Nature, Taiwan, National Tsing Hua University, Ann-Shyn Chiang, Tsan-Yao Chen, Kuo Chu Hwang, Shangjr Gwo
NSRRC Users in Recent Nature's Spotlight
2020/02/26
The leading internationally scientific journal Nature periodically publishes articles that promote global acknowledgement of science in the particular country or region. In a recent issue published on January 16th, 2020, “Spotlight on Taiwan” incorporates a series of articles and advertisement features to give a glance at Taiwan's push in research and technology to become a high-tech maker of goods. Several NSRRC users and collaborators from National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) are included. Researchers from NTHU cover a range of scientific and technology fields, and translated their discovery into tangible benefits.
Academician Ann-Shyn Chiang (Brain Research Center) has dedicated his time to deciphering the formation of long-term memory. His team located two nerve cells essential for formation of long-term memory through studying fruit flies. Given the similarities of memory storage in animals, scientists are confident that human memory circuit will be mapped out in the near future. Along with collaborators, Prof. Tsan-Yao Chen (Dept. of Engineering and System Science and the current chair of the NSRRC User Executive Committee), has focused on more efficient and cheaper fuel cells. They are now turning to quantum-size correlation and synergetic effects in catalysts, which has resulted in considerable improvement on the CO2 and oxygen reduction performance. Prof. Kuo Chu Hwang (Dept. of Chemistry) and his team have developed a green alternative for chemical manufacturing. Using ozone exposure, combined with UVC radiation, this sustainable process for direct oxidative conversion at room temperature requires no metal catalysts, and produces no nitrous oxide and waste water. Former NSRRC Director, Prof. Shangjr Gwo (Dept. of Physics) led his team to develop a new two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor. The structure provides a hybrid platform that combines 2D light-emitting materials with plasmatic properties, offering great potential for developing integrated photonic/plasmonic functionalities.
