermal interferometry for two-component gas sensing,” Optics Letters 48(24), 6440–6443, 2023.
(8) T. Zheng, H. Bao*, F. Chen, J. Wu, P. Zhao, et al., “Operando monitoring of gassing dynamics in lithium-ion batteries with optical fiber photothermal spectroscopy,” Energy & Environmental Science 18, 8499–8514, 2025. （IF = 30.8，Li-on battery health monitoring）
2. Lab-on-fiber/chip technology
(1) P. Zhao†, K. V. Krishnaiah†, L. Guo, et al., “Ultraminiature optical fiber-tip 3D-microprinted photothermal interferometric gas sensors,” Laser & Photonics Reviews 18(9), 2301285, 2024. （IF = 10.0, Top viewed article）
(2) T. Li†, P. Zhao†, P. Wang, et al., “Ultra-miniature and sensitive optical fiber-tip optomechanical resonant photoacoustic spectroscopy gas sensors,” Photoacoustics 46, 100784, 2025.
(3) T. Li†, P. Zhao†, P. Wang, et al., “Miniature optical fiber photoacoustic spectroscopy gas sensor based on a 3D micro-printed planar-spiral spring optomechanical resonator,” Photoacoustics 40, 100657, 2024.
(4) P. Wang, T. Li, H. Lin, P. Zhao, S. Liu, H.-Y. Tam, and A. P. Zhang*, “Miniature optical fiber accelerometer based on an in-situ 3D micro-printed ferrule-top Fabry–Pérot microinterferometer,” Light: Advanced Manufacturing 6(18), 2025. （IF = 10.6)
(5) X. Qi, P. Zhao, T. Lednický, J. Kim, T. Wieduwilt, U. Hübner, W. Huang, and M. A. Schmidt, “3D nanoprinted hollow-core light cages for fiber-interfaced on-chip gas absorption spectroscopy,” Optics Express 34(8), 14801–14811, 2026.
(6) K. Zheng, H. Liao, F. Han, X. Wang, Y. Zhang, J. Gu, P. Zhao, et al., “Suspended waveguide-enhanced near-infrared photothermal spectroscopy for ppb-level molecular gas sensing on a chalcogenide chip,” Light: Science & Applications 15(116), 2026.（IF = 23.4)
Research collaborations can be conducted via email zhaopc@buaa.edu.cn. You also can find me via pczhao.cn.