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PolyU scholar’s groundbreaking research in energy and thermal-fluid sciences honoured with two international awards

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that addresses global challenges and drives translational innovation. Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Dean of Graduate School, Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering, and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering at PolyU, has recently received two internationally acclaimed research awards in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to nano-energy and interfacial engineering. These include the Nano Energy Award and the Micro Flow and Interfacial Phenomena (µFIP) Prominent Research Award. These accolades underscore Prof. WANG’s significant contributions to advancing sustainable technologies through nature-inspired design and cross-disciplinary innovation, reinforcing his global leadership in thermal-fluid sciences. Acknowledging the collective effort behind these achievements, Prof. WANG encouraged his team and young researchers, “Not afraid of tackling uncharted problems with curiosity and rigour. Recognition serves as a reminder that even incremental progress, when driven by purpose, can create a ripple effect, ultimately leading to transformative impact.” Nano Energy Award: revolutionising energy harvesting Established in 2012, the Nano Energy Award is one of the most prestigious honours in the field of nanoenergy, presented biennially at the International Conference on Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (NENS). Prof. WANG was recognised for his pioneering advancements in nature-inspired interfacial engineering for energy harvesting. Prof. WANG’s groundbreaking innovations, particularly in droplet-based electricity generators, have fundamentally reoriented the research trajectory of scalable energy harvesting. By integrating multiple energy conversion processes through interfacial engineering, his innovative designs offer sustainable solutions for harnessing energy from water, sunlight, and heat. His signature approach combines classical scientific principles with nature-inspired mechanics, enabling novel solutions to critical challenges in energy systems. These breakthroughs have catalysed a new generation of interfacial engineering-driven systems that transcend conventional efficiency boundaries. µFIP Prominent Research Award: inspiring critical applications Separately, Prof. WANG was honoured with the Micro Flow and Interfacial Phenomena (µFIP) Prominent Research Award at the Micro Flow and Interfacial Phenomena held at the University of California, Santa Barbara, between June 16-18, 2025. This award recognises his influential contributions to thermal-fluidics, particularly his development of nature-inspired surfaces that dynamically modulate interfacial and transport processes, such as wetting, adhesion, and thermal-fluid transport. These innovations have enabled wide-range applications in energy harvesting, thermal management, and flexible electronics. Prof. WANG expressed his gratitude for these honours and said, “Research that spans disciplines holds the power to resonate globally, offering innovative insights to address the complex challenges shared by humanity. These recognitions reaffirm the significance of fusing fundamental material innovations with real-world engineering pragmatism. Breakthroughs often emerge at the intersection of disciplines, and this continues to inspire me to bridge laboratory discoveries with practical solutions for a sustainable future.”

PolyU and Ant Digital Technologies establish AI and Web3 Joint Lab

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Ant Digital Technologies today signed a strategic cooperation agreement to establish the “PolyU and Ant Digital Technologies Joint Lab on AI and Web3”. This collaboration will drive breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies, innovation ecosystem and incubation, as well as a source of innovation and technology. By exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3 technologies, the Joint Lab is poised to be a global innovation hub. Ant Digital Technologies plans to invest up to HKD100 million over the next three years to support the Joint Lab’s research work and project incubation. Witnessed by Mr CHAN Ho Lim, Joseph, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; and Mr Eric Xiandong JING, Chairman of Ant Group, the agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Mr Wenbiao ZHAO, Chief Executive Officer of Ant Digital Technologies. The Joint Lab will focus on three core domains: trustworthy AI agents, AI-enhanced blockchain security architecture and data privacy verification technologies. Related initiatives will accelerate the development of intelligent services and help ensure the secure circulation of digital assets. To foster the development of innovation ecosystem and incubation, an “AI + Web3 Education Fund Platform,” will be established to fully leverage PolyU’s strong research capabilities and Ant Digital Technologies’ extensive industry resources, supporting Hong Kong’s development into a digital technology talent hub. The Joint Lab will host international technology seminars and innovation competitions, solidifying its position as a world-class academic brand. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “The Joint Lab is a strategic initiative designed to foster interdisciplinary convergence of cutting-edge technologies, propelling Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub and a global hub for digital asset innovation. We anticipate this strong partnership will drive deep integration and breakthrough innovation in AI and Web3 applications, yielding globally impactful solutions that accelerate the growth of a digital economy in Hong Kong and beyond.” Mr Wenbiao Zhao said, “Harnessing its robust technological expertise and comprehensive service scenarios, Ant Digital Technologies will partner closely with PolyU to bridge industry, academia and research capabilities. This collaboration will accelerate breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies and facilitate their widespread commercial implementation.” Mr Eric Jing said, “Ant Group is optimistic about Hong Kong’s future and remains committed to investing in the City. We look forward to this collaboration, which unlocks Hong Kong’s transformative potential at the intersection of AI and Web3 – accelerating its growth as a global hub for innovation and technology, finance, and trade.” Reflecting its academic leadership in AI and Web3 technologies, PolyU was ranked first in CoinDesk’s Best Universities for Blockchain 2022, outperforming 240 other universities globally. Building on this excellence, PolyU established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in January 2025, combining the expertise of its Department of Applied Mathematics, Department of Computing, and Department of Data Science and AI. The University offers comprehensive programmes in AI, big data computing, blockchain technology and metaverse studies – all designed to develop future-ready technologists with both visionary thinking and practical skills. This strong academic foundation creates an ideal platform for this collaboration. As Ant Group’s digital technology subsidiary, Ant Digital Technologies possesses industry-leading expertise in AI and Web3 innovation. The company’s pioneering solutions – including its Agentar AI development platform and financial large language model – have achieved widespread adoption across the financial services sector. In 2024, Ant Digital Technologies participated in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Ensemble project, applying its advanced blockchain technology to facilitate multi-enterprise tokenisation of renewable energy real-word assets. The company further strengthened its Hong Kong presence this April when it was named a “Key Enterprise Partner” by the HKSAR Government and established its international headquarters in the City. This extensive industry experience positions the Joint Lab to forge industry connections and create valuable partnership opportunities.

Pioneering interdisciplinary research drives innovation in optics and photonics

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) scholars harness the University’s multidisciplinary strengths to specialise in research on material synthesis, characterisation, and device fabrication for applications in lasers, photosensors and photothermal technologies. With a focus on synthesizing, processing and characterizing low-dimensional materials, the research led by Prof. Yuen Hong TSANG, Professor of the Department of Applied Physics and his team drives impactful applications across various fields of optics and photonics. 2D Materials for Nonlinear Optics and Ultrafast Photonics Ultrafast lasers represent a remarkable advancement in photonics, with wide-ranging applications in precision micromachining, medical imaging, and spectroscopy. Their ability to generate extremely short pulses enables high-resolution imaging and advanced material processing, making them invaluable in both research and industrial settings. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as key contributors to the development of next-generation photonic devices. In PolyU laboratory, Prof. TSANG’s research team investigates the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 2D materials and leverages them to produce ultrashort laser pulses. The team’s recent research has focused on the NLO responses of 2D ternary GeSeTe nanosheets, which they have successfully employed as saturable absorbers. This approach has enabled the generation of ultrashort laser pulses with durations of 1.017 picoseconds and 531 femtoseconds. By harnessing the unique characteristics of these materials, Prof. TSANG aims to further enhance the performance of ultrafast laser systems, paving the way for innovative applications in telecommunications, biomedical engineering and fundamental research. Multivariate Optimization of Van der Waals Photodiodes for Multi-functional Optoelectronics Prof. TSANG’s research involves a multifactorial study of van der Waals (vdW) photodiodes. The team analyses and compares key figures of merit, such as the power exponent (α) and recombination order (β), and investigates their evolution across multiple devices to achieve near-unity values in all vdW (a-vdW) devices. This demonstrates recombination-trapping resilience. In contrast, a similar device patterned using traditional lithography techniques shows significant degradation, with the value of α decreasing to almost half. This suggests that most recombination-trapping and performance degradation occur at the metal-2D interface, supporting our argument for a renewed approach to contact integration strategies for 2D photodiodes. Additionally, efficiency analysis, along with the measured Fermi-level alignment at the heterojunction of our a-vdW devices, highlights the importance of precisely engineered layer thicknesses to achieve a robust p-n junction. This balance is critical for optimizing photocarrier generation, recombination, separation, transport, and extraction. Furthermore, due to the excellent photovoltaic performance of the photodiode, it has been successfully utilized in demonstrating multi-band imaging applications, serving as both a single-pixel detector and a gate-tunable optoelectronic logic AND gate. This positions the device as a promising candidate for multi-functional optoelectronics. Photothermal Materials for Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Prof. TSANG’s research also focuses on synthesizing and analysing the characteristics of various photothermal materials, including plasmonic, semiconductor-based, and carbon-based materials, to address real-world challenges. These materials have the ability to absorb sunlight and convert it into heat energy. The team fabricate various types of solar evaporators by incorporating photothermal materials into porous substrates with low thermal conductivity. These solar evaporators float on the surface of water, efficiently absorbing a broad spectrum of sunlight and converting it into heat to evaporate seawater or wastewater at the air-water interface. The resulting vapor can then be condensed to produce freshwater. Unlike conventional systems, this approach does not use thermal energy to heat bulk water from the bottom of the reservoir, significantly reducing heat loss and enhancing system efficiency. The solar-to-vapor generation efficiency of such systems often exceeds 80%. Furthermore, the system operates without the need for electricity, making it highly suitable for addressing the challenges of the water-energy nexus. In addition, the team has developed a solar evaporator-based system capable of generating high-temperature steam for sterilising medical equipment. These systems are not only cost-effective but also have the potential to contribute to a greener world by reducing carbon emissions. Source:  PolyU Science Newsletter  

PolyU and HUST National Centre of Technology Innovation for Intelligent Design and Numerical Control signed MoU to explore the establishment of Hong Kong Branch

On 24 July 2025, a delegation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) visited the National Centre of Technology Innovation for Intelligent Design and Numerical Control (NCDC) at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan. Both parties expressed strong mutual interest in establishing the Hong Kong Branch of the NCDC and engaged in in-depth discussions on potential collaboration opportunities for its development. The PolyU delegation was led by Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and comprised Prof. H.C. Man, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Zheng Pai, Associate Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Dr. Chili Wu, Associate Director of Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology, and Ms. Amylia Chan, Assistant Director of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office. The delegation met with Prof. Liang Gao, Vice President of HUST and Director of NCDC, Prof. Xinyu Li, Vice Dean of the School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Prof. Jianzhong Yang, Executive Deputy Director of NCDC, Dr. Zixun Liu of the Institute of Science and Technology Development, and Prof. Hao Li and Prof. Mi Xiao of the Department of Industrial Engineering, for in-depth exchanges on collaboration opportunities. The signed memorandum of understanding lays the foundation for further exploration of joint development initiatives at the Hong Kong Branch of NCDC. The collaboration will focus on key areas including human-machine collaborative manufacturing systems, ultra-precision machining CNC systems, workshop and logistics scheduling and management, industrial domain models and embodied intelligence, as well as intelligent design and interaction systems. The partnership aims to address national strategic needs and significant industrial challenges by leveraging Hong Kong’s geographical advantages and its strengths in international cutting-edge innovation. Both parties agreed to sign a formal agreement and establish detailed terms and arrangements upon obtaining approval from the relevant authorities. The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at PolyU will serve as the executing unit for the Hong Kong Branch.

PolyU scholars honoured as RGC Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellow in recognition of outstanding research achievements

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) excels in impactful research and is committed to translating research outcomes into innovative applications that benefit people’s lives. Three PolyU scholars have been awarded fellowships under the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) 2025/26, in recognition of their outstanding research achievements in the fields of biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials. The award recipients are Prof. Lei SUN, Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering; and Prof. Kay Chen TAN, Head of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence, both of whom have been named RGC Senior Research Fellows. Prof. Jiong ZHAO, Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, has been conferred as RGC Research Fellow. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), extended his congratulations to the awardees and said, “The recognition of our scholars not only reflects PolyU’s pursuit of academic and research excellence, but also demonstrates our commitment to fostering researchers’ professional growth. These achievements underscore the University’s significant impact on the global academic and research community, as well as our contributions to Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for post-secondary education.” The SRFS project, “Development of sonogenetics for non-human primates,” led by Prof. Lei Sun, aims to develop a new version of sonogenetics specifically for non-human primates and to investigate its performance in terms of cellular specificity, spatial accuracy and penetration capability. This non-invasive method for modulating specific brain regions has the potential to open a new dimension for ultrasound stimulation, offering a ground-breaking and critical approach to non-invasive, precise brain stimulation with deep brain penetration. This  new sonogentics may lead to the dissection of global neural network connections, a better understanding of the circuits underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders, and ultimately serve as a valuable therapeutic tool. The SRFS project, “Towards adaptive pretrained vision-language foundation models for medical image analysis,” led by Prof. Kay Chen Tan, aims to lay out key roadmaps that guide the development and deployment of vision-language model based healthcare models, with a primary focus on four key areas: framework, data, application, and generalisation. An integrated intelligent interpretation system will be developed to provide personalised and human-centric healthcare, featuring several functionalities such as visual question answering, radiology reports and computer-aided diagnosis. The project aims to improve quality of healthcare services, ease strain on medical resources and solidify Hong Kong’s leadership in AI-powered healthcare innovation. The RFS project, “From slidetronics to twistronics: a twisting platform for dissipationless ferroelectricity”, led by Prof. Jiong Zhao, primarily focuses on Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and 2D materials. The team has developed expertise and achieved significant advancements in structural characterisations and physical field measurement utilising in situ TEM, STEM, 4D-STEM and others. By integrating these cutting-edge methods with synthesis, device fabrication and theoretical frameworks, the project contributes to improving material quality and enabling device applications. These advanced 2D materials and 2D ferroelectric materials are set to be game changers for future electronics and optoelectronics, with significant potential to enhance device performance. SRFS and RFS aim to provide sustained support to exceptionally outstanding researchers at the University Grants Committee-funded universities in Hong Kong. Each scheme provides ten grants to scholars from any academic disciplines, with funding support for a period of 60 months. The supporting university will receive a fellowship grant of around HK$8.2 million per award for SRFS projects and HK$5.5 million for RFS projects.

PolyU research on online child sexual exploitation receives funding support from RGC Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme

Advancements in social media and communications technology has made underaged individuals increasingly vulnerable to online sexual exploitation. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) initiates a research project that seeks to incorporate the perspectives of children and adolescents in understanding the issue of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC). This project has received funding support from the Research Grants Council (RGC) Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS) 2025/26, with total grant of HK$503,000. Prof. Jessica Chi Mei, LI  , Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at PolyU, has been awarded the research project titled “Co-Creation with School Students to Prevent Online Sexual Exploitation: A Qualitative Study Using Video Vignettes.” Children participating in the project will be invited to contribute suggestions for preventing and addressing OSEC.  OSEC is an umbrella term that encompasses various forms of sexual abuse against children, including online sexual grooming, sexting such as distribution of sexual messages, sexual extortion and life-streamed sexual abuse, and the sharing of pornographic images. Advancing technologies have made it easier for perpetrators to quickly initiate contact with potential victims, including minors. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic and related stay-at-home measures have increased the time children socialising online, heightening their exposure to potential exploitation.  The project builds on Prof. LI’s earlier research, funded by the RGC General Research Fund in 2023, which examined school personnel’s response to OSEC.  This pioneering work, funded by HSSPFS, employs a novel qualitative vignette approach, guided by the concept of guardianship in Felson and Cohen’s routine activity theory, to construct and validate case scenarios. In collaboration with expert groups and school personnel, this innovative approach facilitates a deeper exploration of real-life contexts and challenges in preventing OSEC.  With this solid research foundation, the project seeks to engage students by collecting their responses through 10 focus groups conducted over the span of a year. By integrating diverse perspectives, the research aims to develop practical insights and strategies to strengthen protective measures against OSEC in school environments. Key outcomes of the project include academic publications, a practical manual for using vignettes to raise students’ awareness of online risks and a train-the-trainer workshop protocol. Prof. LI said, “This project will engage children and adolescents in researching OSEC and will deliver timely, cost-effective, and practically informed findings. It aims to support the long-term prevention of OSEC by providing a comprehensive strategic framework that can be implemented across Hong Kong, Chinese communities, and the wider Asian region.”  Introduced  in 2012/13, HSSPFS aims at granting extend time-off and supporting funds to the outstanding investigators under the social sciences and humanities disciplines. Each awardee receives funding support for a period of up to 12 months.  For more: https://polyu.hk/KKyrz  

PolyU’s feature video "Innovating the Future: AI and Industry”, awarded at the inaugural Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Documentary Festival

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) achieved recognition at the inaugural Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Documentary Festival, held in Shenzhen from 18 to 19 July. Among 370 competing entries, the PolyU Research and Innovation Office’s documentary video "Innovating the Future: AI and Industry" was selected as a notable work and received a prestigious award in the technological innovation category. A four-minute video documents the nearly 50-year history and transformation of the PolyU Industrial Centre (IC) through a personal interview format. Aligned with the theme of "Innovative research for social impact," the video vividly captures how IC has continually promoted the translation of scientific research into real-world applications, serving the community by putting technological advances into practice. In addition, the video highlights the remarkable evolution of IC from a traditional training workshop into a cutting-edge facility for innovation and technology education. Its services have expanded beyond conventional industrial engineering to encompass diverse disciplines such as biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence and data analysis, offering comprehensive research and development (R&D) and production support for interdisciplinary innovation. The video showcases how IC leverages innovative technologies to address critical societal challenges through improved medical services, effectively integrating medicine and engineering while upholding a strong commitment to humanistic values. The competition invited video submissions focused on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with a thematic emphasis on preserving intangible cultural heritage, documenting social development, and exploring the integration of the humanities and culture. It aimed to showcase historical heritage, innovative development, and humanistic spirit from diverse perspectives.  

PolyU initiates cognitive remediation programme using memory encoding strategies to provide early intervention for people with mild cognitive impairment

With its ageing population, the prevalence of dementia in Hong Kong is expected to increase. Healthcare researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have developed an innovative mobile application-based cognitive remediation programme, Enhancing Memory in Daily Life (E-MinD Life), targeting those who experience memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia. The programme, leveraging memory encoding strategies, provides early intervention to delay the functional deterioration associated with cognitive decline, supporting these individuals’ independent living and enhancing their quality of life. As individuals age, cognitive functions and memory gradually decline, affecting their ability to perform daily activities independently. Such memory decline is more pronounced in people with MCI. MCI is a significant area of interest in ageing and dementia research, and, more importantly, various studies suggest that it can indicate early dementia-related neuropathological changes years before a clinical diagnosis of dementia. Among the three stages of memory, namely encoding, storage and retrieval, the encoding stage is often the first to be affected in people with MCI, causing memory decline. Developed by Prof. Karen LIU, Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at PolyU, in collaboration with Dr Nikki TULLIANI, Associate Lecturer at Western Sydney University, the E-MinD Life programme is built on the principles of semantic and perceptual memory encoding, and innovatively integrates cognitive remediation into daily activities. As an early intervention, it aims to train older adults in the early stages of cognitive decline, while they still have the capacity to learn new skills and adopt memory strategies to better manage daily activities. The programme lasts for nine weeks, with three 60-minute sessions per week: one individualised therapist-led meeting followed by two self-administered sessions. Humans can register new information to memory through semantic encoding and perceptual encoding of information. Prof. Karen Liu elaborated, “Semantic-based memory, also referred to as conceptual knowledge or declarative memory, encompasses our long-term understanding of objects, word meanings, facts, concepts, rules and people, acquired through our lifetime experiences. While these knowledges are organised into networks of connected ideas or concepts, semantic memory encoding enables us to associate new information with what we already know and remember it more efficiently. Perceptual-based memory encoding, on the other hand, involves capturing and storing visual information, such as images, in memory to help with recall.” As memory decline sets in, people with MCI often have difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), involving essential tasks such as household chores, shopping and managing finances, which are crucial for maintaining their independence in both home and community living. E-MinD Life incorporates semantic and perceptual encoding techniques into 12 common IADLs. These IADLs are categorised into three blocks: “meal preparation and clean-up activities”, “laundry activities” and “communication and community activities,” each comprising four tasks. By engaging participants in these structured tasks, the programme shows significant potential in fostering cognitive engagement and practical learning. The encoding techniques enable participants to organise pertinent aspects like person, place, time and object, and establish connections between these concepts, enhancing learning and memory. The techniques include “visual imagery” and the “method of loci,” which help participants connect visual information from memory; “chunking,” which requires them to break down the IADL into different steps, give context to the chunks of information and then form a contextual story; and “self-generation,” which asks them to use their own words to describe the IADL. Based on a user-friendly mobile application, E-MinD Life utilises knowledge and methods derived from previous research, allows tailoring of the programme to meet participants’ individual needs, and provides real-time feedback. In addition, by reaching out to larger populations, E-MinD Life is able to provide community-based interventions, extending the impact of cognitive remediation programmes beyond professional-led training. Prof. Liu added, “Non-pharmacological treatments are essential for alleviating the decline in memory and cognitive abilities through effective preventive and early intervention measures. Enabling older adults and MCI individuals to easily use E-MinD Life at home, we aspire to create a cost-effective, self-administered and time-flexible means for personalised interventions. By teaching participants to apply semantic and perceptual encoding principles in everyday tasks, the programme supports individuals in overcoming challenges associated with memory decline. This initiative also marks a notable advancement in leveraging memory encoding to facilitate cognitive remediation.” To further refine the administration of E-MinD Life, focus groups and expert reviews were conducted to gain insights from healthcare professionals, as well as from older adult participants and their caregivers. A pilot study on E-MinD Life was conducted in Australia to evaluate its usability. The qualitative analysis revealed that participants found the programme enjoyable and beneficial. Specifically, it increased memory awareness in daily life, stimulated the learning of new skills and technology, and provided an appropriate level of challenge. A Chinese version of E-MinD Life is currently being developed for trial use in Hong Kong. Inspired by their prior endeavours in stroke rehabilitation, Prof. Liu and her team have explored memory encoding for older adults since 2006. After conducting a series of studies to understand the neuro-mechanisms associated with these memory encoding techniques, the findings were translated into clinical projects to assess their applicability within the clinical population. Subsequently, E-MinD Life has been developed with a commitment to promoting cognitive training for older adults in home settings.

PolyU scholar recognised among the Top 50 Most Productive Marketing Scholars in the World

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing innovative research across diverse disciplines to address the various needs of society. Prof. JIANG Yuwei, Chair Professor of Marketing and Associate Head of the Department of Management and Marketing, has earned global recognition as one of the Top 50 Most Productive Marketing Scholars in the world. According to the American Marketing Association (AMA) DocSIG Research Productivity Report, Prof. Jiang ranks #18 globally this year. He is the only marketing scholar in Asia included on the list. This recognition is based on the number of publications Prof. Jiang has contributed to premier marketing journals, including Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Marketing, and Marketing Science, over the period from 2015 to 2024, as calculated by the AMA. This honour reflects his exceptional scholarly contributions and lasting impact on the field of marketing research. Prof. Jiang’s research interests lie in consumer psychology, with a particular focus on how social influence, self-concept, and visual marketing information shape consumers’ judgments and decisions. In response to rapid changes in technology and the marketplace, one of his recent research directions explores the effects of marketing interactions, such as human-business and human-machine communication, on consumer cognition and behaviour, along with the theoretical mechanisms that drive these effects. Building on this work, Prof. Jiang also proposes policy and management recommendations and will further explore the impact of multi-dimensional digital identities on other consumers, artificial intelligence, brand interactions, and decision-making. In recognition of his significant contributions, Prof. Jiang has received several prestigious honors, including the NSFC Distinguished Young Scholar, the Marketing Science Institute (MSI) Scholar, and the JCR Outstanding Reviewer Award.

PolyU researchers unveil novel strategy to achieve both strength and toughness in 2D materials design, advancing applications in electronic and photonic devices

The mechanical strength and toughness of engineering materials are often mutually exclusive, posing challenges for material design and selection. To address this, a research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has uncovered an innovative strategy: by simply twisting the layers of 2D materials, they can enhance toughness without compromising material’s strength. This breakthrough facilitates the design of strong and tough new 2D materials, promoting their broader applications in photonic and electronic devices. The findings have been published in the international journal Nature Materials. While 2D materials often exhibit exceptional strength, they are extremely brittle. Fractures in materials are also typically irreversible. These attributes limit the use of 2D materials in devices that require repeated deformation, such as high-power devices, flexible electronics and wearables. Efforts to improve toughness by introducing defects, such as vacancies and grain boundaries, often degrade intrinsic electrical properties, leading to a trade-off between mechanical durability and electronic performance. Therefore, enhancing both the strength and toughness of bulk materials for engineering applications has remained a significant challenge. To overcome these limitations, a research team led by Prof. Jiong ZHAO, Professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Physics, has pioneered a novel twisting engineering approach whereby twisted bilayer structures enable sequential fracture events, addressing the conflict between strength and toughness in 2D materials. The finding was supported by nanoindentation and theoretical analysis. Typical transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is a class of 2D materials known for their unique electronic, optical and mechanical properties. These characteristics enable their diverse application in electronics and optoelectronics, energy storage and conversion, sensors and biomedical devices, quantum technologies, mechanics and tribology. By focusing on TMDs, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and tungsten disulfide (WS₂), the team discovered a new fracture mechanism in twisted bilayers. Using in situ transmission electron microscopy, the team found that when cracks propagate in twisted bilayer structures, the lattice orientation mismatch between the upper and lower layers leads to the formation of interlocking crack paths. Following the initial fracture, the crack edges in both layers spontaneously form stable grain boundary structures through interlayer self-assembly. This distinctive “crack self-healing” mechanism protects subsequent fracture tips from stress concentration, effectively preventing further crack propagation. Notably, this process consumes more energy than conventional fracture, and the degree of toughness enhancement can be tuned by adjusting the twist and twist angle. Prof. Jiong Zhao said, “By breaking through the framework of conventional fracture mechanics theory, this study presents the first demonstration of autonomous damage suppression in 2D materials, establishing a groundbreaking strategy for designing integrated novel strong-and-tough 2D materials. This research also extends the application of twistronics to mechanical performance design, such as with regard to material strength, opening exciting possibilities for the development of future electronic and photonic devices. As fabrication techniques for twisted 2D materials continue to mature, a new generation of smart materials combining superior mechanical properties with exotic electrical characteristics, holds great promise for technological innovation in the fields of flexible electronics, energy conversion, quantum technology and sensing.”