News

Important Progress in Efficient and Scalable Moisture-Electric Generators Made from Ionic Hydrogel

In the context of global resource shortage and high demand for carbon neutrality, it is of great significance to find simple and efficient green energy conversion technology to achieve sustainable development of energy and society. Moisture-electric generator (MEG) is based on the chemical energy from atmospheric moisture to generate electricity directly, without the generation of pollutants and harmful gas emissions, which is an emerging research focus in the energy field. However, most MEGs suffer from intermittent electrical signals and low current. In addition, the realization of large-scale integration and practical applications is still the bottleneck of current research. To address this issue, Prof. Tao’s research team have developed a novel and efficient ionic hydrogel moisture-electric generator (IHMEG), which converts the chemical energy released by captured moisture in the air into electricity, realizing efficient current density and power output. A single IHMEG unit of 0.25 cm2 can continuously generate direct-current electricity with a constant open-circuit voltage of ~0.8 V for over 1000 hours, a high short-current density of 0.24 mA·cm-2 and power density of up to 35 mW·cm-2. Of great importance is that large-scale integration of IHMEG units can be readily accomplished to offer a high voltage of up to 210 V, making the flexible IHMEG assembly capable of directly driving numerous commercial electronics, including electronic ink screen, metal electrodeposition setup and even light-emitting-diode arrays. This IHMEG device with high cost-efficiency, easy-to-scaleup fabrication and high power-output opens a brand-new perspective to develop a green, versatile and efficient power source for Internet-of-Things and wearable electronics. The work is published in Advanced Materials (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202200693) recently. The first author is a PhD graduate, Dr. Yang Su.

Research Excellence: Auxetic Textiles

Auxetic textiles, a category of fiber-based materials that possesses nonconventional properties including double curved shape under bending, high indentation resistance, high energy and vibration absorption capabilities, have been widely applied in in garments for such functions as impact protection, medical care and smart wearable devices, and so forth.   Having a negative Poisson's ratio, auxetic textiles tend to expand in all directions when stretched and shrink when compressed, hence enabling high level of comfortability and flexibility, as well as possibilities when applied in clothing design.   Prof. Hu Hong from the Institute of Textiles and Clothing, member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, has successfully invented a series of auxetic materials, including auxetic yarns, auxetic fabrics and auxetic textile composites by altering the structures of fibers using different types of textile technologies including yarn spinning, knitting, weaving and braiding.   As the newly invented auxetic materials were originated from the laboratory, challenges were found in the initial stage of the real manufacturing environment. The lack of equipment to produce commercial auxetic materials, which have a more complex fiber assemble structure, had inspired Prof. Hu to develop new equipment himself.   Also, the manufacturing processes for his new invention had to be specially designed as there had been no similar process that could be referenced. The limited production capability in the initial stage has led to shortage of supply of usable auxetic textiles, restricting mass production of commercial end-use products.   The research team is gaining experience in auxetic textiles production, commercialization of more high quality auxetic textiles has been made available, and Prof. Hu's inventions have been applied in medical care, sports, functional and protective clothing, and wearable technology, etc.

Dr Dahua SHOU won Silver Medal at 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days

Dr Dahua SHOU, member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, developed a novel fabric that won silver medal in online special edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo) - Special Edition 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event. The awarded project is Omni-Cool-Dry™: a Desert Beetle Inspired Skin-like Fabric for Dynamic Thermal and Moisture Management. Compared to normal fabrics, this fabric weighs 75% less, dissipates sweat 3 times faster, and is 50% less clingy during heavy perspiration. The wearer’s skin temperature is also 5°C lower. The skin-like fabric aims to keep wearers cool, dry and comfortable by dissipating sweat as water droplets, and by reflecting solar radiation and emitting body heat to the cold universe. The Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event this year attracted about 800 inventions from 25 countries/regions. For details, please visit the event organiser’s official website: www.inventions-geneva.ch

Prof. Xiaoming TAO gave a talk at the Smart Wearable Technology Seminar

Prof. Xiaoming TAO, Director of RI-IWEAR, presented on the topic of “Functional Textiles for Smart Health” at the Smart Wearable Technology Seminar Series. She introduced Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable System to the participants and shared the latest research of wearable technology developed by members, especially on the health application.   The Smart Wearable Technology Seminar Series was organised by Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and supported by Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC). It aimed to promote the smart wearable technology to the key stakeholders in the Hong Kong manufacturing industry, upgrade their capabilities and transform them into experts on the development of innovative products.   The two-day seminars included four topics on Industrial Application, Hardware Development and Solution, Market-driven Solution and Application, and App Development & Security held on 24-25 February 2022. A total of eight specialists in hardware and software development was invited to share the fundamental infrastructure of a wearable product.

Prof. Lilly Li’s Team Developed New Far Infrared Fibre

Prof. Lilly Li, a member of RI-IWEAR, has developed a new way of producing fibres that can absorb and emit far-infrared (FIR) radiation more efficiently than conventional methods. The novel technology can be used to produce high-quality, functional apparel and healthcare products. Unlike the traditional method, Prof. Li’s innovative approach is chemical-free. It is more eco-friendly and cost-effective than the traditional one. It works by modifying the structure of the cross-section of man-made fibres from a conventional circular shape to a triangular one, which is significantly better at both FIR absorption and emission.   The innovation has won Prof. Li a Gold Medal and a Special Merit Award (the Best International Invention, National Research Council of Thailand) at the 47th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2019 and a Gold Award at the 4th China (Shanghai) International Exhibition of Invention and Innovation 2021.    Please click Excel x Impact Issue 6 to view more detail about the report.

Midstream Research Scheme Funding Secured for Textile Electronic Interaction System

Prof. Xiaoming TAO, Director of RI-IWEAR, and Dr Yang CHAI,  recently have secured  approximately HK$5 million under Midstream Research Programmes for Universities from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF)  for a 3-year research project entitled “Key Technologies for Textile Electronic Interaction System”.   Human-computer-environment interaction technology has been a recent hot research topic as a result of its applications in smart cities, IoT, AI, VR/AR, and robotics. Interactive textile electronic systems may provide suitable platforms because of their excellent wearable performance and unique immersive features such as lightweight, large-area, handiness, flexibility, comfort, and low strain even under high deformations.   The key to extend the use of these textiles is to develop new technologies for textile-based interaction systems. The project proposes to develop the new technologies by demonstrating prototype system products comprising a modularized fabric display of over 16 million colors, audial communication, fabric keyboard, memory, wireless communication unit and a control unit. In this project, the processing methods for the surface enhancement of flexible fibrous substrates, and fabrication of new double-sided fibrous circuit boards will be investigated. Essential machines and tools will be developed for manufacturing the fabric electronic modules made from electronic yarns, and interconnection between textile electronic modules, as well as determination of processing parameters, quality control methods and procedures. By using the newly developed processes, machines, and tools, Their team will demonstrate novel electronic textile display products for human-computer-environment interaction in smart homes.

Video of RI-IWEAR Broadcast at the 2021 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit

The video featuring the research highlights of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable System is available online at the YouTube Channel WebsEdge Science.   This five-minute video will be broadcast in the daily program called “Thought Leadership” during 2021 Material Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit.    2021 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit meeting is the preeminent annual event for those in the field of materials research, featuring over 50 symposia and attracting 6,000 researchers from every corner of the globe. The meeting will be held on 29 November - 2 December 2021 in Boston and 6-8 December 2021 in the online platform.   This video will be broadcast on screens in high visibility areas throughout the Centre in a compilation of the MRS TV films from 29 November to 2 December and also in the MRS TV program, alongside news and interviews during the conference on 30 November.   Please click here to view more details about 2021 Material Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit.

The first RI-IWEAR Research Seminar Successfully Completed

The first RI-IWEAR research seminar: Smart Sensing technologies was successfully completed on 24 Nov 2021 with the online participation of over 250 people. At this seminar, Prof. Heng LI, Prof. Jing CAI, Dr Yuan MA, Dr Yang CHAI, and Prof. Feng YAN gave a great presentation on the topics at the smart sensing technologies, respectively.   Prof. Heng LI Chair Professor of Construction Informatics, Department of Building and Real Estate View Speaker's Website Topic: Test methods for physical and mental fatigue of construction workers Prof. Jing CAI Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics View Speaker's Website Topic: Deep learning-based automatic assessment of radiation dermatitis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients Dr Yuan MA Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering View Speaker's Website Topic: Modelling surface haptics: rendering virtual textures on screens with friction force  Dr Yang CHAI Assistant Dean of Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Department of Applied Physics View Speaker's Website Topic: Near-sensor and in-sensor computing for artificial vision Prof. Feng YAN ADoRI-IWEAR & Professor, Department of Applied Physics View Speaker's Website Topic: Flexible organic transistors for highly sensitive biosensors   If you are interested in their research, please contact them for more information.

Director of RI-IWEAR Gave Interview on Clothing Industry Development

Professor Tao Xiaoming, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology of ITC, made an opinion on the challenge faced by the industry-pollution. She said that after reindustrialisation, the clothing industry should be converted to manufacturing high added-value products and taking advantages of new materials to enhance competitiveness and profitability. (Hong Kong Commercial Daily A12)   Online coverage: Hong Kong Commercial Daily

RI-IWEAR Scholars Ranked in the Top 1% by Citations

Two RI-IWEAR members have been ranked in the top 1% by citation for field and year in the Web of Science released by Clarivate™. The Highly Cited Researchers™ list identifies scientists and social scientists who have demonstrated significant influence through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade.   Researchers are selected for their exceptional performance in one or more of 21 fields (those used in the Essential Science Indicators™, or ESI) or across several fields. All Highly Cited Researcher records are reviewed. Factors such as retractions, misconduct, and extreme self-citation—all of which would detract from true community-wide research influence—may lead to an author being excluded from the list. The number of those with cross-field influence is determined by finding those who have influence equivalent to those identified in the 21 fields. For 2021 Highly Cited Researchers analysis, the papers surveyed were the most recent papers available to us—those published and cited during 2010-2020 and which then ranked in the top 1% by citations for their ESI field and year (the definition of a highly cited paper).   Congratulations to our colleagues on their ranking in the top 1% by citation for field and year in the Web of Science released by Clarivate! This recognition demonstrates RI-IWEAR’s influence in multiple disciplines and signifies our dedication to conducting world-class research in wearable technology.   RI-IWEAR's Scholars Ranked in the Top 1% by Citations  Name (by alphabetical order of surname)  Category               Prof. Gang LI  Cross-Field  Prof. Feng YAN  Cross-Field