Award Name:
C. V. Raman Gold Medal in Sciences (PhD)
12th Convocation, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur

Title of Thesis:
Fabrication and Investigation of Advanced Nanomaterials for High-Performance Photo-Rechargeable Batteries

PhD Supervisor: Dr. Shahab Ahmad

Department: Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur

Research Work (Brief Summary)

The thesis work focuses on the development of advanced photo-assisted batteries capable of simultaneously harvesting solar energy and storing it in the form of electrochemical energy within a single integrated device. The work addresses one of the major technological limitations of conventional solar energy systems, which are often bulky, weight-intensive, and unsuitable for next-generation portable and self-powered technologies. The developed approach enables efficient, compact, lightweight, and low-cost solar energy conversion and storage systems for applications in IoT devices, and off-grid energy systems. The research involves the engineering of advanced low-dimensional materials to optimize light absorption, charge separation, interfacial charge transport, and electrochemical ion-storage kinetics for achieving highly stable and efficient photo battery systems. Through rational material engineering, device-level optimization, and fundamental investigations using various ex-situ and in-situ characterization techniques, the developed systems demonstrated enhanced specific capacity, superior cycling stability, long-term operational durability, and stable standalone photocharging capability under illumination. The study also provides critical insights into the underlying photoelectrochemical and charge-storage mechanisms governing such emerging systems. The research findings from this thesis have been published in reputed international scientific journals, including Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor: 19.0), Advanced Sustainable Systems (Impact Factor: 6.2), and ACS Applied Energy Materials (Impact Factor: 5.6), highlighting the scientific significance and global relevance of the contributions in the field of advanced energy materials and sustainable energy storage technologies.