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Diamond is celebrated not only as a precious gemstone but also for its exceptional physical and quantum properties—particularly when it contains atomic defects known as color centers. These defects enable diamond to exhibit unique quantum behaviors under ambient conditions, making it a promising material for cutting-edge technologies. However, large-scale production of ultrathin diamond membranes has historically been a significant challenge. In this talk, we will introduce a simple, scalable, and reliable edge–exfoliation method that utilizes common office sticky tape to produce flexible, transferable polycrystalline diamond membranes. This innovative technique facilitates the mass fabrication of large-area, sub-micrometer-thick, ultra-flat, and highly flexible diamond membranes compatible with standard manufacturing processes. The inherent flexibility of these membranes unlocks new possibilities in strain engineering, quantum sensing, and other applications that were previously difficult to realize. We will also explore their potential in semiconductors, quantum technologies, and beyond. This work paves the way for integrating diamond-based materials into next-generation devices, demonstrating the transformative potential of flexible diamond membranes.
Professor Zhiqin Chu received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from Northwest University (China) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, in July 2008 and July 2012, respectively. He conducted postdoctoral research at The University of Stuttgart in Germany from April 2014 to September 2016. Since November 2018, he has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at HKU, and was promoted to tenured Associate Professor in November 2024. Since joining HKU, Professor Chu has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Nature, Nature Communications, and Science Advances, and has filed 16 patents related to diamond technology. Professor Chu has received multiple awards, including China’s Top 10 Scientific Advancements (2025), Top Ten Winners of Falling Walls Year Breakthroughs in Engineering and Technology (2025), and Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (2024, 2026).
Clean water and clean air are vital for public health. This project focuses on developing high-efficiency and environmentally sustainable filters for removing harmful air/water pollutants. The team has developed novel architectures and functionalities for the filters to achieve high permeance, high removal efficiency, and excellent reusability.
