HONG KONG (15 December 2024) --- A breakthrough in antenna technology that could revolutionise the future of wireless communications, particularly for the upcoming 6th generation (6G) networks, has been announced by a research team led by Professor Chan Chi-hou, Chair Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK).

In a paper published in National Science Review, an international team of scientists present a highly visible-transparent thermochromic smart window based on a two-way shape memory polymer to enable reversible transformation with modulation on near-infrared transmissivity of 44.0% and mid-infrared emissivity of 76.5%. This device can exhibit excellent performance on thermal regulation in field tests and is expected to promote the progress of thermochromic windows for energy-efficient buildings.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, a facile and applicable method to in-situ modify the Al anode surface with F–Al–O chemical bonds has been developed, which could preferentially induce the planar growth of Al on Al anode, thus leading to the dendrite-free morphology evolution and improved cycling stability of Al metal batteries. This work provides novel insights on low-cost and facile strategies against the Al dendrite growth in rechargeable aluminum batteries.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, mechanism investigations and catalyst design strategies of catalytic upgrading ethanol and acetic acid into C4 energy-intensive fuels and chemicals are understood comprehensively, in order to provide guidelines for the development and application of highly efficient catalysts.