Tianwei He | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Research Awards

Prof Dr. Tianwei He | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award 

Yunnan University | China

Dr. Tianwei He is an internationally recognized materials scientist and computational chemist whose research advances the rational discovery and design of next-generation electrocatalysts for sustainable energy and chemical transformations. He is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University, China, where he leads cutting-edge research at the intersection of density functional theory (DFT), nanocatalysis, and machine learning. His academic training and professional trajectory span leading institutions in China, Australia, Germany, and Macau, reflecting a strong global research footprint. Dr. He obtained his PhD in Computational Materials Science from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, following earlier degrees in Materials Science and Engineering. He subsequently held postdoctoral and assistant researcher positions at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (Germany), University of Macau, and Queensland University of Technology, working under renowned scholars including Prof. Karsten Reuter, Prof. Hui Pan, and Prof. Aijun Du. These experiences shaped his expertise in theoretical catalysis, surface science, and reaction mechanism modeling. His research focuses on the computational discovery of novel nanocatalysts for key electrochemical and photocatalytic reactions within the C, N, O, and H cycles, including HER, OER, ORR, nitrogen reduction, CO/CO₂ reduction, and selective hydrogenation. By constructing structure- and composition-sensitive models using DFT, NEB, and molecular dynamics, Dr. He provides atomic-level insights into active sites, scaling relationships, and reaction pathways. In recent years, he has integrated machine learning approaches to accelerate catalyst screening and performance prediction. Dr. He has authored and co-authored an extensive body of high-impact publications in premier journals such as Journal of the American Chemical Society, PNAS, Chem, Advanced Materials, Advanced Energy Materials, Chemical Society Reviews, ACS Catalysis, and Small. With an h-index of 38, over 4,900 citations, and multiple ESI Highly Cited and Hot Papers, his work is widely recognized for its originality and influence in the catalysis community. His studies on single-atom catalysts, heteronuclear dual-atom systems, high-entropy catalysts, and low-dimensional heterostructures have significantly advanced understanding of catalytic stability, selectivity, and efficiency. In addition to research, Dr. He actively contributes to the scientific community as an invited reviewer for leading journals and as a member of early-career editorial boards for Materials Today Energy, Battery Energy, and Journal of Electrochemistry. Through sustained excellence in research, mentorship, and international collaboration, Dr. Tianwei He continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of computational catalysis and sustainable energy materials.

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Featured Publications

Aboothahir Afzal | Chemistry | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Research Awards

Dr. Aboothahir Afzal | Chemistry| Editorial Board Member 

Kerala Government polytechnic college kozhikode | India

Dr. Aboothahir Afzal is a highly dedicated and accomplished physicist with nearly two decades of continuous teaching, research, and academic leadership experience. Currently serving as Assistant Professor of Physics at Thunchan Memorial Government College, Tirur, Kerala (under the University of Calicut), he has been actively engaged in teaching B.Sc. and M.Sc. Physics courses since 2011, following his initial academic tenure at The New College (Autonomous), Chennai. With a strong passion for student-centered learning, he incorporates Research-Based Pedagogical Tools (RBPT) and innovative teaching strategies to enhance analytical thinking and practical skills among learners. Dr. Afzal has handled a wide range of subjects, including Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics, Computational Physics using Python, Mechanics, and Mathematical Physics, shaping the academic foundation of countless students over nineteen years. Dr. Afzal’s research contributions span dielectric spectroscopy, computational physics, materials science, amorphous pharmaceuticals, nonlinear optical crystals, and molecular dynamics. He has authored and co-authored impactful publications in reputed journals such as Indian Journal of Physics, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Materials Today: Proceedings, Chemistry Select, and Results in Chemistry. His doctoral research at the University of Calicut centered on broadband dielectric and DFT investigations of glass-forming pharmaceutical systems. He has completed a UGC-funded Minor Research Project and continues to supervise research, including guiding a Ph.D. scholar working on ionogels for electrochemical applications. His expertise includes advanced instrumentation such as broadband dielectric spectrometers, DSC, XRD, FTIR, and UV spectroscopy, along with computational tools like Gaussian and GaussView. In addition to research, Dr. Afzal demonstrates strong administrative and leadership abilities. He has served as Head of the Department since 2020 and contributed significantly as a member of curriculum design committees, NSS Program Officer, NAAC Committee member, Program Manager for Continuing Education, and coordinator of national workshops on computational physics and astronomical data analysis. His active participation as resource person, invited speaker, and trainer at national and international events reflects his commitment to academic development. He has attended numerous refresher courses, RBPT workshops, and specialized training programs, including a prestigious national research internship at IIT Bombay. Beyond academics, Dr. Afzal is known for mentoring students, supporting higher education aspirations, and participating in community-oriented activities, including deputation as Assistant Hajj Officer in Saudi Arabia. A multilingual scholar with strong interpersonal and leadership skills, he continues to contribute meaningfully to physics education, research, and institutional development.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Hemalatha, A., Afzal, A., Muthu, S., Raja, M., Sevvanthi, S., Manonmani, J., & Senthil, S. (2023). A combined experimental and theoretical studies on non-centrosymmetric NLO single crystal of L-Norvalinium hydrogen maleate. AIP Conference Proceedings.

Baiju, S., Afzal, A., Thayyil, M. S., Al-Otaibi, J. S., & Ali, S. K. (2023). Computational studies on anticancerous Camptothecin and its derivative Camp-10 by density functional theory. Results in Chemistry, 5, 100837.

Hemalatha, A., Muthu, S., Afzal, A., Ramesh, P., Raja, M., Manonmani, J., & Senthil, S. (2023). Investigation on crystal structure, spectroscopic, electronic and NLO analysis of a non-centrosymmetric NLO single crystal: L-Leucinium hydrogen maleate (LLM). AIP Conference Proceedings.

Hemalatha, A., Afzal, A., Muthu, S., Raja, M., & Senthil, S. (2022). Growth, molecular structure and characterization of L-Isoleucinium hydrogen maleate hemihydrate (LIM) NLO single crystal by density functional theory. Materials Today: Proceedings, 56, 1–7.

Poovingal, N. N. M., Thayyil, M. S., Afzal, A., & Govindaraj, G. (2022). Thermal and dielectric studies on orientationally disordered crystal: Cyclobutanol. Indian Journal of Physics, 96, 1649–1659.