(5bt) Nano-Scale Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications

In my PhD research with Professor Bruce J. Hinds (Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky), I utilized a macroscopic membrane platform consisting of billions of vertically oriented carbon nanotubes (CNTs) encapsulated in a polymer matrix for understanding molecular transport through the inner-core of CNT. In this work, I showed that liquids such as water are transported extremely fast (almost four orders of magnitude faster than conventional predictions of flow through pipes) through the hydrophobic cores of the nanotubes, with ~7 nm diameter, and explained by a slip-at-the-wall mechanism. On the environmental front, I have served as staff scientist at a National Laboratory in India with a focus on developing a membrane based process for decontamination of arsenic from ground water

Currently, I am expanding my expertise on carbon nanotubes, through my post-doctoral research with Professor Matteo Pasquali (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University) on synthesis of CNT dispersions and their application in making transparent conductive electrodes and nanowires .

My research interests are at the interface of materials science and chemical engineering. Of immediate interest is application of nano-scale materials, particularly CNTs, in water purification and desalination, in enhancing oil-recovery from under-ground reservoirs, in interfacing micro-fluidics with nano-fluidic channels, and in functional films and coatings - all these applications will be backed by chemical engineering fundamentals. I am certain that my research program will be potentially attractive to funding agencies, yet diverse enough to suit the needs and interests of students - the key components to establish a highly productive academic research program.

I also had the good fortune in training several under-graduate students on a one-to-one basis; their work often resulting in peer-reviewed articles. Considering this rewarding experience, I plan to include under-graduate students in my research program. My teaching interests are in materials science, mass transport and fluid mechanics and I propose to develop a graduate level course on ‘Nano-materials for Chemical Engineering Applications'. To obtain further teaching experience, I am planning to deliver several lectures for an under-graduate fluid mechanics course with Professor Pasquali in Fall 2008.