Fueled by an insatiable curiosity for unraveling the intricacies of the world around us, I embarked on a journey that led me to successfully complete my undergraduate degree in the dynamic field of nanotechnology. My passion for understanding the inner workings of everything from the minuscule to the monumental has driven me to my current focus on high specific surface area materials.
My academic journey has been enriched by actively engaging in diverse research endeavors, spanning a wide spectrum of cutting-edge fields. I've delved into the realms of biomaterials, multifunctional materials, and the fascinating world of thin film and polymeric nanostructures. These experiences have not only honed my skills but have also broadened my horizons, equipping me with a multifaceted perspective to approach the challenges of tomorrow.
Join me as I continue my exploration of the extraordinary, seeking to uncover the secrets of high specific surface area materials and their potential applications in shaping our ever-evolving world.
Karthikeyan Baskaran
Reno, NV USA
karthikeyan (@) baskaran.me
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering• August 2023
Transferred from the University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT.
Working on designing and studying the property of high specific surface area materials.
Bachelor of Technology in Nanotechnology• June 2016
Gained knowledge of fundamental science and research in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials.
Spent a semester in senior year at TEXAS A&M University, college station, USA, where I worked on therapeutic delivery and biointerface using 2D nanosilicates.
Graduate Research Assistant • June 2021 - Present
Research Assistant• August 2017 - May 2021
The capture of long-lived radioactive iodine (129I) from oxidizing off-gasses produced from reprocessing used nuclear fuel is paramount to human health and environmental safety. Bismuth has been investigated as a viable iodine getter but the phase stability of bismuth-based sorbents in an oxidizing environment have not yet been researched. In the current work, bismuth nanoparticle-based sorbents, as free particles (Bi-NPs) and embedded within silica xerogel monoliths made with a porogen (TEO-5), were exposed to I2(g) before and after aging in 1 v/v% NO2 at 150 °C. For unaged sorbents, BiI3 was the dominant phase after iodine capture with 8–30 mass% BiOI present due to native Bi2O3 on the surface of the unaged nanoparticles. After 3 h of aging, 82 mass% of the Bi-NPs was converted to Bi2O3 with only a small amount of iodine captured as BiOI (18 mass%). After aging TEO-5 for 3 h, iodine was captured as both BiI3 (26 %) and BiOI (74 %) and no Bi2O3 was detected. Additionally, bismuth lining the micrometer-scale pores in the TEO-5 led to enhanced iodine capture. In a subsequent exposure of the sorbents to NO2 (secondary aging), all BiI3 converted to BiOI. Thus, direct capture of iodine as BiOI is desired (over BiI3) to minimize loss of iodine after capture.
Aging, Vapor Abatement, SurfaceBismuth-containing carbon materials have been shown to be highly promising sorbents for the capture of radioiodine. However, there is still a need to understand the effects of carbon and bismuth on the iodine sorption mechanism. In this study, we show the difference in the physical and chemical sorption of iodine under different bismuth loading conditions. Highly porous and nonfriable conductive carbon foams were prepared, and bismuth was electrodeposited to provide strong iodine binding sites. For pure carbon foams, equal ratios of physisorbed and chemisorbed iodine–carbon phases were detected before desorption. As the concentration of bismuth increased, the chemisorption between bismuth and iodine dominated the total capture mechanism, and physisorption was almost completely eliminated. Additionally, chemisorption of iodine depended upon the size and specific surface area of the bismuth clusters present within the framework of the foam.
Chemisorption, Electrodeposition, Vapor AbatementWith the continuous growth in global population, energy demands are summoning the development of novel materials with high specific surface areas (SSA) for energy and environmental applications. High-SSA silica-based materials, such as aerogels, are highly popular as they are easy to form and tune. They also provide thermal stability and easy functionalization, which leads to their application in batteries, heavy metal adsorption, and gas capture. However, owing to large pore volumes, high-SSA silica exhibits weak mechanical behavior, requiring enhancement or modification to improve the mechanical properties and make them viable for these applications. The creation of macropores in these mesoporous solids is also desirable for applications utilizing membranes. To facilitate research in these critical areas, this review describes the research into sol-gel formation of silica, as well as polymer-based tailoring carried out in the last decade. Additionally, this review summarizes applications of polymer-tailored high-SSA silica materials in the energy and environmental fields and discusses the challenges associated with implementing and scaling of these materials for these applications.
Polymer, Surface and structure engineering.The dynamic miscibility between soybean oil and organic silica precursors during sol-gel synthesis was used to tailor the microstructure of gels made with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) or TEOS + methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS). Soybean oil was investigated as an environmentally friendly and cheaper alternative to other common porogens. Oil concentrations of 9.09 v/v% and 33.33 v/v% were studied. For both TEOS and TEOS+MTMS gels, the miscibility of the oil and precursor decreased as the silica gel network formed, leading to oil-rich regions within the silica matrix. Solvent exchanges on gels or calcined on dried gels (i.e., xerogels) were performed to remove the oil from the silica, creating membranes with hierarchical pore structures. The pore structure of TEOS-MTMS gels appeared finer and more interconnected compared to the isolated pores observed in gels made with only TEOS. Xerogel membranes made with TEOS+MTMS had higher specific surface areas (SSAs) than those made with TEOS. For oil concentrations of 33.33 v/v%, xerogels made from TEOS+MTMS had an average SSA of 1068 ± 113 m2 g−1, an order of magnitude higher than the average SSA of 103 ± 6 m2 g−1 for xerogels made with TEOS.
Surface and interface, micrometer scale pores."There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom"
- Richard Feynman
I will be happy to hear about any work that is challenging and involves nanomaterials and nanoscale surface interface. Contact me by sending an email or snail mail.