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:

1. What power do emerging smart nanomaterials hold?

2. How will nanotechnology and advanced surface chemistry shape the global energy future?

3. What are the primary innovations we need to fuel the world of tomorrow and beyond?

4. 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)

1. Synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures with tunable structures and properties

2. Development of carbonaceous nanomaterials (graphene, graphitic carbon nitride, carbon quantum dots, carbon nitride allotropes and carbon nanotubes)

3. Interface engineering of heterojunction photocatalysts for solar energy conversion

4. Defect engineering of nanostructured materials

5. Atom proximity control – single atom catalysis (SAC) and dual atom catalysis (DAC)

6. Crystal facet engineering of metal oxide nanoarchitectures

7. Electrochemical and photo(electro)catalytic conversion of CO₂ to C₁ and C₂₊ energy-rich fuels

8. Electrochemical and photo(electro)catalytic H₂O splitting

9. Electrochemical and photocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to H₂O₂ formation

10. Photo(electro)catalytic N2 fixation

11. Theoretical and computational simulations (first-principles density functional theory, DFT)

12. 2D graphene synthesis from methane cracking

13. Nanomaterials in advanced 3D printing

14. Electrocatalysis and energy storage (Lithium batteries and supercapacitors)

15. 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

2^nd International Symposium on Energy and Environmental Photocatalytic Materials (EEPM2), Wuhan, China, (1–4 April 2016).