In the Ong research group, we study advanced nanomaterials to surmount critical challenges in energy conversion and storage, ranging from thermal catalysis, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis to photoelectrocatalysis. The "Catalysis and Energy Materials Laboratory" aims to develop sustainable energy technologies and produce energy fuels and chemicals using solar energy and/or clean electricity. This is to align to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Tailoring organic and inorganic nanostructures for energy and environmental applications via thermal catalysis and artificial photosynthesis (photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis)
- Synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures
- Development of carbonaceous nanomaterials (graphene, graphitic carbon nitride g-C3N4, carbon quantum dots, g-C3N4 quantum dots and carbon nanotubes)
- Tunable morphologies of bismuth-based nanocomposites
- Designing graphene-based graphdiyne-based semiconductor hybrid nanocomposites
- Interface engineering of heterojunction photocatalysts for solar energy conversion
- Single atom catalysis (SAC) for heterogeneous catalysis
- Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-driven photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis
- Fabrication of photoactive metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs)
- Crystal facet engineering of metal oxide nanoarchitectures
- Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical conversion of CO2 to energy-rich fuels
- Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical H2O splitting
- Photocatalytic N2 fixation
- Theoretical and computational simulations (density functional theory, DFT)
- Electrocatalysis and energy storage (Beyond lithium-ion batteries)
- Thermal and photo-desulphurization of model fuels
