My research focuses on advancing materials science for sustainable energy storage systems, integrating innovative 2D materials and advanced adsorption technologies. Through first-principles calculations of properties such as electronic and magnetic characteristics in transition metal-doped monolayers of Möbius graphene (MoS₂), I investigated the unique electronic and magnetic behaviors that enable novel heat energy storage solutions. My work also emphasizes the practical application of these materials in environmental remediation, particularly through adsorption processes like zeolite-based removal of ammonium ions from water samples affected by mining activities in Ghana. Additionally, I explored the fabrication of high-capacitive materials using Zeolite A synthesized from wassa kaolin for thermal energy storage and hybrid systems combining adsorption heat pumps with heat engines. On a broader scale, my research extends to optimizing material recovery and lifecycle management in spent lithium-ion batteries using AI-based technologies, further enhancing their energy density and safety standards.
Faculty Biography
Dr. Linus Kweku Labik is a Lecturer and Researcher in Applied Materials Physics at the Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. His research expertise spans Lithium-ion Battery Systems and Applications, Sustainable Construction Materials (Low-Carbon Bricks), Astronomy, and Physics Education.Dr. Labik holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Physics from the University for Development Studies, Ghana, and obtained both his Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Materials Science from KNUST. Appointed as a Lecturer at KNUST in 2021, he also serves as the Coordinator for the Astronomy Programmes within the Department of Physics.His significant contributions to materials science include research on Lithium-ion battery recycling technologies and advancing battery management systems for various applications such as electric vehicles, large battery packs, battery charging stations, and battery swap facilities. Additionally, he is actively involved in research to enhance the durability and microstructural properties of low-carbon mudbricks, providing sustainable and resilient construction solutions to combat chemical degradation and erosion.Dr. Labik was selected as a winner of the prestigious Simons Foundation Presidential Pivot Fellowship (2024 cohort). Through this fellowship, his research aims to deepen the scientific understanding of grain coagulation processes in protoplanetary disks—an essential phase in planetary formation outlined by the core accretion model. His extensive expertise in crystallisation mechanisms, derived from his work in zeolite synthesis and characterisation, uniquely positions him to contribute valuable insights into astrophysical phenomena.He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, UK, where his research is in the study of protoplanetary disks. His passion for physics education is evident through his involvement with the Physics Panel, which developed the revised Senior High School Physics Curriculum for Ghana. He continues to support educational initiatives by designing additional instructional materials and resource packages to enhance physics teaching and learning outcomes across Ghana.
2D Materials and Applications
Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
Adsorption and Cooling Systems
Advanced Battery Technologies Research
Graphene research and applications
Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
Synthesis and Characterization of Calcium Silicate Hydrate from Oyster Shell and De-Aluminated Metakaolin Based Sodium Silicate Via Sol Gel Precipitation Method at Ambient Temperature
Open AccessTowards the Mullitization of Mullite Precursor Gel Synthesised from Kaolin Derived-Sodium Metasilicate and Sodium Aluminate
Open AccessOptimising Material Recovery and Lifecycle Management of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries: AI-Based Separator, Repurposing, and Safe Discharge Solutions
Open AccessElectronic and Magnetic Properties of Ga, As/Br and Partial‐Hydrogenation Doped Stanene: First‐Principles Calculations
Open AccessMolybdenum Induced Modifications in the Quantum Capacitance of Graphene‐Based Supercapacitor Electrodes: First‐Principle Calculations
Open AccessElectronic and Magnetic Properties of Transition Metal‐Doped MoS<sub>2</sub> Monolayer: First‐Principles Calculations
Adsorption Characteristics of Zeolite A Synthesized from Wassa Kaolin for Thermal Energy Storage
Open AccessElectricity Generation Using a Hybridized Zeolite Adsorption Heat Pump and Heat Engine
Open AccessRemoval of ammonium ions by laboratory-synthesized zeolite linde type A adsorption from water samples affected by mining activities in Ghana
Open AccessDepartment of Physics
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology