{"id":5701,"date":"2026-07-23T22:40:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T22:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/?p=5701"},"modified":"2026-07-24T22:45:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T22:45:28","slug":"utm-and-hainan-normal-university-advance-international-collaboration-in-functional-materials-and-nanotechnology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/2026\/07\/23\/utm-and-hainan-normal-university-advance-international-collaboration-in-functional-materials-and-nanotechnology\/","title":{"rendered":"UTM and Hainan Normal University Advance International Collaboration in Functional Materials and Nanotechnology"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\">\n<div class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-WEB:90065f72-cc51-4669-8adb-d282041b3733-0\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\">\n<section class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-WEB:90065f72-cc51-4669-8adb-d282041b3733-0\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-WEB:90065f72-cc51-4669-8adb-d282041b3733-0\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-2\" data-turn=\"assistant\">\n<div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-15 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\">\n<div data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\" class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\">\n<div data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"c6863d51-3c5f-4fc7-9c1d-f8ae9a27e186\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-6-thinking\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\">\n<p data-start=\"115\" data-end=\"525\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"><strong data-start=\"115\" data-end=\"144\">JOHOR BAHRU, 23 July 2026<\/strong> \u2013 The Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully organised the <strong data-start=\"262\" data-end=\"319\">Colloquium on Functional Materials and Nanotechnology<\/strong> in collaboration with <strong data-start=\"342\" data-end=\"384\">Hainan Normal University (HNNU), China<\/strong>. The programme was held at the Lecture Hall, Level 2, Block N31, Ibnu Sina Institute, UTM Johor Bahru. <span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"836\">The colloquium provided an international platform for researchers from UTM and HNNU to present their latest findings, exchange scientific knowledge and explore potential collaborations in functional materials, nanotechnology, sensors, sustainable energy, environmental remediation and biomedical applications.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"838\" data-end=\"1157\">The programme began with a welcoming speech by <strong data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"919\">Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lee Siew Ling<\/strong>, followed by an address from a representative of Hainan Normal University and an official photography session. The scientific programme featured <strong data-start=\"1065\" data-end=\"1094\">14 research presentations<\/strong> delivered by academics and researchers from both institutions.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1159\" data-end=\"1455\">Researchers from Hainan Normal University presented emerging developments in laser-induced graphene electrochemical sensors, metal\u2013organic frameworks for gas sensing, in-situ electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance technology and molecularly imprinted sensors for selective biotoxin detection.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1457\" data-end=\"1972\">Among the HNNU speakers, <strong data-start=\"1482\" data-end=\"1503\">Prof. Dr. Sun Wei<\/strong> presented research on laser-induced graphene composite electrodes for environmental monitoring, food safety and biochemical analysis. <strong data-start=\"1638\" data-end=\"1655\">Dr. Zhang Dan<\/strong> discussed the design of flexible metal\u2013organic framework-based gas sensors for the selective detection of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, while <strong data-start=\"1799\" data-end=\"1834\">Assoc. Prof. Dr. Xiaoping Zhang<\/strong> highlighted advances in in-situ electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance for studying electrochemical reactions at the molecular scale.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1974\" data-end=\"2199\">UTM researchers presented studies covering sustainable battery materials, metallic nanostructures, green nanomaterials, photocatalysis, water splitting, molecular simulation, nanoplastic detection and electrochemical sensors.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2201\" data-end=\"2507\"><strong data-start=\"2201\" data-end=\"2241\">Dr. Muhammad Amirul Aizat Mohd Abdah<\/strong> presented the development of microwave-pyrolysed rice husk-derived activated carbon as a sustainable anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The study demonstrated the potential of agricultural waste as a renewable precursor for advanced energy-storage materials.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2509\" data-end=\"2743\"><strong data-start=\"2509\" data-end=\"2542\">Ts. Dr. Fariza Hanim Suhailin<\/strong> discussed functional metallic thin films and plasmonic nanostructures for sensors and biosensors, including platforms for detecting lead ions, bacterial biomarkers, genetic targets and viral proteins.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2745\" data-end=\"3225\">Meanwhile, <strong data-start=\"2756\" data-end=\"2811\">Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek<\/strong> presented <em data-start=\"2822\" data-end=\"2938\">\u201cSustainable Functional Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: From Green Synthesis to Advanced Biomaterials.\u201d<\/em> The presentation highlighted an integrated research platform involving plant-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles, physicochemical optimisation, antibacterial and antibiofilm evaluation, and incorporation of the nanoparticles into advanced biomaterials such as chitosan hydrogels.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3227\" data-end=\"3568\">Other presentations explored Ag\/ZnO nanocomposites and carbonised electronic waste for photoelectrochemical water splitting, dual-responsive photocatalysts for bisphenol A degradation, photochromic titania thin films, visible-light-active hierarchical zeolitic photocatalysts and atomic-scale simulations of green-synthesised nanocomposites.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3570\" data-end=\"3809\">The programme also highlighted computational and analytical approaches for detecting polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastics, as well as the development of polyionic liquid\u2013carbon quantum dot nanocomposites for electrochemical sensing.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3811\" data-end=\"4079\">The diversity of the presentations demonstrated the multidisciplinary nature of functional materials and nanotechnology and their importance in addressing challenges related to healthcare, environmental pollution, food safety, clean energy and sustainable development.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4081\" data-end=\"4434\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The colloquium reinforced the academic relationship between UTM and Hainan Normal University and created opportunities for future joint research, student mobility, knowledge exchange and collaborative publication. It also reflected CSNano and UTM\u2019s commitment to advancing internationally connected research in sustainable and high-impact nanomaterials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\" class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"pointer-events-none -mt-px h-px translate-y-(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom)\"><\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/255\/2026\/07\/Colloquium-Functional-materials.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Colloquium Functional materials&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/255\/2026\/07\/Hainan-9.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Hainan 9&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/255\/2026\/07\/Hainan-6.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Hainan 6&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/255\/2026\/07\/Hainan-7.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Hainan 7&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/255\/2026\/07\/Hainan-5.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Hainan 5&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/255\/2026\/07\/Hainan-4.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Hainan 4&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JOHOR BAHRU, 23 July 2026 \u2013 The Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully organised the Colloquium on Functional Materials and Nanotechnology in collaboration with Hainan Normal University (HNNU), China. The programme was held at the Lecture Hall, Level 2, Block N31, Ibnu Sina Institute, UTM Johor Bahru. The colloquium provided an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":265,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<!-- wp:divi\/placeholder \/-->","_et_gb_content_width":"1080","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-as-a-lecturer-fbme"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5701"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5717,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5701\/revisions\/5717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/niknizam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}