UB and Osaka University Collaboration on Sodium-Ion Battery Research

Diskusi Tim UB dan Osaka University
Diskusi Tim UB dan Osaka University

“Dosen Berkarya” (Dokar) team from the Chemistry Undergraduate Program (PSSK), Universitas Brawijaya (UB), visited the School/Graduate School of Engineering Science of Osaka University to perform a joint-research in the development of sodium-ion battery electrolytes for a week (29/9-5/10/2024). This collaboration is part of the partnership between the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), UB, and School/Graduate School of Engineering Science of Osaka University, which was formalized under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2021. The cooperation was established to mutually enhance the quality of education and research activities between the two institutions. Osaka University is one of the prestigious Seven Imperial Universities of Japan and ranks among the top 100 universities globally in the QS World University Rankings.

The Dokar team, led by Dr. Lukman Hakim, has a history of research collaboration with the Molecular Aggregates Chemical Engineering laboratory, headed by Professor Nobuyuki Matsubayasi, focusing on sodium-ion battery electrolyte development. In contrast to lithium, sodium is highly abundant in the earth and seawater. Both Indonesia and Japan, being maritime nations, possess nearly limitless sodium reserves in their oceans. The global supply of lithium is expected to become unstable when large-scale energy storage systems, such as solar power plants and electric vehicles, are widely adopted.

“Hence, the development of sodium-ion batteries as a new generation of batteries to replace lithium-ion holds strategic importance for both countries. This research visit also aims to incorporate the knowledge gained from the research into the teaching and research processes within UB’s Chemistry Undergraduate Program,” Lukman said.

In addition to the exploration of sodium-ion battery development, the Dokar team also used this opportunity to explore contemporary research topics and innovations in industry development. These contemporary research topics include hydrogen-based energy storage systems and strategies to inhibit protein aggregation through thermodynamic control at the molecular level. As for the industrial innovations, the Dokar team held meetings with representatives from GL Science and MGC Japan to discuss the development of flow analysis instrument software designed by Dr. Lukman Hakim, which has been marketed since 2007.[tim/sitirahma]