2024 NEWS AND ANNOUCEMENTS

This is a perfect example of how when it rains, it pours—and we couldn't be more thrilled to once again congratulate Dr. Bakhytzhan Baptayev on his incredible achievement. Dr. Baptayev has been awarded the prestigious title of "Best Scientist of 2024" by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

Congratulations to Aliya Yelshibay, a senior B.Sc. student in Chemistry for her recent review paper titled "Conducting polymers in solar cells: Insights, innovations, and challenges," published in the journal Organics.

This review explores how conducting polymers (CPs) enhance the efficiency and versatility of three major solar cell types: dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), perovskite solar cells (PSCs), and organic solar cells (OSCs). Key polymers like polyaniline, polypyrrole, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) are highlighted for their contributions to improving solar cell performance. In DSSCs, CPs improve counter electrodes, electrolytes, and dyes, while in PSCs, they aid in charge transport and reduce recombination losses. For OSCs, they act as hole transport materials (HTMs) and active layers, boosting device performance. Recent studies emphasize the role of CPs in enhancing efficiency and stability, especially in low-light conditions. Despite the progress, challenges remain in material optimization, scalability, and long-term stability, requiring further research to make these technologies commercially viable.

To explore the review paper further, you can access the full article here.

Congratulations to Ayagoz Ibrayeva, a graduating PhD student in Chemistry from ENU, along with senior B.Sc. Chemistry students Urker Abibulla and Zulfiya Imanbekova from NU, for their recent review paper titled "Advancements in Carbazole-Based Sensitizers and Hole-Transport Materials for Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance," published in the journal Molecules.

This research delves into the remarkable properties of carbazole-based molecules, which exhibit exceptional thermal stability and efficient hole-transport capabilities. These characteristics make them particularly well-suited for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The findings demonstrate how these advanced materials can significantly improve both the efficiency and stability of DSSCs, paving the way for more sustainable solar energy solutions.

Kudos to the team for their valuable contributions to the field of renewable energy!

To explore their insightful research further, you can access the full article here.

We are thrilled to congratulate Sherif Bukari, Aliya Yelshibay, and Bakhtyzhan Baptayev for their new paper! Their research explores the use of conducting polymers as platinum-free counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, achieving an impressive 17% increase in power conversion efficiency compared to traditional Pt-based electrodes. This remarkable advancement represents a significant milestone in the field, marking one of the highest efficiencies reported for conducting polymers in this context.

The study centers on the electropolymerized copolymer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly(N-alkylated-carbazole). By incorporating N-alkylated carbazoles into the polymer matrix, the researchers have significantly enhanced conductivity and charge transport—two crucial factors in optimizing solar cell performance.

These findings suggest that tailored electropolymerized conducting polymers could transform the design of efficient and cost-effective solar cells, paving the way for broader adoption of renewable energy technologies. As this research progresses, the potential for roll-to-roll production of these materials could further enhance their accessibility for commercial applications.

Congratulations again to the team for their innovative contributions to sustainable energy solutions!

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.

We are excited to announce that Najeeb Abdulla, a Ph.D. student in Chemistry at MSU-IIT, Philippines, has published a new paper in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, a Q1 journal in both Citescore and JCR. This achievement showcases his dedication, hard work, and innovative thinking. His research provides fresh insights and makes a significant contribution to the field. 

In his study, Najeeb introduces a novel method for addressing environmental challenges by developing fish-scale carbon nanoparticles (FSCNPs) from discarded fish scales. He employed hydrothermal synthesis on tamban fish scales, optimizing the process through response surface methodology using a Box–Behnken design. The synthesized FSCNPs exhibit distinct structural and chemical properties akin to carbonized polymer dots, which facilitate varied solid-state fluorescence. By adjusting their concentration within a polyvinylpyrrolidone matrix, the nanoparticles emitted a range of colors, including blue, green, yellow, and red-orange. The study also explores the luminescence mechanisms involved, such as cross-linking emissions and aggregation effects, which contribute to the tunable fluorescence. These optical characteristics suggest that FSCNPs hold great promise for applications in opto-electronic devices.

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our very own group member, Hafiz Muhammad Waqar Abid, for his outstanding achievement in securing the runner-up position during the prestigious 1st NU 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) competition. This event took place on September 20, 2024, as part of the NU Annual Research Conference, which showcased the innovative research and ideas of students from various disciplines. 

Waqar's impressive presentation not only highlighted his deep understanding of his research topic but also his ability to communicate complex concepts in an engaging and accessible manner. His accomplishment is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and passion for academic excellence. We are incredibly proud of him and excited to see how he will continue to shine in his future endeavors!

Another publication for this year for Rachel Anne Lagunay and Diana Suleimenova and a first publication for Aruzhan Tleubekova and our fresh MSc graduate Ritche Roi Adaliim for their paper entitled "Trade-off between degradation efficiency and recyclability: Zeolite-enhanced Ni3−xCoxS4 catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue" in Molecules (MDPI). 

In their analysis of pseudo-first order kinetics, it revealed that reaction rates were notably faster under UV and visible light, indicating that these light sources enhance the degradation process through specific wavelengths or energy levels. They also found that increasing the amount of catalyst positively affected the degradation rate. The best performance was observed with NCS-2@Z, which achieved a remarkable 91.4% degradation efficiency under UV light, coupled with improved stability and reusability. Furthermore, our study pinpointed e− species as the main drivers of methylene blue degradation. These results highlight the strong potential of NCS@Z composites as effective catalysts for dye degradation, especially when exposed to UV light.

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.

We extend our congratulations to the ever-diligent Diana Suleimenova for the publication of her article "Enhanced efficiency and stability of dye-sensitized solar cells utilizing FeCo2S4 nanowires as Pt-free counter electrodes" in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry (Elsevier). 

She achieved a PCE of 7.88% with FeCo2S4 nanowires, surpassing the 7.45% PCE of Pt-based dyes. Moreover, the FeCo2S4 NWs maintained a high PCE after 10 days in ambient conditions, whereas Pt-based solar cells exhibited a significant decline in both PCE and short-circuit current density during the same period.

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.

Congratulations to Rachel Anne Lagunay and Banu Akhetova on the publication of their article titled "Tailoring the optoelectronic properties of soybean-derived nitrogen self-doped carbon dots through composite formation with KCl and zeolite, synthesized using autogenic atmosphere pyrolysis." in Crystals journal. 

This article deals with a fascinating study on the synthesis and characterization of carbon dots from soybean biomass. A novel approach is taken by investigating how doping these carbon dots with potassium chloride (KCl) or zeolite affects their size, elemental composition and optical properties. Remarkably, the results show a significant reduction in size after doping, with the undoped carbon dots averaging 8.86 ± 0.10 nm in size, in contrast to their doped counterparts at 3.09 ± 0.05 nm (CD@Zeolite) and 2.07 ± 0.05 nm (CD@KCl). Moreover, the doping process leads to remarkable changes in the elemental composition and alters the optical properties, especially the excitation-dependent emission. These intriguing results point to promising applications of these engineered carbon dots in areas such as environmental sensing and energy-related endeavors.

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.

Congratulations to Najeeb Abdulla, PhD student at Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology, under the supervision of Prof. Marvin Jose Fernandez and Dr. Mannix Balanay, on the publication of his review article titled "Upcycling Biomass Waste into Luminescent Solid-State Carbon Dots" in Elsevier's newly launched open access journal Next Materials.

This review paper addresses the promising area of biomass waste-derived carbon dots (BWCDs) as sustainable solutions for the conversion of waste into valuable materials. BWCDs are versatile in both dissolved and solid forms and exhibit biocompatible properties and customizable characteristics. Despite the beneficial properties of BWCDs in solid form, such as improved stability and functionality, widespread application faces obstacles. In this article, the properties of BWCDs, synthesis techniques, and strategies to improve solid-state stability and functionality are reviewed. Applications in optoelectronics and materials science highlight the versatility of BWCDs, although challenges remain in terms of efficiency and stability. Nonetheless, this work highlights the potential of BWCDs as environmentally friendly alternatives and symbolizes the convergence of waste recycling and advanced materials science that drives technological innovation.

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.