Professor Liao Wei-Hsin, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship under the Research Grants Council (RGC) Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) 2026/27. The accolade recognises his distinguished research achievements and provides major funding to drive breakthrough research with global impact.

CUHK will receive a fellowship grant of about HK$8.5 million per SRFS award to cover the salary costs for relief teachers and provide resource support to advance these frontier research initiatives over a period of 60 months.

RGC Senior Research Fellow: Professor Liao Wei-Hsin

Project Title: Auxetic Structures for Energy Harvesting and Absorption

Introduction:
This project develops innovative multifunctional structures that can both absorb mechanical energy and harvest electrical energy, improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability in engineering applications. By leveraging auxetic structures – advanced materials that expand laterally when stretched – the research enhances impact resistance while simultaneously converting mechanical deformation into usable electrical power. The technology is designed for both one-time impact events, such as crash protection systems, and reusable applications that harvest energy from repeated impacts or vibrations. Potential uses include self-powered impact-warning devices, wearable sensors, health-monitoring systems, and smart infrastructure. Combining advanced materials design, additive manufacturing, computational modelling and machine learning, the project aims to create next-generation structures that provide mechanical protection while generating renewable energy, opening new opportunities for resilient and sustainable technologies.

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