Michael Gunawan

Academic Qualification:

2022 – Present: PhD Student, Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

2014 – 2018: BEng, Chemical Engineering, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia.

Awards & Achievements:

-        2022: UNSW Tuition Fee Scholarship, The University of New South Wales

-        2018: Best Graduate of School of Chemical Engineering, Parahyangan Catholic University

-        2018: Runner up of Plant Design Competition, Bandung Institute of Technology

Project Title: Selective Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Oxidation of Organics

For the past few decades, the transition to renewable clean energy has been gaining more attention to sustainabily meet the rising global energy demand worldwide. With Australia receiving the highest solar radiation per area globally, photoelectrocatalysis offers an opportunity to secure the direct conversion of solar energy into a usable form of chemical energy (i.e., H₂). Despite the advantages of photoelectrochemical water splitting (i.e., H₂ and O₂ generation), the anodic water oxidation reaction continues to be the limiting step which restricts practical application. Considering the sluggish oxygen generation reaction on anode, the research focus needs to replacing water oxidation with the thermodynamically more feasible organic oxidation will both add convert the organic (for waste water treatment / valueable chemical production) and improve the overall photoelectrochemical efficiency.

Supervisors:

A/Prof Jason Scott

Scientia Prof Rose Amal

Dr Cui Ying Toe