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PolyU Project Receives Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award from the Ministry of Education

Scientific research on air quality conducted by researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received the Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award (Science and Technology) 2022.  Led by Prof. Tao WANG, Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at PolyU, the project entitled “Atmospheric Chemistry of Reactive Nitrogen Oxides and its Impacts on Regional Atmospheric Environment” has been bestowed the Second-Class Award in Natural Science. The Awards from the Ministry of Education aim to recognize outstanding contributions made by researchers towards advancing scientific and technological development.  Prof. WANG, said, “This achievement inspires us to strive for outstanding research and efforts towards enhancing air quality in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and China.” The research started 20 years ago with systemic study on nitrogen oxides in Hong Kong and other places in China.  Nitrogen oxides (NOx), comprising nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are mainly produced through high-temperature combustion in road vehicles, ships, and fossil-fuel-powered electricity generation facilities. NOx undergoes chemical reactions to form the so-called secondary pollutants such as ozone and PM2.5. Therefore, understanding the atmospheric dynamics of NOx is crucial to developing strategies for mitigating NO2, ozone and PM2.5 pollution.  By employing field observations, laboratory experiments and computer simulations in the research, Prof. WANG’s team discovered important chemical processes of NOx and their roles in photochemical and haze pollution. The findings have enhanced the knowledge on atmospheric chemistry and also improved an extensively used air quality model for global air quality forecasting and research.  Prof. WANG has made significant contributions to scientific research on sustainable development, with research focus on the origin, transformation and destiny of air pollutants, and their implications on air quality management. The awarded project is Prof. WANG’s core research area, and it is conducted in collaboration with Shandong University, Nanjing University and Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. 

PolyU scientist develops new catalyst materials recognised by Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2023

Dr Bolong HUANG, Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been selected as a finalist for the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2023 in the category Engineering and Technology, in recognition of his research achievement in nanocatalysts for broad carbon-strategic applications of sustainable energy. Dr Huang is one of the three awardees from Hong Kong in this category.  Dr HUANG’s research interests include theoretical calculations of electronic structures on nanomaterials, energy materials, solid functional materials, and rare earth materials, as well as their applications in multi-scale energy conversion and supply systems. He is dedicated to research in catalysis for the development of new catalyst materials that support sustainable energy supply and conversion technologies, aligning with the global vision of protecting the environment. By leveraging his expertise and experiences in theoretical calculations and machine learning techniques, he is committed to develop novel catalysts for important chemical reactions in sustainable development. These include water-splitting hydrogen (H2) generation, oxygen reduction and evolution for fuel cells and metal-air batteries, and carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction for controlling carbon emission. Dr HUANG said, “My theoretical calculations not only accelerate the discovery of novel catalysts but also gain crucial insights into fundamental reaction mechanisms. I am driven to pursue catalysis research to identify more novel functional materials that can be applied in sustainable developments.” The Award aims to foster research and innovation across all disciplines by celebrating cutting-edge discoveries. The Falling Walls Foundation, based in Berlin, established the Award to acknowledge the most recent breakthroughs in science and society worldwide.

PolyU signs MoUs with leading Jinjiang-based enterprises to drive cooperation between Hong Kong and Fujian

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with several leading enterprises in Jinjiang city to strengthen industry-academia-research cooperation between the two cities. During a three-day visit to Hong Kong, a delegation led by Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang City, visited PolyU to have an in-depth exchange with the University’s senior management and researchers. The delegation included representatives from the Communist Party, and the Jinjiang Municipal Government including the Office of the Municipal Party Committee, United Front Work Department, Science and Technology Bureau and Commerce Bureau, as well as representatives from leading Jinjiang-based enterprises in the industries of textiles and clothing, sportswear and footwear, new materials, and microelectronics. On the first day of the visit on 26 June, the delegation paid a visit to the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design and the Centre for Eye and Vision Research at the Hong Kong Science Park, gaining insights into PolyU’s interdisciplinary research, achievements in industry-academia-research collaboration, as well as its future development plans. The research centres are co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative. On 27 June, PolyU participated in the Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference-cum-Signing Ceremony. Witnessed by local and Mainland government officials including Mr ZHOU Zuyi, Fujian Provincial Party Committee Secretary and Director of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the Fujian Province; Mr CHAN Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang City, inked a cooperation framework agreement to establish the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute in Jinjiang outlining the future development plan of the research institute. On June 28, during the last day of their visit, the delegation toured the PolyU campus and visited laboratories and research centres related to the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute. To take forward in-depth industry-academia-research collaboration, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, signed MoUs with representatives from three Jinjiang-based corporates, namely Mr YANG Jianxiang, Director of Research and Innovation of ANTA Group; Mr XU Jintai, Executive Director of SinceTech Group; and Mr SHI Junqiao, Executive President of Fujian Huaqing Electronic Material Technology Co., Ltd. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU; Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang, Mr HUANG Tiankai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jinjiang Communist Party Committee and Head of the Jinjiang United Front Work Department; and Mr ZHANG Qingchang, Director of the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau. In his speech, Dr Lam Tai-fai stated, “With the staunch support of the Jinjiang Municipal Government, PolyU has signed MoUs with leading enterprises. We will collaborate deeply and effectively in various fields, such as new textile materials, fashion design, intelligent wearable systems and microelectronics. Through this collaboration, we hope to leverage the research strengths of Hong Kong and PolyU, further connect with enterprises in Mainland China, promote complementary advantages between Fujian and Hong Kong, and contribute to Hong Kong's integration into the country's overall development." Mr Zhang Wenxian said, “The visit to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was an exciting experience. Jinjiang, the birthplace of the 'Jinjiang Experience', is a vibrant city that nurtures entrepreneurs. The city's shoe and apparel industry is valued at over 300 billion yuan, while its textile industry is worth over 100 billion yuan. Additionally, there are thriving building material and food industries worth over 50 billion yuan, alongside cutting-edge sectors such as new generation information technology, advanced equipment manufacturing, and medical and healthcare industries that are worth over 10 billion yuan. PolyU's strengths can be effectively integrated with Jinjiang's industrial development, and there is enormous potential for cooperation between the two parties. We aim to take this opportunity to expand the scope and level of cooperation between PolyU and Jinjiang. Jinjiang will provide full and sincere support for collaboration between the two parties, ensuring that our joint projects thrive and prosper, creating a new model of cooperation between the universities of Hong Kong and Mainland cities.” In the first half of 2023, PolyU and Jinjiang have engaged in various collaborations and exchanges. In February, PolyU and the Jinjiang Municipal People’s Government reached initial agreement and signed a cooperation framework agreement to drive the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute with the aim to strengthen research collaboration among industry, academia and research organisations and foster development along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Meanwhile, PolyU’s PReCIT signed an agreement with the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to carry out research projects that leverage Hong Kong’s resources and strengths in innovation and technology in response to Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation needs. In April, PolyU was invited by the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to participate in the 24th Jinjiang Footwear and the 7th Sports Industry International Exhibition where the University showcased its latest research achievements, including bionic robotic hands, high-precision flexible pressure sensors and 3D printed insoles for diabetic patients. Lined up by Jinjiang City government, a PolyU delegation also paid visits to the major industries and institutions in Jinjiang to explore and discuss the potential collaborations. In mid-May, a PolyU delegation visited Jinjiang to discuss the implementation plan of the “PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute”. Subsequently, the relevant agreement was signed at an event held in the Quanzhou Nanyi National High-tech Zone in early June. The research institute will leverage PolyU’s research strengths and achievements to meet Jinjiang’s industrial needs and facilitate the city’s industrial transformation. Through such collaboration, PolyU expects to unleash the strengths of its researchers and innovative technologies. The University also aims to draw more quality Hong Kong-based innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises and talents to engage in research exchanges in Jinjiang, so as to promote complementary advantages and synergistic development between Fujian and Hong Kong in order to establish a leading I&T base and achieve mutual benefits. Looking forward, PolyU will continue to strengthen collaboration with enterprises and maintain close connections with Mainland China to conduct impactful research and accelerate the commercialisation of research outputs. The University will strive to integrate into the country’s overall development and make contributions to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T hub. On 26 June, Mr Zhang Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of Quanzhou Municipal Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang Committee (middle), led a delegation to visit the Centre for Eye and Vision Research at the Hong Kong Science Park. The research centre is co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative.   On the first day of the visit on 26 June, the Jinjiang delegation visited the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design at the Hong Kong Science Park, gaining insights into PolyU’s interdisciplinary research, achievements in industry-academia-research collaboration, as well as its future development plans. The research centre is co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative.

PolyU and Hangzhou government to establish joint technology and innovation research institute

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hangzhou Gongshu District People’s Government have reached an agreement to promote industry-academia-research collaboration and complementarity between Hong Kong and Hangzhou. At the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong & Macao - Zhejiang Week & Zhejiang and Hong Kong Cooperation Theme Forum 2023 on 26 June, Mr John LEE Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr YI Lianhong, Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and Mr LU Shan, Vice Governor of Zhejiang People's Government witnessed the signing of co-operation agreements between Zhejiang and Hong Kong. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Mr SHEN Jianli, Vice District Mayor of Gongshu District, signed a framework agreement to promote the establishment of the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute to carry out in-depth and effective industry-academia-research collaboration. The Research Institute will set up three research centers in the initial stage, tentatively named the “Rail Transit Intelligent Center,” “Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Research Center,” and “Digital Medical Beauty Research Center”. The research centers will focus on three key aspects: technology research and development, entrepreneurial incubation, and talent cultivation. They aim to promote complementary advantages and coordinated development between Hangzhou and Hong Kong, which will work together to develop innovative solutions, with the development of a first-class technology innovation base to achieve mutual benefit. During the same event, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU and Mr YU Zhihong, Chairman of Zhejiang Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang Transportation Investment Group), signed a Zhejiang-Hong Kong cooperation agreement in scientific research. PolyU’s rail transit research team and Zhejiang Transportation Investment Group will cooperate in various aspects, such as research and development of new products and technologies, global promotion of innovative achievements, talent cultivation, and scientific research collaboration. On 27 June, Mr SONG Xinjian, Second-Level Inspector from the Hangzhou Science and Technology Bureau, led a delegation from several major administrative regions of Hangzhou (Qiantang District, Gongshu District, Yuhang District, and High-tech Industry Development Zone) and executives from several companies to PolyU campus and visited the Chinese National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) (CNERC-Rail) and the Biomaterials Laboratory, so as to gain a deeper understanding of PolyU’s scientific research talent advantages and innovative research technology. Both parties will further explore the working plan of the Research Institute and jointly seek future cooperation opportunities. Moving forward, PolyU will continue to focus on cooperation with enterprises and closely connect with the Mainland, in order to carry out influential scientific research in various cutting-edge technology fields, promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, integrate with national development, and fully support Hong Kong in building an international innovation and technology center.

PolyU and Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (tentative) to establish Technology and Innovation Research Institute

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (“EIT”, tentative) have reached an agreement to establish the PolyU-Ningbo Technology and Innovation Research Institute, aiming to strengthen and facilitate research collaboration among industry, academia and research organisations in Hong Kong and Ningbo. PolyU and EIT will collaborate in multiple fields, including advanced manufacturing, chemical energy and low-carbon sustainability development, with the overall aim of advancing innovative research technology and transforming core technologies. The operational objective is to promote complementary advantages and coordinated development between the two universities, and together develop innovative solutions to establish leading innovation hubs. PolyU envisions effective collaboration between the two universities in industry, academia and research, leveraging the advantages of PolyU's scientific talents and innovative research technologies, and attracting more high-quality Hong Kong enterprises and researchers. The collaboration will involve PolyU faculty members, students and alumni engaging in scientific research, exchanging ideas and starting businesses in Ningbo. The framework agreement was signed on the PolyU campus on 25 June 2023 by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Prof. ZHANG Dongxiao, Executive VP and Provost of EIT. The signing was witnessed by Mr. PENG Jiaxue, Zhejiang Provincial Committee Standing Committee member and Ningbo Municipal Party Secretary, Mrs Carrie LAM, Former Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, and Prof. CHEN Shiyi, President of EIT.

PolyU scientist honoured with prestigious European research award and Academy membership

Prof. Xiao Lin ZHAO, Chair Professor of Civil Infrastructure at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been bestowed with the Humboldt Research Award 2023 and elected a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, in recognition of his achievements in civil engineering. The Humboldt Research Award is granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany for up to 100 leading international researchers whose discoveries, findings or insights have made significant impact in their disciplines and beyond with cutting-edge achievements. While the Award is open to researchers in all disciplines, Prof. Zhao’s Award is for research excellence in civil and structural engineering. Prof. Zhao has also been elected a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts in the field of technical and environmental sciences. An esteemed non-governmental association, the Academy’s 2,000 members comprise leading scientists, artists and practitioners of governance, and among their members are 37 Nobel Prize winners. As a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at PolyU, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Prof. Zhao’s research focuses on improving the resilience and safety of engineered structures, developing innovative and environmental-friendly construction materials, and the strengthening of ageing metallic infrastructure. He said, “These two achievements are encouraging for me in my endeavours to achieve impactful research and translational innovation. In collaboration with researchers in various PolyU research institutes, I am now undertaking initiatives to develop floating structure technology for innovative land creation as well as floating farms for food sustainability in Hong Kong. These aim to increase Hong Kong’s capacity for sustainable growth and liveability with reduced environmental impact and construction costs.”

PolyU research discovers pathogenic mechanism and novel treatment for superbug “Klebsiella pneumoniae” to reduce mortality

Two novel approaches for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant superbugs have shown efficacy and good clinical application potential in studies performed by a team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Their findings have recently been published in two prestigious journals, namely Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy under Nature and Journal of Infection. The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant microbes, commonly known as "superbugs," could lead to the next wave of public health disasters. Many of the known superbugs actually evolved from normal flora, or bacteria that commonly exist in our body, and may cause a wide range of infections, especially when our immune system is weakened; hence they may readily spread in the hospital and the community, and potentially pose a threat which is more serious and long-lasting than the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, a number of bacterial strains have been classified as superbugs, among which the hyper-resistant and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae is arguably the one which poses the greatest threat to human health. In 2017, a research team led by Prof. CHEN Sheng, Chair Professor of Microbiology, Member of State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, and Head of Department of Food Science and Nutrition at PolyU, discovered a newly emerged genetic variant of Klebsiella pneumoniae, namely the hyper-resistant and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKP), which can cause untreatable and fatal infections even in healthy individuals. As the name implies, this superbug is not only multidrug-resistant, but also highly invasive. Various studies in China showed that the mortality rate of CR-hvKP infection ranged from 25-45%. To date, CR-hvKP has been regarded as an ‘urgent threat to human health’ by many medical experts worldwide. After several years of intensive research, the research team has recently made major breakthroughs in their efforts to delineate the pathogenic mechanism of CR-hvKP and devise effective intervention strategies. The team also identified the key factors involved in interaction with the host and the nature of the host immune response triggered during the process of infection. Specifically, they discovered the signal pathways through which the pathogen triggers the onset of a cytokine storm, in which the signal molecules can induce uncontrolled activation of immune cells of the host that can eventually develop into septic shock, an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal condition. Subsequent experiments revealed that inhibiting the onset of a cytokine storm could significantly reduce mortality among infected patients. The research team studied the therapeutic value of immunosuppressants such as Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and found that ASA can suppress the onset of a cytokine storm in infected mice. ASA, commonly known as Aspirin, is widely used to relieve mild to moderate pain and inflammation. ASA treatment can effectively suppress the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs and drastically reduce cytokine production, decreasing the likelihood of septic shock in the host. This is the first time it has been discovered that immunosuppressants can be used in the treatment of CR-hvKP infection. The new findings provide important insights into the development of new approaches for clinical management of diseases caused by this important pathogen. However, although ASA can protect patients against septic shock during CR-hvKP infection, this compound is unable to eradicate the pathogen. The research team therefore explored the use of a combination of ASA and other antibiotics in the treatment process and found that the therapeutic effect of ASA can be further enhanced by including an effective antimicrobial agent during treatment. However, since CR-hvKP exhibits resistance to almost all known antimicrobial agents and searching for new antimicrobial compounds is not a practical way to address the problem, Prof. Chen’s team adopted a ‘drug repurposing’ approach in a separate but related study, in which they searched for over-the-counter drugs that exhibit antimicrobial effect or can act synergistically with currently used antibiotics and enhance their activity. The team successfully identified a drug called zidovudine, which is an anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) agent, which can act synergistically with the antibiotic rifampicin to eradicate CR-hvKP. The advantage of identifying new antimicrobial compounds through drug-repurposing is that the drugs do not have to go through a lengthy drug development and approval process. It is expected that the zidovudine / rifampicin combination can be used alongside immunosuppressants to treat life-threatening CR-hvKP infections. In summarising the new research findings, Prof. Chen said, “We are glad that our studies were able to identify two promising therapeutic options that may be used alone or in combination to combat the growing threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae, only five years after we discovered the CR-hvKP strain. It should be noted that prompt treatment will reduce mortality and the spread of the pathogen.” He also added, “We plan to validate our findings in clinical trials in the near future and we believe our research efforts will eventually benefit patients and significantly reduce the mortality rate of CR-hvKP infected patients.” The studies that generated the research findings described in the two publications were funded by the Theme-Based Research Scheme and the Research Impact Fund from the Research Grant Council. The studies were also supported by the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery of PolyU. Furthermore, part of the research was conducted at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), and one of the studies was conducted in collaboration with Dr Guan YANG of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health at CityU.

PolyU researcher excels on soft and permeable electronics for promising applications

Intelligent wearable technology is transforming electronic devices to be more compatible with human body. Scientist from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed high-performance soft and permeable electronics to enhance applications.  Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices and Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at PolyU, is bestowed with the inaugural Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology (HKEST) Award by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES). The honour is awarded to Prof. ZHENG’s excellence and contribution in the field of soft and permeable electronics.  Prof. ZHENG, said, “We believe our recent development of permeable electronics will make a huge impact on electronic skins and implantable bioelectronics, especially on chronic biocompatibility and serviceability of the electronics.”  Advancing soft electronics that are wearable, skin-attachable and implantable provides unprecedented opportunities for health monitoring, rehabilitation and biomedical engineering. The soft and high-permeability electronics, which fare well for human comfortability, are reshaping personal healthcare devices, equipped with the capability of recording physiological signals and delivering appropriate therapeutics in real time.  Implantable devices A recent research led by Prof. ZHENG has innovated a wafer-scale patternable strategy for the high-resolution fabrication of super-soft, stretchable and permeable liquid metal microelectrodes (μLMEs). The high porosity of the fibre mat makes μLMEs have excellent permeability to air, moisture and liquid. On account of advantages on permeability, biocompatibility, conductivity and stretchability, μLMEs are suitable for implantable bioelectronics, for which high device density and chronic comfortability are critically essential.  The research, titled, “Wafer-patterned, permeable, and stretchable liquid metal microelectrodes for implantable bioelectronics with chronic biocompatibility” is published in Science Advances in May 2023. Notably, the successful preparation of μLMEs over a large-size, permeable, and stretchable fiber mat paves the way toward high-density, integrated, implantable, and chronically biocompatible liquid metal (LM) electronics. The innovation solves the issues on thermal and physiological discomforts such as clamminess, dampness and skin inflammation due to long-term attachment of thin-film devices on skin and tissue surfaces.  The research on soft materials and devices is multi-disciplinary in nature, with working collaboration of experts and researchers from different backgrounds. “The inspiration comes from constant reading, discussion and imagination of what we need in the future,” said Prof. ZHENG. Permeable superelastic conductor Previous innovation on a new type of superelastic and high permeability conductor demonstrated importance of multi-disciplinary collaborations from various disciplines such as physics and biomedical engineering. Led by Prof. ZHENG, the research developed a novel conductor, named liquid metal fibre mat (LMFM), which enables the fabrication of biocompatible and multifunctional monolithic stretchable electronics.  The research, titled, “Permeable superelastic liquid-metal fibre mat enables biocompatible and monolithic stretchable electronics” was published in Nature Materials in February 2021. By coating or printing liquid metal onto an elastic electrospun fibre mat, the resulting LMFM becomes stretchable and highly permeable.  This research also highlights Prof. ZHENG’s contributions on the field of biomedical engineering and material sciences as reflected by the HKEST Award. This novel innovation on LMFMs becomes a versatile and user-friendly platform to fabricate monolithic stretchable electronics that provide high integration density, multifunctionality and long-term wearability.  Applying these stretchable conductors as electrodes and current collectors of devices, or as interconnects bridging different active components, has enabled a wide variety of stretchable electronics for health monitoring, medical diagnostic and treatment, smart actuation, energy conversion and storage and Internet of Things.   

PolyU Highly Cited Researchers Featured in Nature Portfolio

Two Highly Cited Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University are featured in Nature Portfolio for their impactful research on materials science.  Prof. Gang LI, Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology and Professor in the Department of Electronic and Information Engineering and Prof. Feng YAN, Chair Professor of Organic Electronics and Professor in the Department of Applied Physics are among the Highly Cited Researchers 2022 by Clarivate Analytics.  In the Nature Portfolio feature, Prof. LI and Prof. YAN shared their research on advanced materials with breakthrough results and major global impacts. They are both leading global advancements in organic solar cells, perovskites and organic transistor-based sensors. Their global leadership in advanced materials epitomises the focus of researchers at PolyU on science that contributed to society.  Silicone-based solar cells have become ubiquitous, but their high production cost, and lack of flexibility, present limitations. Prof. Li’s research on “plastic” photovoltaics based on organic polymers — or organic photovoltaics (OPV) — are a promising alternative with potential for cheap fabrication as thin flexible films. Prof. YAN’s novel research on advanced materials, including organic semiconductors and perovskite materials, has greatly advanced biosensors, optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors and solar cells, and other technologies. The inclusion of PolyU academics in the Highly Cited Researchers 2022 list is a testament to the University’s pursuit of research excellence and commitment to positive societal impact on various fronts.  For more: https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-023-00143-3

Two PolyU innovations in energy and new materials awarded TechConnect 2023 Innovation Awards

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has won two prestigious TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo 2023 (TechConnect) Global Innovation Awards in the areas of energy and new materials. TechConnect is the world’s largest multi-sector event for fostering translational innovations and technology commercialization. This year, marking the seventh consecutive year that the University has received such recognition, PolyU is the only higher education institution in Hong Kong to have snatched awards. PolyU’s winning innovation in the area of “energy, efficiency and environmental” is the world’s first ammonia-powered electric vehicle that can achieve zero-carbon emission while delivering higher efficiency and ensuring safer energy storage than conventional electric vehicles, thereby providing a more sustainable solution to long-term transportation issues. The other award-winning PolyU project, in the area of “medical devices and materials”, has developed novel Photocrosslinkable nanocomposite materials for bone graft applications, providing a highly efficient solution for bone healing. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU congratulated the winning teams and said, “PolyU strives to nurture global scholars through excellence in teaching and learning, research and knowledge transfer. The award-winning technologies showcased at TechConnect will continue to inspire PolyU to develop impactful research and innovations. We are committed to addressing global challenges facing mankind through interdisciplinary research and international collaboration.” Details of the two PolyU award-winning innovations are below: 1. Ammonia Powered Fuel Cell-based Electric Vehicle project, led by Prof. Eric CHENG Ka-Wai, Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering The ammonia-powered fuel cell based electric vehicle adopted ammonia-to-wheel energy conversion where liquid ammonia stored inside a cylinder is broken down into nitrogen and hydrogen by catalysts to generate electricity, and achieves zero carbon emission. In this project, hydrogen is produced from ammonia on the vehicle for feeding fuel cells. A large storage of hydrogen is not needed as the hydrogen is consumed immediately. There are no hazardous issues from the hydrogen. Hence, it is safer and can be managed more easily. 2. Biomimicking Photocrosslinkable Nanocomposite Bone Grafts project, led by Dr Xin ZHAO, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering Biomimicking Photocrosslinkable Nanocomposite Bone Grafts mirror the structure of natural bone. They can load and release bioactive molecules and activate cell-signaling pathways to simultaneously promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis while providing optimal mechanical support to the injured area in order to expedite the bone healing process. The product can compete in the growing market and serve a huge number of patients who are receiving orthopedic surgeries. The TechConnect conference will be held in Washington, D.C. from 19 to 21 June, 2023. PolyU’s delegation will showcase various innovative projects and meet with technology prospectors with a view to potential collaboration. For details of TechConnect 2023 Innovation Awardees, please visit: https://www.techconnectworld.com/World2023/participate/innovation/awards.html