Satya Kuchibhatla, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow, WR Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Interfacial & Nanoscale Science FacilityCurrent Activities and Projects
In brief, synthesis and characterization of nanoscale materials in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and atmospheric conditions is the focus of Satya's research.
Development of high quality, single crystal thin films using oxygen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy for various user related projects is the main assignment for Satya as part of his internship at PNNL. Pure and doped Cerium oxide (CeO2), copper oxide (Cu2O), titania (TiO2), zirconia (ZrO2) films and barium oxide clusters are the systems of major interests. The structure and quality of the thin films is analyzed by various in situ (RHEED, LEED, XPS) and ex situ (XRD, TEM, EDS, RBS, AFM) characterization techniques.
Satya is actively involved in the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) electrolyte development work in EMSL. This project involves tuning the structure and vacancy engineering of the doped ceria electrolytes and developing the doped ceria-stabilized zirconia multilayer thin film electrolytes. The ultimate aim of this project is to gain a fundamental understanding of the nanoscale effects in controlling the ionic conductivity and overall performance of the SOFC elctrolytes at the low and intermediate temperatures (600-800oC).
Studies to understand the affect of aging and local environment on the size, self-assembly and chemistry of ceria nanoparticles are the major focus of Satya's dissertation work. The nanoparticles of ceria are synthesized using various wet chemical methods and their characteristics are studied using SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD, BET surface area analysis and Uv-Visible spectrophotometry.
Research Interests
- Nanoscale materials synthesis and characterization
- Solid oxide fuel cells
- Electron microscopy of nanostructured materials and ceramic coatings
- Surface and interfacial phenomena
- Sintering and related phenomena
Past Experience
- May 2005 – August 2005: Summer Research Fellow, PNNL
- 2004 – 2006: Graduate Research Assistant, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL-USA
- August 2001-January 2003: Teaching Assistant, IIT Bombay, INDIA
Education
- Ph. D. Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, USA (Spr'2008 - expected)
- M. Tech. Materials Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay, INDIA (2003)
- B. E. Metallurgical Engineering, Andhra University, INDIA(2001)
Awards, Honors, & Appointments
- "Graduate Research Award 2007" from The American Vacuum Society
- "Outstanding Performance Award - 2007", EMSL, PNNL.
- "Graduate Travel Award", Spr 2006 and Fall 2006, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL-USA
- "Summer Research Fellowship 2005", PNNL, US Department of Energy, Richland, WA,USA
- All India Rank 34 in "Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering – 2001"
- Best student award from State Bank Of India (1994)
