Dr. Zulfirdaus Zakaria is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya (UM), specializing in Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Technologies. He obtained his PhD in Fuel Cell Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2018 under the supervision of Prof. Ir. Dr. Siti Kartom Kamarudin, Director of the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM. His doctoral dissertation, "Development of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Based on Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) and Graphene Oxide for Micro Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell Application", established a strong foundation for his research in advanced polymer electrolyte membranes for electrochemical energy systems.

During his postgraduate studies, Dr. Zulfirdaus demonstrated outstanding academic excellence by successfully converting his Master's candidature into a PhD programme. He published seven first-author articles in high-impact WoS-indexed Q1/Q2 journals during his candidature and received the Graduate on Time (GoT) Award from the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM.

Academic and Research Appointments

Prior to joining Universiti Malaya, Dr. Zulfirdaus served as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). He also completed four years of postdoctoral research at the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM, and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), contributing significantly to the advancement of fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies.

Research Interests and Contributions

Dr. Zulfirdaus's research focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells and electrolyzers. His expertise covers:

• Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMs)

• Anion Exchange Membranes (AEMs)

• Synthetic polymers such as Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)

• Biopolymers including Sodium Alginate and Carrageenan

• Renewable energy conversion technologies

• Green hydrogen production

His research encompasses the development and optimization of various electrochemical energy systems, including:

• Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs)

• Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells (DEFCs)

• Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFCs)

• Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs)

• Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyzers

His work also involves the development of functional polymer nanocomposites, graphene-based materials, membrane engineering, and catalyst design to improve electrochemical performance, durability, and energy efficiency.

Research Grants

Dr. Zulfirdaus has successfully secured and participated in numerous competitive research grants, including:

• Project Leader: Development of Novel Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for Fuel Cells, Universiti Malaya Research Excellence Grant (RM97,614; 2025–2027)

• Project Leader: Biomass to Fuel Cells: Leaves to Energy, Universiti Malaya Living Labs Grant (RM30,000; 2025–2026)

• Project Leader: The Effect of Incorporating Epoxidized Natural Rubber on the Performance of Quaternized Polyvinyl Alcohol Membrane in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells, USM Short-Term Grant (RM39,000; 2023–2025)

• Researcher: Development of Alkaline AEM Electrolyzer with Novel Nanocomposite Membrane, UKM–NanoMalaysia Berhad (RM539,125; 2022–2023)

• Postdoctoral Researcher: Hybrid Carrageenan/PVA Biodegradable Membrane for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells, UKM Dana Modal Insan (RM100,000; 2019–2020)

• Postdoctoral Researcher: Fabrication and Performance Study of 1 kW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack, UNITEN–TNB Seeding Fund (RM1,698,100.70; 2018–2020)

Intellectual Property and Publications

Dr. Zulfirdaus has registered several intellectual properties with MyIPO, including:

• Carrageenan Biopolymer Membrane for Passive DEFC Applications (LY2022P05229) – First Inventor

• Cross-Sectional Properties of 7% MN-Doped ZnO Thin Films (LY2023P00617) – Co-Inventor

• Strategy on How to Write a Review Paper Module (LY2022E00215) – Co-Inventor

He is also the author of the scholarly book Membran Hijau Polivinil Alkohol: Aplikasi Sel Fuel Ethanol Langsung, published by Penerbit UKM.

To date, Dr. Zulfirdaus has published more than 55 WoS journal articles, including 24 Q1, 15 Q2, and 2 Q3 publications, serving as the first author in 24 papers. His research has significantly contributed to the advancement of polymer electrolyte membrane technology and sustainable hydrogen energy systems.

Awards and Recognition

His academic achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including:

• Top Downloaded Paper (2018–2019) – International Journal of Energy Research

• Top Downloaded Paper (2022–2023) – Journal of Applied Polymer Science

• World's Top 2% Scientists 2025, jointly recognized by Elsevier and Stanford University

• World's Top 5% Scientists 2025, jointly recognized by Scirank Global.

Editorial and Peer Review Activities

Dr. Zulfirdaus actively serves the international scientific community as a reviewer for leading journals, including:

• Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

• International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

• Applied Energy

He has reviewed more than 100 manuscripts for high-impact international journals covering fuel cells, hydrogen technologies, polymer science, membrane engineering, and renewable energy.

Invited Speaker and Academic Outreach

Beyond research, Dr. Zulfirdaus is widely recognized for his expertise in scholarly publishing and academic writing. He has been invited by numerous universities—including UiTM, UKM, USM, UNIMAS, and UniKL—to conduct workshops and keynote lectures on High-Impact Scientific Writing, particularly on review paper development, publication strategies, and research excellence.

Through these appointments, he actively delivers lectures, community classes, and educational programmes focusing on Islamic knowledge, character development, and lifelong learning, reflecting his commitment to integrating academic excellence with meaningful service to society.

Dr. Zulfirdaus welcomes research collaborations, academic partnerships, invited lectures, and professional consultations. He can be contacted at zulfirdaus@um.edu.my.

"With a multidisciplinary profile spanning advanced energy materials, scientific publishing, innovation, and community engagement, Dr. Zulfirdaus Zakaria continues to contribute towards sustainable energy advancement while fostering knowledge dissemination in both academic and societal settings."