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Boosting the Use of Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes are among the strongest and stiffest fibers currently known. The features of
carbon nanotubes offer opportunities to produce nanocomposites that possess excellent mechanical
properties combined with unique multi-functional characteristics, such as enhanced electrical and
thermal conductivities. However, carbon nanotubes’ potential has been severely limited to date
because of difficulties associated with dispersion of entangled carbon nanotubes during processing
and poor interaction with dispersion media or matrix.
Prof Jang Kyo Kim and his research team have been exploring novel ways to improve battery
performance to a level that next-generation electric vehicles require and to make it possible to realize the
full potential of carbon nanotubes for developing new nano-structured electrode materials. The project
showed significant improvements both in energy and power densities of several different electrode
materials by optimizing the carbon nanotube content and their properties. The research, supported by the
Hong Kong government’s Innovation and Technology Fund and completed in September 2011, generated
10 refereed journal papers in top energy journals and several patents are pending approval.
Microfluidic CTC Device Assists Cancer Diagnostics
Prof Yi Kuen Lee, in collaboration with the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California,
Los Angeles, has developed a novel silicon nanostructured Circulation Tumor Cell (CTC) chip with an
integrated micro chaotic mixer for cancer diagnostics. The CTC capture technology is faster and cheaper
than existing methods. The research was selected as the cover story of the world’s leading journal
Angewandte Chemie International Edition (March 21, 2011, doi:10.1002/ anie.201005853) and this
technology was also highlighted in Nature Medicine (March 2011).
Powering Ahead with Clean and Sustainable Energy
Finding the next generation of efficient, clean, energy-conversion technologies
that operate without the use of fossil fuels is one of the grand challenges of this
century. Prof Tianshou Zhao and his research team are pioneering development
of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs), which can convert the chemical energy of
liquid methanol or ethanol directly into electricity. This type of fuel cell creates the
potential for a cost-effective, energy-conversion system that is highly efficient and
low in emissions.
Prof Zhao’s recent publications in first-rate energy journals, such as Energy &
Environmental Science and International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, have led to
significant advances in understanding coupled physical and chemical phenomena
in fuel cells, along with many innovations in the design and optimization of nextgeneration
direct alcohol fuel cells with excellent working efficiency. Among other
achievements, his group holds the internationally acknowledged world record for
power density of direct ethanol fuel cells.
Dean’s Message Generating Global Impact Inspiring Future Leaders Tackling the Grand Challenges Cultivating Wider Vision Empowering Excellence Driving the Future
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