
Welcome to Tan Research Group@
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
The University of Hong Kong





Dr. Chaoliang Tan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), HKSAR, China. He received his PhD degree under the supervision of Prof. Hua Zhang in Materials Science from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) in 2016. After working as a Research Fellow in the same place for about one year, then he worked as a Postdoc Research Fellow with Prof. Ali Javey in Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at University of California, Berkeley for two years. He was an Assistant Professor at City University of Hong Kong from 2020 to 2023 before joining HKU. His current research interests mainly focus on the following three directions at HKU EEE: (1) Fabrication of high-performance electronics (transistors, logic gates and circuits) and optoelectronics (e.g., photodetectors and imaging sensor systems) based on 2D materials (e.g., nanoflakes and heterostructures). (2) Fabrication of electronic/optoelectronic memory devices based 2D materials (e.g., nanoflakes and heterostructures) for in-memory or in-sensor reservoir computing. (3) Structural engineering (e.g., defect, phase, interlayer distance) of layered nanomaterials (e.g., TMDs, layered metal oxides and LDHs) for biomedical applications (e.g., cancer therapy and bone repairing/regeneration). He has authored or co-authored over 170 SCI papers (42 ESI Highly Cited Papers) on journals like Nature (1), Nat. Nanotechnol. (1), Nat. Mater. (1), Nat. Chem. (1), Nat. Catal. (1), Nat. Rev. Mater. (1), Nat. Rev. Chem. (1), Nat. Commun. (2), Chem. Rev. (2), Chem. Soc. Rev. (5), J. Am. Chem. Soc. (12), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (10), Adv. Mater. (26), etc. The total citation of his published papers is over 27,900 with a H-index of 75. Among them, more than 70 are first-authored or corresponding-authored papers, including Nat. Nanotechnol., Nat. Rev. Mater., Chem. Rev., Chem. Soc. Rev., Nat. Commun., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Mater., Adv. Funct. Mater., ACS Nano, Nano-Micro Lett. and Small. He has been listed as the “Highly Cited Researcher” (Top 1%, Web of Science) in last six years (2018-2023) as well as “Top 2% Scientists in the world” by Stanford University in last four years (2020-2023). He also received the NSFC Excellent Young Scientist Fund (HK & Macau) in 2021.

Selected Publications (Click here to see Full Publications; †Equal Contribution, *Corresponding Author)
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Z. Shi, X. Zhang, X. Lin, G. Liu, C. Ling, S. Xi, B. Chen, Y. Ge, C. Tan, Z. Lai, Z. Huang, X. Ruan, L. Zhai, L. Li, Z. Li, X. Wang, G.-H. Nam, J. Liu, Q. He, Z. Guan, J. Wang, C.-S. Lee, A. R. J. Kucernak*, H. Zhang*, Phase-Dependent Growth of Pt on MoS2 for Highly Efficient H2 Evolution. Nature, 2023, 621, 300-305. Link
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J. Zha, Y. Xia, S. Shi, H. Huang, S. Li, C. Qian, H. Wang, P. Yang, Z. Zhang, Y. Meng, W. Wang, Z. Yang, H. Yu, J. C. Ho*, Z. Wang*, C. Tan*, A 2D Heterostructure-Based Multifunctional Floating Gate Memory Device for Multimodal Reservoir Computing, Adv. Mater., 2023, DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308502 (Rising Star Series). Link
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J. Zha, S. Shi, A. Chaturvedi, H. Huang, P. Yang, Y. Yao, S. Li, Y. Xia, Z. Zhang, W. Wang, H. Wang, S. Wang, Z. Yuan, Z. Yang, Q. He, H. Tai, E. H. T. Teo, H. Yu, J. C. Ho, Z. Wang*, H. Zhang*, C. Tan*, Electronic/Optoelectronic Memory Device Enabled by Tellurium-Based 2D Van der Waals Heterostructure for In-Sensor Reservoir Computing at Optical Communication Band. Adv. Mater., 2023, 35, 2211598. Link
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Q. Gu, J. Zha, C. Chen, X. Wang, W. Yao, J. Liu, F. Kang, J. Yang, Y. Y. Li, D. Lei, Z. Tang*, Y. Han*, C. Tan*, Q. Zhang*, Constructing Chiral Covalent-Organic Frameworks for Circular Polarized Light Detection. Adv. Mater., 2023, 10.1002/adma.202306414. Link
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Y. Yang, T. Hu, Y. Bian, F. Meng, S. Yu, H. Li, Q. Zhang, L. Gu, X. Weng*, C. Tan*, R. Liang*, Coupling Probiotics with 2D CoCuMo-LDH Nanosheets as Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Platform for Precise NIR-II Photodynamic Therapy, Adv. Mater., 2023, 35, 2211205. Link
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T. Hu, W. Shen, F. Meng, S. Yang, S. Yu, H. Li, Q. Zhang, L. Gu*, C. Tan*, R. Liang*, Boosting the Sonodynamic Cancer Therapy Performance of 2D Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheet-Based Sonosensitizers via Crystalline-to-Amorphous Phase Transformation. Adv. Mater., 2023, 35, 2209692. Link
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T. Ahmed, J. Zha, K. K. Lin, H.-C. Kuo*, C. Tan*, D.-H. Lien*, Bright and Efficient Light-Emitting Devices Based on Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides. Adv. Mater., 2023, 35, 2208054. Link
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Z. Lv, T. Hu, Y. Bian, G. Wang, Z. Wu, H. Li, X. Liu, S. Yang, C. Tan*, R. Liang*, X. Weng*, A MgFe-LDH Nanosheet-Incorporated Smart Thermo-Responsive Hydrogel with Controllable Growth Factor Releasing Capability for Bone Regeneration. Adv. Mater., 2023, 35, 2206545. Link
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X. Cai, Y. Liu, J. Zha, F. Tan, B. Zhang, W. Yan, J. Zhao*, B, Lu, J. Zhou*, C. Tan*, A Flexible and Safe Planar Zinc-Ion Micro-Battery with Ultrahigh Energy Density Enabled by Interfacial Engineering for Wearable Sensing Systems. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2023, 33, 2303009. Link
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G. Wang, Z. Lv, T. Wang, T. Hu, Y. Bian, Y. Yang, R. Liang*, C. Tan*, X. Weng*, Surface Functionalization of Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds with MgAlEu-LDH Nanosheets for High-Performance Bone Regeneration. Adv. Sci., 2023, 10, 2204234. Link
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Y. Bian, X. Cai, Z. Lv, Y. Xu, H. Wang, C. Tan*, R. Liang*, X. Weng*, Layered Double Hydroxides: A Novel Promising 2D Nanomaterial for Bone Diseases Treatment. Adv. Sci., 2023, 10, 2301806. Link
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W. Shen, T. Hu, X. Liu, J. Zha, F. Meng, Z. Wu, Z. Cui, Y. Yang, H. Li, Q. Zhang, L. Gu, R. Liang*, C. Tan*, Defect Engineering of Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets as Inorganic Photosensitizers for NIR-III Photodynamic Cancer Therapy. Nat. Commun., 2022, 13, 3384. Link
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T. Hu, Z. Gu, G. R. Williams, M. Strimaite, J. Zha, Z. Zhou, X. Zhang*, C. Tan*, R. Liang*, Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022, 51, 6126-6176. Link
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Z. Zhou, Y. Wang, F. Peng, F. Meng, J. Zha, L. Ma, Y. Du, N. Peng, L. Ma, Q. Zhang, L. Gu*, W. Yin*, Z. Gu*, C. Tan*, Intercalation-Activated Layered MoO3 Nanobelts as Biodegradable Nanozymes for Tumor-Specific Photo-Enhanced Catalytic Therapy. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2022, 61, e202115939 ("Hot Paper"). Link
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J. Zha, M. Luo, M. Ye, T. Ahmed, X. Yu, D.‐H. Lien, Q. He, D. Lei, J. C. Ho, J. Bullock*, K. B. Crozier*, C. Tan*, Infrared Photodetectors Based on 2D Materials and Nanophotonics. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2022, 32, 2111970. Link
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T. Hu, Q. Liu, Z. Zhou, H. Huang, F. Meng, W. Liu*, Q. Zhang, L. Gu, R, Liang*, C. Tan*, Preparation of Dye Molecule-Intercalated MoO3 Organic/Inorganic Superlattice Nanoparticles for Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Catalytic Therapy. Small, 2022, 18, 2200595 (Rising Star Series). Link
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P. Yang, J. Zha*, G. Gao, L. Zheng, H. Huang, Y. Xia, S. Xu, T. Xiong, Z. Zhang, Z. Yang, Y. Chen, D.-K. Ki, J. J. Liou, W. Liao*, C. Tan*, Growth of Tellurium Nanobelts on h-BN for p-Type Transistors with Ultrahigh Hole Mobility. Nano-Micro Lett., 2022, 14, 109. Link
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C. Chen, S. Mao, C. Tan*, Z. Wang, Y. Ge, Q. Ma, X. Zhang, G. Qi, J. Xu, Z. Fan, Y. Wang*, General Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Carbonaceous Hybrid Nanostructures with Molecularly Dispersed Polyoxometallates. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 15556-15562 ("Hot Paper"). Link
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W. Zhai, T. Xiong, Z. He, S. Lu, Z. Lai, Q. He, C. Tan*, H. Zhang*, Nanodots Derived from Layered Materials: Synthesis and Applications. Adv. Mater., 2021, 33, 2006661. Link
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J. Zhao, Z. Xu, Z. Zhou, S. Xi, Y. Xia, Q. Zhang, L. Huang, L. Mei, Y. Jiang, J. Gao*, Z. Zeng*, C. Tan*, A Safe Flexible Self-Powered Wristband System by Integrating Defective MnO2-x Nanosheet-Based Zinc-Ion Batteries with Perovskite Solar Cells. ACS Nano, 2021, 15, 10597-10608. Link
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Z. Zhou, X. Wang, H. Zhang, H. Huang, L. Sun, L. Ma, Y. Du, C. Pei, Q. Zhang, H. Li, L. Ma, L. Gu, Z. Liu, L. Cheng*, C. Tan*, Activating Layered Metal Oxide Nanomaterials via Structural Engineering as Biodegradable Nanoagents for Photothermal Cancer Therapy. Small, 2021, 17, 2007486 (Front Cover). Link
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Z. Lai, A. Chaturvedi, Z. Shi, J. Zhao, T. H. Tran, B. Chen, Y. Huang, X. Cao, Q. He, Z. Zeng, C. Tan*, H. Zhang*, High‐Yield Exfoliation of Ultrathin 2D Ni3Cr2P2S9 and Ni3Cr2P2Se9 Nanosheets. Small, 2021, 17, 2006866. Link
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Z. Lai, Q. He, T. H. Tran, D. V. M. Repaka, Y. Sun, D.-D. Zhou, S. Xi, Y. Li, A. Chaturvedi, C. Tan, B. Chen, G.-H. Nam, B. Li, W. Zhai, Z. Shi, C. Ling, D. Hu, V. Sharma, Z. Hu, Y. Chen, Z. Zhang, Y. Yu, X. R. Wang, R. V. Ramanujan, Y. Ma, K. Hippalgaonkar*, H. Zhang*, Metastable 1T′-Phase Group VIB Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Crystals. Nat. Mater., 2021, 20, 1113-1120. Link
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Z. Zhou, B. Li*, C. Shen, D. Wu, H. Fan, J. Zhao, H. Li, Z. Zeng, Z. Luo*, L. Ma*, C. Tan*, Metallic 1T Phase Enabling MoS2 Nanodots as an Efficient Agent for Photoacoustic Imaging Guided Photothermal Therapy in the Near-Infrared-II Window. Small, 2020, 16, 2004173. Link
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C. Tan, M. Amani, C. Zhao, M. Hettick, X. Song, D.-H. Lien, H. Li, M. Yeh, V. R. Shrestha, K. B. Crozier, M. C. Scott, A. Javey*, Evaporated SexTe1-x Thin Films with Tunable Bandgaps for Short-Wave Infrared Photodetectors. Adv. Mater., 2020, 32, 2001329. Link
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C. Zhao†, C. Tan†, D.-H. Lien, X. Song, M. Amani, M. Hettick, H. Y. Y. Nyein, Z. Yuan, L. Li, M. C. Scott, A. Javey*, Evaporated Tellurium Thin Films for p-Type Field Effect Transistors and Circuits. Nat. Nanotechnol., 2020, 15, 53-58. Link
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Y. Chen, Z. Lai, X. Zhang, Z. Fan, Q. He, C. Tan, H. Zhang*, Phase Engineering of Nanomaterials. Nat. Rev. Chem., 2020, 4, 243-256. Link
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M. Amani†, C. Tan†, G. Zhang, C. Zhao, J. Bullock, X. Song, H. Kim, V. R. Shrestha, Y. Gao, K. B. Crozier, M. Scott, A. Javey*, Solution-Synthesized High-Mobility Tellurium Nanoflakes for Short-Wave Infrared Photodetectors. ACS Nano, 2018, 12, 7253-7263. Link
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C. Tan, Z. Luo, A. Chaturvedi, Y. Cai, Y. Du, Y. Gong, Y. Huang, Z. Lai, X. Zhang, L. Zheng, X. Qi, M. H. Goh, J. Wang, S. Han, X. Wu, L. Gu, C. Kloc, H. Zhang*, Preparation of High-Percentage 1T-phase Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanodots for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution. Adv. Mater., 2018, 30, 1705509. Link
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C. Tan, J. Chen, X. Wu, H. Zhang*, Epitaxial Growth of Hybrid Nanostructures. Nat. Rev. Mater., 2018, 3, 17089. Link
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X. Zhang, Z. Luo, P. Yu, Y. Cai, Y. Du, D. Wu, S. Gao, C. Tan, Z. Li, M. Ren, T. Osipowicz, S. Chen, Z. Jiang, J. Li, Y. Huang, J. Yang, C. Y. Ang, Y. Zhao, P. Wang, L. Song, X. Wu, Z. Liu, A. Borgna, H. Zhang*, Lithiation-Induced Amorphization of Pd3P2S8 for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Evolution. Nat. Catal., 2018, 1, 460-468. Link
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C. Tan, X. Cao, X.-J. Wu, Q. He, J. Yang, X. Zhang, J. Chen, W. Zhao, S. Han, G.-H. Nam, M. Sindoro, H. Zhang*, Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials. Chem. Rev., 2017, 117, 6225-6331. Link
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C. Tan, L. Zhao, P. Yu, Y. Huang, B. Chen, Z. Lai, X. Qi, M. H. Goh, X. Zhang, S. Han, X.-J. Wu, Z. Liu*, Y. Zhao*, H. Zhang*, Preparation of Ultrathin Two-Dimensional TixTa1-xSyOz Nanosheets as Highly Efficient Photothermal Agents. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 7842-7846. Link
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C. Tan, Z. Lai, H. Zhang*, Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Multinary Layered Metal Chalcogenide Nanomaterials. Adv. Mater., 2017, 29, 1701392. Link
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C. Tan, W. Zhao, A. Chaturvedi, Z. Fei, Z. Zeng, J. Chen, Y. Huang, P. Ercius, Z. Luo, X. Qi, B. Chen, Z. Lai, B. Li, X. Zhang, J. Yang, Y. Zong, C. Jin, H. Zheng, C. Kloc*, H. Zhang*, Preparation of Single-Layer MoS2xSe2(1-x) and MoxW1-xS2 Nanosheets with High-Concentration Metallic 1T Phase. Small, 2016, 12, 1866-1874. Link
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X. Cao†, C. Tan†, X. Zhang, W. Zhao, H. Zhang*, Solution-Processed Two-Dimensional Metal Dichalcogenide-Based Nanomaterials for Energy Storage and Conversion. Adv. Mater., 2016, 28, 6167-6196. Link
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X. Wu, J. Chen, C. Tan, Y. Zhu, Y. Han, H. Zhang*, Controlled Growth of High-Density CdS and CdSe Nanorod Arrays on Selective Facets of Two-Dimensional Semiconductor Nanoplates. Nat. Chem., 2016, 8, 470-475. Link
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C. Tan, H. Zhang*, Wet-Chemical Synthesis and Applications of Non-Layer Structured Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials. Nat. Commun., 2015, 6, 7873. Link
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C. Tan, P. Yu, Y. Hu, J. Chen, Y. Huang, Y. Cai, Z. Luo, B. Li, Q. Lu, L. Wang*, Z. Liu*, H. Zhang*, High-Yield Exfoliation of Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Ternary Chalcogenide Nanosheets for Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescence DNA Sensors. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 10430-10436. Link
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C. Tan, X. Qi, Z. Liu, F. Zhao, H. Li, X. Huang, L. Shi, B. Zheng, X. Zhang, L. Xie, Z. Tang, W. Huang, H. Zhang*, Self-Assembled Chiral Nanofibers from Ultrathin Low-Dimensional Nanomaterials. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 1565-1571. Link
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C. Tan, H. Zhang*, Epitaxial Growth of Hetero-Nanostructures Based on Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanosheets. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 12162-12174. Link
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C. Tan, Z. Zeng, X. Huang, X. Rui, X.-J. Wu, B. Li, Z. Luo, J. Chen, B. Chen, Q. Yan, H. Zhang*, Liquid-Phase Epitaxial Growth of Two-Dimensional Semiconductor Hetero-Nanostructures. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2015, 54, 1841-1845. Link
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C. Tan, H. Zhang*, Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheet-Based Composites. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44, 2713-2731. Link
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C. Tan, Z. Liu, W. Huang, H. Zhang*, Non-Volatile Resistive Memory Devices Based on Solution-Processed Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44, 2615-2628. Link
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C. Tan, X. Qi, X. Huang, J. Yang, B. Zheng, Z. An, R. Chen, J. Wei, B. Tang, W. Huang, H. Zhang*, Single-Layer Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheet-Assisted Assembly of Aggregation-Induced Emission Molecules to Form Organic Nanosheets with Enhanced Fluorescence. Adv. Mater., 2014, 26, 1735-1739. Link
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Z. Zeng†, C. Tan†, X. Huang, S. Bao, H. Zhang*, Growth of Noble Metal Nanoparticles on Single-Layer TiS2 and TaS2 Nanosheets for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. Energ. Environ. Sci., 2014, 7, 797-803. Link
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X. Huang†, C. Tan†, Z. Yin†, H. Zhang*, 25th Anniversary Article: Hybrid Nanostructures Based on Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials. Adv. Mater., 2014, 26, 2185-2204. Link
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C. Tan, X. Huang, H. Zhang*, Synthesis and Applications of Graphene-Based Noble Metal Nanostructures. Mater. Today, 2013, 16, 29-36. Link
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