Chen pioneered nanofluidic energy conversion and, based on the ultra-large surface area between nanoporous materials and functional liquids, he developed affordable material systems that can convert among electrical, thermal and mechanical energies with high efficiency. He elaborated the mechanism of a series of counterintuitive reversible chemical reactions and developed several moisture-swing absorbents for capturing carbon dioxide from ambient air with very low energy and material cost. Using simple mechanics theories, he pioneered the study of morphogenesis of various fruits, vegetables, animals, tissues, and cells, and further implemented into stress engineering of 3D self-assembly, as well as proposed innovative locomotion modes of soft robots. He has also extensively studied material genomics and established nanomechanics frameworks and reliable characterization methods of numerous energy and nanomaterials.