Asep's research focuses on the structural engineering of nanospace in functional materials to control their physicochemical properties and performance. His work explores how the size, architecture, composition, surface chemistry, and interfaces of nanoscale spaces can be designed to regulate molecular transport, surface interactions, catalytic activity, and material functionality.
This overarching approach spans several areas of nanomaterials research. In mesoporous metals, he develops porous metallic architectures with high surface areas, accessible active sites, high crystallinity, and good electrical conductivity for catalytic and electrochemical applications. By tailoring pore structures and material compositions, his research aims to improve catalytic activity and energy conversion performance. He also applies nanospace engineering to functional nanocontainers and protective coatings. This includes the design of porous nanomaterials for loading and controlled release of corrosion inhibitors, as well as their integration into waterborne polymer coatings. Through structural and interfacial engineering, his work aims to improve nanomaterial dispersion, coating integrity, responsive functionality, and long-term corrosion protection of metallic materials. More broadly, his research interests include mesoporous and nanoporous materials, functional nanocontainers, inorganic nanomaterials, catalysis, electrochemical energy conversion, corrosion protection, and sensing. Across these areas, his research is unified by the use of nanoscale structural design to create functional materials with tailored properties and application-specific performance.
Asep Nugraha is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, working across the Yamauchi and Amiralian research groups. He obtained his Bachelor's degree from Padjadjaran University in Indonesia, his Master's degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from Waseda University in Japan, and his PhD from The University of Queensland.
Industry
Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Baosteel) – collaborative research on advanced anticorrosion coatings and functional nanomaterials for steel protection Toagosei – collaborative materials characterisation and research support.
Collaborations
My research involves collaborations across academia and industry in the areas of porous nanomaterials, catalysis, energy conversion, and anticorrosion coatings. These include collaborative research with Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Baosteel) on advanced corrosion-protection materials and with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, on mesoporous multi-component alloy catalysts for water electrolysis.
Funding
Current research funding includes the 2026–2028 project Development of innovative mesoporous multi-component alloy catalysts for water electrolysis, supported by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan.
Key Publications
Yunqing Kang, Ovidiu Cretu, Jun Kikkawa, Koji Kimoto, Hiroki Nara, Asep Sugih Nugraha, Hiroki Kawamoto, Miharu Eguchi, Ting Liao, Ziqi Sun, Toru Asahi, Yusuke Yamauchi. Mesoporous multimetallic nanospheres with exposed highly entropic alloy sites. Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 4182.
Asep Sugih Nugraha, Olga Guselnikova, Joel Henzie, Jongbeom Na, Md Shahriar A Hossain, Ömer Dag, Alan E Rowan, Yusuke Yamauchi. Symmetry-breaking plasmonic mesoporous gold nanoparticles with large pores. Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 7256-7270.
Hyunsoo Lim, Kenya Kani, Joel Henzie, Tomota Nagaura, Asep Sugih Nugraha, Muhammad Iqbal, Yong Sik Ok, Md Shahriar A Hossain, Yoshio Bando, Kevin CW Wu, Hyun-Jong Kim, Alan E Rowan, Jongbeom Na, Yusuke Yamauchi. A universal approach for the synthesis of mesoporous gold, palladium and platinum films for applications in electrocatalysis. Nat. Protoc.2020, 15, 2980-3008.
Asep Sugih Nugraha, Guillaume Lambard, Jongbeom Na, Md Shahriar A Hossain, Toru Asahi, Watcharop Chaikittisilp, Yusuke Yamauchi. Mesoporous trimetallic PtPdAu alloy films toward enhanced electrocatalytic activity in methanol oxidation: unexpected chemical compositions discovered by Bayesian optimization. J. Mater. Chem. 2020, 8, 13532-13540.
Asep Sugih Nugraha, Kwang Keat Leong, Yusuke Yamauchi, Yuan Ma, Nasim Amiralian. Micelle-assisted encapsulation strategy in metal-organic framework nanocontainers enables durable corrosion protection. Small Sci. 2026, 6, e70367.