Mr. Yao specializes in polymeric materials and functional material design. Currently, he is conducting basic and process research on the regeneration of plastics with improved mechanical properties, especially from waste plastics. He proposed the theory of physical degradation and physical regeneration, and proved that the cause of degradation of physical properties of waste plastics is not chemical degradation but internal structural mutation, and that it is possible to regenerate physical properties by optimizing the regeneration process. He has also devised an extruder with a molten resin reservoir, and have demonstrated its performance. Currently, he is the theme leader of a national project of NEDO on mechanical recycling. He is also the project leader of a project for the practical application of cellulose nanofibers and a member of the technical committee for marine biodegradable plastics.