Development of near-infrared sensitive photothermal aerogels for potential applications
Grant Data
Project Title
Development of near-infrared sensitive photothermal aerogels for potential applications
Principal Investigator
Professor Yeung, Kelvin Wai Kwok
(Principal Investigator (PI))
Co-Investigator(s)
Mr Zhu Yizhou
(Co-Investigator)
Dr Mao Congyang
(Co-Investigator)
Dr Xiang Yiming
(Co-Investigator)
Duration
17
Start Date
2021-07-02
Completion Date
2022-12-31
Amount
601967
Conference Title
Development of near-infrared sensitive photothermal aerogels for potential applications
Keywords
Development, near-infrared sensitive photothermal aerogels, potential applications
Discipline
Others - Medicine, Dentistry and Health
HKU Project Code
PiH/046/21
Grant Type
Research Talent Hub for ITF Projects (RTH-ITF)
Funding Year
2021
Status
Completed
Objectives
Heat generated from fossil fuels is essential to human activities including temperature control in winter, cooking, and even disinfection. However, this approach will definitely generate a large amount of carbon dioxide that intensifies the greenhouse effect on the earth, thereby endangering human and other living species. Therefore, this project aims to develop a novel light-responsive heat emission aerogel. This material can respond to the stimulation of near infrared light and temperature can rapidly rise to above 300 degree Celsius within seconds. When the light source is removed, the material can return to room temperature within few seconds. The control of aerogel temperature can be achieved by adjusting the power of light source or its chemical composition. The applications of this novel aerogel include all the heat-emission medical related appliances. We expect that this invention may help reduce the demand of heat source generated by fossil energy and therefore reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. The project is able to develop a prototype of relevant medical appliance with bacterial killing mechanism in three years. We expect that this project can bring new social and economic impacts to the Hong Kong society.