Moritz Rosenthal | Electrochemistry | Research Excellence Award 

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Mr. Moritz Rosenthal | Electrochemistry | Research Excellence Award 

Aalto University | Finland

Mr. Moritz Rosenthal is a dedicated chemist and doctoral candidate at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering, Finland, with a strong focus on material and nano chemistry. He earned his M.Sc. in Chemistry from Leibniz University, Hanover, with distinction, emphasizing advanced inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry, and his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the same institution, graduating with a solid foundation in synthesis and characterization of materials, including transition metal seleno phosphates. His professional journey includes research assistant roles at both Leibniz University and Aalto University, where he synthesized and analyzed catalysts for oxygen evolution reactions in acidic electrolytes, targeting sustainable replacements for platinum group metals in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. During his Master’s thesis, he collaborated internationally with experts on advanced material studies, and his industrial internship at Honeywell Specialty Chemicals led to a patented invention related to low-melting flux materials. His research interests encompass catalysis, electrochemistry, transition metal oxides, and sustainable hydrogen technologies. Mr. Rosenthal has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, innovative research contributions, and a commitment to advancing clean energy solutions. His work bridges fundamental chemistry and applied materials science, reflecting both scholarly rigor and practical impact in the field of sustainable energy and advanced functional materials.

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Featured Publications

Vuyolwethu Tokoyi | Materials Science | Research Excellence Award

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Ms. Vuyolwethu Tokoyi | Materials Science | Research Excellence Award

Durban University of Technology | South Africa

Ms. Vuyolwethu Tokoyi is an emerging chemist whose work spans inorganic chemistry, bioprocessing, biomass valorization, and physical chemistry, supported by strong academic training and multidisciplinary research experience. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Durban University of Technology, focusing on the application of ZIF-8 and ionic liquids for converting glucose extracted from sugarcane bagasse into value-added biochemicals. Building on her Master’s research on Co(II) and Mn(II) dithiocarbamate complexes with bioactivity studies and her Honours and undergraduate training in chemistry and geology, she has cultivated a broad scientific foundation. Professionally, she has gained significant experience as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Water and Wastewater Technology, a Research Scientist Intern at the Technology Innovation Agency, a Sales Technology Chemist at Buckman Laboratories, and a Tutor and Laboratory Coordinator at both the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Fort Hare. Her expertise includes laboratory management, analytical chemistry, fermentation processes, biomass processing, and instrumental analysis such as HPLC and nutrient profiling. She has received several distinctions, including multiple certificates in quality systems, safety management, and digital literacy, as well as prestigious recognitions such as the National Research Foundation Scholarships and the James Moir Medal. Her growing body of work reflects a commitment to sustainable chemistry and impactful scientific innovation.

Profiles: Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Tokoyi, V. (2024). Ferrocene-Based Bimetallic MOF Beads as Bifunctional Dye Scavenging and Degrading Materials. Chemical Engineering Transactions.

Tokoyi, V. (Year n.d.). Potential Application of IL@ZIF-MOF Composites for Lignocellulosic Biomass Valorization: Recent Update. Chemical Engineering and Process Techniques.

Tokoyi, V. (Year n.d.). Should “Ionic Liquids” also be used for solid ionic compounds: Synthesis and characterization of p-anisidinium-based ionic compounds. Chemical Engineering and Process Techniques.

Tokoyi, V. (Year n.d.). Synthesis and antibacterial studies of p-anisidinium-based ionic liquids: Experimental, DFT calculations and molecular docking. Journal of Molecular Liquids.

Huangjie Lu | Ion Detection | Young Researcher Award

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Dr. Huangjie Lu | Ion Detection | Young Researcher Award

Changzhou University | China

Dr. Huangjie Lu is a dedicated researcher specializing in radiochemistry, actinide chemistry, coordination chemistry, radiation detection, and crystallographic separation. He holds a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, an M.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering from Soochow University, and a B.Eng. in the same field from the Nanjing Institute of Technology. His professional experience includes serving as an Assistant Researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he contributed extensively to advanced radiochemical and coordination compound studies, and he currently continues his academic journey at Changzhou University. Dr. Lu’s research explores the design, synthesis, and functional development of coordination compounds, inorganic complexes, and MOF-based materials, leading to more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, including over 24 first- or corresponding-author papers in top-tier journals such as JACS, Nature Communications, Advanced Science, and ACS Sensors. He has also secured nine granted patents demonstrating his innovative contributions to chemical sciences. Recognized for his impactful research and scientific leadership, Dr. Lu continues to advance the frontiers of inorganic and radiochemistry, contributing significantly to material innovation and radiochemical applications.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Gu, Q., Lei, J., Deng, W., Zhang, H., Zhang, Z.-H., Lu, H., Hu, B., & Xie, J. (2025). “A uranyl-based luminescent dosimeter for ultralow-dose tracking of UV and X-ray radiation” in Chemical Communications.

Cheng, S., Xu, T., Qian, J., Lu, H., Zhang, Z.-H., He, M.-Y., & Chen, Q. (2025). “Adsorption of radioiodine species by a microporous rare-earth-organic framework” in Inorganic Chemistry.

Yang, J., Bai, Y., Lu, H., Ma, J., Xie, J., Qiu, J., Guo, X., Wang, Y., Wang, S., & Lin, J. (2025). “Emergence of acidity modulation as a new strategy for eliciting stable radicals in multi-stimuli-responsive metal-oxo clusters” in Chinese Chemical Letters.

Bai, Y., Yang, J., Yang, L., Lu, H., Ma, J., Qiu, J., Wang, Y., & Lin, J. (2025). “Identical metal–organic frameworks with distinct colors: the role of modulator in directing photophysical properties” in ACS Materials Letters.

Bai, Y., Lu, H., Lei, M., Qiu, J., & Lin, J. (2025). “An ultrastable luminescent covalent organic polymer for selective Pd²⁺ detection in strong acid” in EcoEnergy.

Yin, X., Wang, Y., Li, Y., Jia, X., Sun, J., Lu, H., & Li, Q. (2025). “Selective crystallization separation driven by structural divergence in lanthanide mixed-organic systems” in Inorganic Chemistry.

Yang, J., Lu, H., Yang, L., Yao, Y., Wei, Z., Chen, M., Qi, H., Ren, Y., Wang, Y., Qiu, J., et al. (2024). “Lanthanide organic–inorganic hybrids for X-ray scintillation and imaging” in Inorganic Chemistry.