Nigerian Scientist Builds Energy Storage Lab to Drive Clean Mobility and Battery Recycling Revolution

By Tosin Clegg

Amid the growing global demand for sustainable energy solutions, an expert in advanced materials and clean technology, Dr. Miracle Hope Adegun, is championing a new era of green innovation through his groundbreaking research in polymer composites, energy storage, and nanomaterials.

A distinguished materials scientist and mechanical engineer, Dr. Adegun is at the forefront of research and development efforts aimed at creating smarter, greener, and more efficient energy systems. With a BEng in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), he represents a new generation of African scientists redefining the boundaries of sustainable engineering.

Dr. Adegun’s work is most vividly expressed through his leadership at the Energy Storage Lab, a pioneering initiative he co-founded to bridge academic research with industrial innovation. The lab is focused on developing technologies that can transform Nigeria’s energy and mobility sectors. “Our goal is to create real-world solutions that address energy security, waste management, and environmental sustainability,” he said.

The Energy Storage Lab operates with a triple-pronged mission. First, it drives cutting-edge research on next-generation lithium-ion batteries, the backbone of the electric vehicle and renewable energy revolutions. Second, it advances a circular economy agenda by exploring efficient methods of recycling and repurposing spent batteries, reducing electronic waste, and recovering valuable materials. Third, it pushes boundaries in green mobility through initiatives such as converting traditional fuel-powered vehicles into electric ones, while also investigating methods of converting plastic waste into usable energy sources.

Speaking on the lab’s mission, Dr. Adegun emphasized, “Sustainability is not just about discovery; it’s about creating systems that empower people, protect the planet, and strengthen our economy.”

Beyond the lab, his academic and research excellence stand tall. At HKUST, his PhD work centered on developing advanced nanocomposites for thermal management in electronics and buildings, an innovation critical for improving energy efficiency in modern infrastructure. His research produced polymer nanocomposites with superior thermal conductivity and dielectric properties, essential for high-performance electronics, renewable energy systems, and biomedical technologies.

Dr. Adegun’s technical prowess spans polymer fabrication, nanofiller synthesis, and thin-film development, supported by deep expertise in advanced material characterization techniques such as FTIR, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy. His command of both experimental and computational approaches makes him one of the most versatile young scientists working at the intersection of materials science and energy engineering.

As a Research Fellow at FUTA, Dr. Adegun continues to invest in mentorship, guiding final-year engineering students in practical energy storage projects. “Nigeria’s energy future depends on building a technically competent generation of engineers,” he noted, stressing that innovation must go hand in hand with education. His mentorship has produced students who now pursue global research opportunities and contribute to Africa’s growing tech ecosystem.

Dr. Adegun’s leadership extends beyond the laboratory. He served as a tutor and mentor to over 50 students at HKUST, coordinated the Association of Nigerian Students in Hong Kong, and coached over 20 young scholars across Africa who have gone on to secure international scholarships. His dedication to academic excellence has also earned him recognition as a reviewer for PLOS One, a prestigious international scientific journal.

His remarkable journey has been decorated with several awards, including the 2025 Excellence Award from the JAR-Young PhD Talent Acceleration Camp, the HKUST Research Excellence Award (2019), and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Award (2019). Earlier in his career, he was named Overall Best Graduating Student in both the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and the School of Engineering at FUTA, emerging as the Second Best Graduating Student from the 2018 cohort.

Looking ahead, Dr. Adegun is determined to integrate materials informatics and computational modeling into his work to accelerate the design of next-generation functional materials. His goal, he says, is to develop technologies that “power homes, drive vehicles, and protect the environment, all while enabling young scientists to lead Africa’s green transformation.”

From polymer processing and additive manufacturing to carbon capture and battery innovation, Dr. Miracle Hope Adegun’s work stands as a beacon of how science, driven by purpose and passion, can engineer a sustainable future for generations to come.