Thesis: Optimizing Porous Materials for Electrochemical Applications and Thermal DiodesCore Projects:1: Quantitatively Designing 3D Copper Current Collectors for Li Metal AnodesSynthesized Cu-Fe alloys of different compositions with fast and slow cooling methods to vary grain size. Used etching techniques to make porous Cu of varying pore sizes.Quantitatively studied the role of tortuosity factor, surface area and surface chemistry on the performance of lithium metal batteries.B. Lu*, E. Olivera*, et al. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2021, 4, 6454−64652: Increasing the lifetime of thick porous Cu current collectors for Li metal anodes via asymmetric lithiophilic coatingCoated thick 3D porous Cu current collectors assymetrically with a lithiophilic coating. Studied the lifetime cycling Cu as current collectors for Li metal batteries under symmetric, assymetric and uncoated conditions. 3: Studying the CO2RR products and selectivity of mesoporous Cu with varying surface area and bimetallic surface coatingSynthesized Cu-Al alloys of various composition under inert conditions. Used dealloying under acid to make mesoporous Cu with varying surface area. Studied the effect of CO2RR and selectivity on porous Cu with varying surface areas and bimetallic surface modifications.Collaborative Projects:1: Room Temperature rectification in tapered-channel thermal diodes through nanoscale confinement-induced liquid-solid phase changeAssisted in the design of a thermal diode model relying on asymmetric heat flow of a tapered pore anodic alumina filled with galliumJournal of Applied Physics 129, 075103 (2021)2: The influence of nano/micro sample size on the strain-rate sensitivity of plastic flow in tungsten Assisted in manufacturing micronsized and nanosized tungsten pillars using focused-ion beam (FIB) and imaged them with SEM. These pillars were utilized to study the strain vs grain size effect of tungsten. International Journal of Plasticity 136, 102854 (2021)

Synthesis of rare-earth based thermoelectric-electrical and thermal characterization. Developed materials for future thermoelectric generators and studied its intrinsic properties.

Environmental stress crack resistance study of polycarbonates, polyurethanes, epoxies, silicones, nylons and plastic blends. Strain Resistance studies of elastomers. Mechanical, thermal and moisture absorption properties of nylons. Carried out independent and joint projects and reported weekly to our team of engineers.

- Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of high capacity Sodium Nonantitanates for Sodium Ion Batteries-SEM, TGA, XRD Analysis and electrochemical characterization.

Analysis and optimization of synthesis of high performance thermoset resin composites for heat sink applications in high density electronics.