Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology at AIT

The Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology at the Asian Institute of Technology is a Thailand-based research and graduate-education facility focused on applied nanotechnology. It was launched in 2006 to help address the shortage of nanotechnology research infrastructure in Thailand and was established jointly by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the National Nanotechnology Center of Thailand, commonly known as NANOTEC, under the National Science and Technology Development Agency. The center operates as an academic and research platform rather than as a conventional consumer-facing commercial brand. CoEN's work spans nanomaterial synthesis, nanoscale devices, sensing, environmental technologies, energy harvesting, agriculture, food safety, and biotechnology. Research described for the center includes dye-sensitive solar cells, electronic devices, gas sensors, biosensing and diagnostic tools, microscopic sensors, heavy-metal-ion detection for wastewater, visible-light photocatalysis for environmental mitigation, nanoparticle assembly, and layer-by-layer fabrication from colloidal particles. Its material capabilities include the synthesis and application of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, and silica nanoparticles, along with zinc-oxide nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes, and related structures. Coating and fabrication methods include sol-gel and pyrosol coating, layer-by-layer organization, inkjet printing, and spin coating. The center also supports advanced education. Doctoral research in nanotechnology was already being conducted at AIT before the center's creation, while an integrated Master's degree program in Nanotechnology was introduced in 2009. The program was designed for students from multiple engineering and science backgrounds and combines classroom teaching with laboratory work, instrumentation, materials processing, device concepts, biology, environmental applications, industrial needs, intellectual-property considerations, and the social implications of nanotechnology. This interdisciplinary model reflects CoEN's intended role in preparing researchers and technical personnel for knowledge-intensive industries. CoEN's institutional mission has included joint research, graduate education, professional training, technology transfer, and public and industrial awareness of nanotechnology. The center has collaborated with universities and research organizations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, including institutions in the United States, India, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, and Australia. These partnerships give the facility an international research orientation while retaining a strong Thailand-based mission. The facility began with limited resources in rooms allocated in AIT's Chalarm Prakiat Building. As equipment and personnel increased, it moved to the Outreach Building, where a larger facility was formally inaugurated on 8 September 2009 by AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust and Dr. Paritud Bhandhubanyong of Thailand's National Metal and Materials Technology Center. AIT administers the center. Prof. Joydeep Dutta is identified in the available reference material as its director. The center has been described as having more than 30 members from 10 countries, although the current membership and operating status should be verified directly. Its wider institutional setting includes AIT's shared library, laboratories, and campus facilities.

The Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology was created at the Asian Institute of Technology in 2006 as part of Thailand's effort to expand nanotechnology research capacity. The initiative was developed jointly by AIT and the National Nanotechnology Center, or NANOTEC, with support from several AIT faculties across the institute's schools. The founding group named in reference material included Joydeep Dutta, W. Kanok-Nukulchai, Oleg Shipin, N. Coowanitwong, M. Parnichkun, Mousa M. Nazhad, S. Venkatesh, and P. Herabat. Their proposal sought to create a platform that could combine research, education, training, technology transfer, and wider public and industrial engagement. The center initially occupied several rooms in AIT's Chalarm Prakiat Building. Early operations were constrained by limited funding and equipment, but the facility expanded as additional instruments and researchers joined. By September 2009 it had moved to the Outreach Building. A larger, purpose-built or substantially upgraded facility was formally inaugurated on 8 September 2009 by AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust and Dr. Paritud Bhandhubanyong, Director of Thailand's National Metal and Materials Technology Center. The new facility was intended to provide more laboratory space and improved access for external visitors. Research at CoEN developed around the practical use of nanoscale materials. The center built experience in producing metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, and silica. It also worked on zinc-oxide nanowires and related morphologies, coatings, photocatalysis, sensors, and energy devices. Environmental research included visible-light photocatalysis, wastewater heavy-metal sensing, bacteria detection, and self-cleaning surfaces. Other research directions addressed E. coli detection, electronic noses, smart pesticides, gas sensors, nano-bio solar cells, and nano-energy generators. AIT's academic role became more prominent in 2009 with the launch of its Master's degree program in Nanotechnology. The program was structured for applicants from engineering and science disciplines and emphasized the integration of theory, laboratory practice, instrumentation, applications, industrial relevance, ethics, public safety, and societal impact. Doctoral research, seminars, and international collaborations supplemented the degree program. The center's collaborative network has included the State University of New York at Buffalo, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Korea University's Center of Photoelectrochemical Energy, Agharkar Research Institute's Center for Nanobioscience, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Uppsala University, the University of Quebec, the Leibniz Institute of New Materials, the University of California, Berkeley, and Griffith University. These relationships positioned CoEN as an international research interface based in Thailand. Administratively, AIT governs the center while NANOTEC remains a joint institutional supporter. The available reference identifies Joydeep Dutta as director and describes a research community of more than 30 members representing 10 countries. Current staffing, facilities, program availability, and operating details are not independently established in the supplied material and require verification through the center or AIT.

• 2009

  Master's program introduced

  [1]Center of Excellence in Nanotechnologyen.wikipedia.org

  AIT introduced an integrated Master's degree program in Nanotechnology for students from a range of engineering and science disciplines.

• 2009

  Relocation and facility inauguration

  [1]Center of Excellence in Nanotechnologyen.wikipedia.org

  The center moved to the Outreach Building and its larger facility was jointly inaugurated on 8 September by AIT President Said Irandoust and National Metal and Materials Technology Center director Paritud Bhandhubanyong.

• 2006

  Center launched

  [1]Center of Excellence in Nanotechnologyen.wikipedia.org

  AIT and Thailand's NANOTEC established the Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology to strengthen national research infrastructure, education, training, technology transfer, and public awareness.

• 2003

  Doctoral nanotechnology research at AIT

  [1]Center of Excellence in Nanotechnologyen.wikipedia.org

  Doctoral-level research in nanotechnology was being conducted at the Asian Institute of Technology before the center's formal launch.

An interdisciplinary, application-oriented academic nanotechnology center connecting fundamental materials research with graduate education, environmental solutions, sensing, energy, agriculture, food, and industrial technology transfer.

• Nanomaterials

  Nanoparticle synthesis platform

  A research platform for producing and studying nanoparticles including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, and silica. The materials support work in sensing, catalysis, environmental mitigation, energy harvesting, and other applied nanotechnology areas. Reported preparation and processing approaches include chemical reduction, reactive precipitation, sol-gel methods, and semiconductor defect engineering.

• Nanomaterials and nanoelectronics

  Zinc oxide nanostructures

  CoEN research includes zinc-oxide nanoparticles, nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, and nanoplates. Researchers have investigated hydrothermal growth and the control of dimensions, morphology, aspect ratio, and spacing. These structures are studied for sensors, photocatalysis, environmental applications, and energy-harvesting systems.

• Sensors and biosensing

  Nano-enabled sensors and diagnostics

  The center's applied research portfolio includes gas sensors, heavy-metal-ion sensors for wastewater, bacteria and E. coli sensing, biosensing and diagnostic tools, microscopic sensors, and electronic-nose concepts. These projects connect nanoscale materials and device engineering with environmental monitoring, food safety, agriculture, and health-related detection.

• Graduate education · 2009

  Integrated Master's Degree Programme in Nanotechnology

  AIT's multidisciplinary nanotechnology master's program combines materials science, chemistry, physics, electronics, biotechnology, microsystems, instrumentation, environmental topics, and societal considerations. The curriculum is designed to give students from different technical backgrounds both theoretical grounding and hands-on laboratory experience.

• 2009

  Expansion into a larger Outreach Building facilityGeneration change

  Background

  The initial rooms in the Chalarm Prakiat Building became inadequate as equipment and research personnel increased.

  Action taken

  CoEN relocated to the Outreach Building, where a larger facility was inaugurated on 8 September 2009.

  Aftermath

  The expanded laboratory provided more space and was intended to be more accessible to external visitors and collaborators.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of the nanotechnology master's programProduct launch

  Background

  The center and AIT needed an educational pathway to develop researchers and technical professionals for emerging knowledge-based industries.

  Action taken

  AIT introduced an integrated master's program covering nanoscale science, materials, devices, biotechnology, instrumentation, environmental applications, and technology management.

  Aftermath

  The program attracted interest from students across Asia and broadened the center's role beyond laboratory research.

  Source

• 2006

  Establishment as a joint AIT–NANOTEC centerStrategy

  Background

  Thailand sought stronger nanotechnology infrastructure and a platform linking academic research with national scientific and industrial priorities.

  Action taken

  AIT and NANOTEC jointly created the center, with participation from faculties across AIT and a remit covering research, education, training, technology transfer, and awareness.

  Aftermath

  The center became one of Thailand's recognized nanotechnology centers of excellence and developed an international collaboration network.

  Source

1. 1Center of Excellence in Nanotechnologyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology at AIT websitenano.ait.asia