Pro-Chancellor’s Seminar Series: Building a Material Wonderland—An AI + 3D/4D printing blueprint for a sustainable future
The convergence of additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced materials science holds great promise for building pathways to green, digital, and smart societies. These are underpinned by Industry 5.0 principles that integrate human-centric design with environmental responsibility, according to Professor Lu Jian, Dean of the College of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), speaking at the prestigious 5th Seminar of Pro-Chancellor’s Seminar Series.
By engineering materials from the atomic to macro scale, with AI intertwined with the entire design process, engineers can chart a course towards high-efficiency, low-carbon, and circular industrial systems with global applicability in transport, energy, healthcare, and aerospace.
Professor Lu’s talk covered AI-driven materials discovery, 3D/4D printing of high-performance materials, green hydrogen technologies, and the circular economy through recyclable additive manufacturing materials.
For AI-empowered materials design, Professor Lu noted that new technologies heralded multi-scale powers to detect defects, predict costs, and exert control over major engineering projects, enabling rapid but accurate predictions of mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical properties from the nanoscale upwards.
In terms of advanced additive manufacturing, i.e., 3D/4D printing, the key achievements included crack suppression in high-strength alloys via nanoparticle reinforcement, ultra-high fatigue resistance in alloys, and 4D printing of ceramics and polymers with programmable shape-morphing (e.g., origami structures, soft actuators).
“4D printing of soft and living matter is one of the most exciting developments because it will have a direct impact on the longevity of humans,” said Professor Lu, emphasising at the same time the future prospects of medical applications like 4D-printed stents, and drug delivery systems using magnetic microneedles.
What does the future hold in store? Professor Lu left imaginations whirring with thoughts of a “Material Wonderland” in which autonomous AI labs and multi-dimensional additive manufacturing foment disruptive, sustainable technologies.
Referencing legendary car designer Ferry Porsche’s comment that, having surveyed the available automobiles, he realised he would have to build his own dream car, Professor Lu concluded his seminar with the rallying call to develop new sustainable materials and structures with the same innovative spirit that drove Porsche.
The Pro-Chancellor’s Seminar Series, which commenced in November 2023, aims to leverage the vast network and expertise of Dr Chung Shui-ming, GBS, JP, Pro-Chancellor of the University. It features distinguished academics and professionals who share insights into cutting-edge developments across a broad range of fields.
