Professor Chen Shih-chi, of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at CUHK, has been named in the top 10 in the Engineering and Technology category of the prestigious Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs Award. This represents recognition of his revolutionary research in nanoscale 3D fabrication, which has shattered conventional barriers in the field.

Nanoscale 3D fabrication involves the creation of tiny structures that play vital roles in both advanced and everyday electronic, biomedical and photonic devices. Professor Chen’s major breakthrough concerns a 3D nanofabrication platform, which for the first time will allow for precise multi-material fabrication at rates far faster than conventional serial fabrication systems currently used in the commercial world, and at significantly lower cost. Its unprecedented resolution, speed and cost-effectiveness has made industry-scale application of the technology possible.

Leading his team from the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Chen developed a femtosecond projection two-photon lithography platform. This platform facilitates the automatic assembly of most water-dispersible materials, such as metals, alloys and semiconductors, into functional structures and devices. The new nano-printing method advances all key metrics found in manufacturing: resolution, fabrication rate and cost. As a result, it supports widespread practical applications in photonics, health, automobiles and aerospace.

Professor Chen says, “Manufacturing is the foundation of engineering innovation. Our fabrication platform provides an effective, low-cost solution to scale up the fabrication of functional micro- and nano-structures. Our technology could play a transformative role in fields such as healthcare, clean energy and water, computing, and telecommunications, resulting in the creation of new technologies and businesses.”

The Falling Walls Foundation, a charity supported by the German government and numerous acclaimed academic institutions, foundations, companies and NGOs, has been hosting the Falling Walls Summit annually since 2009. It is a leading international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral forum for scientific breakthroughs and dialogue. The Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year Award is a world-renowned international competition that honours the people who are pioneering solutions to the world’s greatest challenges and creating breakthroughs across borders and disciplines.