Wang Zhonglin is credited with developing the field of nanoenergy. His work in developing nanogenerators and self-powered systems opened up the technological potential for wireless devices that can be self-powered without a battery.

Multiple Chinese media sources, as well as a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology – Wang’s faculty since 1995 – confirmed that he had resigned from his position and is working “full-time” in Beijing at the institute that he helped to found.

The council of the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), held its first meeting in July to establish its board and charter, along with Wang’s official role as director and inaugural chief scientist.

Neither Wang nor Georgia Tech – where he served as Regent’s professor and Hightower chair for the school of materials science and engineering (MSE), and director of the Centre for Nanostructure Characterisation – responded before publication.