Successful completion of the Advanced Materials and Materials Informatics Forum at HKUST(GZ)

On July 23rd, the first annual meeting of the Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics and the Advanced Materials and Materials Informatics Forum was successfully held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou). The forum brought together seven academicians and three distinguished scholars, covering the areas of energy materials, functional materials, polymer materials, and materials informatics. More than 300 participants, including professionals from academia, industry, and the broader community, gathered for in-depth discussions and fruitful exchanges on the latest research advancements in advanced materials and materials informatics in recent years.

The opening ceremony of the forum was chaired by Professor Lutao WENG, the Director of The Materials Characterization And Preparation Facility of HKUST(GZ), and the Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics.

Professor Jingshen WU, Vice-President (Teaching & Learning) of HKUST(GZ), delivered the opening address and presented appointment letters to the members of the academic committee participating in the forum.

During the opening ceremony, Academician Tongyi ZHANG, the Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics and Chair Professor of Thrust of Advanced Materials and Thrust of Sustainable Energy and Environment, delivered a report on the progress of the laboratory's construction.

The morning session of the forum was chaired by Professor Ricky Shi-Wei LEE, the Dean of Systems Hub, and Professor Huihe QIU, the Acting Thrust Head of Sustainable Energy and Environment of Function Hub. The session commenced with an engaging keynote speech by Academician Zhonglin WANG, setting the stage for the presentations.

Academician Zhonglin WANG delivered an informative presentation, employing vivid and intuitive examples, on the subject of TENG (triboelectric nanogenerator) and its five nanoscale power generation modes. He explained the principles of contact electrification and discussed its diverse range of applications. Nanoscale friction generators utilize the micro-scale frictional movement between materials to generate electrical energy, making them suitable for wearable devices and offering a potential alternative to traditional generators for power generation in calm marine environments, thereby providing new solutions for sustainable energy and self-sufficient power.

Following that, Academician Tianshou ZHAO and Professor Jian XU presented compelling viewpoints on topics such as solar energy storage and high-performance fiber materials.

Academician Tianshou ZHAO concentrated on battery energy storage and emphasized that flow batteries are an effective pathway for achieving large-scale utilization of new energy sources. He stated that, compared to other renewable energy storage technologies, flow battery energy storage holds greater prospects, offering significant advantages such as scalability, high efficiency, low cost, durability, and safety.

Professor Jian XU presented the research advancements in gene technology for high-performance fiber materials, exploring the enhancement of fiber material properties through genetic modifications. He highlighted in his report that precise control over fiber material genes can greatly enhance their strength, toughness, and wear resistance, thus providing extensive application prospects in domains like aerospace and automotive industries.

The afternoon session of the forum was chaired by Professor Ping GAO, the Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics and Thrust Head of Advanced Materials of Function Hub, along with Professor Wei WANG, the Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics and Professor in the Thrust of Data Science and Analytics of Information Hub.

Academician Benzhong TANG, Academician Huiming CHENG, and Professor Feiyu KANG respectively focused on aggregate luminescence, battery restoration, and the production process of safe batteries, presenting their reports in the first half of the session.

Academician Benzhong TANG's speech approached the concepts of aggregate learning, aggregate fluorescence quenching, and aggregate-induced luminescence from a philosophical standpoint, vividly explaining their significance in scientific research. He also shared practical applications of these studies in modern optoelectronics, highlighting their immense potential in areas such as optoelectronic devices and bioimaging.

Academician Huiming CHENG addressed the current state of recycling and the energy situation of waste lithium-ion batteries in China, proposing methods for battery restoration and reuse. He encouraged the younger generation of scientists to invest their time and efforts in resolving key technological challenges, thereby facilitating sustainable development in the new energy industry.

The second half of the session shifted focus towards intelligent design in materials production and artificial intelligence, featuring keynote speeches by Academician Shiping ZHU and Professor Feiyu KANG.

Academician Shiping ZHU enlivened the atmosphere with a catchy poem titled "The Song of Chemical Engineering," which shed light on a fresh perspective regarding the "Four Demanding Majors" as actually being the "Four Prestigious Majors." He emphasized the significance of the chemical engineering field, the crucial relationship between processes and raw materials, and provided insightful solutions to address the issue of white pollution.

Professor Xingjun LIU, focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence and materials science, highlighted the tremendous impact of utilizing AI for large-scale screening of material databases, predicting and optimizing material properties, thereby offering valuable guidance for the synthesis and application of new materials. This approach plays a pivotal role in the field of materials informatics.

Professor Feiyu KANG presented the latest advancements in solid-state battery electrolyte research by his team, along with enlightening the audience about battery safety-related knowledge. The development of their high-safety and biocompatible batteries left a profound impression on the attendees.

The forum generated a lively atmosphere with continuous applause. Surprisingly, the event also attracted the participation of some primary and secondary school students, demonstrating its captivating and inspiring influence on young minds. The audience highly praised the content and academic level of the forum.

The successful organization of the inaugural annual meeting of the Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics and the Advanced Materials and Materials Informatics Forum has not only fostered profound scholarly exchanges and collaborations but has also injected a powerful impetus into the advancement of the materials informatics field. It has created a platform for academics to share knowledge and engage in intellectual discussions, propelling significant progress in the realm of materials informatics.