Assist. Prof. Dr. Fahanwi Asabuwa Ngwabebhoh | Sustainable Materials | Research Excellence Award

Research Scientist at Kocaeli University | Turkey

Assist. Prof. Dr. Fahanwi Asabuwa Ngwabebhoh is a materials and polymer scientist recognized for advancing functional biomaterials, nanocomposites, and environmentally responsive polymers through research that integrates synthesis, structural modification, and performance optimization. His scientific work centers on bioinspired hydrogels, nanocellulose-derived systems, electroactive polymer composites, and sustainable biopolymer materials designed for applications in adsorption, drug delivery, wound healing, environmental remediation, energy storage, and biosensing. With 1,385 citations, 48 published documents, and a Scopus h-index of 19, he is widely acknowledged for producing high-impact research that bridges fundamental materials chemistry with practical technological solutions. His investigations have yielded important contributions to controlled drug delivery systems, injectable and self-crosslinking hydrogels, microbial cellulose biocomposites, conductive polymer–based electrodes for supercapacitors, photodegradation materials, and agro-waste-derived sustainable composites. He has also developed optimized nanostructured adsorbents and membrane systems for emerging pollutant removal, applying advanced modeling tools such as response surface methodology and kinetic–isotherm analysis to enhance material efficiency and predict functional behavior. His research on nitrogen-doped cellulose gels, enzymatically crosslinked hydrogels, and biodegradable nanofibrous scaffolds has been influential in both environmental and biomedical materials science. Dr. Ngwabebhoh’s work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary depth, combining polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, materials characterization, and applied engineering principles to generate innovation-driven scientific output. His publication profile and research achievements reflect impactful contributions that support sustainable technologies, advanced biomaterials, and green material design, establishing him as a leading researcher suited for recognition through the Research Excellence Award.

Featured Publications

Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Gazi, M., & Oladipo, A. A. (2016). Adsorptive removal of multi-azo dye from aqueous phase using a semi-IPN superabsorbent chitosan-starch hydrogel. Chemical Engineering Research and Design. Citation: 173

Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Erdagi, S. I., & Yildiz, U. (2018). Pickering emulsions stabilized nanocellulosic-based nanoparticles for coumarin and curcumin nanoencapsulations: In vitro release, anticancer and antimicrobial activities. Carbohydrate Polymers. Citation: 165

Erdagi, S. I., Ngwabebhoh, F. A., & Yildiz, U. (2020). Genipin crosslinked gelatin-diosgenin-nanocellulose hydrogels for potential wound dressing and healing applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. Citation: 142

Nguyen, T. H., Fei, H., Sapurina, I., Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Bubulinca, C., Munster, L., & others. (2021). Electrochemical performance of composites made of rGO with Zn-MOF and PANI as electrodes for supercapacitors. Electrochimica Acta. Citation: 131

Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Zandraa, O., Patwa, R., Saha, N., Capáková, Z., & Saha, P. (2021). Self-crosslinked chitosan/dialdehyde xanthan gum blended hypromellose hydrogel for the controlled delivery of ampicillin, minocycline and rifampicin. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. Citation: 103

Dr. Sabi William Konsago | Ferroelectric Materials | Excellence in Research Award

Postdoctoral Researcher at Jožef Stefan Institute | Slovenia

Dr. Sabi William Konsago is an emerging researcher in electronic ceramics whose work focuses on the development, structural engineering, and functional optimization of lead-free ferroelectric and piezoelectric oxide materials, with a particular emphasis on Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃–(Ba,Ca)TiO₃ thin films prepared by chemical solution deposition. With 20 citations, 5 Scopus-indexed publications, and an h-index of 2, he has established a strong research footprint in the field through contributions that address fundamental and application-driven challenges in designing high-performance dielectric and electromechanical materials. His research advances understanding of how chemical formulation, solvent selection, and thermal-processing conditions influence microstructure, crystallographic orientation, domain behavior, and energy-storage efficiency in complex oxide thin films. He has developed novel ethylene-glycol-based precursor systems, optimized processing routes for improved film uniformity, and demonstrated pathways to enhance dielectric properties, breakdown strength, and electromechanical responses, leading to results published in internationally recognized journals such as Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, ACS Applied Electronic Materials, Journal of Materials Chemistry C, and Molecules. His work is characterized by the integration of advanced characterization techniques, including XRD, SEM, AFM, SIMS, XPS, dielectric spectroscopy, and electromechanical testing, to correlate processing parameters with functional performance. Beyond thin films, his contributions also include investigations of bulk ceramics and structure–property relationships in high-entropy and multifunctional oxides. Through active participation in international conferences and collaborative projects, he has contributed to the broader advancement of sustainable, lead-free electronic materials and demonstrated potential for long-term scientific impact.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Konsago, S. W., Žiberna, K., Kmet, B., Benčan, A., Uršič, H., & Malič, B. (2022). Chemical solution deposition of barium titanate thin films with ethylene glycol as solvent for barium acetate. Molecules, 27(12), 3753. (Cited by: 18)

Konsago, S. W., Žiberna, K., Matavž, A., Mandal, B., Glinšek, S., Fleming, Y., Benčan, A., Brennecka, G. L., Uršič, H., & Malič, B. (2024). Engineering the microstructure and functional properties of 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O₃–0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO₃ thin films. ACS Applied Electronic Materials, 6(6), 4467–4477. (Cited by: 6)

Konsago, S. W., Debevec, A., Cilenšek, J., Kmet, B., & Malič, B. (2023). Linear thermal expansion of 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O₃–0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO₃ bulk ceramic. Informacije MIDEM, 53(4), 233–238. (Cited by: 3)

Konsago, S. W., Žiberna, K., Matavž, A., Mandal, B., Glinšek, S., Brennecka, G. L., Uršič, H., & Malič, B. (2025). High energy storage density and efficiency of 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O₃–0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO₃ thin films on platinized sapphire substrates. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 13(4), 2911–2919. (Cited by: 1)

Konsago, S. W., Žiberna, K., Ekar, J., Kovač, J., & Malič, B. (2024). Designing the thermal processing of Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O₃–(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO₃ thin films from an ethylene glycol-derived precursor. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 12(36), 14658–14666.