Dr. Zulfirdaus Zakaria is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Malaya (UM), since September 2024.

In 2018, Dr. Zulfirdaus Zakaria received his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Fuel Cell Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) under the supervision of Prof. Ir. Dr. Siti Kartom Kamarudin, who was the Director of the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM. His dissertation was titled Development of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Based on Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) and Graphene Oxide for Micro Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell Application. During his postgraduate studies, he converted his Master’s program to a PhD, published seven papers as the first author (4 Q1 and 2 Q2), and received the "GRADUATE ON TIME" award from the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM.

Previously, he worked as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, for two years. Before that, he served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM, for three years and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the UNITEN, for one year.

His primary research focus is on Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Technologies, specifically the development of polymer electrolyte membranes, including proton exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes, using synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and biopolymers such as sodium alginate and carrageenan. His research on fuel cell technology is aimed at energy production, while his work on electrolyzers targets green hydrogen production.

He has been involved in the research and development of several fuel cell and electrolyzer systems, including:

1. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
2. Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells
3. Alkaline Fuel Cells
4. Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
5. Alkaline AEM Electrolyzers

In addition, he has contributed to the development of advanced materials, such as:

1. Modification of Polymers
2. Synthesis of Graphene-based Materials
3. Synthesis of Catalysts for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

Previously, he has involved with several research grant, such as;

1. The effect of incorporating epoxidized natural rubber on the performance of Quaternization polyvinyl alcohol membrane in direct ethanol fuel cells, USM, Short-term Grant with Project No. 304/PBAHAN/6315760, RM 39,000.00, 2023-2025, As a Project Leader.
2. Development of alkaline AEM electrolyzer with novel nanocomposite membrane. UKM PAKARUNDING-NanoMalaysia Berhad, RM 539,125.00, 2022–2023, As a Researcher.
3. New biodegradable membrane based on a hybrid polymer carrageenan/poly (vinyl alcohol) with various fillers for direct alcohol fuel cells. DANA MODAL INSAN (UKM) MI–2019–023, RM 100,000.00, 2019–2020, As a Postdoctoral Researcher (Proposal writer).
4. Fabrication and performance study of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), 1kW stack. TNB Seeding Fund (UNITEN) U-TV-RD-18-21, RM 1,698,100.70, 2018–2020, As a Postdoctoral Researcher.

To date, he actively published the scientific writing and regestered IP with MyIPO, including

Copyritgh

1. LY2022P05229 Carrageenan Biopolymer Membrane for Application of Passive DEFC, as aFirst author
2. LY2023P00617 Cross Sectional Properties of 7% MN-Doped ZnO Thin Films Copyright, as a Co-author
3, LY2022E00215 Strategy on How to Write A Review Paper Module as a Co-author

Book

1. Membran Hijau Polivinil Alkohol : Aplikasi Sel Fuel Ethanol Langsung – Penerbit UKM

Scientific Journal

He has published 43 high-impact papers, including 22 Q1, 13 Q2, and 2 Q3 papers, with 24 of them as the first author.

He received the "TOP DOWNLOADED PAPER 2018-2019" award from the publisher of the International Journal of Energy Research, which is indexed as Q1 (IF 4.6). He also received the "TOP DOWNLOADED PAPER 2022-2023" award from the publisher of the Journal of Applied Polymer Science, indexed as Q2 (IF 2.7).

Furthermore, he actively accepts invitations to serve as a reviewer for high-impact papers and has reviewed a total of 80 papers in high impact journal such as Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Q1 (IF 16.3), International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Q1 (IF 8.1) and Applied Energy, Q1 (IF 10.1) to date.

He also has been invited as a speaker by several Malaysian higher education institutions, including UiTM, UKM, USM, and UniKL, to speak on the topic "How to Write a High-Impact Review Paper."

He is always open to collaboration and can be contacted via email at zulfirdaus@um.edu.my.