Mai Xuân Quang, an 11th-grade student, and Nguyễn Hoàng Minh, in 10th grade at Hùng Vương High School for the Gifted, designed the mask to address a critical risk in fire emergencies, exposure to toxic gases and smoke, which account for most fatalities rather than flames.
Building on this impressive achievement, the students should continue to nurture their passion for scientific research, proactively learn, and confidently propose and implement ideas connected to real-life issues.
Through scientific research, students develop scientific thinking, research methodologies, and the ability to apply interdisciplinary knowledge to practical situations; at the same time, they gradually form career orientations that match their abilities and the development needs of society.”
Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training
NGUYỄN VĂN LONG
Their project, titled “Fabrication of toxic gas adsorbent materials from biochar/carbon-dots for use in emergency smoke escape masks,” focuses on creating lightweight, efficient, and practical masks using porous carbon materials embedded with carbon dots derived from sugarcane bagasse.
The students said the use of agricultural waste not only reduces emissions from sugar processing but also offers a low-cost and sustainable material source.
The resulting adsorbent material, produced through hydrothermal and modification techniques, features a porous structure that enhances its ability to trap harmful gases.
The research was conducted in four stages: preparing biomass materials, functionalizing biochar to create porous structures, testing gas adsorption capabilities, and integrating the material into a mask filter design. The final product includes a cylindrical filter core made of 15 layered sheets embedded in a non-woven fabric membrane, housed within a lightweight mask shell designed for a secure fit.
Despite constraints in funding, equipment, and time, the students carried out repeated experiments and collaborated with researchers at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in Hanoi, with support from their teachers.
School principal Lê Thị Thu said the project demonstrates strong innovation and practical application of scientific knowledge, highlighting students’ potential to address real-world challenges.
The award-winning research underscores the growing role of student-led innovation in developing cost-effective solutions for public safety and environmental sustainability.
