NCAS

ABOUT US

Nanocatalysis and Molecular Simulation (NCAS) at NANOTEC’s mission is to advance the research and development in nanocatalysis and functional nanomaterials to create new knowledge, process, technology, and innovation towards the transformation to sustainability. NCAS research ranges from fundamental understandings of nanocatalysts on the molecular level via first principles computational approaches, molecular dynamic simulation, hybrid QM/MM simulation, as well as mathematical modelling, to novel process designs from lab-scale to pilot-scale, driven by close collaborations with industries. With our strong team of chemists, physicists, material scientists, and chemical engineers, we are able to approach the research from the theoretical, experimental, and engineering perspectives simultaneously. This allows us to pursue the deep fundamental understandings of our systems while driving the translation of our technologies to our industrial partners.

NCAS has major research efforts in biorefinery, including carbonization and functionalization of biomass to produce active carbon, biomass pretreatment and fractionation, cellulose nanofiber production, and catalytic conversion of biomass derivatives to platform chemicals and fuels. We also actively work on green chemistry processes to reduce greenhouse gases i.e. CO2, NOx, and H2S to useful chemicals, using both conventional thermochemical catalytic approaches and novel approaches such as electrochemical, photochemical, photoelectrochemical, and magnetic-assisted catalytic processes. Our expertise extends to the development of polymeric membrane systems for separation of both gas and liquid phase. Additionally, we actively engage in the theoretical design and experimental development of nanomaterials and systems for energy devices; batteries (Li-ion, Ca-ion, and Na-ion), solar harvesting materials, electrolyzers, and H2 storage.

 

OUR RESEARCH TEAM

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

(1) Anon Bunrit, Teera Butburee, Meijiang Liu, Zhipeng Huang, Keerati Meeporn, Chaiyasit Phawa, Jian Zhang, Sanchai Kuboon, Huifang Liu, Kajornsak Faungnawakij, Feng Wang, Photo–Thermo-Dual Catalysis of Levulinic Acid and Levulinate Ester to γ-Valerolactone, ACS Catalysis, 12, 1677-16

(2) Bunyarat Rungtaweevoranit, Kawisa Chaipojjana, Anchalee Junkaew, Sutarat Thongratkaew, Sarawoot Impeng, Kajornsak Faungnawakij, Identification of Cooperative Reaction Sites in Metal–Organic Framework Catalysts for High Yielding Lactic Acid Production from D‐xylose, ChemSusChem, https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202102653

(3) Pongkarn Chakthranont, Sakvarit Nitrathorn, Sutarat Thongratkaew, Pongtanawat Khemthong, Hideki Nakajima, Ratchadaporn Supruangnet, Teera Butburee, Noriaki Sano, and Kajornsak Faungnawakij, Rational Design of Metal-free Doped Carbon Nanohorn Catalysts for Efficient Electrosynthesis of H2O2 from O2 Reduction*, ACS Applied Energy Materials 4 (11), 12436-12447

(4) Xiaoyu Zhang, Jiang Deng, Max Pupucevski, Sarawoot Impeng, Bo Yang, Guorong Chen, Sanchai Kuboon, Qingdong Zhong, Kajornsak Faungnawakij, Lirong Zheng, Gang Wu*, and Dengsong Zhang*, High-Performance Binary Mo–Ni Catalysts for Efficient Carbon Removal during Carbon Dioxide Reforming of Methane, ACS Catalysis 11 (19), 12087-12095

(5) Saranya Juntrapirom, Jirapat Santatiwongchai, Athis Watwiangkham, Suwit Suthirakun, Teera Butburee, Kajornsak Faungnawakij, Pongkarn Chakthranont, Pussana Hirunsit, Bunyarat Rungtaweevoranit, Tuning CuZn interfaces in metal–organic framework-derived electrocatalysts for enhancement of CO2 conversion to C2 products, Catalysis Science & Technology, 2021, 11

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