HKUST Energy Institute Newsletter June 2017 Our Renewable Future Prof Tianshou Zhao Solar Cell Breaking World Record Prof Henry He Yan
IndexMessage from the Director 1 2Feature Story 6•• Low-cost, Efficient and Environmentally-friendly Solar Cell Breaking World 14 Record 16•• Our Renewable FutureResearch Project •• CRF Research on Cooling Effect for Smart Green Buildings Awarded HK$7.33M•• Joint HKUST-MIT Team Develops Advanced Smart HVAC Control System for Energy-efficient Building•• HK2.99M Awarded to Research on High Performance Cathode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries•• Ultrathin Flexible Heat Spreader for High Power ElectronicsNew Faculty •• Prof Qing Chen Joins MAE with Expertise in Energy MaterialsCommunity Engagement •• HKUST-Argonne Workshop Shedding Light on Energy Storage•• Roundtable on Clean and Low Carbon Transport Solutions•• HKUST Co-hosts Energy and Environment Forum under 10-Thousand-Talent Program•• Electrochemical Society’s First Student Chapter in Greater China Founded at HKUST
Message from the DirectorMessage from the DirectorW elcome to HKUST Energy Institute’s inaugural Prof Tianshou Zhao newsletter. It is with profound pleasure that Director of HKUSTwe now have the opportunity to share our ground- Energy Institutebreaking research projects, inform you about ourcommunity engagement activities and introduce Enhancing collaborationour outstanding faculty members. among faculty members acrossSince the founding of the Energy Institute (EI) in various disciplines is2012, it has been well-positioned to become of prime importance. This has been evidenceda leading international center for innovation, by an increase in applications for collaborativecollaborative energy research and an education hub projects such as the HKUST-MIT Alliance Project,to meet global energy challenges. With this strong RGC Theme-based Research Scheme and RGCfoundation, we continue to pursue multidisciplinary, Collaborative Research Fund (CRF).collaborative projects that go beyond traditionalacademic boundaries. We are thrilled to be able Our audience is not limited to professionals in theto leverage HKUST’s leading position and wealth field. Dedicated to broadening the educationalof energy expertise to foster partnerships among experience of students and the general public, weworld-class scientists. have organized lectures and workshops featuring renowned scholars on energy issues.Leveraging EI’s platform, we aim to establish avibrant interactive environment that brings together Looking forward, we will continue to strengthenacademia, government and industry locally and the dialogue among research disciplines, furtherinternationally to pursue transformative solutions engage in emerging research with a long-term andto tackle important energy issues. Our role is transformative impact on Hong Kong and China’sto connect these avenues to exchange ideas, energy future. We will also develop technologies,knowledge and conversation, and announce the strategies, policies and educational programs withfindings to our target audience and the public. the potential to offer impactful solutions to pressing near-term energy issues, as well as developOur multidisciplinary research, drawing on long- and organize undergraduate and postgraduatestanding collaborative links among HKUST, industry, educational energy programs to nurture the nextthe government as well as other internationally- generation of leaders in energy.renowned academic institutions, spans a diverseportfolio of interests with an emphasis on four These accomplishments and future plans haveprimary areas: energy generation, energy storage been made possible owing to your involvementand distribution, energy efficiency, and energy policy. and support. Sincerely hoping that you can join us in this mission, we welcome your participation,With ardent support from both internal and external insights and ideas.parties, we are pleased to have achieved initialsuccess in the past few years. Besides identifying 1four cutting-edge energy research focused areasmentioned earlier, the Central Energy ResearchLab (CERL) has also been set up to functionallyintegrate and facilitate cross-disciplinarycollaborative research.
Feature StoryLow-cost, Efficient andEnvironmentally-friendlySolar CellBreakingWorld Record Prof Henry He Yan Associate Professor of Chemistry Associate Director of HKUST Energy InstituteYou may have seen Si solar panels on rooftops by an institution in that are as heavy as a human being, but Hong Kong appearedcan you imagine that light-weight, flexible solar cell on the historic chart, whichpanels can be produced as easily as the printing records all the best efficiencyof newspapers? cells around the world over the past 40 years. The chart, consisting of values of highestThis is not a fantasy. conversion efficiencies for different types of solarThis is a real technology! cells since 1976, recently posted “Hong Kong UST” – an organic solar cell which yields efficiencies ofProf Henry He Yan, Associate Director of the up to 11.5 percent, as the latest world record forHKUST Energy Institute and Associate Professor emerging organic solar cells. This research wasof the Department of Chemistry, is working on a also published in the prestigious journal Naturerevolutionary solar cell technology called organic Energy in February 2016.solar cell (OSC). It is based on solution-printableorganic materials that are low-cost, efficient and Shortly after the publication, Prof Yan’s teamenvironmentally friendly. achieved another important breakthrough by discovering a new material system thatIn 2016, Prof Yan’s team developed a record- demonstrated ultrafast and efficient chargeefficient organic solar cell, which was listed on the separation despite a nearly zero charge separationrenowned “Best Research-Cell Efficiencies Chart”by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory inthe US. This is the first time a solar cell developed2
Feature StoryHKaPuoriroaJfniaHnLeginn,rZyhHeengYkaen L(mi, iHddualew) aeni Hduh,isYurehsaenagrcLhiut,eJaimng(bfroomZhraigohat)n: ddriving force, Best Research-Cell Efficiencies Chart bymeaning that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of themore environmentally-friendly United StatesOSCs may be able to have performanceas good as inorganic solar cells in future. This more on emerging organic solar cells. His researchresearch work led to a “back-to-back” publication at results in OSCs attracted worldwide attention. InNature Energy. Historically, the charge separation in December 2014, Prof Yan published a milestoneOSCs required a significant driving force – typically paper at Nature Communications which has now0.3 eV or higher – which has been a fundamental been cited over 1,250 times, making it by farlimitation for OSC’s development as the driving the most cited paper among over 3,000 Natureforce inevitably resulted in a large voltage loss in Communications articles published in 2014.OSC and limited its maximum achievable efficiency.Prof Yan’s breakthrough is set to remap the future During the past two years, Prof Yan’s team hasof OSC. Currently, the best-performing OSC only made major advances in emerging organic solarhas an efficiency of between 12 and 13 percent. cells and is considered one of the leading groups inWith the required driving force reduced to near the field. Prof Yan was also elected the Chair of thezero however, OSC’s maximum efficiency could be 2016 Gordon Conference on Hybrid Electronic andincreased to between 20 and 25 percent, a level Photonic Materials and Phenomena, and the Chairthat is comparable to the most advanced inorganic of 13th International Symposium on Functionalsolar cells nowadays. Pi-Electron Systems in 2017 at HKUST. Besides having outstanding achievements in research andProf Yan graduated from Peking University and winning the Research Award in 2015, Prof Yan wasobtained his PhD at Northwestern University in awarded the School of Science Teaching Award2004. Before joining HKUST in 2012, he led a in 2016, a recognition and appreciation to hisresearch group at Polyera Corporation – a leading outstanding teaching performance.company in the organic electronics industry. Hispublication of the first high-mobility n-type polymericsemiconductor on Nature was highlighted on thecover as the “new transistor age”. After joiningHKUST, Prof Yan’s research direction focuses 3
Feature StoryOur Renewable Future Prof Tianshou Zhao Director of HKUST Energy Institute Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Prototype model fuel cell carP ollutant emissions are largely a byproduct years of our need for energy generation and through his ground-transportation, which today are usually powered breaking work on direct alcohol fuel cellsby fossil fuels, namely oil, coal and gas. One and advanced battery technologies.major emission is carbon dioxide, a greenhousegas that contributes directly to global warming Prof Zhao sees immense potential in fuel cells aswhen generated in quantities that outstrip nature’s an alternative source of energy. Fuel cells generateassimilative capacity. Others, such as particulate electricity through converting the chemicalmatter, are toxic to human health. Yet currently, energy of a fuel such as hydrogen, ethanol andonly 2% of energy is derived from “clean air” methanol, all of which can be directly producedrenewables, such as wind and solar. from renewable sources. Fuel cells have high efficiency of around 65%, compared with 30%-The key challenges for renewables include 35% for traditional heat engines. In addition, theystability in generation, on-tap availability and cost- are scalable and can be applied to a wide rangeefficiency. Wind farms require large areas of land of modern lifestyle devices and needs, includingand highly efficient solar panels are often expensive cars, mobile phones, computers and buildings.to produce. Both face an “intermittent generation”problem and energy storage to cover such gaps The main problem with alcohol fuel cells has beenremains a huge challenge. low power density, the amount of power produced in relation to the volume of the cell. Based onProf Tianshou Zhao has been advancing the his seminal work on the underlying mechanismpotentials for wider use of clean energy for the past 154
Feature Storyof couple heat/ Vanadium redox flow batterymass energy transferand electrochemical kinetics in fuel Coupling of heat and mass transfer with electrochemistrycells, Prof Zhao discovered that the issue lay inintegrating the understanding of heat and mass component from the power pack, meaning thattransport, and electrochemistry. power and capacity can be independently sized, making the technology scalable. The batteryWith such insight, a new theoretical framework lifespan is also increased.was developed, which led to a dramatic increase Prof Zhao’s unusual blend of electrochemistryin the performance of direct methanol fuel cells by and thermos-fluid science is indicative of the non-six times and that of direct ethanol fuel cells by four traditional approach encouraged by HKUST. Histimes. Prof Zhao has demonstrated a prototype team comprises expertise ranging from materialsmodel car that runs for 10 hours on 5cc of alcohol and modeling to fluid sciences and electro-fuel. And an MP3 player that plays for 20 hours on chemistry.2cc of fuel. The researchers have also discoveredthat hydrogen can evolve spontaneously from adirect methanol fuel cell. This has given rise to anew technique for hydrogen production at roomtemperature minus the carbon monoxide speciescommon to traditional methanol reformation.Such theory and discoveries have helped ProfZhao’s research group to tackle further relatedissues through electrode design improvementsfor large-scale redox flow battery technologiesthat can help solve the “intermittent generation”problem for renewables such as solar and windby raising power density. In contrast to solid statebatteries that integrate energy storage and powerpack together, a flow battery separates the storageProf Zhao and his research team 5
Research ProjectCRF Research on Cooling Effect for Smart Green Buildings Awarded HK$7.33MProf Christopher ChaoChair Professor and Head of Mechanicaland Aerospace EngineeringA research team led by Prof Christopher HVAC energy consumption and the electricity Chao, Chair Professor of Mechanical and demand.Aerospace Engineering (MAE), has been awardedHK$6.18 million by the Collaborative Research The proposed ITEC system is built using SGWP,Fund (CRF) of the Research Grants Council (RGC), a panel that combines two different technologies:together with an equipment matching of HK$ 1.15 a plasmonic structured passive radiative coolermillion from the University for a three-year project and a hydrophobic-based vanadium oxide (VO2)“Study of Cooling Effect by Surface Treatment and thermochromic smart window.its Application to Smart Green Buildings”. The problem with existing technology is that,In many countries and areas including Hong Kong, to realize net radiative cooling below ambientmore than 30% of electricity consumption in the air temperature, a strong reflection of sunlightresidential and commercial sectors is for space and a strong emission of thermal radiation withconditioning. Reducing energy consumed in space a wavelength within the atmospheric windowconditioning is thus an essential requirement for a (8–13μm) must be achieved simultaneously. Thissmart green building. This is especially important to is extremely difficult to realize using conventionalHong Kong where the abundance of sunlight in the optical coatings.tropics results in buildings experiencing significantsolar heat gain, leading to extensive use of air- The project seeks to develop a passive radiativeconditioning (AC) to ensure comfort, health and cooler based on plasmonics technology. Byproductivity of occupants. changing the plasmonic pattern, the optical properties of photonic devices can be tailored forThe project aims to design and develop a smart different spectral regimes, providing great potentialgreen wall panel (SGWP) for buildings, providing to enhance radiative cooling.a solution for building thermal management – anIndoor Thermal Environment Control (ITEC) System. However, even with passive radiative coolers onThe ITEC system controls the solar heat gain to SGWPs to cool the indoor air, substantial energy isthe buildings, thus reducing indoor air temperature, still received or lost through the windows. To deal6
with this, a thermochromic smart window will be Research Projectfurther developed which automatically changes theintensity of the light passing through it to reduce the From left to right: Baoling Huang, Huihe Qiu, Chiyan Tso,energy demand for heating, cooling and lighting. Christopher Chao, and Shuhuai Yao.A nano-structured, self-cleaning and hydrophobicmaterial will be coated on top of the smart windows Design of a plasmonicto enhance its visible transmittance. Such coatings based passive radiativehave been explored for photovoltaic cells, but coolernever for smart windows. Structure of VO2Lastly, the project will evaluate the effectiveness thermochromic smartof the ITEC system on thermal management in a window with PDMScombined system setting. The impact of the ITECsystem on indoor thermal comfort will also be Graphical illustration ofstudied by monitoring a suite of thermal comfort an ITEC system andparameters, such as indoor air temperature, relative system test bedhumidity, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, airflow distribution and location of ventilation units. With Prof Christopher Chao as the Principal Investigator, team members include HKUST MAE’sThe project boasts the benefits of being Prof Baoling Huang, Prof Shuhuai Yao, Prof Huiheenvironmentally friendly. The passive radiative Qiu and Prof Edwin Tso, Prof Kin-Man Yu fromcooler belongs to a technology of sustainability; the Department of Physics and Materials Scienceit is a “green” cooling strategy which requires no of City University of Hong Kong, and Prof Man-electricity nor refrigerants and is therefore one of Pun Wan from the School of Mechanical andthe most environmentally-friendly options among Aerospace Engineering of Nanyang Technologicalvarious space cooling techniques available. The University, Singapore. Prof Chao, as Head andthermochromic smart window can smartly control Chair Professor of MAE, has over 20 years ofthe amount of solar heat to the buildings. R&D experience in thermal and environmental engineering covering indoor air science, energy-Together, they mean reduced air-conditioning efficient building technology and energy engineeringand heating loads and a better indoor thermal and with proven record in thermofluids, energy andenvironment. The combination will provide a the built environment.thermal management solution—an ITEC system. Insummer, there is reduction in transmitted solar heat 7gain. In winter, infrared radiation is allowed into thebuildings to maintain a warm indoor environment.The resultant SGWPs not only have energy-savingpotential, but will also enhance health and comfort,making buildings both greener and smarter. Theycan be retrofitted to existing buildings as well asinstalled in new ones.The outcomes of this project will dramaticallychange building styles and constitute abreakthrough in research on built environmentsand building technology.
Research Project Joint HKUST-MIT Team Develops Advanced Smart HVAC Control System for Energy-efficient Building Prof Yi-Kuen Lee Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringA multidisciplinary team consisting of world- To address the issue, it is extremely critical to leading researchers from HKUST and MIT, develop a new energy-efficient building technologyled by Prof Yi-Kuen Lee, Associate Professor of with low carbon footprint. Two Gt of carbonMechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), has dioxide needs to be saved by 2050, accordingbeen awarded HK$10 million by the Innovation and to the technology roadmap of OECA/IEA. This isTechnology Fund under the HKUST-MIT Research especially important to the expanding population inScheme for a two-year project “Smart Adaptive the urban area.Control/Monitoring System for Energy EfficientBuildings with Low Carbon Footprint and CMOS On the other hand, the advance of semiconductorMEMS Sensors and Smart Actuators”, renewable industry in the past several decades has enabledfor another two years with deliverables achieved. low-cost high-performance computers following Moore’s law, data storage devices and the internet.This project is to develop a smart heating, ventilation The Internet of Things (IoT), with more low-costand air conditioning (HVAC) control system to MEMS sensors and actuators, will be the nextenable energy-efficient building in view of the emerging technology. Sensors are one of the fiveworld’s pressing energy resources and emission pillars for IoT, according to the chief economistproblems. of Consumer Electronics Association Dr Shawn DuBravac.With the world’s population reaching 7.3 billionin 2015 and 11.2 billion in 2100, and with over In Hong Kong which has the world’s second70% of the population living in cities by 2050, it is highest carbon footprint per capita, operatingforecasted that the earth’s limited energy resources buildings account for more than 50% of total energywill be depleted in the near future. In addition, consumption. In most other countries, operatingthe global increase of carbon dioxide emission buildings account for 30-40% of total energyis gradually resulting in extreme climate change consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Therearound the world. is great potential for significantly reducing these8
Research Projectfigures and the associated carbon footprint. HVAC sensor/energysystems, in particular, account for almost 40% of sensor with integratedthe major sources of energy use in buildings. microelectronics using commercial CMOS MEMS foundry. The actuators includeIn this joint HKUST-MIT project, the team will low-cost smart windows, personalized ventilationconduct collaborative research to develop key IoT (PV) systems with integrated sensors. The smarttechnologies, techniques and tools for energy- HVAC controller will incorporate the advancedefficient building with low carbon footprint. It will building modeling and artificial intelligencealso provide outreach to Hong Kong’s building algorithms.industry to upgrade the existing technology, aswell as educate the next generation of scientists The team is working with HKUST’s Facilityand engineers to work on highly interdisciplinary Management Office (FMO) to develop a workingresearch in energy-efficient building. prototype of the proposed system in a demo room of the University towards the end of the project. InThe team will integrate smart sensors, actuators addition, they plan to promote the technology toand artificial intelligence algorithms to develop a new government office buildings and industries in Hongsmart HVAC control system to significantly reduce Kong and Mainland China.energy consumption in commercial buildings. Thesmart sensors to be developed include low-cost The HKUST-MIT multidisciplinary team consistsCMOS MEMS thermal flow sensor/temperature of world-leading researchers in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, namely HKUST’s Prof Christopher Chao and Prof Yi-Kuen Lee, and MIT’s Prof Nicholas Fang; Electrical and Computer Science Engineering, namely HKUST’s Prof Lei Chen, MIT’s Prof Gregory Wornell and Prof Lizhong Zheng; Building Technology and Architecture Engineering, namely Prof Jane Weizhen Lu and MIT’s Prof Leon Glicksman. 9
Research ProjectHK2.99M Awarded to Research onHigh Performance CathodeMaterials forLithium-ion BatteriesProf Minhua Shao Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Associate Director of HKUST Energy InstituteA team led by Prof Minhua Shao, Associate intrinsic properties of the active materials at the Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular anode and cathode. Energy density of LIB is mainlyEngineering and Associate Director of the HKUST limited by cathode materials since the capacityEnergy Institute, has recently been awarded of graphite (370 mA h g-1) at the anode is muchHK$2.99 million by the Innovation and Technology higher than that of common cathode materials,Fund (ITF) to develop high-performance materials such as LiCoO2 (140 mA h g-1). For this reason,for lithium-ion batteries. tremendous efforts have been made to develop more advanced cathode materials.Lithium-ion battery Among cathode materials, the layer-structuredSince their first commercialization in the 1990s, oxides LiMO2 (M = Ni, Co, Mn) can provide alithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become the relatively higher theoretical capacity (>270 mAhdominant power sources for various electronic g-1) and operating voltage (>3.6 V vs. Li/Li+).devices and energy storage solutions. In recent Layered LiCoO2 which has been impressivelyyears, LIBs have been applied to electric vehicles successful in small LIBs is not the preferred choice(EVs) as the main power source due to their for those in EVs partially due to its safety issueshigh energy density, low maintenance, and long and a relatively small capacity. During the pastcalendar life, to replace lead acid and nickel-metal decade, great efforts have been devoted to Li-hydride batteries. The wide adoption of EVs will rich layered oxides (LLO), xLi2MnO3·(1–x)LiMO2significantly reduce air pollution and CO2 emission (0<x<1, M=transition metals) and Ni-rich layeredarising from conventional combustion engine cars. oxides (LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, NCM) due to their high capacity. These materials, however, haveA rechargeable LIB is typically made up of a poor cyclability and rate capability due to structuralcathode and an anode, which are separated by changes and side reactions on surfaces.a porous membrane in a non-aqueous electrolyte.Performance of LIB is strongly dependent on10
Research ProjectUniform spherical Ni-Co-Mn carbonate particles before sintering to make Li-rich layered oxideHigh-performance battery materialsThis project aims to synthesize spherical Besides morphology of active materials, this projecthierarchical microstructure LLO and NCM will also try to develop a scalable surface coatingconsisting of hundreds of primary nanostructures. method to improve the volumetric energy densities,The microsized spherical secondary particles rate capabilities and long-term cyclic stability ofcan provide a high tap density resulting in a more LLO and NCM battery materials. A thin (a few nm)compact electrode layer, which helps attain high carbon-based layer doped with heteroatoms willvolumetric energy and power densities. In addition, be coated on the pristine LLO and NCM particles.spherical assemblies can provide excellent This carbon layer will reduce side reactions ofstructural stability and reduce side reactions of electrolytes, improve electric conductivity andelectrolytes, and thus guarantees better cycle enhance stability of active materials.performance. On the other hand, the nanosizedprimary particle provides a short diffusion length This project is supported by several industrialfor Li ions and is key to enhancing electrochemical partners including Hong Kong Fortune Greenreaction kinetics and rate capability. LLO materials Engineering Technologies, Shenzhen BAK Battery,with spherical hierarchical microstructures are vital Guangzhou Great Power & Energy Technology,to achieve good electrochemical performance. and Hangzhou LIAO Technology. Prof Minhua Shao and his research teamCrystal structure of layered oxides (yellow balls are Li) 11
Research ProjectUltrathin Flexible Heat Spreaderfor High Power Electronics Prof Huihe Qiu Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering From left: Yingzhuan Yang, Research Assistant; Prof Huihe Qiu; Minghao He, PhD candidate (MAE)A team led by Prof Huihe Qiu, Professor of Previous studies show that phase change liquid Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, cooling has great potential in providing heat removalhas been awarded HK$2.88 million by the solution, in comparison with the conventional air-Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) to develop cooling system. Phase change cooling techniquean ultrathin, flexible heat spreader for thermal is a promising technique to meet the requirementsmanagement of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), power of high heat flux, high heat transfer coefficient, lowelectronics, flexible displays, smart phones, and noise and small scale. It has been known thatmore. To prolong the lifecycle and increase reliability surface characteristics have significant impact onof these devices, thermal management or heat heat transfer performance in phase change coolingremoval has become increasingly important. It has technique. A superhydrophobic surface canbecome a crucial issue in the further development significantly enhance the heat transfer coefficientof high-power electronics, such as high power (HTC), whereas liquid wetting on the surfaceenergy-efficient LEDs, ultrathin smartphones and will result in high critical heat flux (CHF) when aflat display panels, lithium ion battery packs and hydrophilic surface is used. Although HTC can benotebook computers, due to the high operating improved when the surface is superhydrophobic,current densities causing hot spots and heat all hydrophobic surfaces have a common problem:dissipation. Furthermore, new-generation ultrathin as the surface hydrophobicity increases, theflexible smartphones and display panels require bubble emission frequency decreases while theflexible and thin heat spreaders for high efficient bubble departure diameter increases. As a result,heat removal. The availability of flexible, low-cost, the CHF will be reduced and will become easilyhigh-heat transfer coefficient and high critical heat dried out. This drawback has a significant effect onflux technology could profoundly transform thermal designing ultrathin flexible heat spreader becausemanagement of those devices. the working fluid is very limited in microspace.12
Research Project Key components of ultrathin flexible heat spreader, chemical pattern schematics and nanostructured superhydrophilic surfaceNovel design and technologies Prof Qiu graduated from Tianjin University and received his PhD degree from Institute of FluidThe key technologies used in this project are Mechanics (LSTM) at the University of Erlangen,based on the team’s recent findings that utilize Germany in 1994. His research interests focusedultrathin biphilic multiscale chemically patterned on fluid dynamics, heat transfer, microscalemicro/nano wick structures and hydrophobic/ multiphase flow and bioinspired flights. Prof Qiusuperhydrophobic dots to control and optimize is Editor-in-Chief/Editor/Associate Editor of fournucleation sites in a microscale. The nucleation international journals. Prof Qiu is the General Chairsite density and evaporation rate can be increased 10th International Symposium on Measurementsignificantly. The biphilic chemical pattern design Techniques for Multiphase Flow (2017), Generaland micro/nano multiscale structure fabrication Chair of Asian Symposium on Computationaltechniques are crucial to improve effective thermal Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow (2013), Co-Chairmanconductivity of the ultrathin flexible heat spreader. of 8th Asian Computational Fluid DynamicsAsymmetrical arrangement in micro/nano structure Conference (2010), and Vice Chairman of 9thand chemical patterns will be used to manipulate Asian Symposium of Visualization (2007). He iscapillary flows and optimize evaporation and the recipient of the Best Paper Award of Institutecondensation in order to achieve a very high HTC of Physics (IOP) in 1994, Philips Outstandingand high CTF in ultrathin flexible heat spreaders. Paper Award in the International Conference on Electronic Packaging Technology and High DensityThe total thickness of the ultrathin flexible heat Packaging (2012), ASME Best Poster Awardspreader will be less than 200µm; its in-plane (2010), Best Paper Award, 2nd World Congresseffective thermal conductivity will be larger than on Mechanical, Chemical, Material Engineering1,600 W/(mK), which is about four times higher (2016), The State Scientific and Technologicalthan that of a copper heat spreader. Its density Progress Award (SSTPA) and the Scientific andwill be less than 2.5 g/cm3, which is less than the Technological Achievement Award from the Statedensity of aluminum (2.7 g/cm3). Due to very low Education Commission. In addition, Prof Qiu ismaterial cost, the price of the flexible heat spreader dedicated to education and has been awardedwill be extremely low. twice the School of Engineering Teaching Award in 1996 and 2010 respectively. 13
New FacultyProf Qing Chen Joins MAE withExpertise in Energy Materials Prof Qing Chen Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringProf Qing Chen joined HKUST in August 2016. nature of his research concerning materials He is primarily affiliated to the Department of electrochemistry and energy storage. He currentlyMechanical and Aerospace Engineering, while conducts research in the Energy Central Researchjointly appointed to the Department of Chemistry. Lab as a core faculty member of the HKUST EnergySuch a joint position manifests the multidisciplinary Institute.Organic redox flow battery Nanoporous Metal by DealloyingA lab-scale flow battery that stores energy in colorful A dezincified brass is a dealloyed alloy that may containelectrolytes of active organic molecules. When scaled up for nanometer size pores and metal ligaments. This type ofgrid applications, the electrolytes will be much bigger than intriguing nanostructures has excelled in many energythe cell so as to store energy for longer duration. applications, including catalysis and energy storage.14
New Faculty Prof Chen (second from left) discussing with students in the labNanoporous metal high-performance catalyst for reactions including oxygen reduction and carbon monoxide oxidation.Prof Chen currently divides his group’s focus into When the foam comprises base metal like zinc ortwo areas. The first one deals with nano-structure lead, a metal-battery can use it as an electrode offormation via selective dissolution, the best large specific area, high dimensional stability, highexample of which is dealloying, i.e. the selective conductivity and short ionic diffusion distance.dissolution of alloys. A common phenomenon More importantly, Prof Chen’s group is developingconstantly occurring around us, dealloying is protocols based on abundant compounds insteadbehind many detrimental corrosion and stress of alloys to eliminate the costly and laborious stepcorrosion processes. Prof` Chen’s group is trying of alloy manufacturing. This will greatly simplifyto turn this around, by applying the process in the the fabrication of porous metal and pave the pathfabrication of metallic foam of pores as small as towards more nanoporous materials.a few nanometers. When such foam is made ofnoble metal like gold or silver, it stands out as aOrganic molecules for energy storage of battery designed for long discharge duration at a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion batteries.The other research area of Prof Chen’s group The molecules can also crystalize to serve astargets grid-scale energy storage. With the intercalation electrodes of sodium ions in adropping cost of solar and wind energy, cost- saltwater battery. Combining organic synthesiseffective energy storage has become the biggest with electrochemistry, Prof Chen’s group aims totechnical obstacle on the path towards energy revamp batteries from the smallest scale possiblesustainability. Both solar and wind energy are for the diverse needs of future energy storage.intermittent and requires storage for hours ofdischarging when the sun is not shining and wind Prior to joining HKUST, Prof Chen was a postdocis not blowing. The key requirement in this type of at the John A. Paulson School of Engineeringenergy storage is low cost, so that the renewable and Applied Science at Harvard University, afterenergy can compete with the dirt-cheap fossil fuels. receiving his PhD in materials science from ArizonaProf Chen’s group believes that highly abundant State University and his bachelor in polymerorganic molecules can be the solution. The team science from Zhejiang University. He was originallydraws inspiration from nature, where redox-active from Wenzhou in the Zhejiang province but he hasmolecules function as cofactors and promoters in yet shown any interest in starting his own business.biochemical processes. When tailored to the rightmolecular structures, they can dissolve in aqueouselectrolytes to power redox flow batteries, a type 15
Community EngagementHKUST-Argonne Workshop Shedding Light on Energy StorageHKUST Energy Institute and US’ Argonne The Joint HKUST-Argonne National Laboratory National Laboratory held a joint workshop Workshop on Energy Storage Systems featuredon Energy Storage Systems at HKUST in January Argonne’s Dr Khalil Amine giving an overview ofto kick-off collaborations. Renowned international the Lab and speaking on advanced high energyspeakers from Argonne and Stanford University chemistries for automotive batteries. Prof Yi Cuijoined hands with prominent local speakers to from Stanford explored ways to revive lithium metalshare research findings and explore collaboration anode through materials design.potentials. As a host of the workshop, HKUST’s Tony F Chan,Energy shortage is one of the world’s pressing President, and Prof Tianshou Zhao, Director ofissues. Renewable resources such as solar and HKUST Energy Institute, delivered welcomingwind energy, though being clean and eco-friendly remarks.alternatives to non-renewable energies, haveproblems of unpredictability and intermittency Speakers from Hong Kong included Prof Kwong-which hinder their widespread adoption. The Yu Chan from the University of Hong Kong, ProfWorkshop is dedicated to the need for actionable Haitao Huang from the Hong Kong Polytechnicand cost-effective solutions to energy storage for University, Prof Yi-Chun Lu from the Chineserenewable energies. University of Hong Kong, Prof Kaili Zhang from the City University of Hong Kong, and Prof GuohuaThe Argonne National Laboratory has been Chen, Prof Qing Chen and Prof Minhua Shao fromsignificantly contributing to energy innovations and HKUST.construction of scientific disciplines, thriving oncollaborations with universities, industry and othernational laboratories.16
Community EngagementRoundtable on Clean andLow Carbon Transport SolutionsBioethanol as a Source of Clean FuelWhereas Hong Kong’s public transportation Biology and Chemistry, and Prof Tianshou Zhao, network has the reputation of being one of Director of HKUST Energy Institute.the world’s most connected and well-maintainedsystems, the local street-level pollution and smog Ms Helena Storm, Consul General of Sweden infrom transport systems, especially from motor Hong Kong, presented the case of sustainablevehicles, has also been one of the major air quality public transport system in Sweden which Hongchallenges in Hong Kong. In response to the Kong may take as reference.HKSAR government’s efforts to reduce emissions,HKUST Energy Institute and HKU SPACE co- Professors, researchers, government officials andhosted the High Level Roundtable on Clean and industry professionals went on to discuss theLow Carbon Transport Solutions this February, possibility of using bioethanol as an alternative fuel.sponsored by Scania, to explore clean and low Bioethanol not only can achieve up to 90% carboncarbon fuel for motor vehicles. reduction, but also attain effective road-side emission control in comparison to Euro VI diesel.The Roundtable provided a great platform for The main sources used to produce bioethanol arestakeholders from government, institutions and crops that contain sugar and starch, such as sugarindustry to tackle the pollution issues, particularly cane, corn, and sweet sorghum. Therefore, the usestreet-level pollution in relation to diesel vehicles, of bioethanol buses would become a promisingtrucks, buses and light buses, and to explore technology trend due to the raising demand of apotential solutions. The Roundtable focused on the clean and low carbon transportation.essentials for a truly clean and low carbon transportsystem; the future of bio-renewables, especially Representatives from HKUST included Profbioethanol, from business and environmental Tianshou Zhao, Director of HKUST Energyperspectives; and the development of sustainable Institute and Chair Professor of Mechanical andtransport systems for Hong Kong and mainland Aerospace Engineering (MAE), Prof Minhua Shao,China. Associate Director of HKUST Energy Institute and Associate Professor of Chemical and BiomolecularWelcome remarks were given by Ms Anissa Wong, Engineering (CBME), Prof Christopher Chao, Headformer Permanent Secretary for Environment, Prof and Chair Professor of MAE, as well as Prof LiNora Tam from City University’s Department of Shi Zhong who is the Energy Institute’s Visiting Professor from Tsinghua University. 17
Community EngagementHKUST Co-hosts Energy andEnvironment Forums under10-Thousand-Talent Program Prof Joseph H W Lee, HKUST Vice-President, and Prof Wang Cheng, President of Lanzhou University delivered opening remarksHKUST Energy Institute, dedicated to excellent environment forums and youth camps. They energy research and education, advance created precious collaborative platforms amonglearning and knowledge locally, regionally and professors, researchers and students.internationally. In view of China’s 10-Thousand-Talent Program under the Ministry of Education The forums cum youth camps aimed to create(MoE) which thrives on exchange of students and synergy among Mainland and Hong Kong’sresearchers of tertiary institutions in Macau and academia as well as postgraduate studentsHong Kong with Mainland China, HKUST joins in energy and environmental engineering inhands with leading Mainland universities to facilitate anticipation of potential collaborations and R&Dknowledge creation, academic and research opportunities. Facilitating scholarly research,collaborations. academic visits and practicum with a special focus on professional, technical and cultural exchange,The University collaborated with Wuhan University they enabled the experts and students in innovationand Lanzhou University in June and October and education to engage in fruitful knowledge andlast year respectively to co-host energy and insights sharing.18
Community EngagementWuhan and the Three Gorges Participants then engaged in a one-day technical visit to the Changjiang Water ResourcesThe HKUST-Wuhan University Joint Environment Commission (CWRC), the Hubei and Wuhanand Hydraulics Research Collaboration Workshop Environment Monitoring Center and the Keycum Innovation Youth Camp were held in Wuhan Laboratory of Geotechnical Mechanics andlast October. Professors and young researchers Engineering of Ministry of Water Resources offrom the two universities engaged in meaningful China, followed by a two-day technical field tripdiscussions on the theme of energy and to the Three Gorges. The field trip to the Threeenvironment, especially hydraulics, water ecological Gorges, where participants acquired first-handenvironment, urban air quality and climate change understanding of the milestone project on theduring the workshop on the first day, followed by a Yangtze River, brought the five-day exchange to avisit to Wuhan University’s environmental laboratory. meaningful finale.Lanzhou and the Silk Road As a historical city on the Silk Road, Lanzhou has more to offer. Participants thus enjoyed a two-dayThe HKUST-Lanzhou University Joint Energy and cultural trip, visiting Dunhuang’s world-renownedEnvironment Symposium cum Innovation Youth Buddhist remnants and the 600-year-old strategicCamp were held in Lanzhou last June with the pass and fortress of Jiayuguan to appreciatetheme of energy and environmental technologies. ancient China’s bustling commercial and culturalThe program consisted of one-and-a-half days of activities as well as self-defense.academic symposium, during which presentationson solar panel, air, purification, energy-efficient The in-depth academic, scientific and culturalintegrated circuits and environmental analysis etc activities have been successful in providing thewere given. academia and scientists with a comprehensive understanding of China’s technologicalDuring the subsequent one-and-a-half days of advancement and cultural heritage, as well asfacility and technical visit, attendees visited the fostering collaborations among the experts inenergy and environment laboratories and facilities mainland China and Hong Kong.of Lanzhou University which boasts two nationalstate key laboratories, six MoE key laboratories 19as well as research centers under MoE and theNational Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC).
Community Engagement Prof Scherson met with Student Chapter membersElectrochemical Society's First Student Chapter in Greater China Founded at HKUSTHKUST is pleased to have founded the first and The Student Chapter was honored to have Prof only Student Chapter of the Electrochemical Daniel A Scherson, ECS’ immediate past President,Society (ECS) in Greater China in June last year, to witness its establishment. Prof Scherson is theand in so doing the University has joined the other world-renowned electrochemist and Frank Hovorka63 active ECS Student Chapters around the Professor of Chemistry from the US’ Case Westernworld to advance theory, practice, research and Reserve University. He received many prestigiousknowledge dissemination in the field. awards including the IBM Faculty Development Award and the David C Grahame Award of theECS, a century-old international non-profit Physical Electrochemistry Division of ECS, just toeducational organization, has notable members name a few.including Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, the‘Father of Modern Electrochemistry’ Allen Bard, At the kick-off at HKUST, Prof Scherson gaveand Esther Takeuchi who invented the battery for a seminar about the oxidation dynamics of well-pacemakers. defined CO on Pt surfaces which attracted enthusiastic response from audiences. TheThe ECS HKUST Student Chapter, advised by Prof Professor, specializing in linear and nonlinearMinhua Shao, Associate Professor of Chemical and spectroscopic and structural techniques for theBiomolecular Engineering (CBME) and Associate in situ monitoring of interfacial electrochemicalDirector of the HKUST Energy Institute (EI), and reactions, met student members and gave adviceProf Francesco Ciucci, Assistant Professor of on research and career development in relatedMechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and fields.CBME, and chaired by PhD student Lulu Zhang(CBME), has members of postgraduate students Since its founding, the Student Chapter hasfrom various departments including CBME, MAE organized many seminars for HKUST students asand Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). well as workshops for secondary school students.20
Community EngagementThe Student Chapter volunteered in several fuel Students assembled the fuel cell vehicle, generatecell vehicle workshops for secondary school hydrogen and run the fuel cell by themselves in thestudents with Prof Minhua Shao’s guidance WorkshopProf Guohua Chen, former Department Head introduced four technologies (fuel cell, electrolyzer,of CBME, was invited as the speaker at a solar cell and battery) which play significant roleslecture on communications skills for postgraduate in renewable and clean energy systems. In thestudents. Sharing personal experiences and citing Workshop, battery and solar cell were used toexamples from many of his previous lectures, power electrolyzer to spit water in order to generateProf Chen elaborated on his insights on effective hydrogen, which was then collected as fuel in apresentations. Highlighted tips included articulated fuel cell to power a small vehicle. Students werepronunciations and projected voice accompanied requested to assemble fuel cell vehicle, generateby gestures and facial expressions, as well as hydrogen and run fuel cells on their own. Throughpreparation of concise slides with highlights, etc. these Workshops, they also learned about the importance of renewable energy technologiesThe Student Chapter also volunteered to organize in environmental protection and sustainableseveral fuel cell vehicle workshops for secondary development.school students with Prof Minhua Shao’s guidance,such as the Engineering Summer Camp, WISE Looking forward, the Student Chapter plans toCamp, JA Engineering Discovery Day, and the organize more activities including distinguishedAcademy for Bright Future Young Engineers. lectures, annual poster/seminar gatherings, workshops etc. It aims to become a main platformThe goal of these Workshops was to spark high- for social and idea exchange for all students inschool students’ enthusiasm in engineering, in the fields of electrochemistry and electrochemicalthe hope that they will pursue related studies in engineering.future. For example, one of these workshops 21
ei.ust.hk4/F, Cheng Yu Tung BuildingThe Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyClear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 2017 © HKUST Energy Institute
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