#hkust

The scaly-foot snail is so tough it has scales made of iron.

Collective vibrations unlock fast ion flow in superionic crystals

In the race to develop safer, faster-charging solid-state batteries and more efficient thermoelectric conversion technologies, engineers and scientists have long faced a fundamental challenge: how to ensure ions move through hard, solid materials as quickly as they do in liquids? A team led by Prof. Zhou Yanguang, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), discovered a novel mechanism for rapid ion transport in solids, opening new avenues for materials design. The study shows that the ionic transport is governed by collective dynamics. The results were published in the journal Physical Review Letters, titled "Fast Ionic Transport Governed by Collective Vibrational Dynamics."

Week 2 of my Study Abroad (HKUST)

The thing I’ve been saying the most this week is how I literally can’t believe it’s only been two weeks - it feels like a month! I mean this positively, in the sense that I feel I’m that settled in already. That’s sort of the beautiful thing about Hong Kong. Everything is different, but still similar enough to be able to remind you of home just a little, no matter where you’re from.

One thing I’ve gotten better about is saying ‘yes’ to more opportunities that come my way and living more spontaneously. Pretty much every day has next to no plan to it, but something always happens. Usually things like that give me a lot of anxiety, but I’m learning to love it and my best experiences have come from not knowing what’s going to happen next, instead of planning everything meticulously like I usually do. 

Take the spur of the moment trip to Temple Street Night Market for example - I had just watched the sun go down from a waterside restaurant with my flatmate over dinner, and we were both ready to go bed as we were tired from clubbing the night before. A friend from my building in my cantonese class invited me out and I reluctantly said yes, but was the best decision I ever made. We practiced our cantonese by haggling, and I ended up getting the most beautiful tea set for next to nothing. 

But what was truly amazing was accidentally stumbling upon the protests. Suddenly all the news clips and articles became real, and I saw it with my own eyes. I saw the determination, the unshakeable resolve to fight for what is right and not settle for what is easy. But most importantly, I saw the unity. There are few other moments in modern life quite like it. 

New calcium-ion battery design delivers high performance without lithium

A bold new calcium battery design could challenge lithium and energize the future of clean power.

Scientists at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have reported a major advance in calcium-ion battery (CIB) research that could reshape how energy is stored and used in daily life. By incorporating quasi-solid-state electrolytes (QSSEs), the team developed a new type of CIB designed to improve both performance and sustainability. The technology could support applications ranging from renewable energy storage systems to electric vehicles. The work appears in Advanced Science under the title "High-Performance Quasi-Solid-State Calcium-Ion Batteries from Redox-Active Covalent Organic Framework Electrolytes." As countries expand renewable energy production, the need for dependable and efficient battery storage continues to grow. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) currently dominate the market, but concerns remain about limited lithium resources and the practical limits of their energy density. These constraints have intensified the search for alternative battery chemistries that can meet long-term global energy demands.

Engineers achieve record 31% efficiency in red quantum LEDs for enhanced display color and brightness

A research team led by the School of Engineering of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made significant advances in quantum rod light-emitting diodes (QR-LEDs), setting record-high efficiency level for red QR-LEDs. This innovation is poised to revolutionize next-generation display and lighting technologies, offering smartphone and television users a vibrant and enhanced visual experience. The research is published in the journal Advanced Materials. LEDs have been widely used in electronic products for decades. Recent developments in quantum materials have given rise to quantum dot LEDs (QD-LEDs) and QR-LEDs. QD-LEDs offer superior color purity (color vividness) and higher brightness compared to current mainstream LEDs. However, outcoupling efficiency has now become the primary obstacle, as it sets a fundamental ceiling for external quantum efficiency (EQE), thereby hindering any further performance improvements.