Materials & Textiles Research Breakthroughs: Perovskite Solar, Intelligent Activewear, and DIMS Myopia Control

PolyU (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) Integrated Information Database · 04 Research Module A solar panel that generates power, sportswear that "actively wicks" sweat, a spectacle lens that slows the progression of myopia in children—PolyU's research extends beyond aerospace, with recent standout breakthroughs in energy materials, functional textiles, and myopia-control optics. This entry archives these "applied materials" research threads. For aerospace research, see aerospace-program-overview.md; for an overview of PolyU's signature research breakthroughs, see achievements.md; for the School of Fashion and Textiles, see 01 Academics · School of Fashion and Textiles. Information is primarily sourced from PolyU press releases, research media, and academic publications; all data points are cited.

# 1. Perovskite Solar Cells: Record Conversion Efficiency

# 1.1 The 33.89% Record

The core metric for solar cells is power-conversion efficiency—how much sunlight is turned into electricity. Perovskite/silicon tandem cells represent the current leading-edge route for boosting efficiency: a traditional single-junction silicon cell has a theoretical efficiency limit of roughly 29% (near the Shockley–Queisser limit). By stacking a thin perovskite film on top of a silicon cell, the tandem device can absorb short-wavelength light that silicon cannot utilise effectively, thereby breaking through the theoretical ceiling of single-junction cells.

According to a EurekAlert report on PolyU's achievement^※, a PolyU research team developed a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell with a record power-conversion efficiency of approximately 33.89% by applying a novel bilayer interface passivation strategy—overcoming a major hurdle in solar technology development. In simple terms, "interface passivation" involves adding a special coating between material layers to reduce charge loss and recombination at the interfaces, analogous to polishing the "connectors" inside the battery, allowing for smoother current transmission with less loss.

# 1.2 Targeting 40%

According to public reports, the PolyU team is pushing for the commercialisation of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, with the ultimate goal of raising efficiency from around 34% to the 40% milestone. The related research, published in the authoritative journal Nature Photonics, proposes strategic approaches to reach 40%.

Source strength: The 33.89% record, bilayer interface passivation, 40% target, and Nature Photonics are cited in EurekAlert and public reports.

# 2. Functional Textiles: Intelligent Sweat-Wicking Activewear

# 2.1 iActive™ and Omni-Cool-Dry™

PolyU's School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) (see 01 Academics · School of Fashion and Textiles) has made considerable achievements in functional textiles. According to a Media OutReach report^※:

• iActive™ activewear series: Features a root-like liquid transport system and a skin-like, active sweat-dissipating structure, using nature-inspired, anti-heat fabrics to accelerate sweat wicking.
• Omni-Cool-Dry™ fabric: Provides ultra-fast sweat wicking, keeping the wearer dry, breathable, and comfortable all day under dynamic thermal conditions.

This "intelligent textile" research marries biomimetics, materials science, and fashion design—not merely standard sportswear, but functional textiles that "actively manage" sweat and temperature.

# 2.2 International Accolades

PolyU's functional textile research has received international recognition. According to public records, a PolyU researcher in this field (such as Dr. Shou) was awarded the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award from The Fiber Society, among other honours—affirming PolyU's international standing in textile technology (echoing the intelligent textile research direction noted in 01 Academics · School of Fashion and Textiles).

Source strength: iActive™/Omni-Cool-Dry™ detailed in a Media OutReach report; The Fiber Society award found in public records.

# 3. Myopia Control Optics: The Global Impact of DIMS Lenses

The School of Optometry's myopia control research stands as one of the globally most impactful achievements within PolyU's health sciences domain. Drawing on multiple sources, the Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) lens developed by a PolyU team:

The DIMS breakthrough lies in its multi-zone optical design on the lens surface, which allows children to slow axial eye growth while wearing standard-looking spectacles, simultaneously correcting vision and controlling myopia. According to the PolyU School of Optometry website, these findings have been incorporated into global optometry textbooks as evidence-based practice for myopia control—a concrete example of PolyU's research footprint in health/life sciences, achieved without a medical school (see achievements.md).

The path of DIMS from laboratory to the commercial "MyoSmart" product also mirrors PolyU's overall knowledge transfer and technology licensing model (consultancy, collaborative research, technology licensing, spin-off companies, detailed in output-and-innovation.md)—the commercial partnership with Essilor Hong Kong is a concrete case of the "technology licensing" transfer mode.

Source strength: Clinical trial efficacy and journal publication referenced in Ophthalmology; regulatory approval and commercialisation status detailed on the PolyU School of Optometry website and in industry media.

# 4. Academic Underpinnings in Materials Science: 2D Materials and Flexible Electronics

PolyU's applied materials research extends beyond "marquee results"; there is also a sustained accumulation at the academic output level:

# 4.1 2D Materials and Novel Nanomaterials

Based on public information from PolyU's Department of Applied Physics (AP) and related materials science research directions, PolyU has academic output in two-dimensional (2D) materials: studies on the electrical and optical properties of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as monolayer/bilayer MoS₂, and the application of graphene in flexible electronics and composite materials. Findings have been published in top-tier journals like ACS Nano and Advanced Materials.

# 4.2 Flexible/Stretchable Electronic Materials

PolyU's achievements in flexible electronics highly intersect with its textile/wearable research: stretchable conductive inks for printed flexible circuits; ultra-flexible conductors based on liquid metals (such as EGaIn) embedded in elastomer substrates. One of the 2025 Second-Class Awards from the Ministry of Education's Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards belonged to a project at the frontier of flexible electronics technology (per a PolyU release relayed by EurekAlert; for a systematic overview of national awards, see research-impact-and-international-network.md).

This academic thread, together with the perovskite solar, intelligent textile, and DIMS lens work, illustrates that PolyU's materials science is not just isolated "star achievements" but rests on a foundation of sustained academic output.

# 5. Placing These Within PolyU's "Applied Research" Map

Perovskite solar, functional textiles, and myopia-control optics, together with PolyU's other applied research, sketch a research character that is "industry-oriented and sustainability-focused":

A common feature across these directions is: they each have a clear industrial or societal application outlet. PolyU's research strength lies less in "pure theory" and more in its forte for turning science into usable technologies, products, and solutions—a direct continuation of the applied DNA running from its origins as a technical college.