Nour-eddine Lazar | Material Synthesis and Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nour-eddine Lazar | Material Synthesis and Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Research Engineer at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Morocco

Dr. Nour-eddine Lazar is a materials scientist specializing in ferroelectric materials, photocatalysis, microbial fuel cells, and environmental chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. in Material Sciences and Environment (2019–2024) from ENSAM – Mohammed V University in Rabat, where his thesis focused on the performance of ferroelectric materials as photocatalysts in microbial fuel cells. He previously completed a Master’s degree in Materials Chemistry (2016–2018) at the Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, working on ammonium sulphate fabrication as fertilizer and the valorisation of rare earth elements in phosphogypsum, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in General Chemistry (2013–2016) focused on physics, chemistry, and leachate treatment using natural adsorbents. Since April 2025, he has been conducting an internship at the University of Hassan II in Mohammedia on fertilizer formulation and analysis, after previously completing over 240 hours of practical teaching at both the University of Hassan II in Mohammedia and ENSAM Rabat. His research experience includes a COST Action project at the Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic (2024), optimizing microbial fuel cell performance through advanced modified electrodes, and a Virtual Mobility internship between Sapienza University of Rome and Mohammed V University (2024) focused on modeling and experimentation of microbial fuel cells with varied volumes. Earlier, he completed internships at OCP Jorf Lasfar (2018), studying rare earth balance in ammonium sulphate manufacture, and at the National School of Mines in Rabat (2016), working on leachate treatment using natural adsorbents. He has presented his work at numerous international conferences, including MCSS Rabat (2021), 7JSNES Casablanca (2022), SPIN El Jadida (2022), ICAISSD Rabat (2022), and the Green Deal Implementation Conference in Poland (2023). Dr. Lazar has been recognized with multiple awards and grants, including 2nd place in an environmental competition (2022), an STSM COST Action Horizon grant (2024), and a Virtual Mobility COST grant (2024). He has authored 9 scientific documents, accumulated 139 citations from 107 citing documents, and holds an h-index of 7, reflecting his growing influence in materials chemistry, environmental technologies, and sustainable energy research.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Allali, F., Kara, K., Elmazouzi, S., Lazar, N., Tajounte, L., Touach, N., Benzaouak, A., Lotfi, E. M., Lahmar, A., & Liotta, L. F. (2025). Effect of incorporation of Mg on LiTa0.6Nb0.4O3 photocatalytic performance in air-cathode MFCs for bioenergy production and wastewater treatment. Nanomaterials, 15(24), 1837.

Lazar, N.-E., Mazkad, D., Moussadik, A., El Habib Hitar, M., Benzaouak, A., Touach, N., Nicolle, J., Cagnon, B., Yalcinkaya, F., Riadi, Y., & others. (2024). High-performance ferroelectric photocatalysts for rapid dye degradation: ZrO₂-doped LiTa0.5Nb0.5O₃ under solar UV light. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology.

Moussadik, A., Mazkad, D., Lazar, N.-E., Benzaouak, A., Abrouki, Y., Kacimi, M., Halim, M., Tielens, F., & El Hamidi, A. (2024). Self-grown Ag₂O nanoparticles on Ag-NASICON material for efficient visible light photocatalysis. Optical Materials, 146, 114803. h

Benkaddour, S., El Ouahabi, I., Essoufy, M., Hiyane, H., Lazar, N., Saufi, H., Slimani, R., Shalaby, N. F., Riadi, Y., & Abdel-Gawad, S. A. (2024). Biosorption of Basic Yellow 28 dye onto watermelon seeds. Part II: Modeling and optimization by response surface methodology. Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews.

Lazar, N., Mazkad, D., Kharti, H., Yalcinkaya, F., Pietrelli, A., Ferrara, V., Touach, N., Benzaouak, A., El Mahi, M., & Lotfi, E. M. (2024). Maximizing power generation in single-chamber microbial fuel cells: The role of LiTa0.5Nb0.5O₃/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst. Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy.

Mazkad, D., El Idrissi, A., Marrane, S. E., Lazar, N., El Ouardi, M., Dardari, O., Channab, B.-E., Layachi, O. A., Farsad, S., & Baqais, A., et al. (2024). An innovative diatomite–polypyrrole composite for highly efficient Cr(VI) removal through optimized adsorption via surface response methodology. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 671, 133172.

Moussadik, A., Lazar, N.-E., Mazkad, D., Siro Brigiano, F., Baert, K., Hauffman, T., Benzaouak, A., Abrouki, Y., Kacimi, M., & Tielens, F., et al. (2023). Investigation of electronic and photocatalytic properties of AgTi₂(PO₄)₃ NASICON-type phosphate: Combining experimental data and DFT calculations. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 434, 114289.

Virendra Vikram Singh | Materials Science | Editorial Board Member

Dr. Virendra Vikram Singh | Materials Science | Editorial Board Member

Dr. Virendra Vikram Singh | Defence Research and Development Establishment | India

Dr. Virendra Vikram Singh is a distinguished scientist in analytical chemistry and nanobioelectronics, recognized for his extensive contributions to the development of advanced detection and detoxification technologies for toxic chemicals. He completed his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in 2011, followed by a prestigious Post-Doctoral tenure at the University of California, San Diego under world-renowned scientist Prof. Joseph Wang, where he advanced micromotor-based sensing, detoxification, and nanoengineered materials. Over his professional career at the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Ministry of Defence, he has served as Scientist B through Scientist E, leading research in NBC defence technologies, electrochemical methodologies, protective textiles, nanostructured materials, and environmental/clinical sensors. His expertise spans nanomotors, molecularly imprinted polymers, metal–organic and covalent–organic frameworks, graphene-based systems, ionic liquid technologies, quantum dots, conducting polymers, and ultra-trace measurement tools. Dr. Singh has played a key role in product development for national defence, including electrochemical agent detectors, NBC Suit Mk-V, NBC haversacks, naval filters, and advanced canisters for chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. His impactful research has gained international visibility, highlighted by top scientific outlets including Science, BBC, Royal Society of Chemistry, and Nanowerk. With 46 publications, 2,548 citations, and an h-index of 24, he stands among the globally recognized top 2% scientists (Stanford University ranking). Throughout his career, he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the DRDO Young Scientist Award, ISCB Young Scientist Award, multiple DRDE excellence awards, hot-topic recognitions by Wiley-VCH, and major innovation awards by Indian scientific bodies. A reviewer for leading journals such as Nanoscale, Small, Analyst, and Chemistry of Materials, he maintains active professional memberships in several national scientific societies and contributes to standardization as part of BIS committees. His work continues to advance India’s scientific and defence capabilities through cutting-edge sensor technologies, nanomaterials, and real-world detoxification solutions.

Profiles: Scopus Orcid 

Featured Publications

Verma, A., Singh, V. V., Pandey, L. K., Upadhyay, S., Thakare, V. B., & Shukla, P. K. (2025). Ionic liquid–carbon hybrid material for toxic gas removal: A sustainable approach for environmental cleanup. Chemical Engineering Journal, 468, 159785.

Verma, A., Singh, V. V., Ahirwar, R., Pandey, L. K., Upadhyay, S., Thakare, V. B., Agrawal, K., Kumar, R., & Kumar, Y. (2024). Zirconium hydroxide–activated carbon hybrid material for chemical warfare agent detoxification: Implication of water and temperature. Diamond and Related Materials, 146, 111754.

Singh, V. V., Verma, A., Pandey, L. K., Bharati, S., Sharma, P. K., Ganesan, K., Boopathi, M., & Thakare, V. B. (2023). Metal–organic-framework composite-based rapid self-detoxifying smart textile filters for chemical warfare agents. In Sensing of deadly toxic chemical warfare agents, nerve agent simulants, and their toxicological aspects (Chap. 27).

Kashyap, B. K., Singh, V. V., Solanki, M. K., Kumar, A., Ruokolainen, J., & Kesari, K. K. (2023). Smart nanomaterials in cancer theranostics: Challenges and opportunities. ACS Omega, 8(16), 13916–13932.

Singh, V. V. (2022). Technology trends and future opportunities in development of NBC protective clothing. Defence Life Science Journal, 7(3), 189–196.

Imran, M., Singh, V. V., Garg, P., Mazumder, A., Pandey, L. K., Sharma, P. K., Acharya, J., & Ganesan, K. (2021). In-situ detoxification of schedule-I chemical warfare agents utilizing Zr(OH)₄@W-ACF functional material for the development of next generation NBC protective gears. Scientific Reports, 11, 24536.

Singh, V. V., Kumar, V., Biswas, U., Boopathi, M., Ganesan, K., & Gupta, A. K. (2021). Luminol-based turn-on fluorescent sensor for selective and sensitive detection of sulfur mustard at ambient temperature. Analytical Chemistry, 93(13), 5353–5361.