Materials Processing Laboratory
Research Field
Hairus Abdullah is a project assistant professor at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech), in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His work focuses on photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, hydrogen evolution, hydrogenation reactions, and pollutant degradation under UV and visible light. He appears to have a strong research profile in clean-energy materials. A Taiwan Tech feature describes him as working on advanced electrocatalysis and photocatalysis for nitrogen reduction, water splitting, green hydrogen, and green ammonia, and notes recognition as a Top 2% Scientist.
Hairus Abdullah’s lab at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech) focuses on designing advanced nanomaterials for clean‑energy conversion and environmental remediation, using both photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. The group’s work sits at the intersection of materials synthesis, physical characterization, and reaction engineering, aiming to replace fossil‑based processes with renewable, hydrogen‑centered technologies.
Core research themes
Photocatalysis for energy and environment: the lab develops semiconductor nanomaterials (often Fe₂O₃‑based and related oxides) for solar‑driven hydrogen evolution, organic‑pollutant degradation, and antibacterial applications under UV and visible light.
Electrocatalysis for hydrogen and ammonia: research targets electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution (HER) and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia, with emphasis on scalable, low‑cost electrocatalysts and nano‑engineered interfaces.
Nanostructured materials and interfaces: a key direction is tailoring nanostructures and surface/interfacial properties of metal oxides and carbon‑based systems to improve charge separation, stability, and reaction selectivity in energy and membrane‑separation applications.
Lab philosophy and impact
The group promotes a “design‑for‑sustainability” mindset, combining fundamental materials science (band structure, defect engineering, surface modification) with device‑level performance metrics for solar‑fuel generation, water purification, and gas separation.
Hairus Abdullah’s research centers on advanced photocatalytic and electrocatalytic materials for clean‑energy conversion and environmental applications. His group designs nanostructured semiconductors and carbon‑based catalysts to drive solar‑driven and electricity‑driven reactions that replace fossil‑based processes with renewable alternatives.
Main research directions
Photocatalytic water splitting and H₂O₂ generation: he develops nanostructured metal oxides (for example, Bi‑doped α‑Fe₂O₃) and carbon‑based photocatalysts to boost solar‑driven water oxidation, hydrogen evolution, and oxygen‑reduction‑based H₂O₂ production for both fuel and environmental remediation.
Electrocatalysis for green hydrogen and ammonia: his work targets electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution (HER) and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) using nanoengineered transition‑metal‑based catalysts, aiming for high efficiency and scalability in green‑hydrogen and green‑ammonia systems.
Functional nanomaterials for energy storage and separation: he explores amorphous Ni‑doped VOₓ and similar systems for high‑charge‑storage supercapacitors, as well as solar‑driven photothermal‑evaporation and separation materials for desalination and wastewater treatment.
In all these topics, his lab emphasizes band‑structure and interface engineering, defect control, and mechanistic understanding via spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis to improve activity, selectivity, and stability of catalysts for sustainable‑energy devices.
- Top‑2% Scientist recognition: He is named among the global top‑2% scientists in his field, based on citation‑based rankings, which reflects strong international impact in clean‑energy and materials research.
2. Institutional‑level research distinction: Taiwan Tech has featured him as a “distinguished scientist” and leading contributor to sustainable‑energy research, underscoring his role in advancing electrocatalysis and photocatalysis for hydrogen and ammonia technologies.
3. Outstanding Teaching Award 2023 in NTUST.
Hairus Abdullah’s education background is in materials science and engineering, with earlier degrees in physics and industrial engineering. The main degrees listed in his CV and institutional profiles are:
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), Taipei, Taiwan; he graduated in May 2016.
M.Sc. in Materials Science / Physics from the Department of Physics, University of North Sumatera (USU), Medan, Indonesia, obtained in July 2012.
Bachelor of Industrial Engineering (S.T.) from the Faculty of Industrial Technology, Institut Sains dan Teknologi T.D. Pardede (ISTP), Medan, Indonesia, completed in July 1998.
This combination of industrial‑engineering, physics, and materials‑science training underpins his current research in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and functional energy materials.