On 25 February 2022, National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), THAILAND in collaboration with Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), P.R. China had a virtual meeting to discuss about the progress of the research project on “Nanomaterials for Biolipid Conversion via Photo/Thermal Catalysis”. This research project is supported by CAS-NSTDA Joint Research Program for 3 years. The principal investigator from NANOTEC is Dr. Kajornsak Faungnawakij, director of nanocatalysis and molecular simulation research group and the principal investigator from DICP is Prof. Feng Wang, director of biomass and bioenergy division.
The objective of this meeting is to update the progress of the research collaboration which is focusing on preparing nanomaterials or catalysis for the efficient synthesis of green fuels and chemicals from biolipid and renewable biomass.
NANOTEC and DICP were granted a matching fund from CAS-NSTDA Joint Research Program in 2019 which was supported from National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The aim of this funding is to support substantial collaborative activities under the platform of joint partnerships in the priorities of biodiversity & biotechnology, agricultural technology, material science and technology and information science and technology. There are many collaborative activities, for example, people mobility, international meeting, and joint international publications.
Focusing on people mobility, Dr. Anon Bunrit, a researcher from DICP, was an international exchange researcher at NANOTEC for one year (2020-2021) under the supervision of Dr. Sanchai Kuboon, researcher of catalyst research team, nanocatalysis and molecular simulation research group. As a result, he published a joint publication in ACS Catalysis in 2022. Moreover, Dr. Teera Butburee, NANOTEC researcher awarded “Visiting Fellowship for Early-Career Scientist” from ANSO Visiting Fellowship on Mega-Science Facilities in 2021. He plans to conduct his research at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) and DICP for 5 months within this year.