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Media Interview: PolyU scholar leads research in intelligent wearable technology

Prof. Xiaoming TAO, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and Chair Professor of Textile Technology of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is internationally recognised for her leading research in innovative wearable technology. Her research encompasses intelligent fibrous materials, nanotechnology, photonic fibres and fabrics, flexible electronic and photonic devices, smart washable technology, yarn manufacturing and textile composites. Leading a group of talented researchers, Prof. TAO is dedicated to driving the transformative development of intelligent wearable technology. It is an emerging disruptive technology that demands a huge paradigm shift in traditional apparel and electronic products. Human-centric wearables have high levels of intelligence, with many additional functions enhancing our everyday lives on top of their conventional features. In the media interview, Prof TAO said smart fabrics have become a key component of intelligent wearable systems, endowed with unique characteristics such as 3D deformability, high fatigue resistance, adjustable permeability, high scalability, lightweight, and advanced manufacturing processes. More importantly, these fabrics possess additional new smart features, promising to offer a wide range of microelectronic, electric, photonic, acoustic, magnetic and pneumatic functionalities. These functions help continuously monitor the physical, physiological, and psychological conditions of individuals with special needs like the elderly and pregnant women. They can predict disorders and provide effective assistance, including smart assistive systems for cancer patients. PolyU aims to cultivate professional talents via an impactful interdisciplinary research programme, global academic and industrial collaboration, knowledge and technology transfer and human resource enhancement. It will significantly contribute to developing new technology industries in Hong Kong and beyond.

PolyU researchers develop intelligent activewear for a dry and comfortable experience

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games are just around the corner and a global sports frenzy is underway. However, intense summer workouts often lead to sportswear absorbing excessive sweat, becoming clingy and cumbersome, causing discomfort and potentially impacting performance. A research team from the School of Fashion and Textiles at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed the iActive™ sportswear range which features a root-like liquid transport system and a skin-like active perspiration dissipater and utilises nature-inspired, anti-heat textile fabrics to expedite sweat removal, effectively reducing the weight and stickiness of activewear caused by sweat accumulation during exercise. The human body has millions of sweat glands that are vital for regulating body temperature by dissipating sweat for evaporation to cool the skin’s surface. With unabating greenhouse gas emissions, the number of very hot days annually is expected to increase significantly. This will lead to elevated energy consumption and increased sweating during physical activity and outdoor labour. Even when wearing highly breathable clothes with good sweat-wicking properties, individuals may still experience discomfort due to excessive sweat accumulation. A research team led by Dr SHOU Dahua, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Associate Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles at PolyU, has invented the groundbreaking iActive™, intelligent, electrically activated sportswear with a nature-inspired active perspiration function. This pioneering innovation has garnered significant recognition, including a Gold Medal at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva this April. Its nature-inspired technologies, including low-voltage-driven artificial “sweat glands” created by skin-like anti-heat textile fabrics and a root-like branching liquid transport system that aligns with the body’s sweat map, can actively and programmably remove sweat to a perspiration dissipater at the lower region of the sportswear. The all-textile sweat dissipater is compact and operates at a safe output voltage of approximately 5-9V, and its battery is easy to detach from the clothing, making it convenient for users to repeatedly wash the clothing by hand or in a washing machine to maintain hygiene. When the human body’s sweat rate is low, iActive™ can still be used independently without the battery. Based on the optimised wettability pattern and gradient, the research team utilises a skin-like textile fabric to transport sweat one-way quickly and dissipate it from the inside to the outside. This feature reduces the stickiness and weight of clothing, improves breathability and ensures the garments remain dry and comfortable to wear. Experimental findings indicate that iActive™ creates a breathable and dry skin microclimate by dissipating sweat at a rate that is three times faster than the maximum human sweating rate. This innovation can also prevent discomfort from coldness and moisture after a workout. In comparison to traditional fabrics, the textile materials in iActive™ are 60% lighter and 50% less clingy when soaked, providing the wearer with all-round comfort and enabling sports enthusiasts and athletes to perform at their best. Furthermore, a mobile app further aids personalised sweat management by wirelessly adjusting the sweat level of iActive™. This innovation is versatile and can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of textile materials to facilitate sustainable mass production. Beyond sportswear, iActive™ is also well-suited to protective clothing and workwear for individuals engaged in prolonged, high-intensity physical labour and outdoor occupations, including healthcare professionals, construction workers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and others, thereby significantly enhancing their work performance. Dr Shou Dahua stated, “The extreme weather and high temperatures resulting from global warming have elevated the importance of heatstroke prevention and cooling measures on a global scale. Drawing on the vivid phenomena of thermal insulation and directed liquid flow in nature, we aim to foster innovation and sustainable advancement in garment manufacturing by inventing intelligent clothing and materials to address global challenges. We seek to harness the power of technology to infuse fresh perspectives into the traditional clothing industry, thereby enhancing its competitiveness.” His research team has also developed a premium fabric named Omni-Cool-Dry™, drawing inspiration from volcano dwelling beetles. This fabric not only provides ultra-fast sweat dissipation and ensures all-day comfort with its dry and breathable features under dynamic thermal conditions, but also reflects solar radiation and emits body heat into the cold universe, enabling passive cooling. The team is working hard to leverage the benefits of both inventions to further enhance the sweat-dissipating and cooling capability of iActive™ sportswear. Dr Shou Dahua, a core member of the PolyU Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion, has recently been bestowed with the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award by The Fiber Society for his outstanding contributions to the fields of personal thermal and moisture management, intelligent wearables and soft robotics. The accolade is presented annually to an individual researcher worldwide. He has also received international innovation awards, including consecutive TechConnect Global Innovation Awards in 2021 and 2022. Moreover, his research papers have been published in various internationally renowned academic journals including Science Advances, PNAS, Advanced Functional Materials, and Advanced Energy Materials. Dr Shou will be chairing The Fiber Society Spring 2025 Conference at PolyU.

PolyU researcher advances in rare-earth-based materials for biomedical imaging and therapy applications

In the realm of biomedical research, the development of advanced imaging agents stands as a cornerstone in modern healthcare. Prof Gary Ka-Leung WONG, Chair Professor of Chemistry of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University leads efforts to modify existing properties of rare-earth materials and forge new radiocontrast agents tailored for diverse medical applications. Comparatively, luminescent rare-earth materials offer distinct advantages over traditional organic fluorophores. Their sharper emission peaks and significantly longer luminescence lifetimes afford superior resolution and enable background noise reduction through time-resolved detection techniques. Furthermore, rare-earth-based materials hold promise in revolutionising healthcare practices, particularly in detecting diseases earlier and improving treatment efficacy. This is highlighted by their potential as theranostic platforms for brain diseases, leveraging unique properties to overcome challenges such as blood-brain barrier permeability and facilitating advanced imaging and therapeutic strategies. Prof Wong's research on the functional design of rare-earth-based materials for biomedical purposes emphasises several key aspects, elucidating the paramount importance of stability. This concern resonates deeply with researchers and end-users alike, driving the need not only to enhance material functionality but also to ensure safety through collaboration and the integration of diverse technologies. His research also focuses on structural control, a critical factor in enhancing the stability, biocompatibility and targeting capabilities of luminescent rare-earth materials. The research underscores the pivotal role of chelator structure in influencing biological performance, advocating for the use of more rigid chelators and specific peptides to enhance stability and imbue targeting capabilities into their products. In enhancing luminescent rare-earth materials, Prof Wong strategises to optimize luminescent quantum yield and brightness, emphasizing the importance of minimizing non-radiative processes and introducing structural modifications like conjugated rings. This facilitates clearer imaging and precise diagnosis, spanning applications in bioimaging, drug delivery, and disease detection, enabling enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. Looking ahead, Prof Wong's research extends beyond pre-clinical efforts to develop novel radiocontrast agents with varied emission kinetics, catering to uses such as cancer therapy. Additionally, his team aims to develop agents capable of interfacing with different materials, expanding their utility across diverse medical contexts, including applications in gene therapy.

Media Interview: PolyU scholars shared research mission to study Chang'e-5 lunar soil samples

The PolyU research team has obtained two distinct lunar soil samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission. The samples are currently stored in the lunar regolith storage and analysis system on the PolyU campus which is a unique state-of-the-art integrated multifunctional system for in-situ analysis. This system enables researchers to conduct a comprehensive study on the lunar regolith without the need for leaving the storage environment.   Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) was featured in media interviews to share this research mission.   The lunar soil samples are rare and scientifically valuable, holding immense potential for pioneering scientific discoveries and future utilisation of lunar resources. A single grain of lunar soil may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Moon’s formation, evolution, and dynamic environment. The achievements from lunar sample research can also bring long-term benefits to Earth and benefit humanity.   Also, Prof. Yung and the research team will delve into “Finding Water in Lunar Soil” through a microstructural analysis of lunar regolith, including its water content and formation process. Their findings will shed insights into the formation of soil on the Moon’s surface and other celestial bodies, as well as lunar water resources induced by solar wind implantation.

Media Interview: PolyU research helps build positive mental health at schools

Dr Angel Lai, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU, joined hands with NGO Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service to launch the “Healing Together – Building Positive School Mental Health in Post-COVID Hong Kong” project. Funded by Phase 2 of the Mental Health Initiatives Funding Scheme (MHIFS) provided by the Government, the 18-month project collaborates with 8 secondary schools to cultivate students' awareness and concern for emotional and mental health.   The MHIFS aims to support projects that could help provide better support to those in need in the community and to raise public awareness on mental health.   Led by Dr Lai, the funded project  aims to promote mental health and its awareness for stakeholders of secondary schools including students, teachers, administrative staff and management. Healing Spaces are constructed in the partnering schools. It combines with the strengths in research and practice, bringing impactful solutions for the benefit of various community groups.   The programme also adopts a train-the-trainer approach to help secondary students become mental health ambassadors for programme sustainability and student empowerment, raising mental health awareness in society. PolyU researchers have been working closely with the community to provide impactful and innovative solutions for the betterment of society with the integration of academic, scientific and pragmatic expertise.

PolyU secures funding support from the General Research Fund and Early Career Scheme for academic and research merits

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received a total funding support of HK$207.8 million from the General Research Fund (GRF) and the Early Career Scheme (ECS), marking it as the top three universities in terms of total granted amounts. A total of 203 PolyU projects have been awarded grants amounting to HK$185.7 million from the GRF, positioning it as the third-highest ranked university in terms of granted amounts. In the field of engineering, PolyU stands out among universities by securing the largest amount of funding support, reaching HK$93.5 million. The GRF aims to supplement universities’ own research support to researchers who have achieved or have the potential to achieve excellence. It covers two areas of research focused on broad knowledge enhancement and specific purposes. A total of 34 PolyU projects have been funded, amounting to HK$22.1 million from the ECS, positioning it as the second-highest ranked university in terms of granted amounts. In the field of engineering, PolyU ranks at the top among universities, receiving the largest amount of funding support at HK$10.3 million. The ECS aims to nurture junior academics and to prepare them for a career in education and research. Scientific and scholarly merit, and qualification and track record of the principal investigator are among the assessment criteria. 

2024 Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge (Hong Kong and Macau Regions Competition) fostered youth innovation

The 2024 Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge (Hong Kong and Macau Regions Competition) organised by the Hong Kong Science Popularisation and Science Fiction Academy, and co-organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Yau Tsim Mong Youth Society, was successfully held on 2 July at the PolyU Jockey Club Auditorium. More than 700 teachers, students, parents and stakeholders from the technology and education sectors gathered to watch the competitions of various teams. To enhance the celebratory atmosphere in commemoration of the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the organiser made a special invitation to the Guangdong Guo Qi Hu Wei Dui to perform a National Flag display ceremony and foot drill during the opening ceremony, showcasing the team’s high spirit and confidence. Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, remarked that PolyU has always been committed to cultivating future leaders with innovative spirit and interdisciplinary thinking. By participating in competitions and trainings, students could gain a better understanding of cutting-edge marine science and technology, acquire scientific research methods and skills and develop their interest and ability in interdisciplinary studies. Young people are the pioneers in the innovation and development of the country. PolyU spares no effort to build a platform for the youth to showcase their talents and innovations, laying a solid foundation for their future development. This event attracted over 90 teams from more than 60 primary and secondary schools across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. After over 3 months of professional training and guidance, and passing the preliminary round, the teams demonstrated outstanding comprehensive strength and teamwork at the finals. The selected teams will participate in the national finals, which are scheduled in August.

PolyU contributes to Nation’s Chang’e-6 historic lunar far-side sampling mission and acquires Chang’e-5 lunar soil samples; Leading deep space exploration research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) research team, after developing and manufacturing the “Surface Sampling and Packing System”, has assisted the Nation in completing the world’s first lunar far-side sampling for the Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission. PolyU also recently obtained approval for the lending of lunar soil samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission from the Lunar Sample Management Office under the China National Space Administration’s Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre. The PolyU research team has obtained two distinct lunar soil samples: a surface soil sample weighing 400 milligrams, which was collected by PolyU’s Surface Sampling and Packing System; and a subsurface soil sample totalling 42.6 milligrams. The samples are currently stored in the lunar regolith storage and analysis system on the PolyU campus which is a unique state-of-the-art integrated multifunctional system for in-situ analysis, enabling researchers to conduct a comprehensive study on the lunar regolith without the need for leaving the storage environment. Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, congratulated the team for marking a magnificent chapter in the Nation’s aerospace history and said, “This year, PolyU is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a University. In the recently announced Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings for 2025, PolyU has reached new heights and ranked 57th globally. In addition to achieving this significant milestone, PolyU has successfully obtained approval from the Nation and acquired lunar soil samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission. The PolyU team will treasure this incredibly precious gift.” Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “PolyU is committed to becoming an innovative, world-class university, highlighting the pivotal role of scientific research in driving innovation and positively impacting society. We focus on nurturing young scientific research talents and passing on research experience from one generation to the next. We will continue to collaborate with interdisciplinary experts and contribute to the Nation’s development towards becoming a major player in deep space exploration and scientific innovation.” The Chang’e-5 lunar sample in-depth analysis and research programme is spearheaded by a PolyU team with extensive experience in deep space explorations, led by Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), and Prof. WU Bo, Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science, Associate Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics and Associate Director of RCDSE. The research team, which also includes Dr Wang Xing, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, and Dr Sergey Krasilnikov, Research Assistant Professor of the same department, will delve into “Finding Water in Lunar Soil” through a microstructural analysis of lunar regolith, including its water content and formation process. Their findings will shed insights into the formation of soil on the Moon’s surface and other celestial bodies, as well as lunar water resources induced by solar wind implantation. Prof. Wu Bo said, “We are glad that our team has successfully applied for and received lunar soil samples from the National Astronomical Observatories in Beijing and brought them back to the PolyU campus for further analysis. The samples will provide valuable scientific insights. Our interdisciplinary team has extensive experience in space missions and our research embraces areas that encompass lunar geological research, topographic and geomorphological analysis of landing sites, development and manufacturing of space payloads, in-depth analysis of lunar soil samples, and space resource utilisation. We look forward to leveraging our research strengths to make further valuable contributions to innovation and technology development in Hong Kong and the Nation.” Prof. Yung Kai-leung noted, “The fact that our team designed and manufactured the Surface Sampling and Packing System for the 2020 Chang’e-5 probe, and brought back the youngest lunar samples yet discovered to Earth, which are now being stored on our campus, holds special meaning for our team. We also plan to apply for lunar samples from the Moon’s far side brought back to Earth by Chang’e-6 in order to make further contributions to humanity’s understanding of the Moon and outer space. With the return of the Mars samples and China’s manned lunar landing ranking high among its scientific priorities through 2030, we look forward to continuing to contribute to the Nation in the years ahead.” The lunar soil samples are rare and scientifically valuable, holding immense potential for pioneering scientific discoveries and future utilisation of lunar resources. A single grain of lunar soil may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Moon’s formation, evolution, and dynamic environment. The achievements from lunar sample research can also bring long-term benefits to Earth and benefit humanity. As space exploration evolves, with space resource utilisation now emerging as a priority for future programmes, the Space Resources Laboratory at PolyU’s RCDSE has developed resilient capabilities to store and analyse extraterrestrial samples in high-purity nitrogen protection devices for long-term interdisciplinary research. With a vision for the future, the Laboratory is well poised to handle samples from Mars and asteroids, laying the groundwork for the Nation’s further aerospace development. Led by Prof. Yung Kai-leung (centre) and Prof. Wu Bo (left), both seasoned experts in deep space exploration initiatives, the Chang’e-5 lunar soil analysis research has brought together a distinguished team, including Dr Wang Xing (right), to pioneer research on water trapped in lunar soil. Prof. Wu Bo (left) and Dr Wang Xing (right) of the Department of Land Surveying and Geoinformatics bring together decades of combined research experience in lunar geology, and landing area mapping and analysis. PolyU has successfully acquired lunar soil samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 mission, including a 400 mg surface sample(left)and a 42.6 mg deep drill sample(right).The Space Resources Laboratory of the PolyU Deep Space Exploration Research Center has set up a lunar soil sample storage and analysis facility to properly store and analyse the lunar soil in depth. The Space Resources Laboratory of the PolyU Deep Space Exploration Research Center has set up a lunarsoil sample storage and analysis facilityto properly store and analyse the lunar soil in depth.

Two PolyU projects receive funding support from RGC Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received funding support from the RGC Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS) for two social science projects, which aims to provide insights into human history and individual development. The two awarded projects demonstrate PolyU’s impactful research in connection with human well-being in both the present and historical context. Led by Dr TSUI, Kai Hin Brian, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese History and Culture, the project titled “Bridging Cold War Divides: Perceptions of "New China" in a Decolonizing British Empire” has secured funding support of HK$214,509. The other project led by Dr LU, HuiJing, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, titled “Impact of Environmental Harshness and Unpredictability on Individual Development: A Comprehensive Analysis” has received grant of HK$305,000. Dr TSUI’s project aims to examine the perception of New China in the 1950s as a resource for globally circulating postwar critiques of imperial political, economic and cultural inequalities. The study will explore published materials and archival sources in Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, New Delhi, Kent and London. It seeks to reconstruct how China established significant presence among prominent activists in Asia, despite having limited formal diplomatic relations with capitalist bloc states. Dr LU’s project aims to deepen our understanding of how the childhood environment influences individual development by reevaluating the definitions of environmental harshness and unpredictability while exploring alternative ways to measure these concepts. The research will provide valuable insights for creating intervention and policies that target specific environmental factors, ultimately promoting more optimal development trajectories for children and adolescents.

PolyU study reveals the mechanism of bio-inspired control of liquid flow, enlightening breakthroughs in fluid dynamics and nature-inspired materials technologies

The more we discover about the natural world, the more we find that nature is the greatest engineer. Past research believed that liquids can only be transported in fixed direction on species with specific liquid communication properties and cannot switch the transport direction. Recently, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have shown that an African plant controls water movement in a previously unknown way – and this could inspire breakthroughs in a range of technologies in fluid dynamics and nature-inspired materials, including applications that require multistep and repeated reactions, such as microassays, medical diagnosis and solar desalination etc. The study has been recently published in the international academic journal Science. Liquid transport is an unsung miracle of nature. Tall trees, for example, have to lift huge amounts of water every day from their roots to their highest leaves, which they accomplish in perfect silence. Some lizards and plants channel water through capillaries. In the desert, where making the most of scarce moisture is vital, some beetles can capture fog-borne water and direct it along their backs using a chemical gradient. Scientists have long sought to hone humankind’s ability to move liquids directionally. Applications as diverse as microfluidics, water harvesting, and heat transfer depend on the efficient directional transport of water, or other fluids, at small or large scales. While the above species provide nature-based inspiration, they are limited to moving liquids in a single direction. A research team led by Prof. WANG Liqiu, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Smart and Sustainable Energy, Chair Professor of Thermal-Fluid and Energy Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering of PolyU, has discovered that the succulent plant Crassula muscosa, native to Namibia and South Africa, can transport liquid in selected directions. Together with colleagues from the University of Hong Kong and Shandong University, the PolyU researchers noticed that when two separate shoots of the plant were infused with the same liquids, the liquids were transported in opposite directions. In one case, the liquid travelled exclusively towards the tip, whereas the other shoot directed the flow straight to the plant root. Given the arid but foggy conditions in which C. muscosa lives, the ability to trap water and transport it in selected directions is a lifeline for the plant. As the shoots were held horizontally, gravity can be ruled out as the cause of the selective direction of transport. Instead, the plant’s special properties stem from the tiny leaves packed onto its shoots. Also known as “fins”, they have a unique profile, with a swept-back body (resembling a shark’s fin) tapering to a narrow ending that points to the tip of the plant. The asymmetry of this shape is the secret to C. muscosa’s selective directional liquid transport. It all has to do with manipulating the meniscus – the curved surface on top of a liquid. Specifically, the key lies in subtle differences between the fin shapes on different shoots. When the rows of fins bend sharply towards the tip, the liquid on the shoot also flows in that direction. However, on a shoot whose fins – although still pointing at the tip – have a more upward profile, the direction of movement is instead to the root. The flow direction depends on the angles between the shoot body and the two sides of the fin, as these control the forces exerted on droplets by the meniscus – blocking flow in one direction and sending it in the other. Armed with this understanding of how the plant directs liquid flow, the team created an artificial mimic. Dubbed CMIAs, for ‘C. muscosa-inspired arrays’, these 3D-printed fins act like the tilted leaves of C. muscosa, controlling the orientation of liquid flow. Cleverly, while the fins on a natural plant shoot are immobile, the use of a magnetic material for artificial CMIAs allows them to be reoriented at will. Simply by applying a magnetic field, the liquid flow through a CMIA can be reversed. This opens up the possibility of liquid transport along dynamically changing paths in industrial and laboratory settings. Alternatively, flow could be redirected by changing the spacing between fins. Numerous areas of technology stand to benefit from CMIAs. Prof. Wang said, “There are foresee applications of real-time directional control of fluid flow in microfluidics, chemical synthesis, and biomedical diagnostics. The biology-mimicking CMIA design could also be used not just for transporting liquids but for mixing them, for example in a T-shaped valve. The method is suited to a range of chemicals and overcomes the heating problem found in some other microfluidic technologies.”