NanoECats Research - Energy, Climate Change & Sustainability
Research Themes and Directions
Nanomaterials & Beyond: Advancing the frontiers of artificial photosynthesis system toward the production of renewable energy fuels via nanotechnologies
Key questions to be addressed in NanoECats research:
What power do emerging smart nanomaterials hold?
How will nanotechnology and advanced surface chemistry shape the global energy future?
What are the primary innovations we need to fuel the world of tomorrow and beyond?
What are the strategic solutions to reduce our carbon footprint without compromising the importance of a life of carbon consumption?
Tailoring surface/atomic engineering of nanostructures for energy and environmental applications via artificial photosynthesis (photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis)
Synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures with tunable structures and properties
Development of carbonaceous nanomaterials (graphene, graphitic carbon nitride, carbon quantum dots, carbon nitride allotropes and carbon nanotubes)
Interface engineering of heterojunction photocatalysts for solar energy conversion
Defect engineering of nanostructured materials
Atom proximity control – single atom catalysis (SAC) and dual atom catalysis (DAC)
Crystal facet engineering of metal oxide nanoarchitectures
Electrochemical and photo(electro)catalytic conversion of CO2 to C1 and C2+ energy-rich fuels
Electrochemical and photo(electro)catalytic H2O splitting
Electrochemical and photocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to H2O2 formation
Photo(electro)catalytic N2 fixation
Theoretical and computational simulations (first-principles density functional theory, DFT)
2D graphene synthesis from methane cracking
Nanomaterials in advanced 3D printing
Electrocatalysis and energy storage (Lithium batteries and supercapacitors)
Thermal and photo-desulphurization of model fuels
Key Research Grant Funding
10. Guangdong-Shenzhen Joint Grant, China - Young Scholar Project (2022-2025): (Principal Investigator)
9. National Agency Grant (2022-2023): (Principal Investigator)
8. Investigatorship Grant (2021-2024): (Principal Investigator)
Advanced nanomaterials for multifunctional catalytic and energy applications
7. Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (2021-2024): (Principal Investigator)
6. Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (2020-2024): MYR 132,350.00 (Principal Investigator)
Tailoring Band Structures in Graphitic Carbon Nitride: Elucidation of Charge Dynamics and Reaction Mechanisms for Improved Photocatalysis
5. Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (2019-2022): MYR 60, 000.00 (Principal Investigator)
Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photo(electro)catalysts for energy conversion
4. Merdeka Award Grant (2019) - Sponsored by Petronas, Shell and ExxonMobil (Principal Investigator)
Solar Energy Conversion and Energy Storage to Address the Seriousness of Energy Security and Environmental Issues by Mimicking the Ingenuity of Nature
3. Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (2019-2022): MYR 112, 500.00 (Co-investigator)
Elucidating Charge Dynamics in Carbon Quantum Dots-Based Nanocomposites in Photocatalysis for Environmental and Energy Applications
2. Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (2013-2016): MYR 131, 300.00 (Co-investigator)
Understanding the roles of Pt and graphene on photocatalytic enhancement and surface reaction mechanism for the reduction of CO2 over Pt-TiO2-graphene nanocomposites.
1. Faculty International Travel Grant, School of Engineering, Monash University (2016): MYR 2,000.00
2nd International Symposium on Energy and Environmental Photocatalytic Materials (EEPM2), Wuhan, China, (1–4 April 2016).