2021 NEWS AND ANNOUCEMENTS
December 9, 2021
Coupling of triphenylamine dyes using 9,9-dioctyl-9H-fluorene forming a di-anchoring dye increases photovoltaic performance
Our paper in collaboration with Prof. Sang Hee Lee of Kunsan National University, the Republic of Korea regarding the effect of coupling and di-anchoring groups in the performance of triphenylamine-based dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells is now published in the Dyes and Pigments journal (Elsevier) which is a Q1 journal and has an impact factor of 4.889. In this paper, we studied the effect of di-anchoring group using 9,9-dioctyl-9H-fluorene as a bridge which was formed by coupling two triphenylamine-based dyes. Two octyl chains were introduced into the core of di-anchoring dye to avoid its aggregation and minimize its TiO2/electrolyte recombination reactions. The photophysical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic parameters of both mono- and di-anchoring sensitizers were compared, herein referred to as KS-18 and KS-20, respectively. Computational results indicated that the two anchoring groups adsorbed to the TiO2 in KS-20 were thermodynamically stable as compared to only one anchoring group. The results show that KS-20 produced a 7 % increase in its photovoltaic conversion efficiency mainly due to an increase in the short-circuit current density. This increase was brought by the red-shifting and widening of its absorption spectra thereby increasing its light harvesting efficiency..
To read the full article, please click the link.
October 15, 2021
An alternative look on Alzheimer's disease with Tau fibrils with membrane lipids
We would like to congratulate Prechiel Barredo on publishing an article entitled "Tau fibril with membrane lipids: Insight from computational modeling and simulations", which gives an alternative insight on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease which is mainly based on β-amyloid therapies. Researchers have observed that the microtubule-binding protein tau was up to 4x more hyperphosphorylated than the normal adult brain. In this paper, we did some computational modelling on the interaction of the common lipids found in the brain such as 3-alpha-cholesterol, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine; and C18:1 sphingomyelin with the tau protein. Results have shown that there was a strong formation of the protein-lipids complex which allows the tau proteins to aggregate in the brain.
To read the full article, please click the link.
August 4, 2021
Congratulations on passing the comprehensive exam and
welcome to the fmc2 laboratory
welcome to the fmc2 laboratory
We would like to congratulate Aidyn Abilkas on passing his comprehensive exam in Ph.D. in Life Sciences. Aidyn will be joining the fmc2 laboratory as a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Balanay. His research will be on the development of fluorescent sensors for the detection of lead species in natural waters.
July 28, 2021
2021 GRADUATES
We would like to congratulate (left to right) Dias Mustazheb, Alisher Amankel, and Aray Yesmakhan for graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Nazarbayev University.
Dias, will be continuing his studies at NU and will be taking M.Sc. in Chemistry. For Alisher and Aray, we wish you all the best and bid you good luck in your future endeavors.
April 2, 2021
We would like to congratulate Dr. Bakhytzhan Baptayev for getting the MES grant on "Development of photoelectrochromic devices powered by economical dye-sensitized solar cells" with the duration of 2021 - 2023 wherein he will serve as the co-PI. Dr. Salimgerey Adilov serve as the PI and Dr. Mannix Balanay will act the consultant for the project.
March 4, 2021
Dr. Bakhytzhan Baptayev will be presenting a research seminar entitled "CuCo2S4 nanoflowers as an efficient electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells" during the 3rd Research Seminar Series of the Advanced Functional Materials and Devices (AFMD) Cluster of Nazarbayev University.
When: March 4, 2021 (Thursday)
Time: 17:00
March 1, 2021
Welcome to the fmc2 laboratory, Dr. Yerbolat Tashenov!
We would like to welcome our newest member of the fmc2 laboratory, Dr. Yerbolat Tashenov. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2018 from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He has received various scientific internships from multiple universities such as Istanbul University, Catholic University of Leuven, and Szeged University with the synthesis and applications of various organic molecules, such as triazoles and monoterpene derivatives. He was formerly an Analytical Chemist of the LP "Golden Rile Trade" and a Junior Researcher of the Institute of Applied Chemistry at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Currently, he is a teaching assistant of the Chemistry Department, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. He will be working on the project "Flexible photoelectrochromic devices powered by tandem organic solar cells".
February 18, 2021
Our Twitter and Instagram accounts are already up.
To get the lab's latest updates and announcements please add us @fmc2chem
February 8, 2021
Dr. Mannix P. Balanay was recently appointed as a member of the Editorial Board for PLoS One Journal. PLoS One is one of the journals that is published by the Public Library of Science which includes PLoS Biology, PLoS Computational Biology, PLoS Genetics, PLoS Medicine, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, and PLoS Pathogens. PLOS One is a multidisciplinary open-access journal that covers science, engineering, medicine, and the related social sciences and humanities. The Journal Impact Quartile of PLoS One is Q1 under the multidisciplinary category. For more information and submission guidelines, please click on the link.
February 4, 2021
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS AND DEVICES (AFMD) cluster
is pleased to invite you to AFMD Research Seminar titled
"Applications of metal-organic frameworks for green energy and the environment"
by Prof. Mannix Balanay
WHEN: Thursday, 4 February 2021, 5 PM
January 25, 2021
Our group is in collaboration with Dr. Annie Ng's research group (SEDS) and this collaboration has produced a new conference paper published in Materials Today: Proceedings which was a result of the presentation done during the International Conference on Nanomaterials and Advanced Energy Storage Systems (INESS) on August 6, 2020, held at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The paper is entitled "Interfacial engineering for high performance perovskite solar cells". Kudos to Damir, Zhinwei, and Zhuldys on the job well done, and special thanks to Dr. Ng for this opportunity to collaborate.
To read the full article, please click the link.