The QUT Centre for Materials Science (QCMS) has launched a strategic international initiative in partnership with Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) School of Materials Science and Engineering, Singapore, ranked #2 in the world for materials science, to establish the QUT–NTU Joint Lab for Advanced Sustainable Materials.
The lab, established in 2024 under the initiative of Professor Prashant Sonar who is International Engagement Lead for the QCMS, together with Prof. Lam Yeng Ming , President’s Chair in Materials Science and Engineering. The joint lab offers a PhD training program that combines world-class supervision, international research placements, and collaborative research focused on sustainability, clean energy, and advanced materials.
Each year, the program supports four jointly supervised PhD students, two from QUT and two from NTU, who spend 12 months conducting research at the partner university.
“This initiative will open up exciting opportunities to solve global challenges in sustainability through world-class collaboration and top-notch researchers from both countries through innovation in materials science.”
— Professor Prashant Sonar
The first cohort of PhD students is now underway, working on projects that span from creating clean hydrogen fuel using cost-effective catalysts to developing smart adhesives that can be undone on demand—ideal for wearable technology and flexible electronics. Other projects include the development of plant-based materials for eco-friendly electronics, exploration of natural lipids from microbes and insects to inspire sustainable materials, and the use of advanced techniques to convert carbon dioxide into useful fuels using sunlight. One student is also investigating how next-generation materials can improve the storage and delivery of energy to meet growing global demand.
The joint lab was formally initiated in 2022 when QUT─Singapore Joint Workshop on Advanced Materials was held at QUT (organised by Prof. Sonar, Prof Dongchen Qi, Prof. Hongxia Wang and Prof Yuan Tong Gu) with the relationship being cemented during a February 2025 visit from NTU representatives Prof. Lam Yeng Ming and Dr. Chris Boothroyd to QUT’s Brisbane campus. The visit included lab tours, collaborative workshops, and strategic discussions, laying the foundation for future research and mo.
By combining strengths in sustainable materials research, the QUT–NTU Joint Lab is poised to drive innovation while deepening Australia–Asia research ties and providing a platform for future grant development, publications, and shared infrastructure.