Associate Professor Aung Ko Ko Kyaw of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) has recently been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) for his transformative contributions to the development of organic molecular and hybrid materials for energy and electronic applications.

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a professional society based in the United Kingdom with over 50,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1841, the RSC is the largest organization in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences, with election as an FRSC among its most prestigious honors. The designation is given to those who have made significant contributions to the chemical sciences. Fellows are nominated by other members for their expertise and impact, and the title signifies a high level of accomplishment and influence in the field.

Aung Ko Ko Kyaw’s ground-breaking work in developing novel organic molecular materials, doping strategies, and material processing technologies has advanced key applications in photovoltaics, photodetectors, ambipolar transistors, and thermoelectric generators. Notably, his chemical treatment methods and doping techniques in conjugated polymers have enabled precise tuning of carrier polarity and electrical conductivity across a broad range, which has greatly benefited thermoelectric and ambipolar transistor research.

His innovations also extend to the development of non-fused ring acceptors and dopant-free hole transporting materials, which significantly simplify synthesis, reduce hazardous material use, and lower both costs and environmental impact of optoelectronic devices.

Professor Kyaw is the recipient of various accolades, including the Distinguished Lectureship Award from the Chemical Society of Japan, the Green Talents from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), election as an IEEE Senior Member, and repeated recognition as one of the World’s Top 2% Scientists.