About Prof. Indrajit Mukhopadhyay

In recent years, the development of new materials in the form of photoactive nonstoichiometric semiconducting binary or ternary oxide, chalcogenides, nitrides, phosphides, efficient for harvesting solar energy and highly active electrode material for Li ion battery are of special interest. Thin film conducting polymer and carbon materials are also considered for the same purpose.  In order to reduce the cost of energy conversion by SPV, thin film Si solar cell has been proposed to be a very attractive option.  Primary area of current research is on the physical / electrochemical deposition of Si and Ge thin films on different substrates and their complete structural characterization. Since Si and Ge are also very promising negative electrode material for high energy density Li ion battery, focus has been given at the Li ion intercalation/insertion/conversion properties of the fabricated films.  The important broad area which has been focused is on the electron transfer process at the solid (semiconductor)/electrolyte interface such as in photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion and solar hydrogen generation.

Education

Ph.D:                    Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (Feb.14, 1997)

Thesis Title:        Photoelectrochemical studies of electrochemically synthesized lead and                                            doped lead oxide thin film.

M.Sc. :                   Visva-bharati University, Santiniketan (1991)

Specialization:     Physical Chemistry

B.Sc.(Hons):          Bardhaman University (1988)

Major:                    Chemistry

Professional Experience
 

2016 to Present            Professor, Department of Solar Energy, School of technology, PDPU

2011 to 2015                   Associate Professor, Department of Solar Energy, PDPU

2007 to 2011                  Scientist E1, CSMCRI Bhavnagar (CSIR, Govt. of India)

2008 to 2009                CSTC Visiting Professor, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan

2004 to 2007                 Scientist C at CSMCRI, Bhavnagar (CSIR, Govt. of India)

2002 to 2003                 Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Functional Nanostructures,

                                        University of Karlsruhe, Germany

1999 to 2001                   JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow at the Shinshu University, Japan

1997 to 1999                   Postdoctoral Fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

1996 to 1997                   Research Associate Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

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Professional Visits: Scientist/Professor (International Exposures)
 

• Invited as a visiting Professor to participate in the Second Knowledge Summit in Lyon, France, a high level Franco-Indian Summit dedicated to higher education, Research and Innovation by French Embassy during October 17-18, 2019.

• Visited UCEP, Gerogia Institute of Technology, Atlanta for development of product line research facility on large area Si solar cell, USA: Jan. 21-23, 2016.

• Visited ISE Fraunhofer, Freiburg, Germany for development of product line research facility on large area Si solar cell:  Jan. 18-19, 2016.

• Exchange Visiting Prof., Nagoya Institute of Technology; March 3-7, 2014.

• Exchange Visiting Prof., Nagoya Institute of Technology; Jan 28- Feb 2, 2013.

• The Fifth India - Japan New & Renewable Energy Seminar (16 – 20 January 2012) Tokyo, Japan. (Representative from Govt. of Gujarat)

• DAAD fellow for attending Summer School on Solar Energy Conversion in the Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen Germany and attending Inter-solar Europe 2011 at Munich, Germany during May 30 to June 11, 2011.

Administrative Portfolio

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1. Coordinator for the Office of Research and Sponsored Program.

2. Worked as a Member of library committee, PDPU.

3. Member of the Anti-ragging Squad, PDPU.

4. Functioned as the International Coordinator for the School of Solar Energy.

5. Secretary for the research advisory board, PDPU.

6. Head of School of Solar Energy. 

7. Head of Solar Research and Development Centre.

8. Head, Dept. of Solar Energy, PDPU, Gandhinagar

9. Member, Steering Committee of SRDC, PDPU.

10. Member of the selection committee, Technology Business Incubator (TBI), PDPU.

      Teaching

Course Offered

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1. Renewable Energy for B. Tech. Petroleum students

2. Galvanic Energy Storage for M. tech. and Ph.D. students (New course was introduced)

3. Nanostructured Materials for energy Devices for M.Tech. and Ph.D. students (New course was introduced)

4. Solid and Surface for M.Tech. and Ph.D. students (New course was introduced)

5. Principal of Inorganic Chemistry for M. Sc. Chemistry Students

6. Energy lab. I and II for M.Tech. Students (Ten new experiments were designed)

7. Inorganic Lab. for M.Sc. Students (New Lab. Manual was introduced)

8. Applied Electrochemistry (for Ph.D. Scholars, New Course)

9. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (for M. Tech., New course)

10. Engineering Chemistry (for B. Tech. students)

Research Interest

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1. Synthesis and characterization of novel nano-structured materials for efficient energy conversion and storage.

2. Studies on novel inorganic materials for Li ion battery.

3. Electrocrystallization of semiconductor from ionic liquid bath for energy conversion and storage applications.

4. Studies on in-situ phase formation and growth of semiconductors from ionic liquid medium.

5. Efficient materials for effective photoelectrochemical energy conversion and hydrogen evolution by splitting water.

 Services

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   Journal Review

• Angewandte Chemie

• Applied Materials and Interface

• ACS Nano

• ACS Energy Materials

• Advanced Functional Materials

• Scientific Report- Nature Springer

• Applied Surface Science

• Langmuir

• Journal of Physical Chemistry, C

• Electrochimica Acta

• Microporous and Mesoporous Materials

• Materials Research Bulletin

• Journal of Colloids and Interface Science

• Journal of Electrochemical Society

• J. Electroanalytical Chemistry

• Solid State Electrochemistry

• Thin Solid Films

• PCCP

• Materials Chemistry and Physics

• Journal of Microscopy

• Journal of Materials Research

• Applied Surface Science

• Journal of Power Sources

• Communication in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulations

• Particulate Science and Technology

• Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Thesis review:

• Altogether reviewed twelve thesis from all over India.

International Project review:

• Reviewed one international joint project

Societal Mission

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At the period of infancy, the research and development activities of Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University was developed by a team where I served as the coordinator.  The cell had been identified as ORSP.  Many initiatives on research and development front was established.  One of such important initiatives, namely Student Research Program (SRP) which has been producing enormous impact in PDEU today.

I have been instrumental in establishing Solar Research and development Centre at Pandit Deendayal Energy University to carry out advanced research in the field of Green energy using vacuum and no-vacuum techniques. The centre is equipped with the state of the art facilities which cater the need for the whole university for carrying out research in various fields. The centre also takes major interest in community training where by local skilled manpower is generated to serve the local industry and society.  Various state Govt. also take advantage of the facility and collaborate with Pandit Deendayal Energy University. The centre help the Gujarat Energy Development Agency in the front of research, development and implementation of green energy initiatives in the state of Gujarat. I am also serving as an active member of the academic council of the University. I have been serving as an active member of Program Advisory Committee of The Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE), Visakhapatnam, India. I am also serving as the technical head for running 1 MW multi technology solar PV plant in the University.

Besides teaching, research and related academic activity, the Dept. of Solar Energy and Solar Research and Development Centre facilitate other national and local universities of Gujarat in various applied filed associated with the advanced information on solar PV and thermal technologies.  These include field activity, workshop, short / long summer school, power plant visit and interactive sessions.

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