(6hp) Molecular–Scale Engineering of Charge–Containing Polymers and Electrochemical Interfaces

Research Interests: My research group will focus on analysis, design, development, and deployment of adaptable materials with polymer composite building blocks. I propose to study these materials both from the perspective of advancing fundamental understanding of their structure–property–function relationships and for their application in electrochemical systems. The research I propose to undertake presents multiple opportunities for first–principles design of materials and interfaces that respond to chemical, electrical, and mechanical stimuli to achieve a desired electrochemical function. My specific aim is to perform fundamental and applications–oriented studies in a ‘closed–loop’ approach in which discovery–driven studies are performed in tandem with macroscale characterization in realistic, applications–specific contexts to address fundamental challenges in electrochemical devices. In so doing my group’s work promises to move beyond current paradigms of top–down and bottom–up syntheses to enable adaptive materials design for achieving explicit control of electrochemical functions.

The proposed research program will leverage experimental and analytical skills across three broad themes:

(1) Understanding mass and charge transport at functional interfaces. Specifically in this research thrust, the electrochemical activities of a chemically modified electrode will be analyzed systematically using in-situ voltammetry, spectroscopy and NMR characterizations. Such studies will be leveraged both for advancing fundamental understanding of how specific interfacial chemistries influence electrochemical behavior and for innovating new interfacial design that can enable emergent energy storage and electrochemical sensor formats.

(2) Designing Structured Polymer networks for charge transfer processes. Here, supramolecular polymer architectures will be designed to decouple the charge transport (ions or electrons) and physical properties (modulus or electrochemical stability window or stretchability etc). This thrust area would be impactful for developing all solid–state charge conductors having multiple desirable properties through fundamental research.

(3) Structure–Transport relationships in interactive nanoparticle–polymer hybrids. Here, we will evaluate the self-assembly and stimuli-responsive behavior in nanocomposites, where the nanoparticle surface undergoes favorable or unfavorable interactions with a polymer matrix. The structural changes due to various factors like temperature, ionic strength, electric field will be systematically evaluated using suite of characterization tools. The successful design and fundamental understanding of such hybrids can enable multifunctionality in a single material; for example, high electronic and ionic conductivity in semi-solid electrodes for flow batteries or simultaneous high solubility of CO₂ and ion conduction in electrolytes for electrocatalytic devices.

Overall, the proposed research builds on my past and current expertise that I developed as a graduate student and as a postdoctoral researcher. My background in the synthesis of self–healing polymer networks and polymer grafted nanoparticles with different chemistries; on physical analysis of disordered materials using x–ray/neutron scattering, NMR, and mechanical rheology, will be particularly valuable. Likewise, my expertise in surface chemistry along with state–of–the–art electrochemical analysis techniques will help me in developing theory–driven rational approaches for designing electrochemical interfaces to develop a research program that pushes the frontiers of electrochemical systems. My proposed work lies at the intersection of several fields, synthetic organic chemistry, electrochemistry, material science, and chemical engineering. I believe students at all levels (graduate and undergraduate) educated under my guidance will possess a versatile set of core skills that will make them as desirable as knowledge creators in academia and as product developers in industry.

Teaching Interests: I have prior experience of teaching three undergraduate level courses as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in Cornell University. The courses include, (1) Heat and Mass Transfer (twice); (2) Polymeric Materials and (3) Mechanics and Heat. My responsibilities in these courses included weekly recitation sessions; designing/grading homework and exam questions as well as taking office hours and review sessions for students. I received the highest honor of Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for my services in the Chemical Engineering department.

In my PhD research group, I have mentored several junior graduate (two PhD, three M.S. and one M.Eng.) students as well as three undergraduate students. In my postdoctoral lab at Stanford University, I continue my role as a mentor by advising a PhD and an undergraduate student.

As a tenure-track Professor, I am enthusiastic to teach and develop curriculum for undergraduate and graduate courses related to unit operations, electrochemistry, and polymer science and complex fluids. Continuing from my TA experiences, I am willing to enhance the core chemical engineering course of heat and mass transfer. Further, I will specifically design two interesting courses, titled ‘Electrochemistry for Chemical Engineers’ and ‘Soft Matter Characterization Techniques’, for senior undergraduate and graduate students, which will focus on providing over–arching knowledge and expertise in these respective areas. These courses will include reviewing the latest and most important research articles in the field, practical demonstration through my labs, and provide an opportunity for students to collaborate with each other through a research proposal and class presentation. My teaching philosophy in all my courses will revolve around active learning, effective communication, and sharing of the ideas.