Heterogeneous catalysts, Nano catalysts, Single Atom Catalysis, CO2 conversion, Dry reforming of methane

Expertise

Summary

Catalyst Chemist with years of postdoctoral research experience in understanding the fundamentals of surface structure-activity relationship of supported metal (Au, Ni, Rh, Ru, Pd and Pt) catalysts. Experienced in optimization of geometric and electronic properties of active site on supported metal catalyst. Expertise in catalyst design and synthesis of supported metal (single atom /sub-nanometer clusters cluster/ nanoparticles) catalysts for various gas phase and liquid phase reactions (dry reforming of methane, CO2-hydrogenation, CO oxidation, trans-vinylation of benzoic acids, isomerization of 3,4-diacetoxybut-1-ene (3,4-DABE) and esterification of long chain aliphatic aldehydes) metal oxide-based and metal phosphate-based catalysts for controlled nitrile hydration and photocatalytic applications. Experienced in catalyst characterization with traditional and advanced techniques and handling fixed-bed reactors at high temperature.

• Design experiments independently and execute them in a timely manner
• Heterogeneous catalyst design and synthesis
• Inorganic materials synthesis (metal oxides: binary metal oxides and spinel oxides, solid solutions), metal phosphates, metal-vanadates, metal (Ti4+, Ce4+) ion - substituted hydroxyapatites, mesoporous materials, supported metal catalysts by various techniques
• In-depth catalyst characterizations in-situ and ex-situ spectroscopy and microscopy techniques
• Catalyst activity testing in both gas phase and liquid phase reactions
• Syn-gas production from thermal catalytic conversion of greenhouse gases (CH4 and CO2)
• Establish catalyst structure-activity relationships
• Preparation of comprehensive scientific reports and presentation of summarized findings and effectively communicate the key results with team
• Demonstrated execution of high quality, independent research and problem-solving ability
• Actively involved in international collaborations
• Excellent in consistently adhering to safety guidelines while performing tasks

Experience

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Dalian, Liaoning, Postdoctoral Fellow, Mar 2018 – Feb 2023

Postdoctoral Fellow, Catalysis Research and Development

• Design and synthesis of novel heterogeneous catalysts (Singel Atom/ sub-nanometer Cluster Catalysts, Nano Catalysts)
• Perform various catalyst activity testing in dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction
• Perform in-depth catalyst characterizations using a range of in-situ (Environmental TEM, in-situ CO-DRIFTS, Operando CO-DRIFTS and in-situ XPS) and ex-situ (XRD, FT-IR, UV-DRS, BET Surface area, TPR/TPD/TPO, TGA-MS, TPSR, AC-STEM, EELS and Raman) spectroscopy and microscopy techniques
• Execution of analysis and interpret characterization data to understand catalyst structure-property relationships
• Compile and analysis experimental data to draw meaningful conclusions
• Prepare comprehensive reports and presentation of summarized research findings
• Writing scientific papers and publishing in scientific journals
• Demonstrate safety leadership in all aspects of the role

Key Accomplishments:

• Developed highly active, durable coke-resistant nickel sub-nanometer cluster catalyst for dry reforming of methane reaction and filed a Chinese Patent: 202210487250.7
• Developed novel strategy to overcome the limitations of Rh/CeO2 catalyst and published in Applied Catalysis B: Environment
• Developed hydroxyapatite supported nickel single atom as highly active coke-resistant catalyst for dry reforming of methane reaction and results published in Nature Communications
• Developed vanadium substituted hydroxyapatite supported nickel nanoparticle catalyst as highly active and stable catalyst for dry reforming of methane reaction and results published in Applied Catalysis A General

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Dalian, Liaoning, Visiting Scientist, Nov 2016 – Jan 2018

Visiting Scientist, Catalysis Research and Development

• Design and synthesis of novel hydroxyapatite (HAP) supported gold catalysts (Au/modified HAP)
  Synthesized different types of hydroxyapatites (Ce4+, Mg2+, F-, Sr2+ ions substituted hydroxyapatites by hydrothermal and Co-precipitation methods,
• Perform catalytic activity in various reactions (trans-vinylation of benzoic acid, Isomerization of 3,4-diacetoxybut-1-ene, oxidative esterification of aliphatic aldehydes)
• As-synthesized catalysts are characterized by various techniques (XRD, FT-IR, BET Surface area, in-situ CO-DRIFTS, in-situ XPS, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, HRTEM-EDS, EELS analysis)
• Tuning electronic and geometric properties of supported gold catalyst
• Optimized SMSI state to control encapsulation layer on Au NPs surface
• Analysis and interpretation of characterization data to draw meaningful conclusions
• Prepare comprehensive reports and present research findings
• Actively involved in internation Collaboration to meet project goals
• Writing scientific papers and publishing in scientific journals
• Execution of data analysis, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills
• Demonstrate safety leadership in all aspects of the role

Key Accomplishments:

• Successfully developed novel strategy to overcome the limitation of strong metal support interaction (SMSI) state
• Developed new strategy for accessibility of Au NPs surface to reactants and established tuning of electronic properties of Au NPs and its effect on catalytic activity, and these results published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
• Successfully achieved surface active sites by optimizing encapsulation layer on Au NPs surface and these results published in Journal of Catalysis

Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Provisional Research Associate, May 2015- Jun 2016

• Rational design and synthesis of metal oxide, metal phosphate supported nickel nanoparticle catalysts for on HPCL industrial project
• As-synthesized catalysts characterized by traditional spectroscopic and microscopic techniques
• Catalyst activity screening in Bi-reforming of methane and tri-reforming of methane reaction
• Prepare comprehensive reports
• Adhere safety regulations and protocols while performing experiments

Honors & Publications

CREDENTIALS

Member in Catalysis Society of India (CSI)
Member in Materials Research Society of India (MRSI)
Guest Editor for ‘Catalysis Research’ Journal

AWARDS

• Talented Young Scientist Program (TYSP) Fellowship, Supported by Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of China
• Teaching Research Assistant (TRA) award sponsored by VIT University Vellore
• Research Award-research contribution through publication by VIT University, Vellore
• Hot articles in Chemical Society of Japan

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Dalian, China
• Mössbauer Effect Data Centre, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Dalian, China
• National Center for Catalysis Research (NCCR), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
• Materials Chemistry Division, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore, India

Education

Ph.D. Degree, Chemistry, VIT University, Vellore, TN, India 
M.S. Degree, Organic Chemistry, VIT University, Vellore, TN, India
B.S. Degree, Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, AP, India

LANGUAGES

English
Telugu
Tamil