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繁简
ISSUE 2PDF
Knowledge Transfer & Entrepreneurship
PolyU Community
Autumn 2020 - Issue 2
A Quantum leap forward in Computing
A conversation with Deputy Council Chairman Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang ― Finding opportunities in times of crisis
A conversation with Deputy President and Provost Professor Alex Wai ― Accelerating world-changing research to drive impact
Tripartite hospitality programme wins international recognition
Research selected for "Top 10 Science Advances in China of 2019" and included in 2020 National College Entrance Examination
PolyU offers HK's first MSc in Medical Physics
Occupational therapy and physiotherapy master's programmes help meet societal needs
A more energy efficient future is in our power
Helping solar panels "sweat" to increase energy efficiency
PolyU receives close to HK$19 million from Health and Medical Research Fund
PolyU solution reduces energy consumption in buildings by up to 40%
Surfing the wave of market trends
Flag-raising ceremony to celebrate National Day
PolyU's joint research proposals awarded Theme-based Research Scheme funding
PolyU wins Public Policy Research Funding for studies on social incidents
PolyU excels in shipping and maritime research
Renowned hotelier honoured for lifetime achievement
PolyU ranked among best universities in the world
Library extension and revitalisation funding approved
Major external appointments and awards of PolyU members
Senior staff appointments and promotions
An interview with Professor William Shiyuan Wang - Language: the heart of what it is to be human
An interview with Professor Yung Kai-leung - From homemade gadget to high-precision instrument
PolyU academic scoops Shortridge Hardesty Award
Two PolyU scholars named RGC Senior Research Fellow and Research Fellow
An interview with Mr Banting Sze Wai-pan - A road doctor
An interview with Dr Johnny Ng Kit-chong - Passing the torch
Welcome to the new academic year
Laboratory enthusiast gets closer to dream
Students win external scholarships for their inspiration and aspirations
Mathematics prodigy thrives at PolyU
A new generation of highly efficient batteries may be closer than you think, according to a study by an international research team joined by PolyU and led by Collège de France, together with The French National Centre for Scientific Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Canada's Dalhousie University.
The team's study, "Operando decoding of chemical and thermal events in commercial Na(Li)-ion cells via optical sensors", was published in the high-impact international journal Nature Energy on 24 August 2020.
Although existing commercial battery packs are equipped with temperature sensors, these sensors are not placed directly at each cell. According to Professor Jean-Marie Tarascon, Professor at the Collège de France and senior author of the study, this "leads to very conservative and ultimately inefficient battery management systems (BMS) since the actual sensors do not inform us what is really happening."
The research team achieved their breakthrough by incorporating optical fibre "Bragg" grating (FBG) sensors directly into 18650 format cells (a standard for commercial batteries). This had two benefits. Firstly, it allowed for the collection of clean, high-resolution optical signals from the sensors. And, secondly, by employing advanced signal analysis, the thermal and chemical events taking place within the battery could be decoded.
By optimising the positions of the optical sensors, the team was able not only to obtain internal and surface temperatures in real time, but also to calculate battery heat generation and transfers with unprecedented accuracy. Consequently, new BMS optimised with optical fibre sensors could bring the world one step closer towards peak performance in energy storage systems.
Towards more efficient batteries … and beyond
One of the key components of the batteries explored in this study— the FBG sensors—were developed by researchers in PolyU's Photonics Research Centre of the Department of Electrical Engineering. They included Chair Professor of Photonics and Head Professor Tam Hwa-yaw, Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Julien Bonefacino, and Associate Professor Dr Steven Boles.
"The technical and scientific advances highlighted in this project have been made possible by the convergence of battery science and optical fibre sensor engineering," said Professor Tam. "The superb chemical stability and ease of expansion make FBGs ideal for new applications in the energy industry."
Indeed, the team has already started to look at other energy storage devices using FBGs, such as alkaline batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors, as well as other important applications, including catalysis and water splitting for the production of hydrogen.
The Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business (MGH) programme, offered jointly by PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), École hôtelière de Lausanne and Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the...
Professor Yung's journey to space exploration Professor Yung Kai-leung Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong Technical College (PolyU's predecessor), 1970 BSc in Electronic Engineering, Brighton University, 1975 MSc, DIC in Automatic...
Congratulations to five hardworking and creative PolyU students who have been awarded major local scholarships in recognition of their distinguished academic performance or highly innovative ideas. HKIE Scholarship Tong Cheuk-ying (BSc (Hons) in...
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