Advanced Functionalized Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials (TiO2) is one of the most attractive transition-metal oxides photocatalysts for coating building materials because of its superior physical and chemical properties, which has been widely applied in environmental clean-up (photocatalytic pollution removal), antibacterial/antiviral coating, volatile organic pollutant removal applications, and solar PV panel coating applications. The performance of TiO2 in these applications highly depends on its structural, electronic, optical, and morphological as well as the surface properties (exposed facets). Great effort has been devoted to adjust these properties and apparent progress has been made on the synthesis of the advanced functionalized TiO2 nanomaterials. Today, the presentation will cover the synthesis of TiO2-based nanomaterials and their environmental related applications. 

Dr. Lai [PhD, BEng(Hons) | PEng, PTech, CEng (UK), MIEM, MIMechE (UK)] is currently an associate professor in Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya, Malaysia. Lai’s main research interests are in the areas of chemically modified metal oxide photocatalysts, functionalized nanomaterials/nanocomposite and carbon graphene materials, especially apply in environmental pollution management and energy storage technology. Now Lai is serving as associate editors, book editors, guest editors, topic editors and editorial board members for several prestigious international ISI journals. As a scholar and an indication of the global impact of research work, Lai’s works have been published in more than 300 refereed international top-tier journals with Scopus h-index of 47, 100 book chapters, and 100 international proceedings in materials science, physics, chemistry, and renewable energy researches.  Through his work nanomaterials and catalysis field, Lai was awarded as JCI TOYP - Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World 2024 (Academic Leadership and Accomplishment), National Winner APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) 2023, IMechE Best Young Member Award 2022, JCI TOYM - Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians 2021 (Academic Leadership and Accomplishment), National Young Scientist Award 2019 by The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), MASS Young Researcher Award 2018 by Malaysian Solid State Science & Technology Society (MASS), a finalist of National Young Scientist Award 2018 by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia (MOSTI) and University of Malaya Excellence Awards 2015 in the category of outstanding researcher - UM Young Researcher (Sciences Discipline). Lai is recognised as among the calibre and outstanding young scientists in the country who have the potential of advancing the scientific ecosystem in Malaysia.