QAU Faculty | Environmental Sciences | Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Khan

Electro/Photo-active systems for carbon capture, environmental cleaning and renewable energy production applications.

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Renewable Energy Advancement Laboratory (REAL)

At REAL, we explore the role of electro/photo-active systems to address pressing societal needs associated with Energy and the Environment.

As a cross-disciplinary team, we develop sustainable processes for environment cleaning (degradation of both organic and inorganic pollutants, carbon capture and utilization) and liberalization of clean energy options (production of renewable H2 from water and/or biomass feedstock).

The applicant with backgrounds in Environment Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and related disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Funded PhD positions in the group are available (until filled) to work on electrochemical CO2 capture. Candidates with experience of electrochemical research will be preferred. Please contact Dr Abdullah Khan for details.

Selected Publications

(19) Javed, A. H.; Shahzad, N.; Butt, F. A.; Khan, M. A.; Naeem, N.; Liaquat, R.; Khoja, A. H. Synthesis of Bimetallic Co-Ni/ZnO Nanoprisms (ZnO-NPr) for Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production via Partial Oxidation of Methane. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 2021, 9 (6), 106887. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JECE.2021.106887.

(18) Kokab, T.; Shah, A.; Khan, M. A.*; Nisar, J.; Ashiq, M. N. Electrochemical Sensing Platform for the Simultaneous Femtomolar Detection of Amlodipine and Atorvastatin Drugs. RSC Adv. 2021, 11 (44), 27135–27151. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ra04464h.

(17) Javed, A. H.; Shahzad, N.; Khan, M. A.; Ayub, M.; Iqbal, N.; Hassan, M.; Hussain, N.; Rameel, M. I.; Shahzad, M. I. Effect of ZnO Nanostructures on the Performance of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells. Sol. Energy 2021, 230, 492–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.10.045

(16) Asjad, M.; Arshad, M.; Zafar, N. A.; *Khan, M. A.; Iqbal, A.; Saleem, A.; Aldawsari, A. An Intriguing Case of Morphology Control and Phase Transitions in TiO2 Nanostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity. Mater. Chem. Phys. 2021, 265, 124416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2021.124416.

(15) Kokab, T.; Shah, A.; Nisar, J.; Ashiq, M. N.; Khan, M. A.; Khan, S. B.; Bakhsh, E. M. Phenolic Water Toxins: Redox Mechanism and Method of Their Detection in Water and Wastewater. RSC Adv. 2021, 11 (57), 35783–35795. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA05669G.

(14) Kokab, T.; Shah, A.; Khan, M. A.; Arshad, M.; Nisar, J.; Ashiq, M. N.; Zia, M. A. Simultaneous Femtomolar Detection of Paracetamol, Diclofenac, and Orphenadrine Using a Carbon Nanotube/Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Based Electrochemical Sensor. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 2021, 4 (5), 4699–471. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c00310.

(13) Khan M. A.; Javed, H. A.; Qammar, M.; Hafeez M.; Zafar, M. I.; Arshad, M.; Aldawsari, M. A.; Shah, A.; Rehman, Z.; Iqbal, N. Nitrogen rich mesoporous carbon for high temperature reversible CO2 capture J. CO2 Utiliz. 2021, 43, 101375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101375.

(12) Zulqarnain, M.; Shah, A.; Khan, M. A.; Jan Iftikhar, F.; Nisar, J. FeCoSe2 Nanoparticles Embedded in G-C3N4: A Highly Active and Stable Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting. Sci. Rep. 2020, 10 (1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63319-7.

(11) Khan, I. A.; Sofian, M.; Badshah, A.; Khan, M. A.; Imran, M.; Nadeem, M. A. Stable and Efficient PtRu Electrocatalysts Supported on Zn-BTC MOF Derived Microporous Carbon for Formic Acid Fuel Cells Application. Front. Chem. 2020, 8(May), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.00367.

(10) Niaz, N. A.; Hussain, F.; Khalil, R. M. A.; Imran, M.; Shakoor, A.; Khalid, N. R.; Choudhry, B.; Khan, M. A.; Kim, S. Hybrid Nanocomposites of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) and CuO as Electrode Materials for Energy Storage Devices. J. Electron. Mater. 2019, 49 (2), 1096–1103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-019-07849-5.

(9) Nasir, J. A.; Hafeez, M.; Arshad, M.; Ali, N. Z.; Teixeira, I. F.; McPherson, I.; Zia-ur-Rehman; *Khan, M. A. Photocatalytic Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid on CdS Nanorods through Ni and Co Redox Mediation under Mild Conditions. ChemSusChem 2018, 11 (15), 2587–2592. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201800583.

(8) Koito, Y.; Rees, G. J.; Hanna, J. V.; Li, M. M. J.; Peng, Y. K.; Puchtler, T.; Taylor, R.; Wang, T.; Kobayashi, H.; Teixeira, I. F.; Khan M. A.; Hannah, K.; Tsang, S. C. E. Structure–Activity Correlations for Brønsted Acid, Lewis Acid, and Photocatalyzed Reactions of Exfoliated Crystalline Niobium Oxides. ChemCatChem 2017, 9 (1), 144–154. https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201601131.

(7) Majeed, I.; Nadeem, M. A.; Badshah, A.; Kanodarwala, F. K.; Ali, H.; Khan, M. A.; Stride, J. A.; Nadeem, M. A. Titania Supported MOF-199 Derived Cu-Cu2O Nanoparticles: Highly Efficient Non-Noble Metal Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Alcohol-Water Mixtures. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2017, 7 (3), 677–686. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6cy02328b

(6) Khan, A.; Rehman, Z.-; Khan, A.; Ambareen, H.; Ullah, H.; Abbas, S. M.; Khan, Y.; Khan, R. Solar-Light Driven Photocatalytic Conversion of p -Nitrophenol to p -Aminophenol on CdS Nanosheets and Nanorods. Inorg. Chem. Commun. 2017, 79, 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2017.03.033.

(5) Ilyas, T.; Nasim, F.; Choucair, M.; Ullah, S.; Khan, M. A.; Badshah, A.; Nadeem, M. A. A High Performance Electrode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries Derived from a Cobalt-Based Coordination Polymer. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2016, 41 (38), 17029–17036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.07.067

(4) Khan, M. A.; Teixeira, I. F.; Li, M. M. J.; Koito, Y.; Tsang, S. C. E. Graphitic Carbon Nitride Catalysed Photoacetalization of Aldehydes/Ketones under Ambient Conditions. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52 (13), 2772–2775. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cc08344c.

(3) Casey, S. P.; Hall, M. R.; Tsang, S. C. E.; Khan, M. A. Energetic and Hygrothermal Analysis of a Nano-Structured Material for Rapid-Response Humidity Buffering in Closed Environments. Build. Environ. 2013, 60, 24–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.11.007.

(2) Yang, H.; Khan, A. M.; Yuan, Y.; Tsang, S. C. Mesoporous Silicon Nitride for Reversible CO2 Capture. Chem. - An Asian J. 2012, 7 (3), 498–502. https://doi.org/10.1002/asia.201100615.

(1) Hall, M. R.; Tsang, S. C. E.; Casey, S. P.; Khan, M. A.; Yang, H. Synthesis, Characterization and Hygrothermal Behaviour of Mesoporous Silica High-Performance Desiccants for Relative Humidity Buffering in Closed Environments. Acta Mater. 2012, 60 (1), 89–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2011.09.016.

Granted patent(s)

Hussain, S. T.; Mazhar, M.; Gul, S.; Khan, M. A. Novel catalyst to manufacture carbon nanotubes and hydrogen gas, US Pat. Appl. Publ. 20090208403, US Patent

International Workshop on Progress in Nanomaterials and Technology National Center for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
Invited Talk: Design strategies for efficient photocatalysis 20-22 January 2020

Symposium on Energy Materials, Department of physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
Invited Talk: Material design for efficient photocatalysis 20 December 2019

International workshop on nanomaterials for energy conversion, emerging photovoltaic and optoelectronic technologies, National Centre for Physics, QAU, Pakistan
Invited Talk: Tuning photoactive materials 7-9 October 2019

International conference on chemical sciences chemistry, QAU, Pakistan
Keynote Talk: Carbon nitride catalysed photochemical organic transformations 24-26 April. 2019

International workshop on hybride peroskite photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices, National Centre for Physics, QAU, Pakistan
Invited Talk: Material control for efficient photoactive systems 8-10 October 2018

3^rd International conference on recent trends in chemistry, AIOU, Pakistan
National Speaker: Material design for efficient photocatalysis 23-24 Nov. 2017

International Scientific School, National Centre for Physics, QAU, Pakistan
Intivted talk: Strategies for efficient photocatalysis 13-17 March 2017

Inorganic chemistry Graduate Symposium, University of Oxford, 21-22 April, 2015

Pfizer Symposium University of Oxford, 30 October 2014

Oxford Symposium on Quantum Materials, Somerville College Oxford, 2 May 2014

Inorganic Chemistry Graduate Symposium, University of Oxford
Graduate Talk: Nitrogen rich carbon structures for reversible carbon dioxide 16-17 April 2013

Inorganic Chemistry Graduate Symposium, University of Oxford
Graduate Talk: Nitrogen rich carbon structures for reversible carbon dioxide capture 18-19 April 2012

RSC Prizes and Awards Symposium, 23rd May 2012

34^th International Nathiagali Summer College, Pakistan June 22-July 04 2009

International Scientific Spring, National Centre for Physics, Pakistan 06-09 April 2009

1^st all Pakistan American Society of Materials Int. conference, GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Pakistan
Talk: New material and process for production of carbon nanotubes 25-27 January 2008

Redox sorbents for electrochemical separations (10.47 Million)

Funded PhD positions are available. Candidate with the background in Environment Science, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering are encourage to apply. Experience of electrochemistry will be preferred.