Functional piezoceramics can be used in sensors and actuators, yet brittleness of the material and its difficulty in shaping after fabrication have hindered its applications. A research led by a scientist from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has proposed a pioneering and simple fabrication method that combined heat and gravity, to produce functional, curved piezoceramics in a controllable manner.
Three world-class research centres have been established by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) in collaboration with renowned scholars from all around the world and research institutes under InnoHK, a vital initiative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to develop Hong Kong as a hub for global research collaboration.
Efficient cooling of hot surfaces is essential in different applications, from steel and aerospace industries to nuclear plants. But in physics, high temperature triggers the Leidenfrost effect, which makes liquid cooling on the hot surface ineffective. A research team led by scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has recently designed a structured thermal armour (STA) that achieves efficient liquid cooling even over 1,000°C, fundamentally solving a 266-year-old challenge presented by the Leidenfrost effect.
Metals usually soften when they expand under heating, but a research team led by a City University of Hong Kong (CityU)scholar and other researchers have discovered a first-of-its-kind super-elastic alloy that can retain its stiffness even after being heated to 1,000K (about 727℃) or above, with nearly zero energy dissipation. The team believes that the alloy can be applied in manufacturing high-precision devices for space missions.
Four research projects led by scholars at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) received grants worth HK$20.26 million in total from the inaugural Green Tech Fund under the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government. In terms of the number of projects and the total amount of grants, CityU earned the top position among all local universities, highlighting its excellence in scientific research and its commitment to developing innovative technology for carbon emission reduction and environmental protection.
Engineering bridges the gap between theory and practice by applying science and mathematics to turn discoveries into new innovations and technologies that are applicable to everyday life. Recent decades have seen an accelerating pace in engineering research and development in the fields of power systems, computers and artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications, aerospace, manufacturing, building, transportation, biomedical applications, robotics, and many others. The rapid changes brought about by engineering research has affected every aspect of society.
Droplet manipulation has important applications in areas such as heat management, water harvesting, and chemical reactions. A research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) developed a multi-functional electrostatic droplet tweezer that can precisely “trap” liquid droplets and remotely guide their motion on flat and tilted surfaces, and in oil mediums. Experiments showed that the tweezer can manipulate droplets of different volumes and with different components.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) received tremendous accolades at Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days (IGED) 2022 by winning a total of 22 awards, the highest number among local institutions for two years in a row, including one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, six Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals. Their success keenly demonstrates CityU’s outstanding research achievements.
To support hospitals in Hong Kong to handle the surge in the number of patients amid the fifth wave of COVID-19 in the city, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) modified its fast-track ventilation system invention to meet the practical needs on the medical front line. The system underwent clinical trial in February 2022 in the 24-hour Outpatient and Emergency Department (24-hr OED) of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (Gleneagles). The data has shown that the new system can effectively minimise the risk of cross-infection in the emergency room.
