News

Prof. Meng NI is awarded RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme 2023/24

We are pleased to announce that our RISE member, Professor Meng NI is awarded RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) 2023/24! This scheme aims at providing sustained support and relief from teaching and administrative duties to exceptionally outstanding researchers, to facilitate their full dedication to research and development and help universities attract and retain research talent. Professor Ni’s project “Protonic ceramic fuel cells for clean power generation: From new cathode materials to new stack designs” is awarded with a fellowship grant of around HKD$7.8M. Characterised by their high efficiency and low emission, protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) are power sources that promise to replace conventional thermal power plants. Despite this, the practical performance of a PCFC stack remains limited due to high energy at the cathode and the non-uniform distribution of reactants in a traditional PCFC stack. The project adopts both the trial-and-error and machine learning-based approaches to facilitate new cathode material development. Through multi-physics modelling and optimisation techniques, unconventional stack designs, including several nature-inspired stack configurations, will be evaluated for PCFC. The research integrates engineering, chemistry, physics and material science to address the complex challenges of using PCFC for clean power generation. Congratulations to Professor Ni! Reference: PolyU Media Release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/media/media-releases/2023/0725_two-polyu-scholars-conferred-as-rgc-senior-research-fellow-and-research-fellow/

Young RISE member, Dr. Hangxin Li, awarded a major research grant of RMB 5.1M from Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission

We are pleased to share that Dr. Hangxin LI, our young RISE member and Research Assistant Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), was awarded the Dual-Carbon Fund from Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (深圳科技創新委員會可持續發展科技專項-雙碳專項). The total funding amount of the project is RMB 5.1 million, including 1.1 million of industrial matching.    The project is led by our RISE young member, Dr. Li as the Project Coordinator (PC), in collaboration with Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research. The key members of PolyU team also include Prof. Shengwei WANG and Prof. Fu XIAO, as Co-PIs, from RISE and the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE). The project aims at developing and demonstrating the energy efficiency and flexibility technologies for buildings in high-density cities to support the achievement of Carbon Neutrality goal in the GBA. The main objectives of the project include: (i). to develop system optimization technologies of buildings for enhanced energy efficiency and flexibility, (ii). to develop online optimal control technologies for energy efficiency and flexibility management of buildings, and (iii). to implement and demonstrate the system optimization and control technologies developed.   Congratulations to Dr Li!    

Prof. Gang LI’s research team achieve record 19.31% efficiency with organic solar cells

We are delighted to share with you that Professor Gang LI, our RISE Associate Director research team have a significant achievement – Achieving record 19.31% efficiency with organic solar cells. They invented a novel OSC morphology-regulating technique by using 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene as a crystallization regulator. This new technique boosts OSC efficiency and stability. It was published in Nature Communications in March 2023. For more details, please refer to https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2023/0529_polyu-researchers-achieve-record-efficiency/ Online coverage: News AZI - https://polyu.me/3ILCC5B Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3C0Zquj Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/43vXR3j Line Today - https://polyu.me/3N27oK5 Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/45E2GJC Toutiao - https://polyu.me/3N20Lap Baidu - https://polyu.me/3N1tjAT The Independent - https://polyu.me/3C4fkUW Yahoo UK - https://polyu.me/3oFR5Jm Newsbreak - https://polyu.me/3C4gmjw

PAIR Newsletter-Feature Story of Prof. Wai-yeung WONG Raymond

We are excited to share that Professor Wai-yeung WONG Raymond, Dean of the Faculty of Science (FS), our RISE Associate Director, Clarea Au Professor in Energy and Chair Professor of Chemical Technology is interviewed in PAIR Newsletter-Issue 6 June 2023 Feature Story-Chemist with superhuman vision saves the world with photofunctional materials. Through this Feature Story, you can be more familiar with Professor Wong, his motto and his research work.   Besides, if you want to review the previous programme of RTHK TV, you may visit here . Professor Wong shares his research on sustainable energy development and enhanced energy conversion technologies.  Come and join us to discover more about Professor Wong! 

PolyU joins charter to conserve energy with Kai Shing Management Services Limited

We are pleased to announced that Professor Shengwei WANG, Director of RISE is invited to collaborate with Kai Shing Management Services Limited (Kai Shing), conducting applicable researches. PolyU has joint an energy saving charter of Kai Shing, a subsidiary of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited, and other corporates with an aim of saving 3 million units of electricity in 24 months. Eight of the Properties under Kai Shing will be adopted with Smart air-conditioning control systems, for example, ICC, New Town Plaza, Metroplaza, Yoho Mall, Kowloon Commerce Centre…etc. PolyU has been working with Kai Shing since 2011 and together they have conserved 20 million units of electricity from 2012 to 2022.   Online coverage: Now TV - https://polyu.me/43bjwhz Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3ONQn7B Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/43zOdNd HK01 - https://polyu.me/3C62kxK Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/3MDuaGQ Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/3MIACwb

Our RISE Member Prof. Zhao XU’s collaborative project is awarded Gold medal in 45th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva

We are pleased to announce that our RISE member, Professor Zhao XU collaborates with The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), HKSAR, conducting a research project and won the Gold medal in 45th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva. It is a significant event, which provide a unique opportunity for industrial and commercial companies, universities, inventors ad researchers, associations, private and state organisms and institutions to present their inventions, the results of their research and their new products. RISE encourages members to collaborate with different institutions, government and industry, to conduct collaborative research projects in Energy field, brings the great impacts and contribute to the society. Prof. Zhao XU’s achievement represent their efforts on supporting Smart City development and achievement the carbon neutrality. Project: Integrated Self-sustained renewable-Energy Explorer (iSEE) RISE sincerely congratulate to Prof. XU and his research team!   Reference: Geneva Inventions Official Website: https://inventions-geneva.ch/en/about/ EMSD Official News: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202304/29/P2023042900411.htm?fontSize=1    

RISE Research: Intrinsically Stretchable, Semi-transparent Organic Photovoltaics with High Efficiency and Mechanical Robustness via A Full-Solution Process

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Gang LI and Dr Jiaming HUANG, our RISE members have a significant research finding regarding to solar cells. This paper is published in Energy & Environmental Science, Royal Society of Chemistry. Title: Intrinsically Stretchable, Semi-transparent Organic Photovoltaics with High Efficiency and Mechanical Robustness via A Full-Solution Process For more detail, please refer to https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EE03096A         Reference: News Release: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/DVxRqtkXvk5GUtIe3o7Q6A

Dr Bolong HUANG is Awarded with 2023 Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province-General Program

We are pleased to share that Dr Bolong HUANG, our RISE member and Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) has successfully awarded with 2023 Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province-General Program 2023年度廣東省基礎與應用基礎研究基金自然科學基金 - 面上項目. It is a funding from Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province (GDST) 廣東省科學技術廳, aims at supporting researchers to conduct fundamental researches and bringing impactful deliverables to benefit society. Through this Foundation, GDST would encourage the participation of Hong Kong and Macau young researchers, in order to facilitate the sustainable development of International Centre of Science and Innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This year, there are total 3,449 research projects are awarded. Under this competitive condition, the below project of Dr Huang is awarded with funding RMB 100,000 for three years. Project Title: Rational Design of Advanced Pd-based Electrocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction 理性設計先進鈀基催化劑實現高效二氧化碳還原 Congratulations to Dr Huang and wish him every success in his research!           Reference: News Release in the official website List of awarded projects

Dr Bolong HUANG, Our RISE Member is Recognized as Vebleo Fellow

Recently, Dr Bolong HUANG, our RISE member and Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology is recognized as Vebleo Fellow. Vebleo Fellow serves as a global honour, acknowledging researcher and scientist who has prominence and leadership in science, engineering and technology field. Vebleo Fellow is outstanding researcher or scientist, who is recommended by the committee members and executive board members. It is a recognition for Dr Huang’s significant researches, highlighting his outstanding and innovative achievement in his research field. Congratulations to Dr Huang!

Two Research Projects of Prof. Hongxing YANG, Our RISE Member are Awarded by Hong Kong Productivity Council

We are pleased to announce that two research projects which are led by Prof. Hongxing YANG, our RISE member are recognised as 2022年度深港環境創新優秀項目, which represent their efforts on green technologies application.   Hong Kong Productivity Council partner with Shenzhen Environmental Science Society (深圳市環境科學學會) and Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences (深圳市環境科學研究院), co-organised the 2022年深港生態環境科技創新交流活動.It aims at providing a platform for environmental industry, scientific research institutes and academia between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, to collaborate conduct innovative green technologies researches and exchange their valuable ideas. Kindly find the below project information for your reference.   Project Title: Development of Inline Hydropower Harvesting Systems for application in urban water supply pipelines 為智管網供能的自適應水力發電裝置 Investigators: Prof. Yang Hongxing, Dr Wang Qiliang, Mr Yao Yao, Mr Shen Zhicheng Abstract: Supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund, though collaborations with Water Supplies Department (WSD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government since 2012, four generations of the Inline Hydropower Harvesting Systems (IHHS) have been developed for power supply to the Water Intelligent Network (WIN) of local water supply pipelines for data monitoring purpose. The system includes a novel turbine, a generator and a smart controller. About 15-25 W electric power can be produced at water flow speed of 1.5 m/s in normal water pipelines. A demonstration system on a real water pipeline has been operated for more than 18 months. Significant labour and other maintenance costs can be saved if this novel system can be used throughout the WIN system in the future. Reliable power supply to the WIN system also means reliable and continuous data recording and transmission from the WIN system for protecting the local water supply pipelines.   Project Title: A Novel Indirect Evaporative Cooler for Enhanced Energy Recovery in Central Air-Conditioning Systems 高效能量回收間接蒸發冷卻器 Investigators: Prof. Yang Hongxing, Mr Shi Wenchao, Ms Ma Xiaochen Abstract: This novel Indirect Evaporative (IEC) technology can be used to recover energy from central air-conditioning systems for precooling fresh air by capturing the cooling potential of exhaust air from indoor space enhanced by water evaporation in the wet channels of its heat exchanger. A large wet-bulb depression of the secondary air can be achieved by using the exhaust air to evaporate sprayed water in wet channels, which facilitates the primary air-cooling process in dry channels for fresh air supply to buildings. This technology is especially developed for hot and humid regions like Hong Kong where the IEC can achieve sensible and latent heat recovery because of possible condensation deriving from highly humid fresh air. About 17-35% of the energy consumption for fresh air supply to commercial and public buildings can be saved depending on the operation hours and amount of fresh air supply of a central air-conditioning system. RISE sincerely congratulate to Prof. Yang and his research team!   Reference: HKPC Official Website: https://www.hkpc.org/zh-HK/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/2022/hkpc-sess-mou SZNEWS: https://www.sznews.com/news/content/2022-11/28/content_25483487.htm GBA Biz Tech Magazine: https://gbamag.com/hkpc-6/ SINA: https://shenzhen.sina.cn/news/2022-11-25/detail-imqqsmrp7552091.d.html?oid=3767788353469503&vt=4&cid=179200&node_id=179200 Sohu: https://www.sohu.com/a/610939145_121384220