In future high-tech industries, such as high-speed optical computing for massive AI, quantum cryptographic communication, and ultra-high-resolution augmented reality (AR) displays, nanolasers—which process information using light—are gaining significant attention as core components for next-generation semiconductors. A research team at our university has proposed a new manufacturing technology capable of high-density placement of nanolasers on semiconductor chips, which process information in spaces thinner than a human hair.

A collaborative research team from Nagoya University and Tokyo Electron Miyagi Ltd. has demonstrated that the company's new semiconductor etching method achieves five times faster than conventional techniques. This new method employs plasma etching with hydrogen fluoride (HF) at very low temperatures. In contrast to conventional fluorocarbon etching gases, which have high global warming potentials (GWPs), HF has a substantially lower GWP.

A research team reveals that the way plant residues transform into humic substances can profoundly reshape soil microbial metabolism, viral–host interactions, and even the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).

Researchers have developed a new type of cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries by turning a crystalline MXene into an amorphous structure. This amorphous V₂CT_x cathode delivers high capacity, rapid charging capability, and long cycle life, outperforming most existing vanadium-based cathodes. The work offers a promising design strategy for next-generation energy storage systems.

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking on-chip quantum memory platform using 3D-nanoprinted hollow-core waveguides called "light cages" to store flying photons in cesium vapor. This innovative approach achieves storage times of several hundred nanoseconds while enabling multiple quantum memories on a single chip. The technology marks a major advance in spatially multiplexed quantum memories for use in quantum repeaters and photonic quantum computing platforms.

Organised by the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, the results of the annual selection for the ‘Top 10 Innovation & Technology News in Hong Kong 2025’, have recently been announced. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is pleased to report that three of its groundbreaking research projects have made it onto this prestigious list, leading among all local institutions. These selected projects in the fields of medical health and astronomical sciences highlight HKU's strong capabilities in advanced translational research and technology transfer. The university aims to address global challenges and deliver impactful real-world solutions, all while striving to benefit society and support sustainable development.