Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzaneh Bayat | Best Researcher Award

Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University | Iran

Dr. Farzaneh Bayat is an accomplished Associate Professor of Physics at Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Iran. She earned her Ph.D. in Physics from the same institution in 2016, specializing in photonic crystals and nanophotonics. With a distinguished research trajectory that includes visiting scientist positions at the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Spain, and the University of Heidelberg BioQuant Center, Germany, Dr. Bayat has made significant contributions to the fields of photonic crystal-based sensors, plasmonic nanostructures, and optical materials. Her research spans nano- and micro-structured materials, quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, and photocatalytic nanocomposites. She has authored 37 scientific publications, garnering over 248 citations and maintaining an h-index of 10, reflecting the global impact of her work. Her studies on photonic biosensors, colloidal lithography, and plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis have advanced the design of next-generation optical sensors and solar energy devices. Dr. Bayat’s international collaborations and innovative work in nanophotonics have earned her recognition as a leading figure in optical materials science. Through her interdisciplinary approach, she continues to bridge physics, materials science, and nanotechnology to address challenges in sustainable energy and biomedical diagnostics.

Profiles : Google Scholar | Orcid | Scopus

Featured Publications

Amani-Ghadim, A. R., Mousavi, M., & Bayat, F. (2022). Dysprosium doping in CdTe@CdS type II core/shell and cosensitizing with CdSe for photocurrent and efficiency enhancement in quantum dot sensitized solar cells. Journal of Power Sources, 539, 231624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231624

Pourasl, M. H., Vahedi, A., Tajalli, H., Khalilzadeh, B., & Bayat, F. (2023). Liquid crystal-assisted optical biosensor for early-stage diagnosis of mammary glands using HER-2. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 6847. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33814-4

Khodam, F., Amani-Ghadim, A. R., Ashan, N. N., Sareshkeh, A. T., Bayat, F., & Gholinejad, M. (2022). CdTe quantum dots incorporated in CoNiAl layered double hydroxide interlayer spaces as a highly efficient visible light-driven photocatalyst for degradation of an azo dye and Bisphenol A. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 898, 162768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.162768

Bayat, F., Ahmadi-Kandjani, S., & Tajalli, H. (2016). Designing real-time biosensors and chemical sensors based on defective one-dimensional photonic crystals. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 28(17), 1843–1846. https://doi.org/10.1109/LPT.2016.2570664

Adl, H. P., Bayat, F., Ghorani, N., Ahmadi-Kandjani, S., & Tajalli, H. (2017). A defective one-dimensional photonic crystal-based chemical sensor in total internal reflection geometry. IEEE Sensors Journal, 17(13), 4046–4051. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2017.2701090

Assist. Prof. Dr. Fikadu Geldasa | Best Researcher Award

Walter Sisulu University | South Africa

Dr. Fikadu Takele Geldasa is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa, and Oda Bultum University, Ethiopia. He has published 19 Scopus-indexed research papers, received more than 323 citations, and holds an h-index of 6. He obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Physics from Adama Science and Technology University. His research focuses on experimental and computational studies of functional nanomaterials using density functional theory (DFT) and materials characterization techniques. Dr. Geldasa works on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of doped metal oxides, perovskites, and semiconductor materials for applications in photocatalysis, energy conversion, and environmental remediation. His recent works on doped TiO₂ and α-NiS nanostructures provide insights into bandgap engineering and defect tuning for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity. He has published his research in leading journals such as Scientific Reports, Nanomaterials, Materials, and Physica Scripta. His interdisciplinary research integrates theory and experiment to develop advanced materials for renewable energy and sustainable technology. Through his scientific contributions, Dr. Geldasa is establishing himself as a promising researcher in materials physics and computational materials science, contributing significantly to the progress of clean energy and environmental technologies.

Featured Publications

Geldasa, F. T., Dejene, F. B., Kebede, M. A., Hone, F. G., & Jira, E. T. (2025). Density functional theory study of chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur doped rutile TiO₂ for photocatalytic application. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 3390. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84316-0

Geldasa, F. T., & Dejene, F. B. (2025). Transition metal doping effects on the structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of α-NiS for photocatalysis applications via DFT + U insights. Applied Physics A. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-025-08942-9

Geldasa, F. T., & Dejene, F. B. (2025). First principles investigation of niobium and carbon-doped titanium dioxide for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity. ChemistrySelect. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202504529

Geldasa, F. T., & Dejene, F. B. (2025). Exploration of vanadium and rhenium co-doped TiO₂ for enhanced photocatalytic performance via first principle density functional theory investigation. Physica Scripta. https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/adf156

Geldasa, F. T., & Dejene, F. B. (2025). Density functional theory based exploration of structural, electronic, mechanical, thermodynamic, and optical properties of α-NiS for CO₂ adsorption. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/aded5f