Highlights of Materials Science Research and Innovation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

In this special issue of Advanced Materials, we are privileged to feature 28 high-quality papers on materials science as the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) celebrates its 30th anniversary as a university status. Founded in 1937 as the Government Trade School, PolyU is one of the earliest publicly funded tertiary institutions in Hong Kong. Over the decades, PolyU has evolved from a technical college into a comprehensive university, renowned for its emphasis on professional education, applied research, social engagement, cultural exchange, international collaboration, strong ties with the government and industry, and commitment to innovation. It was granted full university status on 25 November 1994. PolyU is solidifying its position as a global leader in the higher education landscape today, securing the 54th position in the QS World University Rankings 2026. As mentioned in PolyU's 2025 brochure “Word-Class Excellence and Innovation for Societal Impact,” all its members are inspired to excel in their aspirations, living up to the university's motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”; and “over 420 scholars are recognized among the world's top 2% most-cited scientists for career-long and single-year citation impact in an index compiled by Stanford University.” PolyU is not only linked with various government initiatives aimed at enhancing higher education and research excellence in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, but also enhances internationalization and engagement with mainland China. As Hong Kong continues to play a vital role in the international arena, PolyU is now tackling worldwide challenges through cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a global perspective. Convenient infrastructure and advanced research platforms are the prerequisites for strengthening PolyU's overall profile and reputation as an innovative world-class university. The main campus of PolyU is situated at Hung Hom, adjacent to the Victoria Harbour and close to the city's commercial and transportation hubs. Figures 1 and 2 show the iconic “red brick castle” architecture, Jockey Club Innovation Tower (designed by Zaha Hadid), and the main entrance with the signs and logo of PolyU, respectively. The 8 national research labs, 19 interdisciplinary research institutes, 25 University-level research centers, and 45 University-level research facilities at PolyU consistently align the academic programs with the evolving needs of society and industry. Many world-renowned scholars and academicians work at PolyU, producing impactful research and innovations of frontier scientific disciplines. An international, enriching, and inclusive campus ambience is another feature of PolyU. An extensive global cooperation and exchange network has been established, covering more than 360 overseas institutions in over 40 countries and regions. As noted in the 2025 brochure, being an innovative world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research, and knowledge transfer for the benefit of the world is the steadfast vision of PolyU. Materials science, which bridges the gap between fundamental theories and engineering technologies, is an interdisciplinary field and an indispensable part of PolyU's innovative research. In recent years, materials science has been developed and flourished in various schools and faculties at PolyU, including Materials Science, Construction and Environment, Fashion and Textiles, Health and Social Sciences, Intelligent Manufacturing, Engineering, and so on. This special issue of Advanced Materials features 19 Reviews, 8 Research Articles, and 1 Perspective, exhibiting a wide range of multidisciplinary materials research performed by PolyU academics. It comprises advanced materials manufacturing and processing, electronic and optoelectronic materials, energy storage and conversion materials, and wearable and textile materials. In the field of advanced materials manufacturing and processing, Prof. Tom Wu and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502032) discuss the molecular design, deposition method, working principle, and application of the self-assembled molecules, which are crucial for the interface optimization of perovskite solar cells. Prof. Feng Yan and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418622) present a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic defect ecosystem in the wide-bandgap semiconductors. Then, a range of efficacious defect passivation strategies, spanning from tiers of the holistic device architecture to manufacturing technologies, are systematically discussed. Dr. Guangchao Li and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502101) examine the development of frustrated Lewis pairs from homogeneous to heterogeneous chemistry in depth. Several current challenges and potential breakthroughs involving the synthesis, characterization, and catalysis in this field are outlined. Prof. Liqiu Wang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202506342) focus on the crucial but less explored spatiotemporal modulation of magnetization in magnetic soft materials. Corresponding cutting-edge techniques (manual reassembly, overcoming coercivity, and dynamic boundary) and their specific application in fluid manipulation, biomedical engineering, and wearable electronics are overviewed. Prof. Jianhua Hao and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202420189) report the synthesis of a highly biocompatible 2D MXene-based nanozyme. Its sonocatalytic therapy and plaque-targeted delivery significantly boost antiatherosclerotic efficacy. In the field of electronic and optoelectronic materials, Prof. Yuen Hong Tsang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202415717) summarize the latest advancements in broadband photodetectors based on van der Waals hybrid heterostructures that integrate 2D Dirac, Weyl, and nodal-line semimetals. Prof. Gang Li and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202504063) focus on the materials and device engineering progress in organic photovoltaic technologies, especially morphology control engineering of the active layer, which results in a recent 20% power conversion efficiency. Prof. Su-Ting Han and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202419678) highlight the recent advancements of strategies to improve the efficiency of upconversion nanoparticles, and their emerging application in neuromorphic computing. Prof. Wai-Yeung Wong and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202410880) report a metal complex acceptor, PtAC-Cl, which significantly enhances the charge transport, reduces energetic disorder, and improves the stability. The power conversion efficiency reaches up to 18.16% in pseudo planar heterojunction devices with PtAC-Cl as the upper layer. In the field of energy storage and conversion materials, Prof. Meng Ni and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418620) review the progress in durable H+/e−/O2− triple-conducting air electrodes. Its enhanced reaction kinetics and robust catalytical stability inspire the development of reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells. Prof. Linli Xu and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202419970) emphasize the underlying mechanisms, design principles, and potential applications of various emerging types of carbon-based piezoelectric materials. Prof. Liang An and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202501361) summarize the recent progress of component optimization and configuration upgrades for achieving high-energy-density aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Especially, cathode materials and the synergistic interaction among all components are highlighted. Prof. Jingjie Ge and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202503609) offer valuable insights into the rational design of efficient and stable electrode materials, advancing the protonic ceramic electrolysis cell technologies for green hydrogen production. Prof. Tsz Woon Benedict Lo and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202501960) explore the inherent mechanisms of high-performance heterogeneous catalysts that capitalize on the synergistic cooperativity of neighboring active motifs. Prof. Kwok-Yin Wong and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502131) classify the design strategies, non-covalent interactions, oriented mass/proton/electron transfer channels, and practical applications of bioinspired single-atomic-site catalysts. Prof. Mo Yang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202501623) provide the developments of photo-energy conversion-based nanomaterials, emphasizing their widespread applications in the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases. Dr. Miao Zhang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202501881) elucidate the behavior and mechanism of the selective ion flow in nanochannels of framework materials, revealing their promising applications in the water-based ion extraction, osmotic, and evaporative energy harvesting. Prof. Molly Meng-Jung Li and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502034) demonstrate a strained heterostructure Co@BaAl2O4-x core@shell catalyst with enhanced NH3 absorption and rapid N-H dissociation, resulting in efficient low-temperature NH3 cracking. Prof. Zuankai Wang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502134) design a Janus cellular-structured solar-powered platform capable of concurrently generating fresh water and extracting lithium from salt-lake brines. Dr. Yang Wang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502085) disclose that the trajectory of CO2 photoreduction could be intentionally tailored at the interface of CdSe-S-InS quantum dots. Converting CO2 into various products at the atomic level paves the way for developing artificial photosynthesis. Prof. ZhengLong Xu's team reports a bulky-anion-mediated electrolyte for high-performance calcium-metal batteries (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202510711). In the field of wearable and textile materials, Prof. Qiyao Huang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502140) detail the categories, essential characteristics, fabrication methodologies, integration, and diverse applications of ionic conducting textiles, implying their great potential as crucial components for next-generation wearable products. Prof. Junhong Pu and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202503948) leverage yarns with magnetic polymers as raw composites featuring high magnetic susceptibility, mechanical strength, and flexibility. Various active fabric origami structures programmed by digital embroidery can be created by these magnetic yarns. Prof. John Haozhong Xin and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502118) summarize the principles, designs, and perspectives of various biomimetic textile materials, especially for structural color textiles, superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic textiles, thermal and moisture management textiles, wearable electronic textiles, and environmental-remediation textiles. Prof. Dahua Shou and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202508831) focus on the mechanisms and designs of personal moisture management (PTM). Current and AI-enabled advanced textiles and intelligent wearables that potentially enable comfort–health–performance PTM, are described in detail and critically discussed. Prof. Bo Fang and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202504071) not only introduce the intrinsic properties and fundamental structure–performance correlations of conducting polymer fibers, but also highlight their existing challenges, possible solutions, and underlying applications from various aspects. Prof. Xiaoming Tao and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502091) propose a green and wearable fabric hygroelectric generator by 3D printing functional materials. This generator with high current density and open-circuit voltage shows steady-state stability after long-term storage and bending tests. Prof. Bingang Xu and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202415702) prepare a bio-carbon gel ink that is compatible with direct-ink-writing technology. Combining with 3D printing, the gel ink can be directly exploited to fabricate multifunctional, biocompatible, recyclable, and flexible electronics. PolyU is honored to highlight our recent materials science research and innovation with Advanced Materials in this special issue. These research fields exemplify PolyU's strategic plan in the next five years—unite to meet challenges, innovate to benefit society. We anticipate the readers of Advanced Materials could obtain an in-depth understanding of PolyU, foster a closer collaborative relationship, and jointly extend the boundary of materials science. Finally, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the authors, referees, and editors of Advanced Materials for their invaluable support of this special issue. The authors declare no conflict of interest. Wai-Yeung Wong (Raymond) obtained his B.Sc. (Hons.) and Ph.D. degrees from The University of Hong Kong. After postdoctoral works at Texas A&M University and the University of Cambridge, he joined Hong Kong Baptist University from 1998 to 2016, and he now works at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Chair Professor of Chemical Technology. His research focuses on organometallic and materials chemistry, especially aiming at developing multifunctional molecules and polymers for optoelectronic and energy-related applications. He was awarded the RSC Chemistry of the Transition Metals Award, FACS Distinguished Young Chemist Award, State Natural Science Award (Second-class) from China, and RGC Senior Research Fellowship, amongst others. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Foreign Member of the European Academy of Sciences. Xiaoming Tao is the founder and director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and the Chair Professor of Textile Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Prof. Tao holds a bachelor's degree in Textile Engineering and a Ph.D. in Textile Physics. She is a fellow of the European Academy of Natural Sciences, the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering, the Textile Institute, the International Society for Advanced Materials, the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Prof. Tao's research has focused on smart fibrous materials, fiber-based devices, and intelligent wearable systems. She has published more than 1,000 scientific publications, including over 400 papers in journals such as Nature, Nature Sustainability, and Nature Electronics, and has authored 7 research monographs. Some twenty inventions from her group have been applied by industries worldwide, including nine spun-off technological companies. Prof. Tao is a recipient of the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award from the Chinese Academy of Engineering; an honorary fellow of the Textile Institute, the highest personal award of the field; and the Founder's Award, the highest personal award from the Fiber Society, USA. Meng Ni is a Chair Professor of Energy Science and Technology, Head of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research covers fuel cells, hydrogen energy, rechargeable batteries, and electrochemical systems for low-grade heat utilization. He is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Humboldt Research Fellow, and RGC Senior Research Fellow. He is a co-editor-in-chief of Energy Reviews (Elsevier), an Associate Editor of 4 other journals, and an active reviewer for over 80 journals. Yang Chai is the Chair Professor of Semiconductor Physics at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, an IEEE Fellow, an Optica Fellow, an IOP Fellow, the Chair of Semiconductor Nanotechnology Alliance, the Vice President of the Physical Society of Hong Kong, and an Associate Editor of ACS Nano. He is a recipient of the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs in Engineering and Technology, the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize, and the NSFC Distinguished Young Scholar. His current research interest mainly focuses on emerging electronic devices.