Professor Anongnat Somwangthanaroj - Translational Materials Innovation: From Industrial Polymers to Sustainable Energy Storage

Joint Loughborough-Leicester IAS Fellow Professor Anongnat Somwangthanaroj delivers a seminar on their research - This talk shares a cross-sector journey in translational materials research spanning industrial epoxy materials for flip-chip electronics packaging, biodegradable plastic bags for fresh-produce preservation, health-protective innovations, and emerging zinc-based energy storage systems. Long-term collaboration with industry in advanced epoxy packaging has produced patented technologies, publications, and trained graduate researchers. At the same time, sustainability-driven polymer work led to real-world deployment and venture creation. Crisis-driven innovation during the pandemic further strengthened rapid prototyping and scale-up capabilities. Current research focuses on functional separators and iodine-host materials for zinc-based batteries to improve stability and reaction kinetics. Across these themes, the emphasis is on structure–property design, manufacturability, and impact-oriented development. The talk aims to identify shared research interests and open pathways for new academic and industry collaborations in advanced materials, sustainable technologies, and energy storage systems. For more information about the IAS, please visit - https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/ias