Unveiling Ceremony of Refreshed ME Entrance

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) held an unveiling ceremony of the new logo and motto wall on 20 November at the refreshed ME main entrance. The new ME motto "Forging Excellence through Mechanical Ingenuity" perfectly captures our mission and ambition. The ceremony marked the official launch of the refreshed ME main entrance, officiated by distinguished leaders, including: Prof. CHAO Yu Hang, Christopher - Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering Prof. H.C. MAN - Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Chair Professor of Materials Engineering Prof. SO, Ronald Ming Cho - Emeritus Professor, PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. SU Zhongqing - Department Head and Chair Professor of Intelligent Structures and Systems Prof. MAI Yiu Wing - Distinguished Chair Professor of Composites Science and Engineering Prof. RUAN Haihui - Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) and Associate Professor Prof. TANG Hui - Associate Head (Research) and Associate Professor We look forward to welcoming our students here and to celebrating the department's future achievements.    

The 11th ME Research Presentation Contest

The 11th ME Research Presentation Contest was successfully held on November 12, 2025. This annual event provides a platform for research students to showcase their project outcomes and share knowledge with the PolyU community. The event commenced with an introduction from Research Student Liaison Officer, Prof. Li Mengying, who emphasized the importance of communicating academic ideas effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. This was followed by an opening address from the Associate Head of Research, Prof. Tang Hui, who highlighted the contest's significance in offering invaluable opportunities for ME research students. This year's panel of judges comprised thirteen academics from the Department's three main research clusters: Acoustics & Robotics, Manufacturing Materials & Mechanics, and Thermofluids & Energy. We were thrilled to see a strong turnout from the community to support our talented students. During the event, the Department also took the opportunity to present the Outstanding Research Postgraduate Student Award. The five 2024 awardees are: Mr Hu Dien (Supervisor: Prof. Fu Mingwang) Mr Li Weisong (Supervisor: Prof. Zhang Xiao) Miss Zhang Kouer (Supervisor: Prof. An Liang) Mr Pi Rendong (Supervisor: Prof. Yu Xiang) Mr Tang Mingcong (Supervisor: Prof. An Liang) The contest featured three-minute pitch presentations from 23 contestants, each delivering a high-impact talk. Our Distinguished Chair Professor, Mai Yiu Wing, shared his insights with the contestants, advising them to simplify their slides by trimming excessive content and equations. He stressed focusing on one or two key topics to make the material more accessible to a broad audience. Following the oral presentations, contestants engaged with the audience during a poster exhibition, which provided a valuable opportunity for direct interaction with viewers and professionals. All attendees were also invited to vote for the People's Choice Award, and participants actively sought support from the audience. In his concluding remarks, Department Head Prof. Su Zhongqing stated that the contest serves as an excellent platform for PhD students to practice delivering clear presentations. He noted that a good presentation acts as a bridge, connecting complex ideas with the audience's understanding. Prof. Su also emphasized the wise use of AI tools to enhance productivity and polish work, while cautioning against over-reliance. He reminded students that AI cannot replace human judgment and the need for a deep, fundamental understanding of their subject. Congratulations to all participants on their fabulous presentations and excellent research work!   Champion & People’s Choice: Mr Huang Jie (Supervisor: Prof. Su Zhongqing) Title: In-situ Metrology of Next-Generation Semiconductors Using Ultrafast Optoacoustics 1st Runner-Up: Miss Li Wenzhe (Supervisor: Prof. Jiao Zengbao) Title: Design of an ultrastrong and ductile titanium alloy via bifunctional nanoparticles 2nd Runner-Up: Mr Huang Zihan (Supervisor: Prof. Fu Mingwang) Title: Stronger, Smarter, Safer: μLPBF titanium Alloys for Bone Implants  Merit: Miss Zhi Hui (Supervisor: Prof. David Navarro) Title: Pass the Parcel by Multi-Agent Systems Miss Liu Xinran (Supervisor: Prof. Li Mengying) Title: Maintain Stability in Fluctuations: Internal Heat Source Control in SOEC Mr Xia Qing (Supervisor: Prof. Zhang Xiao) Title: Electrochemical Creating a Knife to Break N2’s Triple Bond  

2 ME Scholars Recognised Amongst World’s Most Highly Cited Researchers 2025

Congratulations to Prof. WANG Zuankai and Prof. ZHANG Xiao being two of the 20 PolyU academics who have been recognised in the "Highly Cited Researchers 2025" list by Clarivate Analytics. Prof. Wang was recognised in the Materials Science category, while Prof. Zhang was listed in both Materials Science and Cross-Field categories. Prof. Zhang is the only researcher from PolyU to be recognised in two categories, underscoring the significant impact of their research and their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. This year, a total of 6,668 researchers from 60 countries and regions from a diverse range of fields have been named as Highly Cited Researchers. This annual list recognises researchers for significant impact in their respective research fields. Each researcher selected has authored multiple highly-cited papers that have ranked in the top 1% by citations for their fields and publication year in the Web of Science over the past 11 years. The department is proud of Prof. Wang and Prof. Zhang’s outstanding achievements in ground-breaking research. Their accomplishments reaffirm ME’s dedication to research excellence.  

Prof. Wu Maochun Secured Highly Competitive National Funding in NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme

The RGC has recently announced the application results for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) Joint Research Scheme in 2025/26 exercise. This year, 11 full proposals submitted by PolyU have been awarded the funding support. We are particularly proud that Prof. WU Maochun, Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering was one of the awardees. Prof. Wu will receive around HK$1.2 million to conduct a joint project entitled “Investigation on energy storage mechanism of rechargeable carbon-fixed Zn-CO2 flow battery based on nanoparticle suspension” with Prof. HE Yurong at Harbin Institute of Technology. The NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme aims to promote collaboration between researchers/research teams in Hong Kong, China and the Chinese Mainland on the basis of complementing the existing strengths of both sides. The grant encourages young researchers of similar fields from Hong Kong China and the Chinese Mainland to foster collaboration through the dissemination of their recent and unpublished research works. It is very encouraging to see that young scientists from the Department is acclaimed by the Nation to further develop scientific research in cutting-edge technologies.  

11th East Asia Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Workshop Concludes Successfully in Japan

The 11th East Asia Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Workshop (EAMAE-2025) was successfully held from November 4 to 6, 2025, at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. This annual workshop, now in its eleventh year, is primarily organized by four leading universities in the East Asia region: Hokkaido University, Korea University, National Cheng Kung University, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The series provides a vital platform for academics and research students from these institutions to exchange ideas, share research findings, and discuss experiences in the broad field of mechanical and aerospace engineering. EAMAE-2025 attracted approximately 110 participants, who delivered 96 oral presentations across three parallel sessions. Distinguished professors from each of the four partner universities were invited to deliver keynote lectures. The event also facilitated productive discussions among the participating departments on enhancing and continuing student exchange programmes. These elements collectively solidified EAMAE-2025 as a significant and successful instalment in the workshop's history. The workshop was further enriched by a series of carefully organized social activities that showcased unique Japanese culture. These included a Japanese-style banquet dinner and an excursion to the Otaru City Center and the Aoyama Old Villa, allowing participants to mingle and enjoy themselves in a more informal setting. A delegation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, led by Prof. SU Zhongqing, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Chair Professor of Intelligent Structures and Systems, attended the event. He was accompanied by nine academic staff and 30 research students, all of whom were deeply committed to the preparation and success of the workshop. The dedication and hard work of this team were instrumental in making EAMAE-2025 another resounding success. The next workshop in the EAMAE series will be hosted by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2026.    

ME PhD Team Wins First Prize at the 5th Zero Carbon Future Innovation Competition

A postgraduate team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has won the First Prize at the 5th Zero Carbon Future Innovation Competition, held during the 2025 Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics in Beijing. The team consists of Miss Bai Yuran, Mr Long Xin, Mr Fu Enkang, and Mr Gong Xusong, under the supervision of Prof. AN Liang and Miss Huo Xiaoyu. They were recognized for their project titled “Development and Demonstration of a Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Based Solar Energy Storage System.” In response to the global push for low carbon energy transition and climate change, the project aims to develop an energy storage system that integrates a 10 kW/40 kWh flow battery stack with a 10-kW solar photovoltaic system. The system enables efficient renewable energy conversion, storage, and utilization, providing a reliable and clean power supply for public facilities. This demonstration platform showcases the full cycle of renewable energy from generation to utilization while offering technical support for smart energy management and carbon neutrality goals. The Zero Carbon Future Innovation Competition serves as a premier platform for students to showcase creativity, share research insights, and explore practical low carbon technologies. This year’s competition received 274 entries, with 76 outstanding projects from nearly 40 universities. Following a rigorous evaluation, 26 finalist projects advanced to the final round held at the venue of the Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics Annual Conference, where PolyU’s team achieved the First Prize for their exceptional innovation, practical implementation, and potential impact on sustainable energy development.  

Prof. David Navarro’s Team Secures Championship at the 2nd Zhuhai International Dexterous Manipulation Challenge

On October 30, 2025, the Second Zhuhai International Dexterous Manipulation Challenge & Embodied Intelligence Industry Conference concluded at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center. Competing against 20 top teams from around the globe, the "Omni-Mani" team, led by Prof. Zhou Peng, a 2023 PhD graduate supervised by Prof. David Navarro of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, successfully defended its championship in the "Domestic Robotics Track".  The victory comes with a RMB 500,000 cash prize and a RMB 6 million letter of intent for supporting investment. Notably, the "Omni-Mani" team is composed of Prof. Navarro's former and current doctoral students, demonstrating the enduring impact of his mentorship. The team includes leader Prof. Zhou Peng from Great Bay University, core member Prof. Qi Jiaming from Northeast Forestry University, and Researcher Wang Fangyuan from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Centered on the theme "Dexterous New Force, Intelligently Creating the Future," this year's challenge was an important platform for advancing embodied intelligence. The competition adhered to an "application-oriented" principle, featuring "Production" and "Domestic" tracks. In the "kitchen cooking" scenario, the team demonstrated precise human-robot collaborative manipulation. Their system excelled at tasks from utensil recognition and grasping to human-robot handover. It continuously optimized teleoperation performance using skills derived from low-dimensional representation and integrated a force-feedback mechanism to prevent object damage. This stable and sophisticated performance earned the team the competition's highest score.  

ME PhD Student Clinches Champion at 2025 Young Persons’ Lecture Competition Hong Kong Heat

Congratulations to Miss ZHANG Kouer, a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, for winning the Champion at the Young Persons’ Lecture Competition (YPLC) Hong Kong Heat on October 2, 2025. Under the supervision of Prof. AN Liang, Kouer delivered a compelling presentation on her research, titled “Closing the Loop: Transforming Wastewater Nitrate into Sustainable Fertilizer,” which distinguished her among a strong field of participants. About the Research Ammonia production for fertilizers traditionally depends on the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. Kouer's research explores a more sustainable alternative: producing ammonia from electricity and wastewater nitrate. A key challenge is the competing hydrogen evolution reaction, which reduces efficiency. The team's solution is a novel catalyst composed of copper-cobalt nanowires grown on copper foam. In this tandem mechanism, cobalt sites initiate nitrate reduction, while copper sites complete the process, efficiently guiding the reaction toward ammonia and suppressing hydrogen production. Supported by advanced in-situ characterization and computational tools, this catalyst demonstrates high efficiency and long-term stability, paving the way for greener, scalable ammonia production. Representing Hong Kong at the World Final With this victory, Kouer has earned the right to represent Hong Kong at the YPLC World Final this November, where she will compete against other top young researchers from around the globe. The YPLC World Final brings together winners from national and regional heats organized by The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). Since its inception in London in 2005, the competition has been held across four continents. The IOM3 Hong Kong Branch has organized the local heat annually since 2005, providing a platform for young professionals and students to showcase their expertise and presentation skills in materials, minerals, mining, and related engineering fields.      

ME PhD Graduate Achieves the PolyU PhD Thesis Award 2025 for Merit

We are delighted that Dr LIANG Zhaojian, a PhD graduate from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has received the competitive PolyU PhD Thesis Award for Merit (STEM Category). The PolyU Graduate School establishes the PhD Thesis Award to recognize, reward and promote the distinguished research achievements by graduating PhD students. There are two award classes, namely Outstanding and Merit, recognizing students’ performance of different levels. Dr Liang completed his PhD under the supervision of Prof. LI Mengying and has demonstrated exceptional research achievements through his graduating thesis.   Thesis Title: Theoretical investigations of the transient characteristics of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) under unstable operational conditions - For contribution to a universal framework managing multi-timescale dynamics in electrochemical devices for renewable energy storage Chief Supervisor: Prof. LI Mengying To store fluctuating renewable energy like solar power, efficient and durable energy-conversion devices are essential. Our research investigated how solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) react to rapid changes in power, similar to when a cloud passes over a solar panel. We found that electricity, gas, and heat within the SOEC respond at different timescales: gas adjusts within a second, while heat changes occur over minutes. By connecting the principles of fluid mechanics and electrochemistry, we derived general characteristic times that predict these dynamic behaviors. These characteristic times were validated experimentally and across various electrochemical devices in the literature, establishing a universal framework for designing safer and more efficient energy systems. With these insights, we developed a control method for a solar-powered SOEC system that uses fast gas adjustments to manage slow heat changes. This maintains safe temperatures and high efficiency, making a crucial step for reliable, large-scale renewable energy storage.  

ME Scholars Ranked Among World's Top 2% Most-cited Scientists

In the newly released metrics compiled by Stanford University, 14 scholars of PolyU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) have been ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in their main disciplines for career-long citation impact. In addition, 2 other ME academics have also been ranked for single recent year impact *. Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the standard Science-Metrix classification. Field- and subfield-specific percentiles are also provided for all scientists with at least 5 papers. Career-long data are updated to end-of-2024 and single recent year data pertain to citations received during calendar year 2024. The selection is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or a percentile rank of 2% or above in the sub-field. This version (8) is based on the August 1, 2025 snapshot from Scopus, updated to end of citation year 2024. This work uses Scopus data. Calculations were performed using all Scopus author profiles as of August 1, 2025. The recognition reflects the significant influence and research excellence of the Department’s scientists, who are committed to furthering their knowledge for the benefit of the world. Congratulations to the following ME scholars who have been ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world in their respective fields: Prof. An Liang Prof. Christopher Chao Yu Hang Prof. Chen Guohua Prof. Cheng Li Prof. Fu Mingwang Prof. Jiao Zengbao Prof. Mai Yiu Wing Prof. Su Zhongqing Prof. Wang Liqiu Prof. Wang Zuankai Prof. Yao Haimin Prof. Zhang Dan Prof. Zhang Xiao Prof. Zheng Guangping Prof. Wu Maochun * Prof. Yu Xiang * Data available at Elsevier Published: 19 September 2025 | Version 8 | DOI:10.17632/btchxktzyw.8