Krishnan Rajeshwar | |
---|---|
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Chemist, researcher and academic |
Academic background | |
Education | B.Sc. Chemistry M.Sc. Chemistry Ph.D. Solid-State Chemistry |
Alma mater | University College Thiruvananthapuram Indian Institute of Technology Indian Institute of Science St Francis Xavier University Colorado State University |
Thesis | Effect of prior mechanical and thermal treatment on the thermal decomposition and sublimation of cubic ammonium perchlorate (1975) |
Academic work | |
Institutions | The University of Texas at Arlington |
Krishnan Rajeshwar is a chemist,researcher and academic. He is a Distinguished University Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Renewable Energy Science &Technology at The University of Texas at Arlington. [1]
Rajeshwar's research is focused on solar energy conversion,solar water splitting,and materials chemistry. He is most known for demonstrating the use of molten salt electrolytes for electrode stabilization in photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices [2] and holds several patents. He co-authored the book Environmental Electrochemistry:Fundamentals and Applications in Pollution Abatement, [3] edited Solar Hydrogen Generation:Toward a Renewable Energy Future, [4] and has published journal articles and book chapters. He is the recipient of the Wilfred T. Doherty Award, [5] Energy Technology Division Research Award, [6] Electrodeposition Division Research Award, [7] and the Distinguished Research Award from the University of Texas at Arlington. [8]
Rajeshwar is a fellow of the Council of Scientific &Industrial Research and an elected fellow of the Electrochemical Society. [9] He is also a member of the Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Division at IUPAC and a Phi Beta Kappa member of the American Chemical Society,which honored him with a special symposium for his work in environmental chemistry. [10] His editorial roles include serving as a guest editor for a special issue of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry on Heterogeneous Photocatalysis as well as Editor for the Electrochemical Society journal Interface. [11] He is serving as the Appointed Editor-in-Chief of the ECS Journal of Solid-State Science &Technology . [12]
Rajeshwar earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry at University College Thiruvananthapuram in 1969,followed by his master's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1971. [13] He graduated with a Ph.D. in Solid-State Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science in 1975 and undertook post-doctoral fellowships at both St. Francis Xavier University and Colorado State University. [14]
Rajeshwar started as an assistant professor for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and served as an associate professor from 1987 to 1989 and then professor from 1989 to 2004. [15] In 2003 he assumed the position of associate dean for the College of Science [16] and has been serving as a Distinguished University Professor at UTA since 2004. [17]
Since 2004,Rajeshwar he has been serving as the founding director of the Center for Renewable Energy Science &Technology. [18]
Rajeshwar co-founded the Rocky Mountain Thermal Analysis Society in 1982. In 1998,he assumed the role of chair for the Awards Sub-Committee within the Dallas-Fort Worth Section of the American Chemical Society while serving as a member of the Technical Advisory Panel for the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement [19] and Water Environment Research Foundation. From 2016 to 2017 he served as the Elected President for the Electrochemical Society. [20]
Rajeshwar's research interests lie in the fields of photoelectrochemistry,solar energy conversion,renewable energy,materials chemistry,semiconductor electrochemistry,and environmental chemistry. [21] His research contributions include the electrosynthesis of novel semiconductor films and advanced protective coatings for photoelectrochemical cells,the study of ion transport in polymer electrodes,the development of in situ monitoring techniques,and the mechanisms of heterogeneous photocatalysis. [22] In 1986,he and his colleagues secured a $1,996,000 grant for his research called Electronic and Ionic Transport in Polymers as part of the DoD-DARPA University Research Initiative. [23]
Rajeshwar has made contributions to environmental electrochemistry,including co-developing electrodeposited CdTe/CdS solar photovoltaic cells [24] and demonstrating conducting transparent oxide-coated Si electrodes for photoelectrochemical applications. He has also developed a methodology for finely dispersed noble metal catalyst particles in a conducting polymer matrix and studied the electrosynthesis and growth mechanisms of conducting semiconductor and polymer films. [25] His research has contributed to developing electrosynthesized composite structures for efficient photoreduction of CO2 and spatially-directed electrodeposition of semiconductor nanoparticles or films. [2] He has also developed new,green technology for stripping paint without the need for noxious organic solvents,which led to a U.S. patent and a start-up company. [26]
Rajeshwar's environmental chemistry research has focused on water treatment and pollution remediation. In 1994,he emphasized the need for alternatives to chlorine due to EPA regulations on high total organic carbon water,and explored options like chlorine dioxide,ozone,and advanced filtration. [27] He also applied electrochemical techniques in drinking water and novel electrode materials in environmental tech. [28] Extending his work,he researched photocatalytic methods for pollutant treatment and their commercial potential. [29] In 2008,one of his highly cited review studies covered thirty years of research on photocatalytic treatment of organic dyes in air and water,emphasizing titanium dioxide (TiO2) as the main photocatalyst and addressing preparation,kinetics,sensitization mechanism,and practical applications. [30]
Rajeshwar has conducted studies on advancements in electrochemistry and semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces. Co-authored with Jorge Ibanez,his book Environmental Electrochemistry has explored how electrochemical science and engineering can address environmental challenges,covering pollution detection and remediation with electrochemical-based sensors and technologies. It was also the first book to review electro- and photoelectrochemical methods for these purposes. [31] He has explored semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces,tracing their historical development,modern applications in energy conversion,and contributions to microelectronics and environmental tech. [32]
Rajeshwar edited the book Solar Hydrogen Generation:Toward a Renewable Energy Future which provided a scientific account of hydrogen generation through solar energy and renewable sources. Additionally,he studied CO2-to-solar-fuels electrochemistry with a focus on industrial continuous-flow reactors,evaluating performance and introducing a benchmarking framework to assess their effectiveness. [33]
Rajeshwar has published papers on the evolving landscape of materials science. He discussed a range of semiconductor-based composite materials used in various applications,including photocatalysis,photovoltaic cells,displays,light-emitting devices,and sensors to emphasize the advancements in the field of material science. [34] His research on the Prussian blue analogs on six metal hexacyanoferrate (MHCF) discussed their synthesis,characterization,and applications revealing the structural changes due to ion interactions. [35] He provided insights into energy-efficient inorganic oxide semiconductors,like tungsten trioxide (WO3),produced through combustion synthesis,highlighting self-sustained high process temperatures and tunable optical properties. [36]
Conductive polymers or,more precisely,intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) are organic polymers that conduct electricity. Such compounds may have metallic conductivity or can be semiconductors. The main advantage of conductive polymers is that they are easy to process,mainly by dispersion. Conductive polymers are generally not thermoplastics,i.e.,they are not thermoformable. But,like insulating polymers,they are organic materials. They can offer high electrical conductivity but do not show similar mechanical properties to other commercially available polymers. The electrical properties can be fine-tuned using the methods of organic synthesis and by advanced dispersion techniques.
A "photoelectrochemical cell" is one of two distinct classes of device. The first produces electrical energy similarly to a dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell,which meets the standard definition of a photovoltaic cell. The second is a photoelectrolytic cell,that is,a device which uses light incident on a photosensitizer,semiconductor,or aqueous metal immersed in an electrolytic solution to directly cause a chemical reaction,for example to produce hydrogen via the electrolysis of water.
Photoelectrolysis of water,also known as photoelectrochemical water splitting,occurs in a photoelectrochemical cell when light is used as the energy source for the electrolysis of water,producing dihydrogen which can be used as a fuel. This process is one route to a "hydrogen economy",in which hydrogen fuel is produced efficiently and inexpensively from natural sources without using fossil fuels. In contrast,steam reforming usually or always uses a fossil fuel to obtain hydrogen. Photoelectrolysis is sometimes known colloquially as the hydrogen holy grail for its potential to yield a viable alternative to petroleum as a source of energy;such an energy source would supposedly come without the sociopolitically undesirable effects of extracting and using petroleum.
The Kolbe electrolysis or Kolbe reaction is an organic reaction named after Hermann Kolbe. The Kolbe reaction is formally a decarboxylative dimerisation of two carboxylic acids. The overall reaction is:
In electrochemistry,electrosynthesis is the synthesis of chemical compounds in an electrochemical cell. Compared to ordinary redox reactions,electrosynthesis sometimes offers improved selectivity and yields. Electrosynthesis is actively studied as a science and also has industrial applications. Electrooxidation has potential for wastewater treatment as well.
Nathan S. Lewis is the George L. Argyros Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He specializes in functionalization of silicon and other semiconductor surfaces,chemical sensing using chemiresistive sensor arrays,and alternative energy and artificial photosynthesis.
Photocatalytic water splitting is a process that uses photocatalysis for the dissociation of water (H2O) into hydrogen (H
2) and oxygen (O
2). The inputs are light energy (photons),water,and a catalyst(s). The process is inspired by Photosynthesis,which converts water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbohydrates. Water splitting using solar radiation has not been commercialized. Photocatalytic water splitting is done by dispersing photocatalyst particles in water or depositing them on a substrate,unlike Photoelectrochemical cell,which are assembled into a cell with a photoelectrode. Hydrogen fuel production using water and light (photocatalytic water splitting),instead of petroleum,is an important renewable energy strategy.
The Journal of Applied Electrochemistry is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Springer Science+Business Media,which focuses on the technological applications of electrochemistry.
Arthur J. Nozik is a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). He is also a professor at the University of Colorado,which is located in Boulder. He researches semiconductor quantum dots at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,and is a chemistry professor at the University of Colorado. He also does research for the advancement of solar energy,for which he won the Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) Award for Science and Technology in 2009.
Electrochemical engineering is the branch of chemical engineering dealing with the technological applications of electrochemical phenomena,such as electrosynthesis of chemicals,electrowinning and refining of metals,flow batteries and fuel cells,surface modification by electrodeposition,electrochemical separations and corrosion.
Photoelectrochemistry is a subfield of study within physical chemistry concerned with the interaction of light with electrochemical systems. It is an active domain of investigation. One of the pioneers of this field of electrochemistry was the German electrochemist Heinz Gerischer. The interest in this domain is high in the context of development of renewable energy conversion and storage technology.
Adam Heller is an Israeli American scientist and engineer. He is Chief Science Officer of SynAgile Corp. of Wilson,Wyoming,consults to Abbott Diabetes Care of Alameda,California,and is Ernest Cockrell Sr. Chair Emeritus of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. His 1973 paper with James J. Auborn established the feasibility of high energy density,high-voltage,non-rechargeable lithium batteries. Their 3.6-volt lithium thionyl chloride and 3.7-volt lithium sulfuryl chloride batteries remain in use in applications requiring very high energy density and a shelf life of 20 years or more.
Quantum photoelectrochemistry is the investigation of the quantum mechanical nature of photoelectrochemistry,the subfield of study within physical chemistry concerned with the interaction of light with electrochemical systems,typically through the application of quantum chemical calculations. Quantum photoelectrochemistry provides an expansion of quantum electrochemistry to processes involving also the interaction with light (photons). It therefore also includes essential elements of photochemistry. Key aspects of quantum photoelectrochemistry are calculations of optical excitations,photoinduced electron and energy transfer processes,excited state evolution,as well as interfacial charge separation and charge transport in nanoscale energy conversion systems.
Sonoelectrochemistry is the application of ultrasound in electrochemistry. Like sonochemistry,sonoelectrochemistry was discovered in the early 20th century. The effects of power ultrasound on electrochemical systems and important electrochemical parameters were originally demonstrated by Moriguchi and then by Schmid and Ehert when the researchers investigated the influence of ultrasound on concentration polarisation,metal passivation and the production of electrolytic gases in aqueous solutions. In the late 1950s,Kolb and Nyborg showed that the electrochemical solution hydrodynamics in an electrochemical cell was greatly increased in the presence of ultrasound and described this phenomenon as acoustic streaming. In 1959,Penn et al. demonstrated that sonication had a great effect on the electrode surface activity and electroanalyte species concentration profile throughout the solution. In the early 1960s,the electrochemist Allen J. Bard showed in controlled potential coulometry experiments that ultrasound significantly enhances mass transport of electrochemical species from the bulk solution to the electroactive surface. In the range of ultrasonic frequencies [20 kHz –2 MHz],ultrasound has been applied to many electrochemical systems,processes and areas of electrochemistry both in academia and industry,as this technology offers several benefits over traditional technologies. The advantages are as follows:significant thinning of the diffusion layer thickness (δ) at the electrode surface;increase in electrodeposit/electroplating thickness;increase in electrochemical rates,yields and efficiencies;increase in electrodeposit porosity and hardness;increase in gas removal from electrochemical solutions;increase in electrode cleanliness and hence electrode surface activation;lowering in electrode overpotentials;and suppression in electrode fouling.
Iain McCulloch is Professor of Polymer Chemistry,in the Department of Chemistry,at the University of Oxford,UK,a fellow and tutor in chemistry at Worcester College,and an adjunct professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),Saudi Arabia,and a visiting professor in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London.
Dr. E.K.T Sivakumar is an Indian chemist born in Podaturpet,Tamil Nadu near Tiruttani. He is a visiting professor at Anna University,Department of Ceramic Technology- Alagappa College of Technology,Anna University,Chennai- 600025. He is also the editor of a Tamil journal,Valarum Ariviyal.
Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) is the combination of electrochemistry and quartz crystal microbalance,which was generated in the eighties. Typically,an EQCM device contains an electrochemical cells part and a QCM part. Two electrodes on both sides of the quartz crystal serve two purposes. Firstly,an alternating electric field is generated between the two electrodes for making up the oscillator. Secondly,the electrode contacting electrolyte is used as a working electrode (WE),together with a counter electrode (CE) and a reference electrode (RE),in the potentiostatic circuit constituting the electrochemistry cell. Thus,the working electrode of electrochemistry cell is the sensor of QCM.
Shannon W. Boettcher is an American chemist and chemical engineer,and professor. He teaches in the College of Chemistry at the University of California,Berkeley,and was previously in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oregon. His research is at the intersection of materials science and electrochemistry,with a focus on fundamental aspects of energy conversion and storage. He has been named a DuPont Young Professor,a Cottrell Scholar,a Sloan Fellow,and a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar. An ISI highly cited researcher,in 2019,he founded the Oregon Center for Electrochemistry and,in 2020,launched the nation's first targeted graduate program in electrochemical technology. In 2021,he was named a Blavatnik National Award Finalist and in 2023 the Blavatnik National Award Laureate.
Kyoung-Shin Choi (Korean: 최경신) is a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Choi's research focuses on the electrochemical synthesis of electrode materials,for use in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical devices.
Elod Lajos Gyenge is a professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the faculty of Applied Science in University of British Columbia in Vancouver,BC,Canada. He is also an associate member of the Clean Energy Research Center of UBC Vancouver campus. Gyenge has been nominated for several teaching and research awards including Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship at Osaka University and the recipient of the distignshuied Elisabeth and Leslie Gould Endowed Professorship at UBC from 2007 to 2014. His research has been toward development of electrochemical systems such as fuel cells,batteries and electrosynthesis systems. He is also an appointed professor in the engineering school of Osaka University in Japan.
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