Establishment of Advanced Materials Research Laboratory for Energy Storage Capacity Enhancement
Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET)
Chattogram-4349, Bangladesh
Project Profile
| Cluster | PCMSI: (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, ICT) |
| Research Area belongs to | STAGE/STEM |
| Entity | Department of Physics |
| University | Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology |
| Sponsoring Ministry/Agency | Ministry of Education / World Bank |
| Approved Project Budget | |
| Estimated Cost | 557.43 Lakhs |
| Agreement Date | 27 August 2025 |
| Implementation Period | 27 August 2025 to 30 June 2028 |
Objectives
1. To develop the advanced materials research laboratory that will enhance the research capabilities for postgraduate programs in the entity.
2. To conduct high quality research of PG (M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D.) programs for the synthesis and prediction of advanced 2D materials to implement in the Li-ion batteries to enhance the storage capacity.
3. To develop the skilled manpower, experienced in materials synthesis, device fabrication and simulation of 2D materials.
To enhance the facilities in advanced materials research (experiment and simulation) laboratory to attract more PG students and researchers to achieve state-of-art knowledge in the field of advanced and functional energy materials and advanced energy storage devices (i.e., MXenes/2D materials anode electrode-based Li-Ion batteries (LIBs), replacing the conventional graphite anode base LIBs, etc.).
To predict new MXenes phase from vast MAX phase precursors and explore its physical properties to check their feasibilities for use as anode electrode in the storage devices.
The research aims to promote PG studies in advanced energy materials research laboratories, particularly in advanced energy storage device fabrication, through journal papers, workshops, seminars, and conferences.
The study focuses on synthesizing, characterizing, and optimizing advanced 2D MXenes (Ti3C2, Ti2C, Nb2C, Sc2C, V2C, Cr2C, Mo2C, Zr2C, Hf2C, Nb₄C₃, Mo₄C₃, V₄C₃) materials for Li-ion batteries and high-storage capacity LIBs, as well as creating MXenes-based supercapacitors for fast charging.
Packages (Goods) at a Glance
| # | Package code | Package name | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUET/PIN13266/G-1 | Procurement of Benchtop powder X-Ray diffractometer (XRD) | ICB (Agreement on 26-07-2026), preparing for opening the LC |
| 2 | CUET/PIN13266/G-2 | Procurement of Laboratory Equipment | Agreement done (two machines will be installed in next week, others shipment completed) |
| 3 | CUET/PIN13266/G-3 | Procurement of Chemicals | Will be started next month (Frame work) |
| 4 | CUET/PIN13266/G-4 | Procurement of Computer and IT Equipment for sub project office | Completed |
| 5 | CUET/PIN13266/G-5 | Procurement of Computer software (Gaussian, Crystals 23 and so on) | Agreement done (going to pay, necessary documents are completed) |
Packages (Goods) — Continued
| # | Package code | Package name | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | CUET/PIN13266/G-6 | Procurement of Server Computer | Completed |
| 7 | CUET/PIN13266/G-7 | Procurement of Chemicals | Agreement done, going to supply chemicals |
| 8 | CUET/PIN13266/G-8 | Procurement of office equipment | Completed |
| 9 | CUET/PIN13266/G-9 | Procurement of gas cylinder and wiring system | IFT will be published in next week |
| 10 | CUET/PIN13266/G-10 | Procurement of Furniture | Completed |
| 11 | CUET/PIN13266/G-11 | Procurement of Computer and IT Equipment for laboratory | Completed |
| Package code | Package name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| W-1 | R & M of Non-Residential Building | Works completed 100%, first running bill paid, final bill will be paid in next week |
Students’ Intake & Fund
PhD Student: 01 Research Assistant: 02 MSc student: 01
Physics dept. MSc students working: 15 · Physics dept. PhD students working: 03
Total Researchers: 22 (including SPMT)
Total approved budget: 557.43 Lakhs
Procuring amount: 420 Lakhs — Goods (394 Lakhs), Works (26 Lakhs)
Fund received (1st phase): 66 Lakhs
Fund received (2nd phase): 76 Lakhs [return on 30-06-2026, 45,51,870 BDT]
Fund received (3rd phase): 70 Lakhs
Summary of Project Progress
BDT = Lakhs
| Component name as per project | Cumulative progress up to 30 June 2026 | Cumulative work order up to 30 June 2026 | Cumulative progress up to 30 June 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved budget | Financial (BDT) | Financial (%) | Financial (BDT) | Financial (%) | Financial (BDT) | Financial (%) | |
| Total Revenue expenditure | 198.93 | 25.25 | 48.5 | 2.0 | 17.60 | 9.0 | |
| Total Machineries and equipment | 351 | 46.25 | 13.18 | 334.66 | 380.91 | 95.0 | |
| Computer software | 7.5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Computer software | 7.5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Expenditure | 28.31 | 174.0 | 200.84 | ||||
Publications
From Y2CCl2 MXene to Janus MXenes Y2CClX (X = F, Br, I): Built-in Electric Field and Tunable Electronic and Optoelectronic Properties for Enhanced Photovoltaic Applications. Scientific Reports (2026) 16:27939, Q1, IF-3.9 — https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62509-z
First-Principles Study of Symmetric Y2CCl2 and Janus Y2CClX (X = F, Br, I) MXenes for Underwater Solar Energy Harvesting. International Journal of Energy Research, Q1 (IF-4.2)
Surface-Modified M₂C (M = V, Nb, Cr) and Ti₃C₂ MXenes for High-Performance Electromagnetic Absorption, minimum reflection loss and Shielding in L-, S-, and C-Bands. Journal of Electronic Materials, Q2 (IF-2.8) — revision to be submitted soon.
Prediction of Superconductivity in Janus HfNbCClF MXene: Stability and Physical Properties. RSC Nanoscale
Engineering Charge Transport Layers and Absorber Properties of Hg(Si/Ge)N2 Chalcopyrite for Next-Generation Photovoltaics. Hybrid Advances
Conferences
03 research works were presented in the International Conference on Physics (ICP) 2026 organized by Bangladesh Physical Society at DU & AECD held on 11–13 April 2026. One research work was awarded best oral presenter.
M. M. Uddin, “MXenes: Emerging Frontiers in Advanced 2D Materials and Their Multifunctional Applications” — Invited Talk, International Conference on Electronics and Informatics 2026 organized by Bangladesh Electronics and Informatics Society (BEIS), Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, 07–08 May 2026.
SPM Team
Project Office Staff
HEAT SPP-13266 Funded Researchers
MSc Researchers at HEAT Lab
MSc Researchers at HEAT Lab (Continued)
Radar Cross-Section Reduction of a Physical VTOL Model
Supervisor: Prof. Md. Mohi Uddin
Team (Dept. of ME): M. S. Islam Shaun · M. R. Marzan · S. M. A. Asakin Onice · M. R. Rahman Salman · N. H. Naum · Md. Iftakher Dinar
Most welcome prospective students to the country’s only HEAT project awardee Physics department PG lab (1st phase) through M.Sc. / M.Phil. / Ph.D.
We always appreciate collaborators — let’s build bonds with us.
