CONNECT | Xiamen University

30 Apr 2025

Research of CONNECT center is featured in Sin Chew Daily newspaper (Part 1)

29 Sep 2026

Award-winning Malaysian scientist turns natural resources and waste into energy” is featured in The Star newspaper

Project: Solar-powered artificial electro/photosynthesis of CO2 for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction from flaring onshore gas terminals
Reference no.: EENG/0062
Sponsored by: Petronas Research Sdn. Bhd. (PRSB)
Status: Principal Investigator
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun
Amount: RM 1,279,775.00
Project duration: 1/11/2024 – 31/10/2026 (on-going)

Project: Scale Up of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production and Storage for Fuel Cells and Energy Storage Devices
Reference no.: SPO/2024/S.24008
Sponsored by: MOSTI Malaysia and NanoMalaysia Berhad
Status: Principal Investigator
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun
Co-investigator: Dr. Tan Ji Siang
Amount: RM 1,249,000.00
Project duration: 1/11/2024 – 30/4/2026 (on-going)

Project: d–f Orbital Regulation in Rare-Earth-Doped Layered Double Hydroxides for Paired Electrocatalytic CO2 Conversion and Waste Plastic Valorization
Reference no.: SRICSPYF-ZY2025037 and IENG/0090
Sponsored by: Ministry of Education (MOE) China
Status: Principal Investigator
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun
Amount: RMB 15 million (around MYR 8.7 million)
Project duration: 1/1/2026 – 31/12/2030 (on-going)

Project: Modulating Zinc and Sulfur Vacancies Density in Zinc Indium Sulfide: Unravelling Charge Dynamics and Reaction Mechanisms for Photoredox Dual Reaction of CO2 Reduction and Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation
Reference no.: FRGS/1/2024/TK08/XMU/02/1
Sponsored by: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) Malaysia
Status: Principal Investigator
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun
Co-investigator: Prof. Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed, Assoc. Prof. Haw Choon Yian, Dr. Tan Ji Siang, Assoc. Prof. Herma Dina binti Setiabudi, Dr. Lee Hing Wah
Amount: RM 175,900.00
Project duration: 1/8/2024 – 31/7/2027 (on-going)

Project: Advanced Cu-Based Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalysts Driving Scalable CO2-to-C2 Conversion Coupled with Selective Biomass-Derived Alcohol Oxidation
Reference no.: XMUMRF/2025-C15/IENG/0080
Sponsored by: Xiamen University Malaysia
Status: Principal Investigator
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun
Co-investigator: Dr. Tan Ji Siang, Dr. Ng Boon Junn, Associate Professor Dr. Haw Choon Yian, Mr. Yap Feng Ming, Ms. Loh Jian Yiing
Amount: RM 60,000.00 (3 years)
Project duration: 1/1/2025 – 31/12/2027 (on-going)

Project: Production of Graphene & Green Hydrogen Supply Chain from Biomethane
Reference no.: SRF-APP BICEP Project 4 (NPDO/2022/S.22015/C0)
Sponsored by: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Malaysia
Status: Principal Investigator
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Ong Wee Jun
Amount: RM 10,500,000.00 (3.5-year grant project)
Project duration: 1/7/2022 – 30/6/2026 (on-going)

Postgraduate Students under Primary Supervision (Xiamen University Malaysia, XMUM)

Project title: Low-dimensional 2D visible-light responsive photocatalyst for multifunctional applications
Research output: Nano Research, Materials Today Nano, Small Structures, InfoMat, Applied Materials Today, etc.

Project title: Layered double hydroxides-based electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion and alcohol oxidation
Research output: Nanoscale, Journal of Materials Science & Technology

Project title: Self-supported carbon-based substrates for electrocatalytic CO2 conversion and alcohol oxidation
Research output: Nano Research Energy, Nano Research

Project title: Production of graphene and green hydrogen supply chain from biomethane using microwave plasma technology

Project title: Metal sulfide photocatalysts for simultaneous photocatalytic plastic waste valorization and CO2 conversion

Project title: Copper-based electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction to C2+ products

Coming Soon

Full Citation: Wee-Jun Ong, Meei Mei Gui, Siang-Piao Chai and Abdul Rahman Mohamed (2013). Direct growth of carbon nanotubes on Ni/TiO2 as next generation catalysts for photoreduction of CO2 to methane by water under visible light irradiation. RSC Advances, 3, 4505-4509. Link

Notes:
Highly Cited Paper in January–December 2015

Full Citation: Wee-Jun Ong, Lling-Lling Tan, Siang-Piao Chai, Siek-Ting Yong and Abdul Rahman Mohamed (2014). Highly reactive {001} facets of TiO2-based composites: Synthesis, formation mechanism and characterizations. Nanoscale, 6, 1946-2008. Link

Notes:
Highly Cited Paper (2015-2024)
Top 20 Most Accessed Nanoscale Articles in 2014
Top 10% Highly Cited Nanoscale Articles in 2016

Full Citation: Wee-Jun Ong, Lling-Lling Tan, Siang-Piao Chai, Siek-Ting Yong and Abdul Rahman Mohamed (2014). Facet-dependent photocatalytic properties of TiO2-based composites for energy conversion and environmental remediation. ChemSusChem, 7, 690-719. Link

Notes:
Highly Cited Paper (2015-2024)
Highlighted in ChemInform, 2014, 45, 23

Full Citation: Wee-Jun Ong, Lling-Lling Tan, Siang-Piao Chai, Siek-Ting Yong and Abdul Rahman Mohamed (2014). Self-assembly of nitrogen-doped TiO2 with exposed {001} facets on the graphene scaffold as photo-active hybrid nanostructures for reduction of carbon dioxide to methane. Nano Research, 7, 1528-1547. Link

Notes:
Hot Paper (Jan-Feb 2015)
Highly Cited Paper (2015-2024)
Top Paper Award 2016

Coming Soon

Catalyzing Nanotechnology and Energy Excellence at XMUM

Center of Excellence (CoE) for NaNo Energy and Catalysis Technology (CONNECT) is an inaugural CoE at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM). This CoE was established on 10 October 2021 inspired by the Belt and Road Initiative in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Xiamen University (China) and the 5th year anniversary of XMUM.

CONNECT targets to advance nanotechnology and materials research in Malaysia and beyond. Focusing on interdisciplinary fields, CONNECT nurtures talent and understanding in advanced nanomaterials, catalysis, energy, and computational nanotechnology. By fostering collaboration between research institutes, organizations, and industries, CONNECT targets to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals such as affordable and clean energy and climate action. In line with Malaysia's economic growth vision, it centers on renewable energy and a green economy. Striving for excellence in nanoscience, CONNECT serves as a bridge between academia, agency, and industry, aiming for a circular economy. Through its initiatives, CONNECT seeks to tackle pressing global challenges while propelling Malaysia towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Vision

We inspire a synergistic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approach to research, fostering high-impact publications, intellectual property advancements, and exceptional professional services through partnerships with local and global organizations, research institutes, and industrial players.

Mission

Contributing societal benefits through continual research and innovation in energy sustainability via eight primary NANO disciplines:

2D nanomaterials
Nanostructured materials
Photo- and electro-catalysis
Plasma technology
Sustainable energy production
Energy harvesting, conversion, and storage
Batteries and supercapacitors
Computational nanotechnology

Core Values - ASPIRE

Aspiration

To persevere in the landscape of science and technology toward making an impact on a wider community.

Synergy & Community

To develop a collaborative environment across all disciples, including academic and industry.

Professionalism

To uphold the integrity and persistence towards lifelong learning by continuously seeking self-improvement.

Innovation

To strive towards novel and original solutions in-face of the dynamic pace of research.

Responsibility

To ensure that our work is conducted ethically in the course of research.

Excellence

To be a motivated and resilient scholar who demonstrates commitment and passion toward our pursuit of excellence.

Research Horizons

Horizon 1

Nanomaterials Engineering

To uncover the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials of various dimensions and morphologies.
To develop facile synthesis strategies for high-performance nanomaterials for energy and environmental science applications.
To mass produce the nanostructured materials in the large-scale synthesis with facile and cost-effective synthesis.
To produce nanomaterial system with speed and cost-effectiveness via additive manufacturing in the proliferation of the Industry 4.0 processes.
Discovery of high-throughput energy materials
- Artificial photosynthesis, solar steam generation
- Artificial electrocatalysis
- Diverse energy materials – hydrogel, aerogel, beads, etc.

Horizon 2

Catalysis & Solar-to-Fuel Conversion

To construct and create a fundamental framework for the dynamic reaction mechanisms in solar-to-chemical generation.
To strive for real-time accurate depiction of experimental reaction conditions through the use of in-situ and operando analysis.
To translate the laboratory-scale energy efficiency findings to technological readiness.
Nanocatalysts for sustainable fuels production
- Smart catalyst design and modification
- Mechanistic study of catalytic reaction
- Catalytic production of fuels and valuable organics from waste
Multiscale phototype development and field-test integration
- Transition from batch-to-continuous production mode
- High-throughput prototype design and rigorous testing
- Benchmarking standards to target on carbon neutrality

Horizon 3

Energy Storage

To evaluate the potential of different types of beyond Li-ion batteries (e.g. metal-sulfur, metal-air batteries, etc.).
To integrate with solar energy to design a novel solar energy storage system.
To develop a prototype energy storage device with excellent stability, durability and storage capacity as a potential candidate for real-world usage.
Advanced energy storage technologies
- Higher energy density capacity and stability
- Lower energy charging and discharging process
- Target condition 20% gravimetric capacity

Horizon 4

Computational Nanotechnology

To utilize first-principles calculations to extend our fundamental knowledge of the dynamic catalytic mechanisms.
To utilize machine learning (ML), big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) for material screening or discovery of innovative material combinations toward ground-breaking research in materials science
Nanocatalysts for sustainable fuels production
- Smart catalyst design and modification
- Mechanistic study of catalytic reaction
- Catalytic production of fuels and valuable organics from waste
Multiphysics modelling simulation and mechanisms
- Mechanistic understanding of catalytic performances
- Computational chemistry for high-performance catalysts
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning of catalysts