NEWS
Professor Wei Ren appointed as the Programme Director of EEEN Programme
Professor Wei Ren is appointed as the Programme Director of Energy and Environmental Engineering Programme.
Prof. Yi-Chun Lu’s research on sustainable batteries published in Nature Sustainability
The research of Professor Yi-Chun Lu and her team on sustainable batteries has been published in Nature Sustainability, an online journal that publishes the best research about sustainability from the natural and social sciences, as well as from the fields of engineering and policy.
The team use hydrotropic solubilization (common strategy in pharmaceutical science for increasing drug solubility) to create eco-friendly and intrinsically safe battery electrolytes.
Paper Title: Hydrotropic solubilization of zinc acetates for sustainable aqueous battery electrolytes
Authors: Dejian Dong, Tairan Wang, Yue Sun, Jun Fan & Yi-Chun Lu
VTech Innovation and Sustainability Award 2021/22
We are pleased to announce that five students in the MAE Department have been awarded the VTech Innovation and Sustainability Award 2021/22 for their outstanding final year projects with elements of ‘Innovation’ and ‘Sustainability’.
Congratulations to all awardees!
The VTech Innovation and Sustainability Award is the initiative of VTech Group of Companies (VTech) to promote innovation and awareness of sustainability. The Award is open to final-year undergraduate students studying Energy and Environmental Engineering (EEEN) or Mechanical and Automation Engineering (MAEG) in the academic year 2021/22.
With a generous donation from VTech, the Award recognizes and rewards students for their final year projects which demonstrate excellence in developing innovative technology to improve sustainability of human life.
The five students were nominated to give a presentation and attend the award presentation ceremony at VTech Office on 30 June 2022. The judging panel comprised representatives from VTech and MAE Department, namely Dr. Allan Wong (Chairman and Group CEO of VTech), Dr. King Pang (Group President of VTech), Mr. Hillson Cheung (President of VTech), Prof. Dongyan Xu (Professor of MAE Department) and Prof. Darwin Lau (Associate Professor of MAE Department).
We would like to thank VTech for its effort to promote innovation and awareness of sustainability in CUHK.
Professor Lu Yi-chun’s start-up wins international energy competition and establishes strategic partnership with Towngas
Luquos Energy, a start-up incubated by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), won the Bronze Award in the TERA-Award Smart Energy Innovation Competition organised by the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC). Out of 208 projects from 23 countries and regions, Luquos Energy’s “Safe and Low-cost Flow Battery” won third place, receiving the Bronze Award and US$50,000. Luquos Energy has received strategic investment of tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars from Towngas.
Luquos Energy is incubated by CUHK’s Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP). The company focuses on innovation in battery technology as well as providing safe, low-cost, environmentally friendly energy-storage systems. The team is led by CUHK Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering Professor Lu Yi-chun.
The CUHK Research Excellence Award 2020-21
Congratulations to Prof. LU Yi-Chun of our Department for receiving the CUHK Research Excellence Award 2020-21 in the Faculty of Engineering.
2021 Nano Energy Award
Congratulations to Prof. Yunlong ZI on receiving the 2021 Nano Energy Award which was presented during the 5th International Conference on Nanoenergy and Nanosystems in Beijing.
Prof. Yunlong ZI was selected for his outstanding research in high-efficiency mechanical energy harvesting through triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG), triboelectric effect, discharge, TENG triggered high-voltage applications, and self-powered systems.
During the conference, Prof. ZI was invited to give a keynote talk with the title “High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Tribophotonics”.
Professor Xi Chen joins MAE Department (affiliated with EEEN Programme)
Professor Xi Chen has joined the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering as Research Assistant Professor in October 2021. He is affiliated with Energy and Environmental Engineering Programme.
CUHK Develops Ultra-Thin Self-Powered Wireless Sensing E-Sticker, Achieving Novel Smart IoT Technology with Power, Sensing, Wireless Transmission Functions All-in-one Unit
A research team led by Professor Yunlong Zi, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has recently developed a self-powered wireless sensing e-sticker (SWISE). SWISE can convert the energy of the finger touch on the e-sticker into electromagnetic wave signals for wireless transmission without batteries or wires. Taking advantage of flexible, ultra-thin, and long effective transmission distance, SWISE can further the development of smart sensing and remote-control technologies. The findings have been published in the internationally renowned journal Science Advances, and the research team will cooperate with tech companies to bring related smart products to market.
In addition, the team has invented a novel triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) the power output of which is far beyond that of the existing TENG. This invention may pave the way for using TENG to power home electrical appliances and offer an alternative renewable energy option.
Xplorer Prize 2021
Congratulations to Prof. LU Yi-Chun on receiving the Xplorer Prize 2021, one of the nation’s highest grants for young researchers! A total of three scholars from Hong Kong was recognized. Each winner will be rewarded with a sum of RMB 3 million by Tencent Charity Foundation over the course of five years.
Prof. Lu leads ground-breaking research on battery. Her team has successfully invented a safe, high-energy, low-cost, and environmentally-friendly battery that serves as a substitute for commercial lithium-ion batteries which are indispensable in our daily lives.
The Xplorer Prize is a new talent award developed and evaluated by prominent scientists, and focuses on nine fields of basic sciences and frontier technologies. Adhering to the principle of being future-oriented, the Prize has funded a total of 150 promising young scientists since 2018.
China’s Excellent Young Scientists Fund 2021
Congratulations to Prof. REN Wei on receiving China’s Excellent Young Scientists Fund 2021! He will receive a funding of RMB 1.6 million to directly support his pioneering research on laser diagnostics for flow fields in Hong Kong over a period of three years.
Project: Laser Diagnostics for Flow Fields
Prof. REN’s research focuses on laser spectroscopy and combustion chemistry. This project aims to develop a novel combustion diagnostic technology based on cooperative laser absorption and dispersion spectroscopy for accurate and sensitive hypersonic wind tunnel measurements. The successful completion of this project will enable the non-intrusive measurement of high-enthalpy flows and understand the coupling mechanism between strong shock waves and thermochemical reactions.
The China’s Excellent Young Scientists Fund is one of the most prestigious honors for young scientists (under 38 for male and under 40 for female) in China. It supports promising scholars who have demonstrated achievements in basic research to further conduct research in areas of their own choice, fostering intellectual development in academics. The Fund is highly competitive, with only 25 projects in total funded across Hong Kong and Macau this year.
Champion in the ‘My Green Space’ Competition (Chinese version only)
修讀EEEN的賀嘉俊同學和修讀地理與資源管理學系李泳霖同學參加了由香港綠色建築議會舉辦的「綠色空間由我創造」比賽，並獲得大專組冠軍!
今次參賽的作品名為「綠惜灣仔」，分別選取了灣仔北行人天橋系統及告士打道花園作為設計重點。為解決周遭污染問題對使用者身心健康的影響以及更有效運用土地，發展為具質素的公共空間，設計結合了綠色建築的概念，包括被動式設計、加入綠化元素以及能源收集等方法。透過應用不同能源科技及使用廢木作升級再造，符合綠建環評相關要求同時，將灣仔打造為可持續發展的社區。
嘉俊:「雖然我與隊員都沒有建築學相關的知識，但我卻可以運用自己本科的知識及技能，協助我提出可行而實用的設計。而且透過與其他學科同學合作，不但可以避免過份側重某方面的思考，更是一個好機會去互相學習，取長補短。」
Professor Yue Chen joins MAE Department (affiliated with EEEN Programme)
Professor Yue Chen has joined the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering as Assistant Professor in August 2021. She is affiliated with Energy and Environmental Engineering Programme.
Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry
Prof. LU Yi-Chun from the MAE Department was invited to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry! Congratulations!
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) was founded in 1841, it is one of the oldest and most influential Chemistry societies in the world! Every year, RSC elects scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the development of Chemistry science to be a Fellow member of RSC. Becoming a Fellow of the RSC is a great recognition of Prof. Lu’s contributions to the Energy Materials/Chemistry field!
Leading Blue Energy Revolution: The Research Team Led by Prof. Yunlong Zi Develops Water-Tube-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Efficient Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
The research team led by Prof. Zi Yunlong has recently developed a water-tube-based triboelectric nanogenerator that can efficiently convert various irregular and low-frequency mechanical energies, including ocean wave energy, into electricity, providing a new avenue for the development of “blue energy”.
The 2020 CUHK Outstanding Student Award
Let’s give a big congratulation to our PhD student Xu Ke for receiving the 2020 CUHK Outstanding Student Award! The award recognizes Ke’s outstanding invention – LaSense Ultra-sensitive Gas Sensing and Control System. Congratulations!!
PhD student Xu Ke and Professor Ren Wei from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering established a startup company named LaSense Technology in 2019. To meet the urgent market demand from the energy industry, LaSense Technology has developed a series of ultra-sensitive gas sensing and control system. Not only the series of inventions is based on frontier laser spectroscopy, but also combines multiple technologies such as self-developed automatic feedback control, artificial intelligence algorithm. The system brings improvement to power plants and regulate the emission of pollutants such as NH3 and NOx.
Ke’s Invention won multiple awards, including First Prize of the 6th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and Gold Prize of the 12th “Challenge Cup” National College Student Business Plan Competition.
Ke graduated in PhD of Mechanical and Automation Engineering this year, he said “As a PhD student who specializes in Laser Sensing, it has always been my dream to develop an Ultra-sensitive Gas Sensing and Control System. Throughout my PhD study in the MAE Department, my team and I have been devoting our time and effort to extend the application of the latest photoacoustic spectroscopy to industries that demand gas sensing and control system, such as factories, medical service and transportation. With the support from the MAE Department and Prof. Ren Wei, our team is passing milestones after milestones, we hope to obtain more patents and develop more inventions. After my PhD graduation, I will be dedicating my time to create more innovative products which bring positive impacts to our society”.
One of the Top 10 winners of Falling Walls - Science Breakthroughs of the Year in Engineering & Technology
Congratulation to Prof. Lu Yi Chun on being the only female Asian scientist who is selected as one of the top 10 winners of Falling Walls - Science Breakthroughs of the Year in Engineering & Technology!
The usage of lithium batteries is common in mobile phones, laptops and electrical vehicles, however, lithium batteries are flammable and toxic which can cause battery explosion. Also, the making of lithium batteries is not sustainable because it requires toxic chemicals to extract.
To address this issue, Prof. Lu developed a new way of storing energy in a battery that is safer, cheaper and better for the environment to produce. This is certainly a breakthrough in Energy Engineering!
To learn more about Prof. Lu's research:
Breaking the Wall of Safe Energy Storage: https://bit.ly/30DjrET
A Better Battery: https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/english/features/lu-yi-chun.html
EEEN Programme Featured in CUEngineering Newsletter in June 2020 (Issue 13)
The EEEN Programme is featured in CUEngineering Newsletter in June 2020 (Issue 13):
"Sustainability implies living well within the ecological limits of a finite planet. Today’s engineers need to find holistic and effective solutions to protect our fragile planet while meeting the needs of a growing population."
Revealing the Role of Water Vapour in Methanol Atmospheric Reaction
The research team led by Prof. REN Wei has adopted high-level quantum chemistry calculations to provide a definitive answer to the role of water vapour in some important atmospheric reactions. The new findings will enable a more accurate and reliable prediction of air pollution and atmospheric chemistry. The research work has been reported in the renowned scientific journal, Angewandte Chemie-International Edition and was highlighted as the Very Important Paper (VIP) (https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202001065).
A Live Session for BEng in Energy and Environmental Engineering (JS4462)
The CUHK Programme Exploration Days for JUPAS Applicants will be held between 25 May 2020 and 3 June 2020: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/adm/jupas/PED/
In particular, there will be a live Q&A session for BEng in Energy and Environmental Engineering (JS4462) with the details as follows:
Activity: EEEN Programme Q&A Session
Activity Date: 27 May 2020 (Wed)
Start Time: 2:00pm
End Time: 3:00pm
Language: English
Speaker: Prof. CHEN Chun & others
The activity will be conducted via ZOOM. Please register by 24 May 2020 (Sun) for this activity via:
https://cuhk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAocuusqzItGNz66634z165JIxSJm3rYv5D
[After registration, you will receive a confirmation email with details on joining the meeting.]
Breakthrough in Battery Research: Electrolyte Made with Skin Cream Ingredients Enables Stable and Non-flammable Aqueous Li-ion Batteries
The research team led by Prof. LU Yi-Chun has taken a critical step forward in improving high-energy batteries by introducing a novel electrolyte to the aqueous lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. This electrolyte is commonly used in skin cream. It is inexpensive, non-flammable, less toxic and is eco-friendly, yet can create stable voltage for common usage. The breakthrough was recently published in Nature Materials, a world-leading scientific journal.
EEEN Career Talk Series: Career Development in Energy & Environmental Engineering
The EEEN Programme invites all ENER/EEEN students to join a career sharing talk organized by Energy Institute (Hong Kong Branch) which will be held with the details as follows:
Date: 16 October 2019 (Wed)
Time: 6:30–7:30p.m.
Venue: Rm 804, William M. W. Mong Engineering Building (ERB 804)
Language: English
Run-down:
1. Continuing Professional Development Has Helped to Differentiate Me as a Professional Engineer
(Speaker: Ir. Danny Leung, Technical Manager – Special Projects, Facilities Management Industry)
2. Market Trends in Financial Industry
(Speaker: Mr. Polex Lam, Manager, Risk Assurance, PricewaterhouseCooper)
3. Early Development of an Engineer in Consultancy Firm
(Speaker: Ms. Melody Wong, Building Sustainability Consultant, Arup)
To register for the talk, please scan the QR code on the event poster to fill in the online registration form by 15 October 2019 (Tue).
EEEN Career Talk Series #2: Resources at Arup – Water, Waste and Energy
The EEEN Programme invites all ENER/EEEN year 3 and final year students to join a career sharing and recruitment talk organized by Arup which will be held with the details as follows:
Title: Resources at Arup – Water, Waste and Energy
Speakers: Ms. Fiona Sykes, Senior Engineer, Arup
Mr. Howard Pang, Engineer, Arup
Date: 14 November 2018 (Wed)
Time: 6:30–8:00p.m.
Venue: Rm 804, William M. W. Mong Engineering Building (ERB 804)
Language: English
To register for the talk, please scan the QR code on the event poster to fill in the online registration form by 10a.m., 13 November 2018 (Tue).
EEEN Career Talk Series #1: Sharing with You – Green Building Industry and Its Career Potential
The EEEN Programme invites all ENER/EEEN year 3 and final year students to join a green building talk and career sharing co-organized by Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) which will be held with the details as follows:
Title: Sharing with You – Green Building Industry and Its Career Potential
Speaker: Mr. Ryan Lee, Technical and Sustainability Manager of Hongkong Land Limited (HKL)
Date: November 6, 2018 (Tue)
Time: 3:30–5:00p.m.
Venue: Rm 713, William M. W. Mong Engineering Building (ERB 713)
Language: English
*Light refreshment will be provided.
To register for the talk, please scan the QR code on the event poster to fill in the online registration form by 10a.m., November 2, 2018 (Fri).
Energy and Environmental Engineering (EEEN) Scholarship 2018/19
The Energy and Environmental Engineering (EEEN) Programme invites applications from second-year undergraduate students majoring in EEEN in 2018-19 for the EEEN Scholarship 2018/19 - Programme Enrollment Scholarship (PES).
Application deadline: 5:30 p.m., 26 October 2018 (Friday)
Professor Dongyan Xu appointed as the Programme Director of EEEN Programme
Professor Dongyan Xu is appointed as the Programme Director of Energy and Environmental Engineering Programme.
Professor Yunlong Zi joins MAE Department (affiliated with EEEN Programme)
Professor Yunlong Zi has joined the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering as Assistant Professor in November 2017. He is affiliated with Energy and Environmental Engineering Programme.
Energy and Environmental Engineering (EEEN) Scholarship 2017/18
The Energy and Environmental Engineering (EEEN) Programme invites applications from second-year undergraduate students majoring in EEEN in 2017-18 for the EEEN Scholarship 2017/18 - Programme Enrollment Scholarship (PES).
Application deadline: 5:30 p.m., 29 September 2017 (Friday)
Professor Yunjian Xu joins MAE Department (affiliated with EEEN Programme)
Professor Yunjian Xu has joined the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering as Assistant Professor in August 2017. He is affiliated with Energy and Environmental Engineering Programme.
Breakthrough in Energy Storage Technology - CUHK Develops Aqueous Redox Flow Battery with Record Energy Density
A high-energy-density zinc/iodine-bromide redox flow battery (ZIBB) has recently been developed by Prof. Yi-Chun Lu and her research team. ZIBB achieved the highest reported energy density for aqueous redox flow batteries to-date. The breakthrough was published in the renowned journal Energy & Environmental Science in early 2017, and was recently featured by the magazine Chemistry World, published by The Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom.
More details could be found from the following links:
- http://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press_detail.php?1=1&id=2489
- http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2017/ee/c6ee03554j#!divAbstract
- https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/bromide-makes-the-potential-difference-to-flow-battery-chemistry/2500533.article
- http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20170412/bkn-20170412164503796-0412_00822_001.html
- http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2017-04-12/doc-ifyeimzx6029577.shtml
Spring Festival Dinner Gathering (Jan 17, 2017)
The EEEN Programme invites all ENER/EEEN students to join the Spring Festival Dinner Gathering which will be held with the details as follows:
Date: Jan 17, 2017 (Tue)
Time: 6:30p.m. – 8:30p.m.
Venue: Chung Chi Staff Club
To reserve a seat for the dinner, please send your SID number, name and contact number to Ms. Connie Mok at spmok@mae.cuhk.edu.hk by 10a.m., Jan 13, 2017 (Fri).
Good News on HKIE Accreditation
We are pleased to bring you the good news that all BEng (Hons) Degrees (Full Time) in the CUHK Faculty of Engineering, including Energy Engineering (and the corresponding Double Degree programme in Engineering and Business Administration), have been granted provisional accreditation by HKIE for all students admitted since 2012-13.
Professor Yi-Chun Lu selected for the University Education Award 2016
The University instituted the University Education Award in 2011-12 to honour academics for outstanding commitment to the promotion of teaching excellence. Prof. Lu Yi-Chun is one of the awardees of the University Education Award 2016.
Energy Engineering Gathering Dinner (Oct 26, 2016)
The Energy Engineering Programme invites all ENER students to join the ENER Gathering Dinner which will be held with the details as follows:
Date: Oct 26, 2016 (Wed)
Time: 6:15p.m. – 8:00p.m.
Venue: Rm 404, William M. W. Mong Engineering Building (ERB 404)
To ensure the smooth running of ENER jobEX, please enroll online before you join the workshops on Nov 2 and Nov 9.
Energy Engineering Scholarship 2016/17
The Energy Engineering (ENER) Programme invites applications from second-year undergraduate students majoring in Energy Engineering in 2016-17 for the Energy Engineering Scholarship 2016/17 - Programme Enrollment Scholarship (PES).
Application deadline: 5:30 p.m., 30 September 2016 (Friday)
Professor Chun Chen joins MAE Department (affiliated with ENER & EEEN Programmes)
Professor Chun Chen has joined the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering as Assistant Professor in August 2016. He is affiliated with Energy Engineering Programme, and Energy and Environmental Engineering Programme.
1st issue of EEEN Newsletter is now published.
The first issue of EEEN Newsletter is issued.
Professor Yongsheng Chen joins MAE Department (affiliated with ENER Programme)
Professor Yongsheng Chen has joined the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering as Associate Professor in August 2015. He is affiliated with Energy Engineering Programme.
Professor Yi-Chun Lu selected for the Vice-Chancellor's Exemplary Teaching Award 2014
Professor Yi-Chun Lu has been selected for the Vice-Chancellor's Exemplary Teaching Award 2014. This is a prestigious award given annually to outstanding teachers of the University, one each from the eight Faculties and the General Education Programme, whose achievements in teaching are considered by their peers and students to be of the highest order.
Professor Yeung Yam appointed as the Programme Director of ENER Programme
Professor Yeung Yam is appointed as the Programme Director of Energy Engineering Programme.