Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia | Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN)
IMEN
Thin Film & Nanostructured Materials Lab
Prof. Dr. Dee Chang Fu • Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Research Update: Taiwan–Malaysia (UKM–NYCU) Joint Research Term Renewed (2026–2029) • NT$1.5M/yr
• 5 Granted & Filed Patents • Selected Q1 Works
Core Disciplines
Experimental Growth & Computational Physics Research Specialization
2020 – Present
Amperometric & Transistor-Based Biosensors
Design and microfabrication of nanomaterial-based biosensors for rapid, ultra-sensitive detection of specific protein markers and pathogenic bacteria. Employs zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod FET immuno-transducers for Human Serum Albumin screening and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) mediated resistive biosensors for pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 DNA sequencing.
ZnO Nanorods Immuno-FET E. coli O157:H7 HSA Detection
HPC Cluster Modelling
Density Functional Theory (DFT) Calculations
Applies rigorous first-principles quantum simulations to compute and forecast electronic, catalytic, and magnetic properties of bulk and two-dimensional layered heterostructures. Covers native point-defect chemistry, transition-metal doping kinematics, and electrocatalysis for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), supported by a high-throughput in-house Linux HPC cluster.
VASP Materials Studio Quantum ESPRESSO Quantum ATK
Strategic Bilateral Program (Since 2005) • IMEN UKM • NYCU Taiwan
Nano/Hetero-structure Materials for High Electron Mobility Devices & Biosensors
Decades-long joint experimental investigation with the Compound Semiconductor Laboratory at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan. Focuses on GaN, InN, and AlN epitaxy heterostructures for High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs), high-frequency RF power amplifiers, and TiO₂ nanoparticle-functionalized semiconductor sensors.
Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) Wide-Bandgap GaN / AlN RF Power Devices
Peer-Reviewed Archive
2020–2026 Selected Publications
Advanced Functional Materials (2026) Q1 • IF 19.0
Coupled Ferroelectric–Photoelectrochemical in Water Reduction over BiFeO3 Thin Film Heterostructure Modulated by Rare-Earth Doping
M.-W. Chu, Y.-W. Chen, K.H. Chew, N. Chanlek, C.-S. Chen, C.F. Dee, and W.S. Chang
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202514800 • Full Paper Available
ACS Applied Electronic Materials (2025) Q1 • First-Principles
Transition Metal-Doped 2D GaN as Single-Atom Electrocatalysts for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: Insights from First-Principles Calculations
K.H. Yeoh, et al., with Prof. Dr. Dee Chang Fu
ACS Publications Gateway • DFT Theory & Single-Atom Catalysis
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2025) Q1 • Thin Film
Synergistic Role of Facet-Engineered Surface and Ferroelectric Polarization in Photoelectrochemical Water Reduction over Pure BiFeO3 Thin Film
M.-W. Chu, et al., with C.F. Dee
ACS Publications • PEC Water Splitting
Journal of Materials Science (2021) Springer Nature
Zinc Oxide Nanorods-Based Immuno-Field-Effect Transistor for Human Serum Albumin Detection
S.S. A Karim, Sh. Nadzirah, J. Kazmi, R.A. Rahim, C.F. Dee, A.A. Hamzah, and M.A. Mohamed
DOI: 10.1007/s10853-021-06282-3
Intellectual Property Registry
5 Inventions Granted & Commercialized Patents Ledger
PI 2022006088 (MY-209513-A) Granted
Field Effect Transistor Biosensor
High-sensitivity semiconductor FET architecture configured for clinical point-of-care biomolecular transduction.
Granted: 15 July 2025 MyIPO Malaysia
UKM.IKB.800-4/1/5849 Filed
Method for Fabricating High Aspect Ratio Concave Dissolvable Maltose Microneedle
Micro-molding and precision lithography process for biocompatible, dissolvable transdermal drug delivery platforms.
Filed: 16 April 2024 MyIPO Malaysia
PI 2020005410 Granted
A Nanogenerator and Method of Fabricating Thereof
Piezoelectric nanostructured transducer harvesting biomechanical energy for autonomous self-powered nanodevices.
Granted: 14 October 2020 MyIPO Malaysia
PI2020002891 Granted
Attenuator for an Ion Source
Specialized ion-beam flux regulation apparatus utilized in precision thin-film sputtering and physical vapor deposition.
Granted: 5 June 2020 MyIPO Malaysia
Sponsored Research & Consortia
50+ National & Industry Grants Research Funding & Grants
International Bilateral Flagship Principal Investigator & Coordinator
Taiwan–Malaysia (UKM–NYCU) Co-Research Funding
International joint research grant of NT$1.5 million (~RM225,000) per year for three consecutive years (2020–2023), successfully renewed and extended for a subsequent term (2026–2029). Establishes and sustains bilateral co-research laboratory facilities spanning UKM and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in semiconductor nanoheterostructures and compound RF systems.
Petronas Research Grant • 2024–2026
Graphene Heat Spreader Project
Investigating high-thermal-conductivity graphene films for advanced thermal management in high-density power semiconductor packaging.
RM 797,500 Direct Industry Grant
Providence Greentech • 2024–2026
MXene Li-Ion Battery Project
Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of 2D MXene nanomaterial composites for next-generation, high-rate lithium-ion battery electrodes.
RM 367,500 Corporate Green Tech
Academic Pedigree
Education & Career Appointments
Education
2006
Ph.D. in Microengineering & Nanoelectronics
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi
Thesis: Heterostructure-based HEMT device growth by Molecular Beam Epitaxy
2000
Master of Science (Applied Physics)
Universiti Malaya (UM)
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Universiti Malaya (UM)
Positions Held
Professor
2023 – Now IMEN, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Associate Professor
2014 IMEN, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Postdoctoral Researcher
2013 Compound Semiconductor Lab, NCTU Taiwan
Research Fellow
2006 – 2012 IMEN, UKM
Graduate & Postdoc Recruitment
Contact Laboratory Interested in Nanostructured Research?
Our laboratory welcomes prospective PhD/MSc candidates and international postdocs specialized in DFT computation, semiconductor epitaxy, and transistor-based biosensors. Joint research positions with NYCU Taiwan are available.
Prof. Dr. Dee Chang Fu
Professor, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Email: cfdee@ukm.edu.my | Tel: 603-89118546 (Office) | Postal Address: Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Education
Ph.D. — Heterostructure based HEMT device growth by Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 2006
MSc. (Master in Applied Physics) — Universiti Malaya (UM), 2000
BSc. — Bachelor of Science, Universiti Malaya (UM)
Research Specialization
Amperometric/Transistor-Based Biosensors (2020–Now): Design and fabrication of nanomaterial-based biosensors for rapid, sensitive detection of proteins and pathogenic bacteria, including a zinc oxide nanorod FET biosensor for Human Serum Albumin and a titanium dioxide-mediated resistive nanobiosensor for E. coli O157:H7 DNA detection.
Density Functional Theory (DFT) Calculations: Applies DFT modelling (Materials Studio, VASP, Quantum ATK, Quantum Espresso) to compute and predict material properties of bulk and two-dimensional structures, covering defect analysis and electrocatalysis for the oxygen evolution reaction, supported by an in-house HPC Linux cluster.
Nano/Hetero-structure Materials for High Electron Mobility Devices and Biosensors: Long-standing collaboration (since 2005) with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, on GaN, InN and AlN hetero-structures for high electron mobility transistors, RF devices, and titanium oxide nanoparticle biosensor applications.
Positions Held
Professor, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), 2023–Now
Associate Professor, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), 2014
Postdoctoral Researcher, Compound Semiconductor Laboratory, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, 2013
Research Fellow, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), 2006–2012
Research Officer, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), 2005–2006
Research Assistant, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), 2000–2005
Selected Publications
K.H. Yeoh et al., “Transition Metal-Doped 2D GaN as Single-Atom Electrocatalysts for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: Insights from First-Principles Calculations,” ACS Applied Electronic Materials, 7(8), 2025.
M.-W. Chu et al., “Synergistic Role of Facet-Engineered Surface and Ferroelectric Polarization in Photoelectrochemical Water Reduction over Pure BiFeO3 Thin Film,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 17(32), 2025.
S.S. A Karim, Sh. Nadzirah, J. Kazmi, R.A. Rahim, C.F. Dee, A.A. Hamzah & M.A. Mohamed, “Zinc oxide nanorods-based immuno-field-effect transistor for human serum albumin detection,” Journal of Materials Science, 56, 15344–15353, 2021.
Sh. Nadzirah, U. Hashim, S.C. Gopinath, N. Parmin, A.A. Hamzah, H.W. Yu & C.F. Dee, “Titanium dioxide–mediated resistive nanobiosensor for E. coli O157:H7,” Microchimica Acta, 187, Article 235, 2020.
N.A. Parmin, U. Hashim, S.C.B. Gopinath, Sh. Nadzirah, M.N. Salimi, C.H. Voon, M.N. Uda, A.A. Hamzah & C.F. Dee, “Potentials of MicroRNA in Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer by Analytical Electrical Biosensors,” Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry, 52(7), 2022.
M.-W. Chu, Y.-W. Chen, K.H. Chew, N. Chanlek, C.-S. Chen, C.F. Dee & W.S. Chang, “Coupled Ferroelectric–Photoelectrochemical in Water Reduction over BiFeO3 Thin Film Heterostructure Modulated by Rare-Earth Doping,” Advanced Functional Materials, 36(11), 2026.
Patents
Field Effect Transistor Biosensor — Malaysia Patent PI 2022006088 (MY-209513-A), granted 15 July 2025
Method for Fabricating High Aspect Ratio Concave Dissolvable Maltose Microneedle — Malaysia Patent UKM.IKB.800-4/1/5849, filed 16 April 2024
A Nanogenerator and Method of Fabricating Thereof — Malaysia Patent PI 2020005410, granted 14 October 2020
Attenuator for an Ion Source — Malaysia Patent PI2020002891, granted 5 June 2020
Plasma Polymerization of Organosilicon Coating as Dielectric Barrier for Memristor Applications — Malaysia Patent PI2018701495, granted 17 April 2018
Honors and Awards
Anugerah Individu Cemerlang (Penerbitan), Anugerah Kecemerlangan MyRA, 2023
Excellent Service Award (Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang), UKM, 2022
Gold Award, COVINAR (FET-Based Biosensor for COVID Detection), Malaysia Technology Expo 2020, COVID-19 International Innovation Awards
Best Paper Award, “Improvement in Silicon Band Edge Emission with Incorporation of Boron,” 8th IEEE International Conference on Photonics (ICP2020), 2020
Best Paper Award, Nanotech Malaysia 2018, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, “The Influence of Carbon Derivative Nanocomposites for Self-Powered Flexible Piezoelectric Generator Device,” 2018
Excellent Service Award (Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang), UKM, 2015
Research Funding
Principal Investigator/Coordinator for the Taiwan–Malaysia (UKM–NYCU) Co-Research Funding, an international joint grant of NT$1.5 million (~RM225,000) per year for three years (2020–2023), extended for a further three years (2026–2029), to establish and maintain co-research laboratories at UKM and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.
Recent grants include the Petronas Research graphene heat spreader project (RM797,500, 2024–2026) and the Providence Greentech MXene Li-ion battery project (RM367,500, 2024–2026), among other university and prototype development grants.
Group leader or member on more than 50 competitive research grants since 2000, spanning national schemes such as FRGS, GUP, PRGS, DIP and LRGS, as well as industry-funded projects, including two Long-Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS) projects each exceeding RM1 million.