Research Excellence

Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, a new category of 2D materials developed by Dr Fei Bin, Associate Professor of the Institute of Textiles and Clothing, has been deemed as an innovation to be applied to improve the fire safety of textiles and the cycling performance of zinc ion batteries.

Intercalated and grafted with efficient flame retarding and electroactivecompounds, when incorporated into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) up to 3 wt%, Ti3C2Tx nanosheets will deliverexceptional thermal stability that provides physical shielding effect while burning, and an antistatic property to clothing, giving the nanosheets great potentials of application in the textile sector.

In addition, the liquid metal-compatibility of thisrevolutionary materialcan also be used to stabilize anodes and improve the cycling of aqueous zinc ion batteries, hence giving it a huge application potential in the new energy field. Dr Fei believes that this technology will be the future of the battery sector. Though the direction is clear, currently this technology is found to be effective only on limited types of batteries. He believes that more researches and time is needed for deeper understanding of its application in real life.

In light of this, the team led by Dr Fei decided to commercializethe textile application first. With the support of PolyU and funded by the Innovation & Technology Fund (ITF), the team has been able to patentmultiple key technologies, and develop prototypes to potential buyers.

The team is now working with multiple international industrial partners, planning to put the research findings into commercialuse. Dr Fei expects to see the first application in two years.

Ti3C2Tx納米物料 - 為衣物及鋅離子電池帶來阻燃效果的嶄新材料

近日，由紡織及服裝學系副教授費斌博士所研發的嶄新平面Ti3C2Tx納米物料，可為衣物帶來阻燃效果，被認為是一項創新技術。

研究指，當加入3 wt％到聚乳酸（PLA）時，Ti3C2Tx納米物料上帶有阻燃和電活性能的化合物，會對熱源產生極高的穩定作用，並在燃燒物料時帶來阻截效果，同時為衣物提供抗靜電性能，因此被視為紡織技術的一大突破。

另外，這項新技術同樣在新能源領域上具有巨大的應用潛力。Ti3C2Tx納米物料可應用於液態金屬產品，能穩定其負極及改善水性鋅離子電池的充放電迴圈效率。不過，雖然這項技術將會成為電池業界的未來，但費博士認為目前技術所能應用的電池種類有限，他的團隊需要更多時間作深入的研究，才能大規模應用在實際環境。

不過，為了盡快將技術應用到實際產品上，團隊決定先將納米物料應用到衣物上。在香港理工大學的支持下，這個項目獲得了創新與科技基金會（ITF）的資助，而費博士的團隊亦已為多項重要技術申請了專利，並向具潛力的投資者介紹其功能。

現時，團隊已與多個海外和中國投資者接洽，希望將科研成果真正市場化。費博士預計第一款應用這種技術的衣物會在兩年內在市面出現。