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Symposium of Advanced Dielectric Materials cum Dielectric Committee Meeting of the Chinese Physical Society Concludes Successfully at PolyU

The Symposium of Advanced Dielectric Materials cum Dielectric Committee Meeting of the Chinese Physical Society was successfully held from 15 to 18, May 2026 at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). This event was jointly organized by the Faculty of Science (FS) and the Department of Applied Physics (AP) of PolyU, the Dielectric Committee of the Chinese Physical Society, and the Research Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (RCNN). This conference was also financially supported by one belt-one rode committee of The Hong Kong Polytechnic Unviersity. The symposium brought together more than 100 renowned scholars from mainland China, Russia, Australia, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge research topics related to emerging trends and challenges in dielectric physics and materials science, with special focus on ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics, multiferroics, capacitor energy storage, electronic ceramics and devices, and dielectric materials. Prof. Wai-yeung Wong, Dean of the Faculty of Science at PolyU, and Prof. Xiaoyong Wei, Chair of the Dielectric Committee of the Chinese Physical Society, on behalf of the organizers, delivered the opening remarks. Prof. Wong welcomed global experts, highlighted the vital role of dielectric physics in electronics, energy storage, and smart sensing, and noted China’s rapid progress in the field driven by young scholars. He also introduced the two-day event featured academic presentations, committee meetings, and laboratory tours, all aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation. Prof. Xiaoyong Wei reviewed the development of dielectric physics and looked ahead to a thriving academic future in the discipline. Former AP Department Head, Prof. Helen Chan, returned to PolyU to attend this symposium. She extended a warm welcome to all participants, reminisced about the early days of dielectric physics, and shared her vision for its future. Prof. Jiyan Dai, Associate Dean of Students & Professor, presided over the opening ceremony. The symposium consisted of one main session and three parallel sub-sessions. Plenary speakers included Prof. Rengen Xiong from Southeast University, Prof. Sean Li from the University of New South Wales, Prof. Wai-yeung Wong from PolyU, and Prof. Shujun Zhang from City University of Hong Kong. Prof. Xiangming Chen and Prof. Jianhua Hao, Head of Department of Applied Physics, chaired the plenary session. The symposium served as a vital platform for exchanging ideas and sharing recent advancements, reinforcing the important role that dielectric physics and materials science play in the global scientific and electronic industry enterprise.

Prof. Wong Wai-yeung, Raymond was elected as the Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society (FCCS)

Congratulations to Prof. Wong Wai-yeung, Raymond, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Clarea Au Professor in Energy and Chair Professor of Chemical Technology, on being elected as the Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society (FCCS)! The FCCS is established by Chinese Chemical Society in 2019 and elected no more than 50 fellows each year. It aims to inspire members to continue reaching new scientific and technological heights while promoting the development of China’s chemical industry. FCCS is the highest and most elite membership level of the CCS. This award is a testament to attaining systematic and creative achievements to chemistry and related fields and making outstanding contributions to the development and progress of the discipline of chemistry. Our warmest congratulations to Prof. Wong for this distinguished achievement! Source: Faculty of Science, PolyU More details are provided on Chinese Chemical Society Official Website: https://www.chinesechemsoc.org/do/10.5555/5c50eb62-4d8d-45f8-9fcf-515f6febe095/full/.

PolyU AP and RCNN Jointly Hosted Bilateral Workshop with Incheon National University

The Research Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (RCNN) and the Department of Applied Physics (AP) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) successfully jointly co-organized a bilateral academic workshop with Incheon National University of the Republic of Korea on 17 December 2025. The event served as a dynamic platform for in-depth exchange on cutting-edge research in low-dimensional materials, nanoscale physics, and advanced device applications. The workshop featured a series of insightful presentations from distinguished scholars and emerging research talents of both institutions, highlighting the synergy between fundamental exploration and applied innovation. Prof. HAO Jianhua, Head of AP, Chair Professor of Materials Physics and Devices and Director of RCNN at PolyU, delivered the opening remarks. He extended a warm welcome to the delegation from Incheon National University and emphasized the significance of the workshop for strengthening international academic ties and igniting collaborative research initiatives in frontier areas of nanoscience and applied physics. The scientific program commenced with a presentation by Prof. HAN Gang Hee, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics of Incheon National University. He introduced his group work on the "Templated Growth of Two-dimensional Tellurium on 1T'-MoTe2," demonstrating how substrate-mediated adhesion can control the morphology of anisotropic tellurium films, thereby paving the way for tailored two-dimensional semiconductor structures. Dr. MA Teng, Research Assistant Professor in AP of PolyU, followed with a talk titled "Layer-controlled Growth of 2D Ferroelectric Materials with Strong Nonlinear Hall Effect." He detailed a homoepitaxial chemical vapor deposition strategy for producing large-area bilayer MoTe2 single crystals exhibiting robust room-temperature ferroelectricity and record-high nonlinear Hall signals, underscoring their potential for next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. Prof. MOON Byoung Hee, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics of Incheon National University, then explored the enduring topic of the "Metal-insulator Transition in Two-dimensional van der Waals Layered Materials." His presentation reviewed the historical context and contemporary research trends, including phenomena within moiré superlattices, offering valuable perspectives on this fundamental challenge in condensed-matter physics. Shifting focus toward energy applications, Prof. ZHANG Biao, Associate Professor in AP of PolyU, presented on "Designing and Probing Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces for Rechargeable Batteries." He outlined innovative interface engineering approaches to construct elastic solid electrolyte interphases, which enable stable cycling of high-density micro-sized electrode particles and address critical issues related to battery longevity and energy density. Prof. KIM Jung Ho, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Incheon National University, addressed a pivotal challenge in nanoelectronics with his talk, "Contact Engineering-assisted Band-to-band Tunneling in van der Waals Heterojunctions." By utilizing atomically clean van der Waals contacts to depin the Fermi level, his team achieved efficient carrier injection, resulting in the clear observation of band-to-band tunneling and negative differential resistance in vertical heterojunctions. Concluding the technical sessions, Prof. ZHAO Jiong, Professor in AP of PolyU, spoke on "Phase Transition and Ferroelectricity in Two-dimensional Chalcogenides." He elucidated how in-situ transmission electron microscopy techniques can be employed to unravel ferroic ordering and phase transitions in two-dimensional materials, establishing crucial correlations between atomic-scale structures and device-level performance to advance their application in novel in-memory computing and sensing devices. The bilateral workshop facilitated vibrant discussion and knowledge sharing, reinforcing the shared dedication of both PolyU and Incheon National University to advancing the frontiers of scientific discovery. This collaborative engagement is poised to catalyze future joint research endeavors, contributing significantly to the global progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Prof. Wong Wai-yeung, Raymond was elected as the new member of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences

Congratulations to Prof. Raymond Wong Wai-yeung, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Associate Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy, Chair Professor of Chemical Technology, and Clarea Au Professor in Energy, for being elected as one of the five new members of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences for his outstanding achievements in scientific research and significant contributions to social progress. Prof. Wong is a chemist engaging in research on the designing and synthesising of molecular functional materials and metallopolymers (1D and 2D) with photofunctional properties and energy applications. His team is committed to developing sustainable energy sources and enhancing energy conversion technologies to address upcoming global energy needs while promoting a cleaner, more resilient future. Our warmest congratulations to Prof. Wong for this distinguished achievements!   Online coverage: Bauhinia 港科院新增5院士 盧煜明盼鞏固港創科地位 12 December 2025 Wen Wei Po 港科院新增5院士 盧煜明盼鞏固港創科地位 11 December 2025 Bastille Post 港科院新增五位院士 涵蓋數學地理醫學化學及神經科學領域 11 December 2025 Source: Faculty of Science, PolyU

The World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists 2025 by Stanford University in RCNN

We are immensely proud to announce that five of our esteemed members have been recognized as among the Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide in their specialities in 2025 (Career-long and single recent year data), as compiled by Stanford University! This global recognition highlights the transformative power of their research and its significant impact across scientific disciplines. Using the Scopus author profiles as of 19 September 2025, Stanford University released the latest top 2% scientists in various scientific fields. The list was prepared by Prof. John Ioannidis and his team from Stanford University, the updated database (version 8) provides standardized information on citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in different authorship positions, and a composite indicator.  The the latest database (version 8) could be download from https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/8.​ Name of Researcher Subject Field Prof. Hao Jianhua Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Prof. Wong Wai Yeung Organic Chemistry Prof. Lau Shu Ping Applied Physics Prof.Lee Yoon Suk Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Prof. Zhang Biao Nanoscience & Nanotechnology  

Prof. WONG Ka-hing Honoured with the 2024 Outstanding Intellectual Property Commercialisation Award

Launched in 2023, the PolyU Patents Achievement Award aims to honour the exceptional achievements of departments and inventors who actively contribute to intellectual property (IP), research commercialisation and knowledge transfer. The Research Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (RCNN) extends the warmest congratulations to Prof. WONG Ka-hing for receiving the Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award 2024. This distinction celebrates Prof. WONG's remarkable contributions  for high-value licensing cases over the past three years (2022-2024). This award recognises his exceptional contributions to translating cutting-edge research into tangible solutions with significant commercial and societal impact. His work exemplifies the core mission of RCNN and PolyU to bridge the gap between fundamental scientific discovery and real-world application.

Prof. Wong Ka-hing featured on TVB programme about turning food waste into 3D printing materials

Prof. Wong Ka-hing, Director of PolyU Research Institute for Future Food, Associate Director of PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute & Professor at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, was featured on TVB’s programme “ESG Decoded”, introducing the novel technology that upcycles major commercial & industrial food waste like spent coffee grounds into sustainable composite materials for 3D printing. Online coverage: TVB 破局密碼ESG - 第 1 集 金融•科技新常態 (13:56-16:38) (subscription required) 21 September 2025 Source: Faculty of Science, PolyU

Prof. Daniel Lau interviewed by RTHK’s radio programme “World in a Nutshell” on osmotic power

  Prof. Daniel Lau, Associate Director of Photonics Research Institute & Chair Professor of Nanomaterials of the Department of Applied Physics, was interviewed by RTHK’s radio programme “World in a Nutshell” to expound upon the theory, prospect and challenges of osmotic power. Online coverage: RTHK 十萬八千里 -「滲透能」發電發展潛力及應用條件 (22:17 - 36:50) 20 September 2025 Source: Faculty of Science, PolyU  

Prof. Wong Ka-hing elected as the Election Committee Member (Agriculture and Fisheries Subsector)

Congratulations to Prof. Wong Ka-hing, Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Director of the Research Institute for Future Food and Member of the Management Committee of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, for being elected as member of the Election Committee’s Agriculture and Fisheries Sub-sector after winning the Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) By-elections 2025 held on 7 September 2025. Prof. Wong also currently holds various public and organisational appointments, serving as Member of the Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene of the Environment and Ecology Bureau of The Government of HKSAR; Vice-Chairman of the Expert Committee on Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, HKSAR; Committee Member of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR; and Governing Board Member of the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre. Our warmest congratulations again to Prof. Wong! Full list of election results: https://www.elections.gov.hk/ecss2025by/eng/results_s3.html Online coverage: Ming Pao Daily News 當選選委1/4為區議員 30人屬「三會」 19人關愛隊成員 6界別總投票率97.3% 8 September 2025 Source: Faculty of Science, PolyU

Innovative Green Technology: Prof. Daniel Lau Transforms CO2 into Valuable Products for Industry and Space Exploration

Prof. Daniel Lau Shu-ping, Chair Professor of Nanomaterials from the Department of Applied Physics, is set to revolutionize carbon capture technologies with a dual vision: transforming carbon dioxide into ethylene for industrial use and miniaturizing the process for future space missions. His cutting-edge technology is poised for integration at the I.PARK1 waste-to-energy plant, which will process 3,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste daily upon completion. Prof. Lau's innovative system captures CO2, reacting it with water using renewable electricity to produce ethylene, a key petrochemical traditionally made through energy-intensive methods. His second-generation technology has already demonstrated a significant increase in efficiency, maintaining functionality for 2,000 at industrial-scale electricity levels in lab tests. As global industries face increasing pressure to reduce emissions, Prof. Lau’s approach offers a viable solution. A state-owned petrochemical plant in Shanghai has agreed to trial his technology, marking a potential breakthrough in commercial viability. With plans to miniaturize the device for space applications, Prof. Lau's work not only addresses emissions but also aligns with Hong Kong’s sustainability goals, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. This pioneering effort underscores the critical role of innovation in tackling climate change and fostering a sustainable future.     Online coverage: China Daily Pioneering Green Tech Eyes Space Application, Industry Boost 26 August 2025 China Daily Hong Kong The answer to climate change 29 August 2025  Source: Department of Applied Physics, PolyU