Background

Dr. Moro Haruna is a dedicated Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where his doctoral research focused on the synthesis and application of doped semiconductor photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes in water - a field of direct relevance to environmental remediation and sustainable water management.

With over a decade of cumulative teaching and research experience spanning multiple institutions, Dr. Haruna brings exceptional depth to his academic role. His research interests lie at the intersection of inorganic chemistry, nanomaterials synthesis, photocatalysis, and water quality analysis. He has made substantial contributions to the development of novel nanocomposite photocatalysts, including rare-earth-doped metal oxides, graphene-based composites, and van der Waals heterostructures, which demonstrate high efficiency under visible-light irradiation for the removal of hazardous organic pollutants from wastewater.

Dr. Haruna is a prolific researcher with a growing portfolio of peer-reviewed publications in internationally indexed journals, covering topics such as cerium-codoped ZrO2-rGO photocatalysts, gadolinium-doped ZnO-g-C3N4 nanocomposites, lanthanum-doped ZnO systems, and first-principles investigations of van der Waals heterojunctions for photocatalytic water splitting. His work bridges experimental synthesis with computational modelling, combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations with empirical characterisation to provide mechanistic insights into photocatalytic processes.

Before his appointment at UDS, Dr. Haruna served as a Chemistry Teacher at Kumasi Academy Senior High School for over fourteen years, and has held academic positions at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, and KNUST. He has presented his research at prestigious international and national conferences, including the American Chemical Society (ACS) African Regional Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry (Lagos, Nigeria, 2024), the Ghana Science Association Biennial Conference, and the KNUST Research Conference.

An active member of several professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Ghana Chemical Society (GCS), the Ghana Science Association (GSA), and the Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST). Dr. Haruna is committed to advancing chemical science education and research in Ghana. He is also engaged in community development, promoting scientific literacy and educational access in his local community.

Email: moro.haruna@uds.edu.gh
Phone: 0246704779

Academic Qualifications

1. PhD Chemistry: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; 2019 - 2024
   Thesis: Doped Semiconductor Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Organic Dyes in Water
2. MSc Chemistry: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; 2009 - 2012
   Thesis: A Theoretical Study of Substituent Effects on Spectroscopic and Bonding Parameters of Metal β-Diketonates and Macrocyclic Complexes
3. BSc Chemistry: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; 2004 - 2008
   Thesis: Assessment of Well Water Quality from Sepe-Tinpom, a Suburb of Kumasi
4. Diploma in Education: University of Education (UEW), Ghana; 2015-2016

Areas of Research Interest

1. Nanomaterials synthesis and characterisation
2. Semiconductor photocatalysis for environmental remediation
3. Inorganic and materials chemistry
4. Water quality analysis and treatment
5. Computational chemistry and density functional theory (DFT) modelling
6. Graphene-based and rare-earth-doped nanocomposites

Professional Affiliations

1. American Chemical Society (ACS)
2. Ghana Chemical Society (GCS)
3. Ghana Science Association (GSA)
4. Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST)