Speakers   Professor Yau-Yuen Yeung
Date and Time   8 February 2017 (Wednesday) 12:30nn – 1:00pm
Venue   D3-G-05, Tai Po Campus
Language   English 

Abstract

Luminescence or spectroscopic properties of open-shell ions like transition metals and rare earths play a crucially important role in many optical devices such as plasma display panels; field emission displays; white LED (light-emitting diode) lamps, optical communication and sensing, optical data storage, lasers and solar panels. The past applications lead to two important environmental issues. First, rare earth ions are widely utilized not only as the light-emitting activator ions for many types of lighting and display devices but also for magnets, catalysts, ceramics, metallurgical alloys etc. Severe water pollution and soil erosion have been caused by the mining and processing of those rare earth materials over the last half century in China. Second, fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps use mercury for lighting so they render pollution and toxicity in the disposed places.  Therefore, there is a genuine need to search for alternative green materials for developing more eco-friendly lighting and display devices which will no longer require the use of rare earths and mercury. In this project, we have applied and developed new methods to calculate the physical properties of those potential materials for the eco-friendly luminescent applications, rendering some useful guiding information to design experiments and analyse the experimental data on some new or unknown materials. The contents of this seminar are derived from the Dean’s Research Fund project entitled “Theoretical calculations of the luminescence properties of transition metals for developing eco-friendly optical devices”.

About the Speaker

Professor Yau-Yuen Yeung is a multidisciplinary scholar in two distinct academic disciplines, namely science and education. His current research interest includes energy technology in luminescent materials, science/STEM education, and technology-enhanced learning (e.g. 3D visualisation, virtual reality, remote-controlled experiments). He has been leading or participating in about 70 funded projects in research, teaching development, knowledge transfer and consultancy work with more than 200 pieces of academic output in form of journal papers, book/monograph chapters, conference presentations, professional articles/reports, or computer software etc. Besides, he has served as vice chair, chair or executive chairperson in organising a number of international conferences as well as the Hong Kong STEM Olympiad 2016.

​Enquiry: Melissa Tong (Email: mtwtong@eduhk.hk or Tel: 2948 8390)