On 26 July, the Đong Thap Standing Volunteer Team of the 2026 Green Summer Campaign at VNUHCM–University of Science (HCMUS) collaborated with the Standing Committee of the Lap Vo Commune Youth Union to organise the “Chuyến xe yêu thương” (Journey of Kindness) programme. Held in response to the peak activity day “Chiến sĩ tình nguyện uống nước nhớ nguồn”, the programme featured a range of welfare activities, experiential activities and youth projects, contributing to support for local residents and pupils in the area.

On this occasion, MSc Văn Chí Nam – Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of HCMUS – together with representatives from faculties, offices and units, visited the Đong Thap Standing Volunteer Team. The delegation met with student volunteers, received updates on campaign activities, encouraged the team and acknowledged the efforts made by students throughout volunteer activities and community service initiatives in the locality.

As part of the programme, the organising committee presented 20 welfare gift packages to policy beneficiary families and households facing financial hardship, along with 30 gift sets comprising backpacks and exercise books for pupils at Binh Thanh Trung Secondary School. The initiative provided practical support to local families while encouraging pupils as they prepare for the new academic year.

 

During the programme, the Đong Thap Standing Volunteer Team also presented a number of youth-led community projects developed in response to local needs. These included the “Máy tính cũ – Tri thức mới” (Old Computers – New Knowledge) initiative, which donated 10 computer sets; the “Tuyến đường cờ Tổ quốc” (National Flag Route) project; the “Tủ sách thiếu nhi” (Children’s Book Corner) project; an air deodorising filter project using water hyacinth; and the inauguration of the “Tuyến đường Sen Xanh – Thắp sáng đường quê” (Green Lotus Route – Lighting Rural Roads) project.

The lighting project comprises 65 solar-powered street lights installed along a 1.8-kilometre road in Binh Hoa 3 Hamlet, Lap Vo Commune, Đong Thap Province. Beyond improving visibility for local residents, the project contributes to public safety, traffic safety and more convenient travel after dark, while promoting renewable energy, supporting the vision of a “Bright – Green – Clean – Beautiful” environment and encouraging greater environmental awareness within the community.

Alongside these community initiatives, the programme featured a series of interactive booths showcasing science, digital transformation and foreign languages, together with cultural performances and interactive games. Through these activities, pupils explored science and technology in an engaging way while interacting with student volunteers in a lively festival atmosphere.

A particular highlight of the event was a professional development workshop entitled “Ứng dụng Generative AI cơ bản trong giảng dạy” (Basic Generative AI Applications in Teaching), delivered by lecturers from HCMUS for teachers across Lap Vo Commune. The session introduced the fundamentals of Generative AI, explored emerging applications of artificial intelligence in education and provided practical guidance on using AI tools to develop lesson plans, design teaching materials, generate illustrations and prepare assessment questions, contributing to improved teaching effectiveness and optimised lesson preparation time.

Through these projects and activities, students from VNUHCM–University of Science gained valuable opportunities to apply academic knowledge and professional skills in real-world settings, contribute their expertise to community service activities and work alongside local communities to address practical needs. The campaign also provides an environment for students to develop a sense of responsibility, strengthen practical working skills and cultivate a commitment to social contribution through volunteer activities.

Minh Tâm _ Translated by PMN

On 20 March 2026, at VNUHCM–University of Science (HCMUS), doctoral researcher Vũ Tấn Phát successfully defended a doctoral thesis at the institutional level in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry. The research is entitled: “Study on the synthesis and electrochemical characterisation of silica-based materials for use as negative electrodes in Lithium-ion and Sodium-ion rechargeable batteries”, conducted under the academic supervision of Associate Professor Trần Văn Mẫn and Associate Professor Lê Mỹ Loan Phụng.

The thesis focuses on the development of SiO₂-based materials for negative electrodes in Li-ion and Na-ion rechargeable batteries, aiming to overcome limitations such as low electrical conductivity, significant volume expansion, and the poor stability of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer. On this basis, the researcher successfully synthesised C/SiO₂ material from rice husk biomass using chemical activation methods, creating a porous, low-cost, and environmentally friendly structure. Modifying the material with graphene and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) facilitated the formation of a continuous conductive network, significantly improving ion diffusion and electrochemical performance.

Research results indicate that the materials achieve high capacity, stable Coulombic efficiency exceeding 98%, and excellent rate capability. Simultaneously, the electrolyte system was optimised with LiPF₆ salt and FEC additives for high electrochemical stability, contributing to enhanced battery performance. These materials were subsequently utilised to assemble full-cells and pouch cells, demonstrating stable operation and good capacity retention over numerous charge-discharge cycles, thus proving the potential for practical application.

Furthermore, the thesis investigated a novel material, Mn₇O₈SiO₄, featuring a stable structure and superior ion storage capacity, opening avenues for the development of next-generation electrode material systems. These findings not only contribute to enhancing the efficiency of SiO₂  materials but also move towards the development of sustainable energy storage solutions by utilising biomass sources and promoting a circular economy.

The Examination Committee highly commended doctoral researcher Vũ Tấn Phát for the scientific value and practical applicability of the thesis, noting that the doctoral researcher exceeded all doctoral education requirements. During the research process, the doctoral researcher published 11 scientific works, including 9 international publications (7 as lead author), 1 domestic journal article, and 1 patent, confirming outstanding research capacity and academic contribution. The results achieved by the thesis provide a further scientific foundation for the development of silica-based electrode materials, whilst offering prospects for application in next-generation rechargeable battery systems, aligning with global trends in green and sustainable energy development.