Prof. Gao's team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed an ultrathin polymer nanofilm, which is not only 25 times stronger1  than stainless steel with the same mass, but is also extremely transparent, gas-permeable and water-proof with adjustable porous properties, making it suitable for use as wearable devices, medical protection, desalination, electronics, solar cells and many other cutting-edge technologies. 

This nanofilm developed by the team-measuring just 20 nanometers or less than one thousandth the thickness of a hair strand - is made from the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-a light-weight material used in bullet-proof vest.  It was very difficult to reduce UHMWPE to nanoscale as the powder-like material breaks at a certain level under the conventional methodology which stretches it in opposite directions to change the intrinsic orientation of the disordered and entangled polymeric chain.  

But Prof. Gao found a way to detangle the polymer chains. Similar to applying conditioner to smoothen the hair, Prof Gao’s team put UHMWPE into a lubricant and transform the material into a gel form, successfully enhancing its drawability while preventing the polymer chains from knotting.  The team is thus able to rearrange the polymer chains into a topologically triangulated stable structure – a structure where some of the strongest material built upon. 

香港科技大学高平教授的研究团队研发了一种极薄的聚合物纳米薄膜。这块薄膜不仅较同一质量(mass)的不锈钢坚固二十五倍 ，同时亦具备透明、透气及防水特质，更可调教当中的气孔大小，适用于制造可穿戴式装置、医疗防护产品、海水淡化滤膜、太阳能电池及应用于其他前沿科技上。

团队研发的纳米薄膜，厚度只有二十纳米(较千分之一根头发还要薄)，是由超高分子量聚乙烯(UHMWPE)所制成。UHMWPE是一种可用于制作避弹衣的轻型材料，但利用传统的通过将材料沿着相反的方向拉伸，以改变其内部无序和缠结的高分子链的固有取向，进而降低膜厚度的方式很容易令材料断裂。

不过，高教授却找到了松解纠缠分子链的方法。正如使用护发素令头发顺滑一样，研究团队把UHMWPE放入一种润滑剂中，将之变成凝胶状，结果不但提升了物料的可拉性(drawability)，亦有效防止其分子链「打结」。团队随即重新调整分子链，将它们排序成一个坚固物料独有的三角形结构。