Skills |

Materials Characterization

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Techniques:

Raman, FT-IR, XPS, XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM. Used for structural, chemical, thermal, and morphological characterization of advanced materials for electrochemical and thermal energy systems.

Materials Characterization Techniques & Instrumentation:

Raman spectroscopy - Performed Raman analysis to evaluate graphitic structure, defect density, and doping effects in graphene-based materials; interpreted D, G, and 2D band features to assess structural quality and material evolution during synthesis and processing.
FTIR spectroscopy - Used FTIR to identify functional groups and chemical bonding in nanomaterials and composite systems; applied to monitor surface functionalization and chemical interactions between nanomaterials and host matrices.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) - Conducted XPS analysis to determine surface elemental composition, bonding states, and nitrogen doping configurations in carbon-based materials; used for surface chemistry evaluation and catalyst active-site analysis.
X-ray diffraction (XRD) - Applied XRD to characterize crystal structure, phase composition, and structural evolution of nanomaterials including MOFs and graphitic materials; used to assess crystallinity and phase stability after synthesis or thermal treatment.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) - Utilized SEM to examine surface morphology, particle size, and microstructural features of nanomaterials and composite systems; supported structural analysis and morphology–performance correlations.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) - Performed TEM imaging to investigate nanoscale structure, lattice features, and dispersion of nanomaterials within composite systems; used to evaluate particle morphology and structural integrity.
Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) - Applied EDS elemental mapping and compositional analysis to confirm elemental distribution and composition in synthesized nanomaterials and composites.

Materials Characterized:

Graphene, Graphene Oxide (GO), Nitrogen-doped Graphene (N-G)
Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF)
MXenes
Phase Change Materials (PCMs)
Composite materials

Electrochemical Tests - Catalyst & Electrode

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Techniques:

LSV, CV (long-term stability test), EIS, Electrochemical workstation, etc. used to evaluate catalyst and electrode performance for related electrochemical systems.

Electrochemical Characterization & Testing Techniques Skiils:

Rotating disk electrode (RDE) - Used RDE techniques to evaluate electrocatalytic activity and reaction kinetics by controlling hydrodynamic conditions. Applied for studying oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance and separating kinetic and mass-transport effects in catalyst materials.
Rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) - Experienced with RRDE measurements to investigate reaction pathways and quantify intermediates during electrocatalytic reactions. Used to determine electron transfer number and peroxide yield for evaluating catalyst selectivity and efficiency.
Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) - Utilized LSV to assess catalytic activity, determine onset potentials, and analyze reaction kinetics of electrode materials. Applied in evaluating electrochemical performance of nanomaterial-based catalysts and energy storage electrodes.
Cyclic voltammetry (CV) - Performed CV measurements to study redox behavior, electrochemical reversibility, and active surface characteristics of electrode materials. Used to evaluate long-term performance stability and reaction mechanisms in energy-related materials.
Electrochemical workstation for Fuel cell and Battery testing - Experienced in operating potentiostat/galvanostat systems for electrochemical testing of electrode materials and devices. Conducted performance evaluation, charge–discharge testing, and durability studies for electrochemical energy systems.
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) - Applied EIS to analyze charge-transfer resistance, ion transport, and interfacial processes in electrochemical systems. Used impedance analysis to diagnose performance limitations and degradation behavior in electrode materials and devices.

Focus areas for Electrochemical Evaluations:

Electrocatalytic reaction analysis (e.g., ORR activity and catalyst performance)
Stability, durability, and degradation mechanism assessment in electrochemical energy systems
Electrochemical performance evaluation including current density, onset potential, and polarization behavior
Electrochemical performance evaluation of electrode materials for batteries and fuel cells
Structure–property–performance correlation in electrochemical energy materials

Thermal Analysis and Energy Storage Materials

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thermal Analysis Techniques:

DSC, TGA, T-history, Guarded Hot Plate, etc. used to evaluate and optimize phase change materials and thermally functional composites for energy storage and thermal management applications.

Tools and methods

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) - Performed DSC measurements to determine phase transition temperatures, latent heat, and thermal cycling behavior of phase change materials and composite systems; used to evaluate thermal storage performance and material stability.
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) - Utilized TGA to analyze thermal stability, decomposition behavior, and compositional changes of nanomaterials and composite materials under controlled heating environments.
T-History Method - Applied the T-history technique to evaluate phase change temperature, latent heat, and thermal behavior of PCM formulations under controlled cooling and heating conditions. Used for comparative analysis and validation of thermal energy storage performance in modified versus baseline materials.
Guarded Hot Plate Method - Utilized the guarded hot plate method to measure thermal conductivity of PCM composites and insulating materials under steady-state heat transfer conditions. Applied for assessing the impact of nanomaterial additives and composite formulations on thermal transport properties.

Areas of expertise

Latent heat analysis
Melting/freezing behavior
Thermal cycling stability
Thermal conductivity enhancement
PCM formulation design
Eutectic system design
Nano-enhanced thermal materials

Materials Synthesis

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Techniques:

Ball milling (wet and dry), Annealing, Thermal treatment, Sonication, solvo-chemical, etc. used for synthesizing and optimizing carbon-based nanomaterials, composite catalysts, and thermal-storage materials through scalable and research-oriented methods.

Materials Synthesis & Processing Methods:

Ball Milling - Applied high-energy ball milling for the synthesis and structural modification of nanomaterials, including nitrogen-doped graphene and MOF-derived composites; used to promote nanoscale mixing, defect engineering, and scalable composite formation.
Sonication (Ultrasonication) - Utilized ultrasonication for dispersion, exfoliation, and homogenization of nanomaterials in liquid media; applied to achieve uniform nanoparticle distribution in composite and suspension systems.
Solvothermal / Solution-Based Processing - Performed solution-phase synthesis and processing to prepare nanomaterials and composite precursors under controlled chemical environments; used to facilitate controlled nucleation, growth, and functionalization of materials.
Thermal Treatment - Conducted controlled heat treatments to induce structural transformation, carbonization, or phase evolution in nanomaterials; used to tailor material properties such as graphitization, porosity, and catalytic activity.
Annealing - Applied thermal annealing under controlled atmospheres to improve crystallinity, remove defects, and stabilize material structures following synthesis or processing.
Plasma Treatment - Utilized plasma treatment for surface activation and modification of materials to enhance surface chemistry, interfacial bonding, or functionalization.

Materials worked on

Graphene
Nitrogen-doped graphene
MOFs (including ZIF-8)
N-G/MOF composites
N-G/MXene composites
Nano-enhanced phase change materials (PCMs)
Bio-based PCM systems

Data Analysis and Research Development

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Data Analysis and Research Development

Experienced in planning, executing, and interpreting structured experimental studies for advanced materials research and technology development.

Data Analysis Software and Tools

Here are a few software platforms that I regularly use for data processing, visualization, and interpretation:

Microsoft Excel – data organization, statistical calculations, plotting, and trend analysis
OriginPro – scientific data analysis, curve fitting, peak analysis, and publication-quality graphs
MATLAB – numerical analysis, modeling, and processing of experimental datasets
Python – data analysis and visualization using scientific libraries (e.g., NumPy, Matplotlib, Pandas)
OMNIC – analysis of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy data and spectral interpretation
CasaXPS – detailed analysis and peak fitting of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data
CHI 700E - collection and analysis of CV and LSV data from the Rotating Ring-Disk Electrode (RRDE) systems.

Research Data Interpretation

Through systematic analysis and visualization of experimental data, I aim to:

Identify relationships between material structure and functional performance
Evaluate catalyst activity and degradation mechanisms
Interpret spectroscopic signatures of chemical bonding and functional groups
Quantify thermal properties and phase change behavior of materials
Validate reproducibility and reliability of experimental results

These analytical capabilities support the development of advanced materials for electrochemical energy systems, thermal energy storage technologies, and nanomaterial-based functional devices.

Research, Development, and Documentation

In addition to data analysis, I apply these skills in broader research development activities, including:

Designing controlled experimental studies
Developing data analysis workflows
Preparing scientific figures and graphical abstracts
Writing journal manuscripts and technical reports
Communicating research findings through presentations and publications

Combustion Diagnostics - Experiments

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Combustion Diagnostics and Laminar Flame Speed Measurement

During my master’s research, I experimentally investigated the laminar flame speed and Markstein length of alternative liquid fuels, including n-butanol and methyl decanoate, using an optical combustion diagnostic system.

The study was conducted using a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC) equipped with shadowgraph and schlieren imaging techniques to visualize flame propagation and measure combustion characteristics.

Experimental System Development

I was directly involved in building and validating the experimental setup, including:

Assembly and integration of the constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC)
Alignment of shadowgraph and schlieren optical systems
Calibration and validation of measurement procedures
Development of experimental protocols for repeatable combustion measurements

Experimental Techniques

Key diagnostic and measurement techniques used include:

Shadowgraph imaging for density-gradient visualization
Schlieren optical diagnostics for flame structure observation
High-speed imaging of flame propagation
Laminar flame speed calculation from flame radius evolution

Fuels Studied

n-Butanol (oxygenated biofuel candidate)
Methyl decanoate (biodiesel surrogate fuel)

These fuels were studied to understand their combustion behavior and evaluate their suitability for advanced combustion systems.