The Center of Excellence (CoE) in Nanotechnology is located at the Asian Institute of Technology campus. It is one of the eight centers of excellence in Thailand.
The CoEN at AIT is about the applied research and graduate education in nanotechnology. The unified concept of this center's research activities is the usage of the inexpensive wet-chemical methods to fabricate innovative materials and futuristic device components. Current research activities at the CoEN focus on the dye-sensitive solar cells, electronic devices, gas sensors, bio-diagnostic tools, specific microscopic sensors, heavy-metal-ion sensors for wastewater, environmental mitigation through visible light photocatalysis, the shake-up of nanoparticles, and layer-by-layer growth from colloidal particles, among others. The Master's degree program in Nanotechnology was launched in 2009. The center has over 30 members from 10 countries carrying out cross-disciplinary research in nanotechnology.
The notable international collaborations are with the State University of New York, Buffalo, the USA, S N Bose National Centre for Basic Science, India, Center of Photoelectrochemical Energy, Korea University, Jochiwon, South Korea, Center for Nanobioscience, Agharkar Institute, India, Inorganic Materials Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland, Uppsala University, Sweden, University of Quebec, Canada; Leibniz Institute of New Materials, Germany, University of California, Berkeley, the USA, and Griffith University, Australia.
History
The Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology was launched in 2006 to address the shortage of research facilities in Thailand. Activities include joint research with local and international universities and institutes, education and training personnel in the field of nanotechnology, technology transfer, and promotion of public and industrial awareness of nanotechnology. This center provides an international platform for academics and researchers from Thailand, AIT, and industry.
In Thailand, there are currently 8 Centers of Excellence under the Thailand National Nanotechnology Center: NANOTEC: Kasetsert University, Bangkok; Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok; King Mongkut Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Bangkok; Mahidol University, Bangkok; Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani; Prince of Songkhla University, Phuket; Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen; and Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai.
The Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology at AIT was set up jointly with the National Nanotechnology Center, Thailand, of the NSTDA, at the Asian Institute of Technology campus in Thailand. Under the agreement, AIT and NANOTEC support the center jointly. A few faculties at AIT joined hands to propose that this center be established in the institute. The faculties came from all three schools, and the founding members were: Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Prof. W. Kanok-Nukulchai, Dr. Oleg Shipin, the late Dr. N. Coowanitwong, Dr. M. Parnichkun, Dr. Mousa M. Nazhad, Dr. S. Venkatesh and Dr. P. Herabat. A few rooms in the Chalarm Prakiat Building at the Asian Institute of Technology were allocated for its operation. Initially, due to a lack of sufficient funds, the center had a hard time starting operations. Prof. Joydeep Dutta, CoEN Director, recalls, "I used to get glasses and mugs from my house to fulfill the students requirements for glasswares in the lab." Over the years, the center got crowded with new equipment coming in and more researchers joining the nanoteam. Eventually, on September 2009, the center was officially shifted to the Outreach building.
On September 8, 2009, a state-of-the-art facility of the Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology at AIT was jointly inaugurated by Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT President, and Dr. Paritud Bhandhubanyong, Director, National Metal and Materials Technology Center. The lab had a bigger and larger space and was more open to visitors from outside.
Administration
The Asian Institute of Technology governs the administrative activities of the Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology. Prof. Joydeep Dutta, is the director of CoEN.
Campus
The facilities provided for students in AIT are shared with the researchers of the center. These include sporting facilities such as football grounds, tennis fields, badminton, volleyball, basketball courts, a swimming pool, and a golf course. A two-story library is accessible to all the members of AIT.