Design and synthesis of nanomaterials for energy applications, electrochemistry and fuel cells.

Ph.D (Chemistry) – 2000 – Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, INDIA.
M.Sc (Inorganic Chemistry) – 1993 – Sri Venkateswara University, INDIA - First Class - 74.75%

1. Assistant Professor (Jul. 2009 to till date):Department of Chemistry, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA.
2. Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow (May. 2011 ~ Sep 2011, Feb. 2010 ~ Jul 2010 and Oct. 2008 ~ Mar. 2009): Institute for Chemical Process Engineering, Technical University of Clausthal, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, GERMANY. Mentor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Turek, Professor of Chemical Process Engineering.
3. Assistant Professor (Feb. 2008 to Jul. 2008): Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science & Technology, TAIPEI, TAIWAN.
4. Post Doctoral Fellow (Apr. 2001 to Jan. 2008): Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science & Technology, TAIPEI, TAIWAN. Mentor: Dr. Bing Joe Hwang, Professor of Chemical Engineering.
5. CSIR – Research Associate (Nov. 2000 to Mar. 2001): Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Worked at department of chemistry, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, India.
6. CSIR – Senior Research Fellow (Oct. 1997 to Sept. 2000): Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Worked at department of chemistry, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, India.

1. 2008 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (under the experienced researchers’ category), Technical University of Clausthal, Clausthal – Zellerfeld, GERMANY.
2. 2008 Listed in Asian/American Who’s Who by Rifacimento International Publishers, New Delhi, INDIA.
3. 2007 Asian Admirable Researcher, New Delhi, INDIA.
4. 2003 Post Doctoral Fellowship from National Science Council, Taipei, TAIWAN.
5. 2001 Post Doctoral Fellowship from Mobiletron Industries, Taichung, TAIWAN.
6. 2000 Risk Assessment Summer School VIII Fellowship, Stockholm, SWEDEN.
7. 2000 CSIR - Research Associateship, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India.
8. 1999 YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD during the 17th Annual Conference of Indian Council of Chemists at Chennai, INDIA.
9. 1997 CSIR - Senior Research Fellowship, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India.
10. 1993 First Rank in M.Sc. Inorganic Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara University, INDIA.

• Development of Graphene-supported Core-Shell Structured Bimetallic Nanocomposites for Fuel Cell Reactions (From July 2013 to June 2016): Rs. 40.35 Lakhs from the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi.
• Nanostructured Gas Diffusion Layers for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (From Oct 2008 to Mar 2009, Feb 2010 to Jul 2010 and May 2011 to Sep 2011): Funding is from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany.

Development of materials to catalyze the oxidation of small organic molecules and reduction of molecular oxygen is of extreme importance in the context of sustainable energy production. Chemistry extends a great help to solve the key issues in the current energy technology practices. From the past one decade, we are actively involved in the development of electrocatalytic materials in nanosize regime for clean energy conversion reactions by utilizing the chemical synthesis principles. Of particular interest is to fabricate bimetallic nanoparticles with various architectures like alloy and core-shell type deposited on carbon-based supports. Our future work is largely aimed at fabricating Pt-M (M= Pd, Au, Ru) bimetallic nanoparticle electrocatalysts with core-shell structures anchored to a 2D-graphene and understanding these catalyst activities towards methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR).

Y. Harinath	DST-National Post Doctoral Fellow	PDF	Ongoing
G. Vishwakshan Reddy	UGC – SRF	Ph. D	Synopsis submitted
P. Raghavendra	DST – JRF	Ph. D	Under progress
B. Sravani	DST – INSPIRE Fellow	Ph. D	Under progress

1. Chen, C.-H.; Pan, C.-J.; Su, W.-N.; Sarma, L. S.; Al Andra, C. C.; Liu, D. G.; Lee, J. F.; Hwang, B. J* (2016): Unraveling surface composition of bimetallic nanoparticles. ChemNanoMat 2, 117-124 (Wiley-VCH, SCI, IF: New in year 2016).
2. Reddy, G. V. R.; Raghavendra, P.; Srichandana, P.; Sarma, L. S* (2015): Halide-aided controlled fabrication of Pt-Pd/graphene bimetallic nanocomposites for methanol electrooxidation. RSC Advances 5, 100522 – 100530 (SCI, IF: 3.84).
3. Taufany, F. ; Pan, C. J. ; Chou, H. L. ; Sarma, L. S. ; Rick, J. ; Lin, J. M. ; Lee, J. F. ; Tang, M. T. ; Hwang, B. J* (2013). Relating the Composition of PtxRu100−x/C Nanoparticles to their Structural Aspects and Electrocatalytic Activities in the Methanol Oxidation Reaction. Chem. Eur. J. 19, 905-915 (SCI, IF: 5.731)
4. Chou, H. L.; Lai, F. J.; Su, W. N.; Pillai, K. C.; Sarma, LS.; Hwang, B. J* (2011): Investigation of Formation Mechanism of Pt(111) Nanoparticle Layers on Ru(0111) Core. Langmuir 27, 1131–1135 (SCI, IF: 4.457).
5. Lai, FJ., Su, WN., Sarma, LS., Liu, DG., Hsieh, CA., Lee, JF. and Hwang, BJ* (2010): Chemical Dealloying Mechanism of Bimetallic Pt–Co Nanoparticles and Enhancement of Catalytic Activity toward Oxygen Reduction. Chem. Eur. J, 16, 4602-4611 (SCI, IF: 5.731).
6. Lin, YC., Chou, HL., Sarma, LS. and Hwang, BJ*(2009): Stacking Structure of Confined 1-Butanol in SBA-15 Investigated by Solid State NMR Spectroscopy. Chem. Eur. J, 15, 10658-10665 (SCI, IF: 5.731).
7. Hwang, BJ*., Sarma, LS., Chen, CH., Bock, C., Lai, FJ., Chang, SH., Yen, SC., Liu, DG., Sheu, HS. and Lee, JF. (2008): Controlled synthesis and characterization of Rucore–Ptshell bimetallic nanoparticles. J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 19922-19929 (SCI, IF: 4.772).
8. Sarma, LS., Chen, CH., Kumar, SMS., Wang, GR., Yen, SC., Liu, DG., Sheu, HS., Yu, KL., Tang, MT., Lee, JF., Bock, C., Chen, KH. and Hwang, BJ. (2007): Formation of Pt–Ru Nanoparticles in Ethylene Glycol Solution: An in Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study. Langmuir 23, 5802-09 (SCI, IF: 4.457).
9. Hwang, BJ*., Sarma, LS., Wang, GR., Chen, CH., Liu, DG., Sheu, HS. and Lee, JF. (2007): Heat-Induced Alterations in the Surface Population of Metal Sites in Bimetallic Nanoparticles. Chem. Eur. J 13, 6255-6264 (SCI, IF: 5.731).
10. Sarma, LS., Chen, CH., Wang, GR., Hsueh, KL., Huang, CP., Sheu, HS., Liu, DG., Lee, JF. and Hwang, BJ*. (2007): Investigations of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) Fading Mechanisms. J. Power Sources 167, 358-365 (SCI, IF: 6.227).
11. Hwang, BJ*., Sarma, LS., Chen, CH., Tang, MT., Liu, DG. and Lee, JF. (2007) Depth-profile of alloying extent and composition in bimetallic nanoparticles investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 023108 (SCI, IF: 3.302).
12. Hwang, BJ*., Chen, CH., Sarma, LS., Chen, JM., Wang, GR., Tang, MT., Liu, DG. and Lee, JF. (2006): Probing the Formation Mechanism and Chemical States of Carbon-supported Pt–Ru nanoparticles by in Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 6475-6482 (SCI, IF: 3.302).
13. Chen, CH., Sarma LS., Wang, GR., Chen, JM., Shih, SC., Tang, MT., Liu, DG., Lee, JF. and Hwang, BJ*. (2006): Formation of Bimetallic Ag–Pd Nanoclusters via the Reaction between Ag Nanoclusters and Pd2+ Ions. J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 10287-10295 (SCI, IF: 3.302).
14. Chen, JM., Sarma, LS., Chen, CH., Cheng, MY., Shih, SC., Wang, GR., Liu, DG., Lee, JF., Tang, MT. and Hwang, BJ*. (2006): Multi-scale Dispersion in Fuel Cell Anode Catalysts: Role of TiO2 towards Achieving Nanostructured Materials. J. Power Sources 159, 29-33 (SCI, IF: 6.227).
15. Hwang, BJ*., Sarma, LS., Chen, JM., Chen, CH., Shih, SC., Wang, GR., Liu, DG., Lee, JF. and Tang, MT. (2005): Structural models and atomic distribution of bimetallic nanoparticles as investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 11140-11145 (SCI, IF: 12.113).
16. Chen, CH., Hwang, BJ*., Wang, GR., Sarma, LS., Tang, MT., Liu, DG. and Lee, JF. (2005): Nucleation and growth mechanism of Pd/Pt bimetallic clusters in bis (2-ethyl hexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles as studied by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 21566-21575 (SCI, IF: 3.302).
17. Sarma, LS., Lin, TD., Tsai, YW., Chen, JM. and Hwang, BJ*. (2005): Carbon-supported Pt–Ru catalysts prepared by the Nafion stabilized alcohol-reduction method for application in direct methanol fuel cells. J. Power Sources 139, 44-54 (SCI, IF: 6.227).
18. Tsai, YW., Tseng, YL., Sarma, LS., Liu, DG., Lee, JF. and Hwang, BJ*. (2004): Genesis of Pt clusters in AOT Reverse Micelles Investigated by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 8148-8152 (SCI, IF: 3.302).
19. Hwang, BJ*., Tsai, YW., Sarma, LS., Chen, CH., Lee, JF. and Strehblow, HH. (2004): In situ XAS Investigation of Transformation of Co Monolayer on Carbon-supported Pt Clusters Underpotential Control. J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 15096-15102 (SCI, IF: 3.302).
20. Hwang, BJ*., Tsai, YW., Sarma, LS., Tseng, YL., Liu, DG. and Lee, JF. (2004): Genesis of bimetallic Pt–Cu Clusters in AOT Reverse Micelles Investigated by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 20427-20434 (SCI, IF: 3.302).

1. Pan, CJ., Sarma, LS. and Hwang, BJ. (2016): Formation and Characterization of Bimetallic Nanoparticles in Electrochemistry. In Handbook of Nanoelectrochemistry: Electrochemical Synthesis Methods, Properties and Characterization Techniques, Chapter 7, pp. 169-239, Eds. M. Aliofkhazraei, A. S. H. Makhlouf (Springer International Publishers, Switzerland.) (ISBN/ISSN: 978-3-319-15266-0).
2. Sarma, LS., Vetrivel, S. Chou, HL. and Hwang, BJ. (2009): Bimetallic catalysts for clean energy reactions. In Heterogeneous Catalysis Research Progress, Chapter 5, pp. 157-194, Ed. Dieter L. Marmaduke (Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Hauppauge, NY, USA) (ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-60456-981-0).
3. Sarma, LS., Chou, HL., Cheng, MY., Taufany, F., Lai, FJ., Tsai, MC., Chang, SH. and Hwang, BJ. (2009): Spherical and Anisotropic Core-Shell and Alloy Nanomaterials – Characterization using XAS, In Nanomaterials for the Life Sciences, 3rd volume “Bi-metallic and metal oxide nanomaterials for life sciences” Chapter 11, pp. 377-409, Ed. Challa S. S. Kumar (Wiley – VCH, Germany) (ISBN/ISSN: 978-3-527-32153-7).
4. Sarma, LS., Taufany, F. and Hwang, BJ. (2009): Electrocatalyst Characterization and Activity Validation – Fundamentals and Methods, In Electrocatalysis of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, Chapter 3, pp. 115-163, Eds. Liu, H and Zhang, J (Wiley – VCH, Germany) (ISBN/ISSN: 978-3-527-32377-7).
5. Sarma, LS., and Hwang, BJ. (2005): Privileged Materials for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells. In Advances in Fuel Cells, Chapter 2, pp. 1-43, Ed. Zhang, X-W. (Research Signpost, Trivandrum, INDIA) (ISBN/ISSN: 81-308-0026-8).

1. Kumar, SMS., Chen, CH., Sarma, LS. and Hwang, BJ. (2008): Catalytic Liquid Fuel, USA patent (No: 8075644), Granted on 13th December 2011.
2. Kumar, SMS., Chen, CH., Sarma, LS. and Hwang, BJ. (2008): Catalytic Liquid Fuel, European patent (EP2001068A1), Granted on 10th Dec 2008.
3. Hwang, BJ., Lin, ST., Sarma, LS., Cheng, MY. (2008): Feedstock for Ceramic Injection Molding, (No: I30045), Granted on 1st September 2008.).
4. Chen, CH., Sarma, LS., Kumar, SMS. and Hwang, BJ. (2007): Catalytic Liquid Fuel (No: 200746528), Granted on 16th December 2007.

INTERNATIONAL:

1. International Workshop on Materials and Energy, National Taiwan University of Science & Technology, Taipei, TAIWAN, February 11-12, 2009, “Core-shell structured bimetallic nanoparticles for CO and methanol oxidation”.
2. ICVT Seminar at Haldor-Topsøe Industries, Copenhagen, DENMARK, October 20-22, 2008, “Core-shell structured bimetallic nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cells”.
3. International Conference on Energy Storage and Conversion Materials, National Taiwan University of Science & Technology, Taipei, TAIWAN, June 20, 2008, “Synthesis and Characterization of Bimetallic Nanoparticles for DMFC applications”.
4. 6th Asian Conference on Electrochemistry in Taipei, Taipei, TAIWAN, May 11-14, 2008, “Enhanced CO and methanol electrooxidation on surface-enriched PtxRu1−x bimetallic nanoparticles”.
5. 1st Asian Conference on Electrochemical Power Sources, Kyoto, JAPAN, November 15-17, 2006, “Nanostructured Materials for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells”.

NATIONAL:

1. General talk given to B. Tech students at Q-Institute of Technology, ONGOLE, October 2015 on “Nanochemistry”.
2. At the National Seminar on Research Methodology, Dept. of Psychology, Y. V. University, KADAPA, Feb 2014, “Quality Research in Physical Sciences: Pros and Cons”.
3. At the National Seminar on New Exciting Frontiers in Chemistry, Dept. of Chemistry, Hindu College, GUNTUR, Jan 2014 “Nanostructured Bimetallic Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cell Reactions”.
4. At the National Workshop on Analytical Techniques in Research and Analysis, Dept. of Chemistry, J.N.T.U.A College of Engineering, PULIVENDULA “UV-VIS Spectroscopy: Basic Concepts and Application to Nanomaterials” Dec 2013.
5. At the International Conference on Emerging Trends in Synthetic Organic & Medicinal Chemistry, Dept of Chemistry, Vikramasimhapuri University, NELLORE, “Bimetallic Nanoparticles for the Oxidation of Small Organic Molecules”, Nov 2013.
6. At the THIRD POLE NEED PROTECTION (HOPE 2013), Department of Geology, Kumaon University, NAINATAL (Sponsor: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany), “Nanoelectrocatalysts for Clean Energy and Environment”, Sep 2013.
7. At the National Seminar on Role of Nanotechnology in Environment Protection, Dept. of Chemistry, J.N.T.U.A College of Engineering, PULIVENDULA, “Privileged Electrocatalysts for Clean Energy and Environment”, 2012.
8. At the National Seminar on Nanotechnology for Pollution Control, March 5, 2011, “Realizing Clean Energy and Environment”, Hindu College, GUNTUR.
9. At the National Conference on Emerging Materials, Department of Physics, NBKR Institute of Science & Technology, Vidyanagar, AP, Nanostructured Materials for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, Jul 2009.
10. At the National Chemical Laboratories, PUNE, September 17, 2007, “Research on nanostructured anode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells”.