On December 13, 2024, at Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel, Phetchaburi, Dr. Tongjai Chookajorn, a researcher in the Automated Materials Processing Team (AMPT) under the Materials and Manufacturing Automation (MMA) Research Group at the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), received the Best Oral Presentation Award in the Global Partnership (Frontier Research) category for her research on “Computational Design of High-Entropy Alloys for Catalyst and Battery Applications.” The award was presented by Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, Director of the National Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and Acting Director of PMU-B. The award ceremony was part of the PMU-B Brainpower Congress 2024, themed “Unlocking the Potential of Ignite Thailand.” The congress fostered collaboration within Thailand’s scientific, research, and innovation ecosystem. It provided a platform for exchanging ideas, enhancing research efficiency, and showcasing advanced research across various disciplines, including infrastructure development, social sciences, and the humanities, all in pursuit of a sustainable future.
The research project, titled “Computational Design of High-Entropy Alloys for Catalyst and Battery Applications,” was funded by the e-ASIA Joint Research Program (e-ASIA JRP) under the Materials category for 2020/21. The project was a collaborative effort involving researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (Philippines), the University of Tokyo (Japan), and the Institute of High-Performance Computing, A*STAR (Singapore). The project aimed to develop high-entropy alloys using readily available Asian transition metals for catalyst and battery applications. This initiative not only strengthened multilateral cooperation among Asian researchers but also facilitated skill development for early-career researchers and students through knowledge exchange and public seminars.
The project’s outcomes have contributed to developing the skills of over 10 Thai research assistants and students, who presented their findings at the 18th NSTDA Annual Conference (NAC2023). They also collaborated with researchers from leading institutions in East and Southeast Asia, including the University of the Philippines Los Baños (Philippines), the University of Tokyo (Japan), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST, Japan), and the A*STAR Institute of High-Performance Computing (Singapore).
The research team has recently expanded its expertise in metal material design by integrating insights from materials informatics, metallurgy, surface modification technologies, metal coating, and electrochemical processes. This interdisciplinary approach has driven advancements in data-driven manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and digital systems, facilitating the development and application of cutting-edge technologies.
One significant innovation is PlateMon, a quality control platform for electroplating used in the jewelry industry and other sectors such as automotive, medical devices, and electronics. This work aligns with MTEC’s Modern Manufacturing theme, which focuses on improving the competitiveness of domestic industries through enhanced production efficiency, quality control, and innovation in materials science and engineering.
For more details, visit: https://www.mtec.or.th/post-knowledges/95779/.
