Awards

Walailak University researchers winning Gold Award in Thailand Research Expo 2022 


    Walailak University researcher, authors of the project series “Solar Energy Conversion Material Technology and Energy Storage” conducted under the Fundamental Fund, Walailak University won Gold Award with 70,000 THB in Thailand Expo 2022 organized under the concept “Research for the development of the country towards stability, prosperity, and sustainable” on 5th August, 2022 at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Bangkok. Assistant Professor Dr. Uthen Thaptuang (Head of Project and Head of Sub-Project 3) Lecturer of Petrochemical and Polymers Program, School of Engineering and Technology, revealed that the research on “Solar Energy Conversion Material Technology and Energy Storage” is a series of research projects led by Assistant Professor Dr. Uthen Thaptuang as a project leader. The project branches out into 4 sub-projects as follows: 


    The sub-project 1 “Optimization of the Energy Conversion to Maximize Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Light-Sensing Electrodes Derived from Metal-Organic Grid Material” led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Chompanut Nanthamethee, Lecturer of Chemistry Program, School of Science (head of sub-project1)


    The sub- project 2 “Development of Composite Materials to Optimize Heat and Mass Transfer for Cold Storage Materials from Solar Energy” led by Assistant Professor Dr. Kamon Thinsurat, Lecturer of Electrical Engineering Program, School of Engineering and Technology (Head of sub-project 2) with co-authors Associate Professor Dr. Surasawadee Kulboon Korkua, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, and Assistant Professor Dr. Siraporn Sakprom, Lecturer of Electrical Engineering Program. Assistant Professor Dr. Kamol Thinsurat, Department of Electrical Engineering. School of Engineering and Technology (Head of sub-project 2) with co-authors Associate Professor Dr. Suraswadee Kulboon Korkua and Assistant Professor Dr. Siraporn Sakprom. 


     The sub - project 3, “Development of Porous Carbon from Biomass to be Used as Supercapacitors” led by Assistant Professor Dr. Uthen Thapthuang (Head of sub-project 3) with co-authors, Assistant Professor Dr. Kessara Seneesrisakul and Associate Professor Dr. Pannipa Chaowana, Petrochemistry and Polymers Program, School of Engineering and Technology. 


    The Sub-project 4, “Preparation of Porous Carbon from Natural Rubber for Application as Electrodes for Charge Retention” led by Assistant Professor Dr. Prachid Saramolee, Lecturer of Petrochemistry and Polymers Program, School of Engineering and Technology (Head of sub-project 4) with co-authors, Assistant Professor Dr. Kessara Seneesrisakul and Assistant Professor Dr. Uthen Thapthuang, Lecturer of Petrochemistry and Polymers Program. 


    The project’s accomplishment is also attributed to assistance of Mr. Nopparat Sangthong, Mr. Vikrom Respradit as research assistant, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Kampanat Sukmak, Lecturer of Civil Engineering Program, the School of Engineering and Technology in charge of VDO recording and Mr. Kitti Chaowa, School of Languages and General Education, and Mr. Thitikorn Thong-Iad, Institute for Research and Innovation Promotion for Excellence, overseeing designs and art works. 


    Asst. Prof. Dr. Uthen Thaptuang said further that the research team is delighted that the research endeavor won Gold Award with the money prize amounting to 70,000 THB. This success simply reiterates the integral role of clean energy, material technologies for conversion and storage of power for sustainability. The researchers are now even more determined to enhance studies in this scope by maximizing materials using the simple and cost-effective process. The research Fteam would like to thank for the support from Walailak University Research Fund.

 


     The research titled “Solar Energy Conversion Material Technology and Energy Storage” is a study High-performance porous carbon-based materials from polymers and biomass and dioxide titanium from metal-organic grids to be holistically integrated with solar technology by developing a metal-organic network material as a precursor for the synthesis of titanium dioxide. The synthesized substance has an orderly continuous pore structure and proper size of pores capable of absorbing dye-sensitized. When composed with dye-sensitized solar cells, efficiency of conversion of solar energy to electrical power will increase.

    Meanwhile, heat excess is also generated in the conversion process, but it will be detracted to for the solar energy’s temperature to stabilize and function properly. The extracted heat will be supplied to a cooling cycle for a residence ventilation system. Absorption Refrigeration System is a cycle in which metal salts react with a refrigerant using porous materials to aid in the dispersion of metal salts. After that, the yielded electrical energy is then stored using a Supercapacitors with electrodes made of porous carbon from sawdust, wood and natural rubber biomass which is common in the southern region. The synthetic porous carbons vary in terms of for ion movement and charge transfer. This description testifies to this study’s potential in generalizing the production of clean energy originating from solar power at a lower cost for sustainable and environment-friendly energy. 

 

 

 

News by Chonticha Limpiti 
Translated by Nootchanat Sukkaew 
Division of Corporate Communication, Walailak University 
Photos by Research and Innovation Promotion for Excellence, Walailak University 
Information from Asst. Prof. Dr. Uthen Thaptuang, School of Engineering and Technology, Walailak University 
 


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