NEWS

2024.10.15

【Report】AJI International Seminar was held! “Eco-consciousness in Renewable Energy Harvesting and Management”

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, The International Collaborative Research Seminar entitled “Eco-consciousness in Renewable Energy Harvesting and Management by the Utilization of Earth-abundant Resources toward Zero-carbon Neutrality” comprising Bangladesh-India-Japan researcher teams was held in Ritsumeikan University, BKC (hybrid Format), jointly organized by Asia-Japan Research Institute (AJI), and Ritsumeikan Global Innovative Research Organization (R-GIRO), Ritsumeikan University.

Seminar Inauguration
The seminar’s patron, Dr. Shinichiro Mouri, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at Ritsumeikan University, delivered an inspiring opening address. Welcoming both in-person and online attendees, Dr. Mouri highlighted the increasing urgency for eco-conscious energy solutions amid the rapidly evolving global landscape. His speech set the tone for a dynamic and forward-thinking discussion, emphasizing the critical importance of international collaboration in advancing cutting-edge technologies for sustainable energy. Dr. Mouri also took the opportunity to introduce recent research conducted in his lab, spotlighting the achievements of his team members and their contributions to innovative energy solutions. This introduction underscored the seminar's broader focus on driving impactful, interdisciplinary research.

The seminar brought together distinguished speakers from multiple countries, each presenting original research in renewable energy, advanced materials, and innovative approaches for harnessing renewable energy for achieving zero-carbon goals. Dr. Mouri’s opening remarks not only underscored the global significance of the seminar but also reinforced the pivotal role of collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts in spearheading the transition to a carbon-neutral future.

Welcome speech by Dr. Shinichiro Mouri, (Assoc. Prof. Dept. of EEE, Rits. Univ., Japan)

Presentation Session
The session commenced with a presentation by Dr. Abu Bakar Md Ismail, a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. His talk, titled “An Eco-Conscious Approach to Environmental Remediation Using River Sand-Derived Silica-Based Composites,” focused on the potential of utilizing readily available river sand for environmental remediation, particularly in wastewater treatment, through chemical extraction. Dr. Ismail highlighted the scalability and sustainability of this approach, which involves the preparation of silica and silica-based composites for applications in wastewater treatment, agricultural seed priming, and renewable energy harvesting through water splitting.

His team successfully synthesized silica nanoparticles with about 90% purity from the abundant Padma River sand, collected from the Rajshahi Metropolitan area, using a cost-effective microwave-assisted alkali fusion method. The resulting silica composites demonstrated excellent reusability as catalysts. Additionally, his research revealed significant improvements in water-splitting cells using electrodes developed from these silica-based composites. Prof. Ismail's innovative approach also explores strategies for contributing to a carbon-neutral future by leveraging earth-abundant silica and silica-based metal oxides (such as Zn and Cu).

Following his insightful presentation, both online and onsite participants engaged with Dr. Ismail, offering several comments and posing thoughtful questions, reflecting the interest and potential of his work contributing to a carbon-neutral future.

Dr. Abu Bakar Md Ismail (Prof. Dept. of EEE, RU, BD) presenting his research

Next, Dr. Md. Shahiduzzaman, Assistant Professor at the Nanomaterials Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Japan, delivered an insightful presentation titled “Perovskite Solar Cells: Shaping the Future of Solar Energy.” He shared the latest advancements in perovskite solar cell technology, emphasizing its transformative potential as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional silicon-based photovoltaics. Dr. Shahiduzzaman’s lecture highlighted significant breakthroughs in both efficiency and stability, positioning perovskites as a promising candidate for large-scale deployment in renewable energy systems, thus contributing to a carbon-neutral future. He also expressed his enthusiasm for engaging in exciting research activities with fellow researchers and fostering early career scientists, making his presentation not only a technical exploration but also an invitation for collaboration and knowledge exchange. At the end of his presentation, Dr. Sohel also provided an insightful discussion, taking several comments and questions from the audience reflecting the interest and potential of his work contributing to the carbon-neutral future.

Dr. Md. Shahiduzzaman (Assist. Prof. NanoMaRi, Kanazawa Univ. JP) giving his presentation

Then, the young scholar Dr. Abhay Anand V S, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Physics, IIT Bombay, India, presented his research online on “Novel Approaches to Interfacing Plasmonics and 2D Semiconductors.” He demonstrated how combining plasmonic with 2D semiconductors could enhance optoelectronic device performance, particularly in applications involving sensors and energy-efficient electronic devices advancing semiconductor technologies and energy device engineering, featuring innovative approaches to material integration and energy efficiency. His team recently unveiled a strategy for potentially modulating the photonic behavior in precious metal integrated two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC)-based photonic devices, thus discovering a pathway for the energy management in ultrathin TMDCs electrophotonic devices, thereby contributing to a carbon neutral future.

Dr. Abhay Anand V S, (Postdoctoral Researcher, IIT Bombay, India) delivering his presentation

Subsequently, the young researcher Dr. Md. Abdul Karim, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan, delivered a presentation on “Additive Engineering to Improve the Performance of Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cells.” His research focused on improving the efficiency and stability of tin-based perovskites through interface engineering utilizing potential additives, which alternatively transform the ionic formation and retain the stability of solar cell devices, thus offering an eco-friendly alternative to the lead-based perovskites, which are often associated with toxicity concerns. His team successfully developed solar cells with non-toxic perovskites showing high stability with specified additives showing efficiency ≥20%, which is a notable advancement in solving the major and burning issue of long-term performance stability in perovskite solar cells.

Dr. Md. Abdul Karim, (Postdoctoral Researcher, NIMS, Japan) presenting his research

The final presentation was delivered by Dr. Abdul Kuddus, Senior Researcher at R-GIRO, Ritsumeikan University, Japan, on the topic of “Mist CVD High-κ a-AlxTi(Hf)1-xOy for 2D TMDCs-based Electronic and Sensing Devices.” Dr. Kuddus introduced the development of high-k dielectric materials using mist CVD techniques, emphasizing their applications in electronic and photonic devices, particularly for energy harvesting and advanced sensing technologies. He further demonstrated ongoing research on graded ion-composed binary and ternary Al-Hf-based metal oxide dielectrics for memristor devices, with a focus on neuromorphic computing networks, a key area in the future of Artificial Intelligence.

Dr. Kuddus also showcased the performance of electronic and sensing devices utilizing high-κ gate dielectrics and 2D TMDC semiconductors, highlighting their superior properties in terms of stability and efficiency. His presentation explored the potential of these high-κ dielectric materials for integration into energy management devices, making significant contributions to the development of zero-carbon emission technologies in the electronic and photonic sectors. This research underscores the transformative impact of these materials on sustainable technology and the next generation of computing and energy systems.

Dr. Abdul Kuddus, (Senior Researcher, R-GIRO, Rits. Univ. JP) giving his presentation

Open Discussion and Closing Remarks
The seminar concluded with a vibrant and engaging open discussion, where participants enthusiastically interacted with the speakers, delving into the key topics surrounding the future of sustainable energy technologies. Discussions explored the pressing challenges of transitioning to renewable energy, including the scalability of advanced materials in real-world energy systems and how emerging technologies can drive efficiency and innovation. Participants also emphasized the critical role of international collaboration in accelerating progress toward achieving zero-carbon goals, particularly through shared knowledge and cross-border research partnerships.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Shinichiro Mouri expressed his deep gratitude to the speakers, organizers, and participants, both online and in-person, for their active contributions to the seminar. He highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the research presented and underscored its significance in addressing global energy and environmental challenges. Prof. Mouri reaffirmed the importance of continuing these collaborative efforts, which are crucial for advancing eco-conscious technologies and shaping a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.

This event served as a dynamic platform for researchers to exchange insights into cutting-edge technologies designed to harness renewable energy and promote sustainability. By showcasing advancements in materials science, energy harvesting, and eco-conscious innovations, the seminar opened up exciting possibilities for addressing some of the most pressing global challenges. The presentations and discussions offered promising solutions highlighting how innovative research can pave the way for sustainable energy systems and transformative environmental impact that align with the world’s pursuit of zero-carbon neutrality.