Lecturer in Solid State Physics,
Chair of Department Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science Research Director, Alupe University
Dr. Meng’wa is lecturer in Physics at Alupe University. He has been the Chair, department of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science since Jan. 2019 to date. He also serves as Research director of Alupe University. His postgraduate studies begun in 2010 after enrollment of Master of Science program degree in Physics at University of Eldoret. At UoE, he was an MSc student, Physics Research Assistant and Tutorial fellow. He was awarded MSc (Physics) degree in 2014. He got admitted for PhD in Physics from 2016 in University of Eldoret and did sandwich PhD program between University of Eldoret and International Centre of Theoretical Physics, ICT (Trieste, Italy). He graduated with PhD (Physics) in November 2018.
2018: PhD ( Physics) University of Eldoret
Ph.D. thesis title: A Density Functional Theory Study of Copper Oxide Nanowires and Clusters on Anatase (101) Surface for Photocatalytic Water Splitting.
2014: MSc Physics University of Eldoret MSc thesis title: A Density Functional Theory Study of Electronic Structure of and rutile (110) Surfaces with a Catechol Adsorbate
2004: Bachelor of Education Science Egerton University
1996: KCSE Certificate Mean grade: B+ Bungoma High School 1992: KCPE Certificate obtained 552/700 Chesikaki Primary School
My research interests are in computational material science for renewable energy applications, DFT atomistic simulations and photo/electro catalysis on nanostructured metal oxides. At the moment, my research works entail CO2 electrocatalytic reduction at nanostructured copper oxides on TiO2 (101) anatase surface and alloying Cu for enhanced CO2 Electro-reduction. My collaborators are Computational Material Science group in University of Eldoret and Moi university. I also maintain contacts and working relationship with CMSP (Materials for Renewable energy) researchers in ICTP, Trieste, Italy and CMMIS.
Journal Publications:
1)Victor Meng’wa, Nicholas Makau, George Amolo, Sandro Scandolo, Nicola Seriani. A Density Functional Theory Study of Water Photo-oxidation at Copper Oxide Nanostructures on the Anatase (101) Surface. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 122 (29), 16765-16771, (2018) DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b03671.
2) Victor Meng’wa, Nicholas Makau, George Amolo, Sandro Scandolo, Nicola Seriani. Ab-initio simulations of copper oxide nanowires and clusters on TiO2 (101) anatase surface. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 121(37), 20359-20365, (2017 ) DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b06681.
3) V. Meng'wa, G. Amolo, N. Makau, S. Lutta, M. Okoth, J. Mwabora, R. Musembi, C. Maghanga, R. Gateru. Electronic properties of Catechol Adsorbed on Rutile TiO2 and SnO2 (110) Surfaces: A Density Functional Theory Study. The African Review of Physics (2016) 11:0021
4) V. K. Meng’wa, N. W. Makau, G. O. Amolo. Photoactive interaction of catechol adsorbed on TiO2 rutile (110) surface for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) applications: Kenya J. Sci. Tech. Inn. Vol. 4 and 5 2015, 74-84.
5) Ngeywo Tolbert Kaner, Yadong Wei, Weiqi Li, YongYuan Jiang, Ali Raza, Victor Kirui Mengwa and Wei Quan Tian. Unveiling Linear Zero-biased Photocurrent in Two-dimensional Organic Tin Halide Perovskite: (CH3)2NH2SnI3. Under ACS review 2023.
Conferences/Workshops/Seminars
i) Participated in Regional African School on Electronic Structure Methods 2023 held at the Technical University of Kenya in Nairobi from the 20th to the 24th February 2023.
ii) Online tutor for ASESMA 2021 held between 31- May-11 June 2021
iii)Lecturer at 5 th African School on Electronic Structure Methods and Application (ASESMA 2012). Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 23rd November, 2018.
iv) School on Electron-Phonon Physics from First Principles, ICTP, Trieste, ITALY, 19th- 23rd March, 2018.
v) Workshop on Spectroscopy and Dynamics of Photoinduced Electronic Excitations, ICTP, Trieste, ITALY, 8 TH -12 TH MAY, 2017
vi) School on Numerical Methods for Materials Science Related to Renewable Energy Applications. ICTP, Trieste, ITALY, 26 th to 30 th November, 2012. College on Multiscale modeling of materials for energy applications, ICTP,Trieste, ITALY, 4 th -15 th July, 2016.
vii) School on Numerical Methods for Materials Science Related to Renewable Energy Applications. ICTP, Trieste, ITALY, 26 th to 30 th November, 2012.
viii) The 2 nd African School on Electronic Structure Methods and Application (ASESMA 2012). Chepkoilel University College, KENYA, 28 th May to 8 th June, 2012.
PHY 212: Oscillations and Waves
PHY 222: Properties of Matter
PHY 311: Solid State Physics I
PHY 321: Physical Optics
PHY 414: Solid State Physics II
PHY
425E: The Physics of Semiconductor Devices
ResearchGate: Victor Mengwa
Email: vkirui@au.ac.ke
Mobile: +254711607670