HONG KONG, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From ocean waves and flowing rivers to the systems used to transport and treat water, vibrations are everywhere. But can vibrations do more than just shake water? Can they split water or drive the production of useful chemicals from water?
A research team led by Professor Sai Kishore Ravi from the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has successfully demonstrated how mechanical vibrations can be harnessed to drive the production of useful chemicals from water.
The team showcased these breakthroughs in two recent studies: one on vibration-driven hydrogen peroxide generation, published in Nature Communications under the title "Bulk polarization field and interfacial electron sink in MXene-modified iodine-doped Bi4Ti3O12 enhance piezocatalytic H2O2 generation", and another on hydrogen production, in Advanced Energy Materials under the title "Enhanced Lattice Polarization and Directed Charge Transport Toward Pt Surface Sites Accelerate the Volmer Step in Piezocatalytic H2 Evolution on Co-Doped BiFeO3".
The studies contribute to the emerging field of piezosynthesis, where mechanical deformation in piezoelectric materials generates charges that can be directed to drive redox reactions in water. A key challenge is preventing the loss of these charges through recombination before they reach surface reaction sites.
To overcome this, the team developed a piezoelectric bismuth ferrite-based system for vibration-driven hydrogen production. By applying structural tuning strategies, such as controlled doping and cocatalyst loading, they improved charge utilisation and surface reaction kinetics, achieving a sixteen-fold increase in hydrogen generation compared to the starting material. Additionally, they developed a hydrogen peroxide–producing system based on a layered bismuth titanate structure operating under mechanical vibration. The system delivered a hydrogen peroxide production rate of 5,890 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ without adding sacrificial chemicals to drive the reaction. The generated product was shown to degrade pollutants and inactivate bacteria, highlighting its potential for water treatment applications.
"Despite the different chemical products, the two studies rely on the same principle of controlling how vibration-generated charges are separated and directed to drive chemical transformations," explained Professor Ravi. "Our current studies use controlled ultrasonic vibrations to deepen our understanding of the underlying science. The next challenge is to move beyond the laboratory reactor and explore systems that can operate using vibrations present in the environment."
This prospect is compelling for coastal cities like Hong Kong. Preliminary studies are underway on floating catalytic platforms designed to harness vibrations from ocean waves, an approach the team is now investigating for future real-world applications of piezosynthesis. Waves that reach the cities' shores could one day help produce useful chemicals, drive environmental remediation and generate clean fuels.
Media enquiries:
Steven Lee, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 9945)
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CityUHK researchers transform vibrations into clean fuels and chemicals through piezosynthesis
SINGAPORE, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Infineum, a world-leading supplier of lubricant additives and specialty chemicals headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, and Kangtai, a subsidiary of Rianlon Corporation, an integrated specialty chemicals manufacturer based in Tianjin, China, advanced their collaboration through a new distribution arrangement across Southern Asia on 22 July 2026. This signing marks a key step in the implementation of the strategic framework agreement that Infineum and Rianlon entered into earlier this year, advancing the execution of the joint strategy.
On 20 January 2026, Infineum and Rianlon formally entered into a strategic framework agreement. The signing took place shortly after Rianlon had held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new R&D and manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia. This agreement is centered on mutual collaboration in several key areas including customer centricity, superior technology, cost effectiveness, and security of supply.
As part of the new arrangement, Infineum's Southern Asia distributors will gain access to a range of Kangtai's products, complementing their existing offerings and broadening the range of solutions available to their customers. Through this collaboration, Kangtai will be able to expand its presence in the region with enhanced market reach and responsiveness through established regional distribution channels.
Mavis Xian, General Manager of Kangtai, commented: "Southern Asia is a critical growth region for Kangtai. This collaboration enables us to accelerate and strengthen our presence outside of China, as well as improve how we serve customers across the region."
John Hong, Sales Director, Asia Pacific at Infineum, said: "This is a positive step for our distributors across Southern Asia, expanding their range with Kangtai's components and industrial additives to better meet evolving customer needs across the region."
Chris Locke, EVP, Sustainable Transportation at Infineum, said: "This expanded distributorship enables customers to access complementary portfolio offerings from both Infineum and Kangtai, providing more comprehensive additive and component offerings across the critical Southern Asia region and thus driving both operational efficiency and growth within their own businesses."
This milestone reflects the shared strategic intent of Infineum and Kangtai to support regional growth and complements Rianlon's ongoing investment in a new R&D and manufacturing facility in Malaysia.
About Infineum
Infineum is a specialty chemicals company that exists to create a sustainable future through innovative chemistry. We focus on complex formulation challenges, working hand in hand with our customers, to deliver mutually successful solutions.
Our heritage is within the energy transition segment, where we have reduced the carbon impact of internal combustion engines, supported electrification, and are developing solutions for alternative fuels.
By taking a forward-looking approach to innovation across multiple sectors, we also maximise the value of Infineum's unique technology in carbon resilient sectors.
More than 2,000 global employees with unique perspectives and expertise help to contribute to customer success, as we formulate tomorrow together.
For more information, visit www.infineum.com
About Kangtai
Kangtai, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rianlon (SZ300596), is a leading Chinese producer of lubricant additives. Its portfolio covers automotive, railway, marine, and industrial applications, offering components, viscosity modifier, and additive package solutions. With annual capacity exceeding 150,000 tons, Kangtai is going to expand its manufacturing facility in Malaysia by Q1 2028.
Certified as a national green factory and a state recognized fine-chemical R&D platform, Kangtai upholds green manufacturing principles throughout its operations. Backed by a team of over 500 employees and nearly three decades of technical expertise, the company has built a robust business network worldwide.
For more information, visit www.jzkangtai.com
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Infineum and Kangtai advance partnership with distribution collaboration across Southern Asia
