Excited to share the latest work from our research group which is featured as a tutorial review in the Emerging Investigators Series of Green Chemistry, the home of cutting-edge research on the development of alternative sustainable technologies. This review covers almost all the achievement during my research career. It highlights the recent progress of sonocatalytic applications in green chemistry and their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A key feature of this manuscript is its comprehensive analysis of the primary technical challenges in sonocatalysis and the identification of effective strategies to address these hurdles, such as the incorporation of nanostructured catalytic cavitation agents and the design of advanced microfluidic sonoreactors. These innovations improve energy transfer, control bubble dynamics, and enhance catalytic activity under ultrasound. Furthermore, we implement molecular modelling as a powerful tool to gain fundamental insights into the mechanisms fundamental and guide the design of next-generation sonocatalytic materials. The integration of nanostructured catalytic cavitation agents, microfluidic reactor technologies, and computational molecular modelling forms a trilateral synergistic platform that unlocks new potential in sonocatalysis. This multidisciplinary framework paves the way for significant advancements in green and sustainable chemistry, offering innovative solutions to global challenges in energy, health, and environmental sustainability (Apr 2025).
Source: Green Chemistry 2025
Thrilled to share our new publication on Methanol Activation as C1 building block in Sustainable Organic Synthesis via different Borrowing Hydrogen strategies, publishing in the prestigious journal ChemSusChem. This cutting-edge technology is one of the most promising strategies in sustainable chemistry, enabling the efficient and green synthesis of organic compounds. In this publication, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements, challenges, and opportunities in this groundbreaking field. We also introduce future perspective, including the integration of computational chemistry and the application of sonochemical/sonocatalytic and biotechnological approaches. This publication is helpful for anyone passionate about sustainable chemistry and innovative catalytic processes!
At Griffith University, we continue to contribute significantly to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our research demonstrates how chemistry not only expands our understanding but also drives solutions to global challenges.
(Mar 2025)
Source: ChemSusChem 2025, 18, e202401974
Happy to share my latest work published in Advanced Functional Materials (IF: 18.5, top 5% in Materials Science). The review article is open-access. It highlights the tremendous progress of a novel quantum light source—quantum emitters in the 2D material, hexagonal boron nitride: from the inception in 2016 to the current status that has gained significant traction in the community with hundreds of active researchers around the world involved, many from top universities, including TU Munich, EPFL, Caltech, Kyoto U, Seoul National U, Stanford, Purdue, MIT, UTS, RMIT, etc.
Excited to share our new study in the area of sonocatalysis which was featured on the front cover page of Angewandte Chemie. We exploited a concept of CuO particle design with multiple air pockets, engineered to function as cavitation nuclei and catalysts simultaneously. This concept facilitated the selective and efficient acoustic energy transfer directly to the catalyst surface, avoiding the undesired dissipation of acoustic energy into the bulk solution while demonstrating superior cavitation properties at lower acoustic pressure amplitudes. Our work represented a significant advance in sonocatalytic systems, promising efficient energy use in catalytic reactions (Jan 2025).
The paper with our colleagues at QMNC, Griffith University, Australia (Prof Hongjie An, Dr Jun ZHANG, Prof Nam-Trung Nguyen) was published on Colloids and Surfaces A. We investigated nanobubble generation through a mini-extruder in amino acid solutions and achieved remarkable products of nanobubbles via nanopores by extrusion, with reproducible size distribution and stability. We also compared the extrusion protocol with the commonly used ultrasound method. It turned out that extrusion generated samples with smaller sizes and higher concentrations than sonication. This study provided a reliable protocol for generating small-scale nanobubbles for biomedical use, showing great potential in drug delivery for medical treatment. (July 2024)
Source: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 700, 134773 (2024)
Our review paper on how to investigate the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) by computational tools is published on Micromachines. This review paper elucidated the critical role of advanced computational FSI methods in the field of micro elastofluidics. Furthermore, this paper addressed the current challenges in computational FSI and highlights the necessity for further development of tools to tackle complex, time-dependent models under microfluidic environments and varying conditions. Our review highlighted the expanding potential of FSI in micro elastofluidics, offering a roadmap for future research and development in this promising area. (July 2024)
Source: Micromachines 15, 897 ( 2024)
Our paper is accepted on Journal of Alloys and Compounds. In this work, we performed an integrated theoretical-experimental investigation to reveal the key factors governing the photocatalytic efficiency of the Ag/SrTiO3 nanocomposite. Those insightful knowledge was transferred to guide the design of Ag/SrTiO3 catalyst for environmental remediation application, which was excellently validated by the comprehensive experiments. This is an interdisciplinary research involving scientists from IHPC, A*STAR, Singapore (Dr Jia Zhang, Dr Michael Sullivan, Dr Phuong Khuong Ong, Dr Son Chu), CNRS France (Dr Prince Nana Amaniampong, Ph.D. - HDR, MRSC), researchers from Hanoi University of Science and Technologies, Vietnam (Prof Pham Huyen HUST) and our colleagues at QMNC, Griffith University, Australia (Prof Hongjie An, Dr Jun ZHANG, Prof Nam-Trung Nguyen). (June 2024)
Journal of Alloys and Compounds 1002, 175322 (2024)
My first publication on the Nature Portfolio journal npj 2D Materials and Applications. In this study, we reported the fabrication of the planar Carbon-based perovskite solar cell employing a large-area phosphorene flake as the hole-transporting layer. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to study the interfacial structure between phosphorene overlayers and the Formamidinium Lead Iodide perovskite (FAPbI) substrate and reveal the electronic interaction between those two phases, explaining the high efficiency and excellent stability of the material. Really enjoy the collaboration with our excellent colleagues at Griffith University and at QMNC Munkhbayar Batmunkh, Yu Lin Zhong, Nam-Trung Nguyen, Qin Li and Tim Gould. (June 2024)
npj 2D Mater Appl 8, 38 (2024)
My paper on plasma-assisted activation of Nitrogen with Prof Hongjie An and Prof Nam-Trung Nguyen has been published on the Journal of Cleaner Production. In this study, we investigated the Nitrogen fixation (NF) in a rotational gliding arc plasma based on various energy inputs, flow rates, and N2:O2 ratios under atmospheric conditions. We revealed that NF by the gliding arc plasma is superior to the thermal process in terms of NOx yield and energy consumption at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure. These findings underscored the potential of gliding arc plasma for efficient NF processes, offering insights into optimal operational conditions and downstream applications for nitric acid generation. (January 2024)
Journal of Cleaner Production 436, 140618 (2024)
I will join the ARC Laureate Fellowship project, led by Professor Nam-Trung NGUYEN from 01 January 2024 as a Research Fellow and Program Manager. The project, titled ‘Highly efficient microscale liquid handling and bio interfacing’ ,utilises bendiness and stretchiness to enable storage, transport, manipulation, and analysis of fluids in the microscale, ready for practical implementation. We aim to establish a ground-breaking research discipline that allows wearable devices to connect with the body chemically, either by accessing body fluids or by precise delivery of medicines. Commercialisation of the developed technologies will place Australian industry at the forefront of the lucrative market of wearable, implantable devices, supported by sovereign development and manufacturing capability.
My investigation on the work function (WF) tuning capabilities of MXene was published on ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. Complementary density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the changes in WF were attributed to surface termination modifications and the formation of TiO2 and TiN phases during annealing. DFT calculations further unveiled an inverse correlation between the WF and the electron affinity of surface terminations. The findings from this comprehensive study provided insights into the tunable WF of MXenes, paving the way for their potential applications as interfacial layers in photovoltaic, energy conversion, and storage technologies. (December 2023)
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, ASAP
Happy to share my publication in one of the top leading journal in chemistry, Angewandte Chemie. In this study, we conducted the photocatalytic CO2 reduction on two metalated porous organic polymers (Zn-POP and Co-POP) for syngas (CO+H2) production. We observed the formation of entirely different major products, where CO and H2 production were preferentially obtained over Co-POP & Zn-POP, respectively. The structure-activity relationship was confirmed via in-situ DRIFTS and DFT studies, which demonstrated the formation of COOH* intermediate along with the thermodynamic feasibility of CO2 reduction over Co-POP while water splitting occurred preferentially over Zn-POP. This is my continuos collaboration with brilliant teams of Dr John Mondal and Dr Kasun Gunasooriya, Ph.D. (October 2023)
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 62, e202311304 (2023)
Here is my continuing paper about the activation of methane on CuO catalyst, which is revived from its initial draft 4 years ago. In this study, using the combined theoretical and experimental approach, we revealed that the presence of water could enhance the methane activation and conversion on CuO. This is a nice work with my former supervisor at NTU, Prof Samir Mushrif, now is at the University of Alberta, and with Yan LIU's team at ISCE2, A*STAR. (October 2023)
Catalysis Science & Technology 13, 6764 (2023)
My first paper on plasma with Prof Hongjie An and Prof Nam-Trung Nguyen was published in a Special Issue on Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing. A multiple-capillary Ar plasma jet was successfully generated by an advanced dielectric barrier discharge reactor. The advantages of the reactor included less Ar consumption and low gas temperatures, which are suitable for implementing various biomedical applications such as wound healing, dental treatment, and cancer therapy. Furthermore, the plasma jet spread when it interreacted with dielectric materials or skin, resulting in an enlarged effective plasma treatment area of approximately 8 mm2. Analysis of optical emission spectra of the plasma jet indicated the existence of several reactive species, suggesting that the plasma device holds potential for biomedical applications and material surface treatments. (October 2023)
Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing 43, 1475 (2023)
Happy to share my nice collaboration with the team at UC Berkeley, publishing on ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. We elucidated the mechanism of large molecule intercalation through graphene heterointerfaces catalyzed by point defects in the lattice. Congratulations Ke Ma on the first paper of your PhD. (October 2023)
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 15, 47649 (2023)
Had great times at the 2023 Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, organized in beautiful Great Barrier Reef Cairns. I presented my studies on Biomass conversion on CuO catalyst, which was one of my continuous progress from 2015 since I joined NTU. Received great attention from the audiences about our recent Sonocatalysis work that selectively oxidize glucose to glucuronic acid. Also this was a great time to meet and make new friends and discuss on potential collaborations. (July 2023)
Our paper is official online on Small. In this study, using the integrated computational-experimental approach (combining molecular simulations with catalysis data), we demonstrated the crucial role of interfacial sites between Cu and amorphous carbon (a-C) support in stabilizing the key intermediates for the CO2 reduction to CH4. These insights revealed from our theoretical investigation could open a new avenue to design the interface for Cu-based catalysts and improve their catalytic activity in CO2 electroreduction. Thanks my colleagues Jia Zhang, Juan Manuel Arce and Michael Sullivan for our joint efforts in this study. (June 2023)
Small 2023, 19, 2301379
I am invited to give a seminar at the Phenikaa University, Vietnam. My talk with the title "First principle guided design of catalyst for sustainable chemistry: Case studies in biomass conversion" received great attention from the audiences. (May 2023)
My first paper with affiliation from Griffith University was published on ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. In this work, we built benzothiazole-linked Fe-metalated porous organic polymer (Fc-Bz-POP) using ferrocene dicarboxaldehyde (FDC), 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl) benzene (APB), and elemental sulfur (S8) via a template-free, multicomponent, cost-effective one-pot synthetic approach. This Fc-Bz-POP was endowed with unique features including an extended network unit, isolated active sites, and catalytic pocket with a possible local structure, in which convergent binding sites are positioned in such a way that substrate molecules can be held in close proximity. Electronic properties obtained from DFT simulations via the charge density difference plot, Bader charge, and density of state (DOS) demonstrated the importance of the organic polymer frame structure in altering the electronic properties of the Fe site in Fc-Bz-POP, resulting in its high activity. Our contribution had great implications for the precise design of metalated porous organic polymer-based robust catalysts, which would open a new avenue to get a clear image of surface catalysis. (April 2023)
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 17, 21027–21039
After staying in Singapore for 15 years, there is a new chapter in my career. I am excited to join the Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Center (QMNC) at the Griffith University as a Research Fellow from 26 February 2023. I will have great opportunity to work under the mentor of Professor Nam-Trung NGUYEN to explore the integration of microfluidics into catalytic processes.
Enjoyed the great science at the 2022 Symposiums on Advanced Materials and Sustainable Technologies (AM&ST22) in Cairns. I presented my study on tuning the interaction between supported Cu nanoparticle and the support to achive the high catalytic effciency in CO2 electro-reduction. (December 2022)
The completion of my first year at the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) was celebrated by the acceptance of my paper with the title "Ultrasonic-assisted oxidation of Cellulose to Oxalic acid over gold nanoparticles supported on iron-oxide" on the prestigious journal Green Chemistry. In this context, we reported a catalytic base-free strategy for the selective oxidation of microcrystalline cellulose to oxalic acid by combining low frequency ultrasound and Au/Fe2O3 as a catalyst. By means of density functional theory, it was demonstrated that a charge transfer occurred from Au nanoparticles to Fe2O3, resulting in the formation of active catalytic species capable of decomposing H2O2, formed by sonolysis of water, to reactive O* species that were involved in the oxidation of cellulose. Thanks Dr Prince Buabeng Amaniampong from CNRS, France for the close collaboration since 2015. (April 2022)
Green Chem., 2022, 24, 4800-4811
Several of my book chapters have been published, including two chapters with the title "Chapter 2: Progress in biomass fast pyrolysis: An outlook of modern experimental approaches" and "Chapter 5: State-of-the-art practices to upgrade biomass fast pyrolysis derived bio-oil" in the book Innovations in Thermochemical Technologies for Biofuel Processing, published by Elsevier (March 2022)
My new paper on Pesticides detection using Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on Ag NPs is now published on The Journal of Physical Chemistry A (ACS). This is my first publication with the new affiliation at IHPC, resulting from a collaboration with researchers in Vietnam (DTU, VAST, Qui Nhon Univ), IHPC (A*STAR, Singapore), Korea (Dept. Chem., Changwon Univ.) and Belgium (Dept. Chem., KULeuven Univ.) (September 2021)
J. Phys. Chem. A 2021, 125, 39, 8529–8541
My second paper from my time working in Tej Choksi' group at SCBE, NTU was published on one of the most prestigious journal in the field of catalysis, ACS Catalysis. It is a nice piece of work in collaboration with Prof Xu Rong at SCBE, NTU. The new insights generated by our theoretical part in this work included a quantitative analysis of how the interfacial perturbation in catalytic properties varies with proximity to the interface of Au/TiO2. Furthermore, we showed that CO* adsorption was not only strengthened at the Au−TiO2 interface but also sensitively depended on the charged state of interfacial Au atoms. This relationship between the binding strength of CO*, a key descriptor for CO2 reduction, with the charged state of Au under reaction conditions qualitatively explained the potential dependent ratio of the syngas composition observed in experimental works. (August 2021)
Green Chem., 2022, 24, 4800-4811
A new chapter in my research career. After 5 years working at the Cambridge CARES, I am joining the A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), a Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency, as an independant Scientist. A*STAR. My research at IHPC will focus in computational fluidic dynamics, electronics and photonics, materials science and chemistry, aiming to tackle real-world challenges in physical and human systems, such as in manufacturing, energy, environmental sustainability and healthcare. (Aprilr 2021)