As the global electric vehicle (EV) market and renewable energy sector continue to expand rapidly, demand for advanced lithium-ion battery technology continues to grow. A research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has been awarded funding under the “RAISe+ Scheme” to address the long-standing voltage decay issue associated with lithium-rich cathode materials. This groundbreaking research aims to introduce a new range of battery materials that offer enhanced energy density, extended lifespan and reduced costs.
The project plans to build a 1,000-ton materials production line and is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs.
Led by Professor Liu Qi (centre), from the Department of Physics at CityUHK, the project, titled “Breakthrough Cathode Materials for Next-generation Lithium-ion Batteries”, has been awarded funding under the “RAISe+ Scheme”. Photo credit: City University of Hong Kong
Led by Professor Liu Qi, from the Department of Physics at CityUHK, the project is titled “Breakthrough Cathode Materials for Next-generation Lithium-ion Batteries”. With the support of the “RAISe+ Scheme”, launched by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the team aims to transform this technological breakthrough into industrial-scale applications within three years and optimise the production line for next-generation output.
Lithium-ion batteries: the foundation of the global energy transition
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become a cornerstone of the global energy transition, playing an essential role in renewable energy storage systems and smart technologies – from mobile phones to the EV revolution and large-scale solar power stations. With the rapid growth in global demand, the LIB market is projected to reach US$150 billion by 2030, with over US$60 billion coming from cathode materials, the component that contributes most significantly to the overall cost of batteries.
Among various cathode materials, lithium-rich layered oxides (LLOs) stand out for their high capacity, high operating voltage and cost advantages due to abundant raw materials. They are widely regarded as the “ultimate cathode material”, capable of significantly enhancing the performance of lithium-ion batteries.
Despite their theoretical advantages, however, LLOs face critical challenges of voltage and capacity decay, which have long hindered their commercialisation.
Lithium-rich layered oxides (LLOs) are widely regarded as the “ultimate cathode material for lithium-ion batteries”. Photo credit: City University of Hong Kong
Overcoming the long-standing voltage decay challenge
The team’s innovative approach focuses on stabilising the honeycomb structure by incorporating additional transition metal (TM) ions into the cathode material. This modification suppresses oxygen release, cation migration and structural degradation, effectively addressing the core issue of voltage decay. This sets a new benchmark for high-performance LLOs and provides a solid foundation for industrialisation.
Furthermore, the team employs advanced surface engineering techniques to tackle capacity decay caused by surficial degradation, TM ion dissolution, structural deterioration and electrolyte corrosion. The team introduced protective agents, such as carbon coating layers, during the calcination process. This protective layer ensures long-term stability, marking a significant step in energy storage technology.
These groundbreaking technologies were published in Nature Energy in 2023. Building on these laboratory breakthroughs, the team aims to accelerate the commercialisation process by focusing on the development of two product lines: 1) LLOs for traditional LIBs, aiming to increase the energy density of traditional LIBs by over 30%, while reducing costs; and 2) LLOs for solid-state batteries.
Professor Liu Qi (right), from the Department of Physics at CityUHK. Photo credit: City University of Hong Kong
Expanding towards global-scale production
“Our research team has enabled LLOs, a cathode material, to realise their true commercial potential. This technology allows batteries to deliver higher energy density at a lower cost, opening new possibilities for EVs and energy-storage applications," said Professor Liu. “This project also demonstrates Hong Kong’s strengths in next-generation energy technologies and reinforces Hong Kong’s leading position in the globally competitive high-tech ecosystem.”
The team established SuFang New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and built a production line with annual capacity of 100 tons, dedicated to the industrialisation of high-performance LLOs.
With the support of RAISe+ Scheme, the project plans to build a 1,000-ton materials production line in Southeast Asia or Korea and is expected to create about 100 new jobs in research, manufacturing and engineering over the next three years.
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) held the HK Tech 300 National Start-up Competition (National Competition) 3rd Awards Ceremony and Launch of the 4th Competition today (16 July). Ten outstanding start-ups earned top honours among over 500 entries from Hong Kong and 12 Chinese Mainland cities for their innovations in new materials, digital health, semiconductors, AI and robotics. The 4th Competition will expand its footprint, raising the total number of competition clusters nationwide from 12 to 16.
Joining the Chinese Mainland cities’ representatives to kick off the 4th National Competition are Ms Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (front, 3rd from left); Professor Wang Weiming, Director-General of the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (front, 2nd from left); Professor Chun-sing Lee, CityUHK Acting President (front, 2nd from right); Dr Raymond Leung, Board Chairman of CityU Enterprises Limited (front, 1st from right); Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, CityUHK Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) (front, 1st from left).(City University of Hong Kong)
In conjunction with the Ceremony, about 40 start-ups from HK Tech 300, spin-offs of RAISe+ awardees and the winners from the National Competition showcased their innovative solutions, demonstrating how CityUHK’s world-class R&D translates into real-world applications. Strategic Partners and co-investors from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas attended the Ceremony and engaged with the start-ups during the event.
Ms Lilian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (2nd from right), and Professor Wang Weiming, Director-General of the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (2nd from left) visits the start-ups’ exhibition during the event.(City University of Hong Kong)
The winning start-ups in this year’s National Competition will receive extensive support from the HK Tech 300 ecosystem, including professional training, business networking and investment matching, as well as up to HK$1 million in angel funding. The Gold Award went to Shenzhen CardioACC Ltd., which focuses on the research and development of cardiovascular interventional imaging system and advanced diagnostic technologies. The judges also unveiled the awards of Silver, Bronze, “Technology Innovation” and “Best Social Impact” (see the winners’ list below).
Presiding over the ceremony was Ms Lilian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Professor Wang Weiming, Director-General of the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Professor Chun-sing Lee, Acting President of CityUHK; and Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) of CityUHK. Guests from 16 Chinese Mainland cities joined the ceremony, including Mr Tong Laisheng, Deputy Mayor of the Changsha Municipal People's Government, and representatives from governments and partner organisations.
At the awards ceremony are Ms Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (front, 3rd from left); Professor Wang Weiming, Director-General of the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (front, 2nd from left); Professor Chun-sing Lee, CityUHK Acting President (front, 3rd from right); Dr Raymond Leung, Board Chairman of CityU Enterprises Limited (front, 2nd from right); Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, CityUHK Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) (front, 1st from left); Professor Johnny Ho, CityUHK Associate Vice-President (Enterprise) (front, 1st from right); along with distinguished guests and representatives from the winning start-ups. (City University of Hong Kong)
In her speech, Ms Cheong said that the National Competition inspires innovative ideas and promotes collaborations and exchanges across regions, injecting momentum into the I&T ecosystem. She stated, “Driving I&T development cannot rely on the effort of a single party; the Government, industry, academia, research, and investment sectors must work together. CityUHK and HK Tech 300 play an important bridging role in this regard, strengthening the linkage among interdisciplinary, cross‑sector, and cross‑boundary collaborations, and have fostered many promising start-ups. In the future, we will continue to rally forces from all sides, providing resources, platforms, and opportunities for young entrepreneurs, supporting them in turning innovative ideas into solutions with market value and social benefits, further advancing the overall I&T development of the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area, and consolidating Hong Kong’s strategic position as an international I&T hub and a high‑end talent hub.”
Ms Lilian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry. (City University of Hong Kong)
In his welcome remarks, Professor Lee stated that the National Competition served as a two-way springboard, attracting extensive capital, resources and networks for start-ups to shine. “CityUHK, recognised as one of the most international universities in the world, is dedicated to promoting knowledge transformation and incubating deep-tech talent and start-ups to connect with global markets, in alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan,” he said. “With the unwavering support from our Motherland and strong ties to the international stage, we will continue to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as an international I&T hub, and reinforce the “Study in Hong Kong” brand to attract and retain talent.”
Professor Chun-sing Lee, CityUHK Acting President. (City University of Hong Kong)
In his vote of thanks, Professor Yang extended his gratitude to all partners and supporting organisations of HK Tech 300. “Through strong collaboration among government, industry, academia, research and investors, our robust HK Tech 300 ecosystem will continue to thrive and grow, further transforming the University’s intellectual property into innovative solutions with real-world impact,” he said. As the Chairman of the HK Tech 300 Executive Committee, Professor Yang conveyed his congratulations to all the winning start-ups and welcomed them into the ecosystem.
Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, CityUHK Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise). (City University of Hong Kong)
Since its launch in 2022, the National Competition has received an enthusiastic response, attracting hundreds of high-calibre start-ups each year. The 3rd Competition covered 12 clusters across the Chinese Mainland: Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Changsha, Suzhou, Dongguan and Wuxi. The 4th edition will expand to include Guangzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen and Changzhou. The competition is also open to start-ups from Hong Kong.
Mr Tong Laisheng, Deputy Mayor of the Changsha Municipal People's Government. (City University of Hong Kong)
During today’s event, CityUHK also co-hosted an Appreciation Ceremony to welcome 11 new co-investment partners to the HK Tech 300 programme. The programme has established a robust network of over 110 strategic partners and supporting organisations, including co-investment partnerships with 23 venture capital funds in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Since its launch in 2021, HK Tech 300 has incubated more than 1,000 start-ups, over 220 of which have been awarded angel funding of up to HK$1 million each.
As a continuation of the National Competition, a seminar titled “Empowering Mainland Innovative and Tech Enterprises to Go Global with Hong Kong as Launchpad” was co-organised with Deloitte China on the day following the ceremony. The seminar aimed to help innovation and technology enterprises understand Hong Kong’s capital markets and listing requirements, thereby supporting their international expansion and fostering a thriving and robust ecosystem.
The 10 Winning Start-Ups:
Gold Award: Shenzhen CardioACC Ltd.
Silver Award: Inspro Science Limited
Bronze Award & Technology Innovation Award:
Shaanxi Gexin Guowei Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd.
Best Social Impact Award:
Sharpsight LimitedA Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Other winning start-ups (in alphabetical order):
Beijing Junqing Zhouyuan Technology Co., Ltd.
Centaurs Technologies Co., Ltd.
ComNergy Tech Limited
Cre8Dream Catalytic Technology (Dongguan) Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Wanwu Sensing Technology Co., Ltd.
Wheeled-Legged Robots and Robotic Power Modules
Visit here to learn more about the winning start-ups’ innovative solutions.
