On June 9, Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) hosted the 3rd “Advanced Project in Materials Engineering” poster presentation event. 60 students were split into 41 groups, crafting project papers expertly under the guide of 12 supervisors. Dynamic posters exhibited their sparkling findings, with students on hand delivering presentations and answering questions. This teaching style seeks to improve students’ oral presenting skills, bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, and energize them to conduct independent research.

Each poster on display explored a unique avenue of research. This year’s work covers a wide range of topics: nanodevices, piezoelectric ceramics, computer simulation… Faculty advisors evaluated projects on-site, scrutinizing their data, advancement and design ideas.

Niu Yifan, Zhou Yun’an and Yan Yihao’s project is “Synthesis of Mo2Ti2C3 MXene with mesopores by Lewis molten salt etching path toward energy storage”. According to their introduction, MXene has better performance than graphene with more conductivity and hydrophilicity. With its light weight and advantage in energy storage, it can be utilized in vehicles, airplanes and more. “Through this project, we’ve gained a more in-depth understanding of knowledge within the industry, identified and resolved issues, whilst being aware of current market demands,” the team expressed.

Jiang Haoxiang creates soft and wearable nanofibers with exceptional mechanical properties, high conductivity and permeability. These novel nanofibers offer significant potential for a wide range of applications in fields such as biomedical engineering and wearable electronics. “GTIIT provides excellent facilities for us to conduct experiments and fosters a strong research-oriented environment that encourages me and other students to engage in open discussions and explore the unknowns,” said Jiang.

Yang Mu, Liang Yu and Wang Run’s project is more basic, focusing on the effect of electric field on the formation of nanopores on amorphous alumina in Oxalic Acid. This project, according to these team members, allowed them to learn new experimental methods and improved their hands-on abilities. They conveyed, “GTIIT is in line with global standards, and because of this, we were able to seize the chance to exchange in France, where we were exposed to frontier instruments and gained access to a wealth of related information.”

“Advanced Project in Materials Engineering” is a signature course of Materials Science and Engineering program (MSE). In this course, students gain access to professors’ labs and engage in research under their seasoned guidance. Ultimately, it becomes the students’ graduation thesis. Prof. Daniel Tan, the deputy head of MSE, highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary education that MSE embodies. He elaborated that, besides professors from MSE, other experienced faculty members from Physics and Chemical Engineering program also provided their guidance to students. Several projects have demonstrated the potential for publication in international journals. Prof. Tan also notes, "It's not just the students who benefit from this course; we are motivated by their works too. We have full confidence that our ongoing projects will continue to evolve into increasingly pioneering, profound, and outstanding works."

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs