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Prof. Boateng Onwona‐Agyeman, (Bsc (Physics) KNUST; MSc (Physics) & PhD (Mat. Sci.), Japan)

Prof. Boateng Onwona‐Agyeman, (Bsc (Physics) KNUST; MSc (Physics) & PhD (Mat. Sci.), Japan)
Professor & Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS)
boagyeman@ug.edu.gh; BOnwona-Agyeman@ug.edu.gh

About Lecturer

Prof. Onwona‐Agyeman obtained his BSc degree in Physics at KNUST in 1994 and was awarded the Japanese Government Scholarship to study the MSc and Ph.D. degrees in Physics (Experimental Condensed Matter Physics) and Materials Science & Engineering respectively from 1997 to 2002.
He was offered a Postdoctoral position with Shizuoka National University in Japan from 2003 to 2005. He was then employed as a Scientist with the SPD Lab, Inc. in Japan from 2005 to 2007 where he worked on the development of large‐area dye‐sensitized solar cells.In 2007, he was recruited to join a team of scientists and engineers (collaboration between Japanese Govt, FCC Company and Honda Motors) to develop porous‐structured catalyst paper for controlling exhaust gas emissions from small internal combustion engines and for hydrogen production using methane steam reformation. From 2009 to 2012, he worked as Research Associate and Assistant Professor at Kyushu Institute of Technology and Kyushu University respectively in Japan before joining University of Ghana in 2013.

Research Work and Publications

Research Interests
Thin solid films preparation by physical vapour/vapor deposition (PVD) methods (radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering and thermal evaporation), chemical vapour deposition (CVD) techniques [metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD)], solution growth methods (spray pyrolysis, spin coating). Electrical, structural and optical (luminescent materials) properties of wide bandgap semiconductor thin films. Growth of thin-solid films e.g. Copper, Indium, Gallium and Selenide (CIGS), cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin films as absorber material for solid-state solar cell. Preparation and characterization of meso-porous oxide semiconductor materials as absorber in dye-sensitized solar cell.
Catalyst materials for purifying exhaust gas emissions from small engines and hydrogen production:
Preparation of high surface area and thermal stabilized alumina as support material impregnated with platinum group metals for purifying exhaust gas emissions. Preparation of alumina impregnated with nickel, ruthenium and other metals as catalyst for hydrogen production from natural gas using methane steam reformation. Characterization: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Hall measurements, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Thin Film Thickness measurements by stylus method, Photoluminescence measurements, Solar Cell evaluation measurements using solar simulators.
Surface area and pore size measurements using BET (nitrogen desorption) and mercury desorption techniques, Thermo Gravimetric-Differential Thermal Analyzer (TG-DTA) Gas Flow Simulator and Gas Chromatograph.

Patents

 
1. Patent Title: Catalyst and Its Manufacturing Method
   Type: Japanese Patent JP2009172522
   Application Number: JP2008000014195
   Publication Date: August 6, 2009
   Filling Date: January 24, 2008
   International Classes: B01J37/02; B01J23/46; B01J35/66; B01D53/74
   Assignee: FCC Co. LTD
   Inventors: B. Onwona-Agyeman, R. Suzuki, H. Yano and A. Tomoda
 
2. Patent Title: Multilayer Electrode
    Type: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
    Publication Number: WO/2008/093675
    Publication Date: 07/08/2008
    Application Number: PCT/JP2008/051310
    Filling Date: 29/01/2008
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Foundation for Science & Technology Promotion and SPD Lab. Inc.
    Inventors: S. Kaneko, K. Murakami, B. Onwona-Agyeman and S. Kawasaki
 
 
Academic Publications
1. B. Onwona-Agyeman, M. Nakao and T. Kitaoka (2014).Photovoltaic Performance of Spray-coated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Sensitized with Metal-free IndolineDyes:Journal of Materials Science Research, Volume 3 (1), pages 87-93 (2014).
2. B. Onwona-Agyeman, M. Nakao, G.R.A. Kumara, S.M.M.L. Karunarathne, S.G. Anuradha and N. Dematage (2014). Sensitization of Zinc Oxide Photoanode with an IndolineDye.Progressin Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol.22 (6) pages 661- 665.
3. A. Yaya, D. David Dodoo-Arhin, B. Onwona-Agyeman, D.S. Konadu, H. Mensah Brown and E. Sinayobye (2013). Effects of Purity on the Mechanical Properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Polymer Nanocomposites. British Journal of Applied Science and Technology, Vol. 3(4), pages 884-897.
4. Yong Sun and Boateng Onwona-Agyeman(2013). Copper Encapsulation of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Scrivener Publishing & John Wiley and Sons, Pages 1-37.
5. B. Onwona-Agyeman, M. Nakao, T. Kohno, L. Devinda, K. Murakami and T. Kitaoka (2013). Preparation and Characterization of Sputtered Aluminum and Gallium Co-doped ZnO Films as Conductive Substrates in Dye-sensitized Solar Cells.Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 219, pages 273-277.
6. B. Onwona-Agyeman, M. Nakao, G.R.A. Kumara and T. Kitaoka (2012): “Al-doped ZnO Film as Transparent Conductive Substrate in Indoline-sensitized Nanoporous ZnO Solar Cell” MRS 2012 Fall Meeting Proceedings, Volume 1494, 2012.
7. N. Hirahara, B. Onwona-Agyeman and M. Nakao (2012). Preparation of Aluminum- DopedZnO as Transparent Conductive Substrate in Dye-sensitized Solar Cell.Thin Solid Films, Vol. 520 (6),pages 2123-2127.
8.Yong Sun, B. Onwona-Agyeman and Tatsuro Miyasato (2011). Controlling the Resistivity of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Networks by Copper Encapsulation. Materials LettersVol. 65, pages 3187-3190.
9. Yong Sun, B. Onwona-Agyeman and Tatsuro Miyasato (2011).Properties of Charge Carrier Transport in Au/Phenyl C61 Butyric Acid Methyl Ester/Au Structure.Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 50. No. 3, pages 031601-6.
10. B. Onwona-Agyeman, M. Nakao and G.R.A. Kumara (2010).Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells Made from SnO2/ZnO Films Sensitized with an Indoline Dye. Journal of Materials Research, Vol. 25, No. 9, pages 1838-1841.
11. Yong Sun, B. Onwona-Agyeman and Tatsuro Miyasato (2010). An Abnormal Temperature Dependence of Conductivity in Fullerene Solids.Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 49, pages 085103-5.
12. N. Hirahara, B. Onwona-Agyeman and M. Nakao (2010). Aluminum Doped Zinc Oxide Thin Films for Opto-electronic applications.ECS Transactions, Vol. 28, No. 4, p.13-19.
13. B. Onwona-Agyeman, S. Suzuki, H. Yano, S. Yagi and A. Tomoda (2009). Development of Paper Exhaust Catalyst Material for Emission Control in Small Internal Combustion Engines.SAEInternational Journal of Engines, Vol. 1, No. 1, pages 1341- 1346.
14. A. Konno, G.R.A. Kumara, S. kaneko,B. Onwona-Agyeman and K. Tennakone (2007). Solid-State Solar Cells Sensitized with Indoline Dye.Chemistry Letters, Vol. 36, No.6, pages 716-717.
15.G.R.A. Kumara, S. Kaneko, M. Okuya, B. Onwona-Agyeman and K. Tennakone (2006). Large-Area Dye-sensitized Solar Cells: Material Aspects of Fabrication.Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications. Vol. 14 (7) pages 643-651.
16. G.R.A. Kumara, S. Kaneko, M. Okuya,B. Onwona-Agyeman, A. Konno and K. Tennakone (2006). Shiso Leaf Pigments for Dye-sensitized Solid-State Solar Cell.Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 90, pages 1220-1226.
17.B. Onwona-Agyeman, S. Kaneko, G.R. Kumara, M. Okuya, K. Murakami, A. Konno and K. Tennakone (2005). Sensitization of Nanocrystalline SnO2 Films with Indoline Dyes.Japanese Journal of Applied Physics,Vol. 44, No. 23, pages L731-L733.
18.O. Agyeman, C.N. Xu,M. Suzuki and X.G. Zheng (2002). Upgrading the Triboluminescence of ZnS:Mn Film by Optimization of Sputtering and Thermal Annealing Conditions.Journal of Materials Research, Vol. 17, No.5 (2002) pages 959-963.
19. Onwona-Agyeman, C.N. Xu, S.W. Shi, X.G. Zheng and M. Suzuki (2002). Strong ultraviolet and green emissions at room temperature from annealed ZnO thin films.Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 41 Part 1, 2Apages 666-669.
20. Boateng Onwona-Agyeman, C.N. Xu, S.W. Shi, X.G. Zheng and M. Suzuki (2002). Triboluminescence of ZnS:Mn films deposited on quartz substrates with ZnO buffer layers.Japanese Journal of Applied PhysicsVol.41 Part 1, 8Apages 5259-5261.
21. S.W. Shi, O. Agyeman and C.N. Xu (2002). Enhancement of the light-emissions from zinc oxide films by controlling the post-treatment ambient.Journal of Applied PhysicsVol. 91 (9) pages 5640-5644.
22. “O. Agyeman, C.N. Xu, H. Tateyama, M. Suzuki and X.G. Zheng (2002). Relationship between the Photoluminescence Property and the Crystallinity of ZnO Thin Films.Key Engineering Materials,Vols. 228-229 pages 107-112.
23. O.Agyeman, C.N. Xu, S.W. Shi, X.G. Zheng and M. Suzuki (2002). Triboluminescence of ZnS:Mn films on Ceramic Substrates.Transactions of the Material Research Society of Japan,Vol. 4 pages 719-721.
24.C.N. Xu, Y. Liu, M. Akiyama, O. Agyeman, X.G. Zheng (2002). Development of Strong Mechanoluminescence with Piezoelectric Materials.Key Engineering Materials,Vol. 216, pages 15-18.
25. O. Agyeman,C.N. Xu, Y. Liu, M. Akiyama, X.G. Zheng, M. Suzuki and M. Harada (2002). Preparation and Characteristics of Zinc Oxide Thin Films Deposited on Glass Substrates.Key Engineering Materials,Vol. 214-215, pages 193-198.
26. O. Agyeman, C.N. Xu, I. Usui, X.G. Zheng and M. Suzuki (2001). “Development of Strong Triboluminescence ZnS:Mn Films on VariousGlass Substrates”Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan, Vol. 26 (4), pages 1303-1306.
27.Y. Liu, N. Xu, X.G. Zheng, T. Watanabe, O. Agyeman and M. Akiyama (2000). “Effect of Thermal Annealing on Transparent, Conductive LaNiO3 Thin Films Prepared by an Aqueous Method” Journal of Materials Science,Vol. 35, p. 937-941.
28.Y. Liu, C.N. Xu, X.G. Zheng, M. Akiyama, O. Agyeman and T. Watanabe (1999). “Detection of Cracks and Fracture in Ceramics with Piezoelectric PZT Thin Films”Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan, Vol. 24(4) p. 615-618.
29.O. Agyeman, C.N. Xu, T. Watanabe, Y. Liu, M. Akiyama, M. Taira, X.G. Zheng and M. Suzuki (1999).“Optimization of Sputtering Conditions of Zinc Sulfide Thin Films on Ceramic Substrates for Novel Triboluminescence Application”Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan, Vol. 24 [4]p. 603-606.
30. O. Agyeman, C.N. Xu, S.W. Shi, X.G. Zheng and M. Suzuki (2001) “Enhancement in ZnS:Mn triboluminescent film intensity using ZnO as buffer layers”: SPIE, Vol.4576, 181- 187 (2001).
31. O. Agyeman, C.N. Xu, I. Usui, X.G. Zheng and M. Suzuki (2000).Thermal Annealing Effects on the Triboluminescence Intensity of Sputtered ZnS:Mn Thin Films. SPIE Vol. 4220, pages 350-354.