ME Student Team won the Gold Award of ASM Technology Award 2019

Terrific! The PolyU ME student team won the Gold Award of ASM Technology Award 2019. The team members, CHOW Hung Ming Roy, SHIN Ji Ho and SOMESHWAR Rudra Ajay, supervised by Dr Henry Chu and Dr Curtis Ng, competed with HKU, HKUST, CUHK and City U. The PolyU ME team project “ASME Competition Robot Development & Vision Based Target Alignment” stood out from the rest, triumphed in the competition. For the sake of promoting technological innovation in Hong Kong, ASM Technology Award proposes to be fertile soil for the growth of potential engineers. Each year, five established local institutions, including The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and The University of Hong Kong are invited to join the Competition by nominating two outstanding Final Year Projects (FYP) of their undergraduate students with engineering or related background. This year, 10 nominated FYP teams have made their impressive and fabulous presentations in the finale on 28 June 2019. After a day-long intense competition, the PolyU ME team won the championship. The project and presentation were judged by technical performance and project quality, creativity, quality & originality, applicability and practicability application of technology, clear communication of key areas, approaches & arguments, clarity and organization of presentation. The panel of judges consisted of senior professionals and experts from ASM, invited academic staff from universities and also industry practitioners. We are very proud of the outstanding performance by the PolyU ME student team. The team was awarded HK$50,000 as scholarship. And the PolyU Faculty of Engineering, as the institution of the Champion, received a donation of HKD100,000 as an encouragement to the outstanding students of the Faculty.

ME Scholar lauded with the IAAM Medal 2019 for contributions in advanced materials

IAAM Medal is a prestigious international award recognized by the International Association of Advanced Materials, Sweden, for notable and professional achievements, which fostered and enriched the development of Materials Science and Technology filed through outstanding research in Physical, Chemical, Biological, Engineering, Medical, Mathematical, Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences. The medal is awarded based on contributions made through work done during the ten years preceding from the year of award. The selections for the IAAM awards are done by a duly constituted awards committee and the awards are given to the awardees at the assembly of Advanced Materials Congress. Prof. Wallace Woon Fong Leung, Chair Professor of Innovative Products and Technologies, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU, is the IAAM medal recipient in 2019. Prof. Leung has been honoured with the prestigious IAAM Medal for his notable and outstanding research contribution in the field of Graphene and 2D Materials in Energy and Environmental Applications in the 26thaward ceremony of International Association of Advanced Materials held on 11th June 2019 at Conference Centre, M/S Mariella, Stockholm, Sweden. As the awardee/ laureate, Prof. Leung was invited to deliver an award lecture at the June 10-13th assembly of Advanced Materials Congress.

A novel fuel cell system design featured in International Journal of Energy Research

Fuel cells have received worldwide research interest as a promising energy conversion technology in the last decades, primarily due to their simple system design, high conversion efficiency, low carbon dioxide emissions as well as quick fuel refueling. Currently, hydrogen fuel cells are widely studied and preliminarily commercialized. However, realizing the widespread application of hydrogen fuel cells requires addressing the production, transportation, and storage of hydrogen. A new study about a novel fuel cell system design using ethylene glycol as fuel and hydrogen peroxide as oxidant, reported by Mr Zhefei Pan, a PhD student of Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr Liang An, an Assistant Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering, was recently published in International Journal of Energy Research and selected to be featured as the front cover. Theoretically, this fuel cell exhibits a theoretical voltage as high as 2.47 V, while it is experimentally demonstrated that the hybrid fuel cell delivers an open‐circuit voltage of 1.41 V at 60°C. More impressively, this fuel cell yields a peak power density of 80.9 mW cm−2, boosting the peak power density by 20.8% as compared to the fuel cell using oxygen (67 mW cm−2). This novel design is a promising application for situations where oxygen is not sufficient, such as underwater and outer space. Read more at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/er.4176. Z.F. Pan, B. Huang, L. An, Performance of a hybrid direct ethylene glycol fuel cell, International Journal of Energy Research 43 (2019) 2583-2591.

ME-led research project secured $8.5m ITF funding to improve sonic perception

Dr Tracy Yat Sze Choy, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), leads a research team to work on a project “Tunable Sonic Perception control for headset”. The research team is comprised of Prof. Li Cheng, Chair Professor, ME; Dr Henry Chu, Assistant Professor, ME; Prof. Chetywn Chan, Chair Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science (RS); Dr Andrew Siu, Associate Professor, RS; and Dr Daniel Lun, Associate Professor, Department of Electronic and Information Engineering. The team works in close collaboration with the industrial sponsor Innovation Technology Company Limited and Dr Steve Mung from the company. The research project has been awarded a three-year grant about HK$6.6 million by the Innovation Technology Commission. Dr Choy has also secured additional funding around HK$1.9 million by the Innovation and Technology Fund for Researcher Programme and Postdoctoral Hub Programme.

The 5th ME Research Presentation Competition 2019

The 5th PolyU Mechanical Engineering Research Presentation Competition was successfully held at the Lecture Theatre in the Jockey Club Innovation Tower, PolyU, on 28 May 2019. It is an annual event for research students to display their research project results and share knowledge with the PolyU community. This year, we emphasized on academic pitching skills, with an aim to train research students to explain academic ideas to peers and non-experts clearly. Twenty-four research student participants each delivered a high-impact brief in a 3-minute presentation. With their professional and animated presentations, those Fouling Species, Bidimensional Talbot Self-imaging, Linear Deformable Objects, Acoustically Actuated Artificial Micro-swimmer were no longer distant to the layman. After the oral presentations, participants interacted with the audience in the research posters exhibition. Displayed posters not only highlighted their research project results, but it was also an occasion for participants to convey their ideas, communicate with viewers and professionals, and let their talents be known.   Congratulations to their fabulous presentations and excellent research work! Champion Student: Miss LIN Dongmei Supervisor: Prof. Zhou Limin Title: Rate-Independent and Ultrastable Low-Temperature Sodium Storage in Dual-Phase TiO2 Nanowires 1st Runner-Up Student: Miss GAO He Supervisor: Dr Zhu Jie Title: Bidimensional Talbot Self-imaging With Coding Metamaterials 2nd Runner-Up Student: Mr FAN E Supervisor: Prof. Wen Chih-Yung Title: Effects of Combustion on Shock Bubble Interaction Merit Student: Miss MA Wanyu Supervisor: Dr David Navarro-Alarcon Title: Shape Control of Linear Deformable Objects Based on RGB-D Sensing and Model Estimation Merit Student: Miss WANG Jingwei Supervisor: Prof. Chen Guohua Title: Flexible Supercapacitor With a Na-ion Conducting Gel Polymer Membrane as Electrolyte and Separator Merit Student: Miss ZHOU Bingchen Supervisor: Dr Jiao Zengbao Title: Design of Advanced High-Strength Steels Strengthened by Nanoscale Co-precipitates More photos on PHOTO GALLERY

A technological breakthrough in layered lithium published in high impact journal “Nature Energy”

Building ultraconformal protective layers on both secondary and primary particles of layered lithium transition metal oxide cathodes A technological breakthrough in layered lithium transition metal oxide cathodes offers a promising design strategy for Ni-rich cathodes towards high-energy, long-life and safe lithium-ion batteries. This new study reported by Prof. Chen Guohua and his research team of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering was published in the high impact international journal “Nature Energy”. Nature Energy Vol. 4, pages 484–494 (2019). 13 May 2019 Read more at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/er.4176. Abstract   Despite their relatively high capacity, layered lithium transition metal oxides suffer from crystal and interfacial structural instability under aggressive electrochemical and thermal driving forces, leading to rapid performance degradation and severe safety concerns. Here we report a transformative approach using an oxidative chemical vapour deposition technique to build a protective conductive polymer (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) skin on layered oxide cathode materials. The ultraconformal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) skin facilitates the transport of lithium ions and electrons, significantly suppresses the undesired layered to spinel/rock-salt phase transformation and the associated oxygen loss, mitigates intergranular and intragranular mechanical cracking, and effectively stabilizes the cathode–electrolyte interface. This approach remarkably enhances the capacity and thermal stability under high-voltage operation. Building a protective skin at both secondary and primary particle levels of layered oxides offers a promising design strategy for Ni-rich cathodes towards high-energy, long-life and safe lithium-ion batteries.

ME Scholar received HKIE Environmental Paper Award

Ir. Prof. Wallace Leung was awarded the 1st Runner Up of 2019 Environmental Paper Award. His paper “Clean Air with Novel Nanofiber Technologies” was acclaimed by the Chairman of the competition, Prof. Kaimin Shih of the University of Hong Kong, the paper submitted by Prof. Leung was of high quality, accumulating a wealth of research results and knowledge over time on improving air quality with various developed technologies. A panel of eight judges from academia, government, consulting and industry was formed to assess the submissions in 2019. Selection criteria are based on innovation, environmental performance, contribution to sustainable development, comprehensiveness and coverage, logical arguments, presentation, and clarity. Prof. Leung’s paper was summarized in a 15-page anonymous submission, which was highly rated by the judges. The Environmental Paper Award is a biennial paper competition organized by the Environmental Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). The primary objective of the Award is to recognize engineers’ efforts in any environmental research and projects in which environmental pollution control and sustainable development are fully considered and adequately addressed. This Award is intended to encourage the widespread emergence of environmentally sound projects.

Staff Retreat in April 2019

A staff retreat of the Department took place on 30 April 2019 at Hotel ICON. It was particular for programme review and recruitment strategies. In line with the core value of the Department, programme quality assurance and student development have been our essential concern. In the morning session, the task force, led by the Programme Leader (BEng in Mechanical Engineering) Dr HM Yao, delivered an in-depth review on the programme streams, sharing on the student-centered pedagogies, suggestions on the faculty-based electives. It was followed by the evaluation of teaching and learning by the Associate Head Prof. ZQ Su. Buffet lunch was still a place for the discussion and sharing; the meal was not just palatable but “productive” and “constructive”. Another underlined topic in the afternoon was the revamp of the BEng in Product Analysis and Engineering Design (PAED) programme. The Programme Leader Dr Randolph Leung had led a task force of 11 staff members to explore possible routes for the development of PAED before. The task force bought up observed problems in student learning and made suggestions for programme strengthening. Five possible directions were proposed and prompted a heated discussion. Other topics including recruitment measures, student exchange opportunities, the research assessment exercise and the key performance indicators were also on the agenda. The departmental retreat has always been a platform where profound ideas and proposals develop.

PolyU hosts the first-of-its-kind international Marine Robotics Forum in HK

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) organized “The 1st International Forum on Marine Robotics” on 3 April 2019 for international and local experts to share insights on how to advance marine robotic technology and its applications in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). This is one of the major events initiated by PolyU to foster closer collaborations and explore innovative technologies with top-notch universities and institutes around the world through forming strategic research and development alliances. Experts speaking at the Forum included Dr. Ravi VAIDYANATHAN, Senior Lecturer in Bio-Mechatronics, Director of International Collaboration, Imperial Robotics Forum, Imperial College London, UK; Dr Ahmed CHEMORI, Senior Scientist in LIRMM-CNRS University of Montpellier, France; Proessor Shuo LI, Deputy Director of Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Professor David M LANE, Professor of Autonomous Systems Engineering, Director of Edinburgh Centre for Robotics, Heriot-Watt University, The University of Edinburgh. They shared themes that covered bio-mechatronic sensory motor control, autonomous underwater vehicles, marine robotics for deep-sea exploration and operation. The professionals exchanged valuable views and experiences on marine robotics technologies. Dr Xing-jian JING, Associate Professor of PolyU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and a seasoned researcher on bio-inspired dynamics, control and robotics, highlighted that, “Technologies related to underwater exploration and manipulation as well as new bio-inspired underwater robots would be two important areas to be explored in marine robotics. These key marine robotic technologies are important to ocean exploration and exploitation. They also contribute enormously in environmental and pollution study, critical underwater infrastructure inspection, natural resource exploration, and sensing and mapping of ocean for specific tasks and missions”. Learn more

PolyU-developed electrostatically charged nanofiber filter ideal for defense against pollutants and viruses

At a press conference on 27 March 2019, Ir. Professor Wallace Leung Woon-Fong, Chair Professor of Innovative Products and Technologies of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, introduced a PolyU-developed electrostatically charged nanofiber filter with multiple separator layers. The novel PVDF nanofiber filter can capture pollutant particles that are below 100 nm in diameter. It demonstrates much better performance in breathability and filtration efficiency, compared with existing technologies and products, and has a longer shelf life up to 90 days. Professor Leung said the filter or face mask applying the innovation would be an ideal defense against virus, such as measles and SARS, during an outbreak. The novel technology also has great potential for applying in the analytical technique of Western Blot, and in effective release of protein-based drugs. Online coverage: HK01 On.cc 頭條日報 星島日報 BastillePost 巴士的報 明報 Market Watch PRLog SINA HK 成報 文匯報 東方日報 TMC News Benzinga Yahoo HK