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

106th Departmental Advisory Committee Meeting

The 106th Departmental Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting took place on 21 March 2019, under the chairmanship of Ir Conrad Wong, Vice Chairman of Yau Lee Group. We were grateful to have new committee members joining us. They were Prof. Li Bing (Acting Dean of School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen), Mr Richard CW Chan (Assistant Director, Engineering Services Branch 3, Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, HKSAR), Dr Lawrence CC Cheung (Director, Technology Development Hong Kong Productivity Council), Mr Banting WP Sze (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Freetech Road Recycling Technology (Holdings) Limited) as well as two student representatives, Mr Farhan Khalid (full-time BEng student) and Mr Andre Eccel Vellwock (full-time PhD student). It was a very useful meeting as members, with their wide range of expertise, had a fruitful discussion, sharing their expectations on our students and graduates, and provided very constructive views and suggestions to the Department of its efforts in the future development in teaching and learning, research and consultancy and strategic development. We in particular thank Ir Wong for his leadership and contribution to our Department as our DAC Chairman for 6 years since 27 March 2013. Ir Dr Angus HW Cheung (Chief Executive Officer, China Aircraft Services Limited) will be the next DAC Chairman starting on 27 March 2019.

ME Staff received Faculty Awards for Outstanding Performance/ Achievement in 2017/18

The PolyU Faculty of Engineering Spring Reception cum Faculty Awards Presentation Ceremony was held on 22 February 2019. Three staff members from the Department of Mechanical Engineering were awarded for their outstanding performance and achievement. Prof. WEN Chih-yung Associate Head and Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering Research Grant Achievement Award Faculty of Engineering Outstanding Award in Teaching (Individual) Prof. SU Zhongqing Associate Head and Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering Research Grant Achievement Award Dr JING Xingjian Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering Merit Award in Research and Scholarly Activities (Individual) Since 2003, the Faculty Research Grant Achievement Award has been set up by the Faculty Research Committee to recognize the outstanding performance of FENG academic staff members in securing external competitive research grants. Besides, the Faculty Awards in Teaching, Research and Scholarly Activities, and Services have also been established to encourage and recognize excellent practices in respective areas. Winners of the awards have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication, and contributed to the achievements of the Faculty.