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​Prabhuraj, MIChemE, RSC, ISE, IET.  
​Researcher - Graphene systems in fuel cells.
School of Chemical Engineering  and  Analytical  Science, University  of  Manchester,  Manchester M13 9PL. United Kingdom.Email: prabhuraj.balakrishnan@manchester.ac.uk​                                              
 "I am a researcher working on 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) for opto-electronic applications with additional expertise revolving around fuel cells, sensors, catalysis, and corrosion assessment areas. Currently working on engineering methanol fuel cells, here in the University of Manchester, with close collaborations with Nobel prize winning team from School of Physics and National Graphene Institute. I have two patents, three peer-reviewed journal publications with 22 international conference presentations till date. I am involved in several teaching and outreaching activities across the University supported by fellowship programmes. In my free time, I would like to go for horse riding across the country side and practice fencing"  

Latest News and my Research highlights:
With the award
In the IChemE (Institute of Chemical Engineers) event
                     News section
"I am a researcher working on 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) for opto-electronic applications with additional expertise revolving around fuel cells, sensors, catalysis, and corrosion assessment areas. Currently working on engineering methanol fuel cells, here in the University of Manchester, with close collaborations with Nobel prize winning team from School of Physics and National Graphene Institute. I have two patents, three peer-reviewed journal publications with 22 international conference presentations till date. I am involved in several teaching and outreaching activities across the University supported by fellowship programmes. In my free time, I would like to go for horse riding across the country side and practice fencing"  ​

Academic pathway:

  • 2016/17: PhD Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science
                 University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.                                   
                 Thesis Title: "Engineering membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of methanol fuel cells                                      using novel graphene architecture" - Supervisor: Dr Stuart M. Holmes.   ​                            
                  President's doctoral fellowship.                                                       
  • 2008-2012: B Tech Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India. University Topper: Gold medalist.

Research projects and experience:

  • Materials for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) using graphene in PhD, - Part of “Graphene based membranes” project awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to the University of Manchester around £ 3 million (Project reference: EP/K016946/1), (Principal Investigator: Peter M. Budd).
  • Electrochemical saccharide sensor using poly 2, 5 dimethoxy aniline (PDMA) as a newly functionalized polymer support, Electrodics and Electro Catalysis (EEC) Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India.
  • Effect of strain rate on the behaviour of stainless steels in chloride medium, Corrosion Protection Division (CPD), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India.
  • Nanoparticles of cerium dioxide-platinum (CeO2-Pt) on polyaniline (PANI) support- An electro catalyst for methanol oxidation, Electrodics and Electro Catalysis (EEC) Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India.
  • Erosion corrosion behaviour of copper alloys in seawater, Corrosion Protection Division (CPD), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India.
  • Microstructural and elemental characterization through spectroscopic techniques: x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), fourier transform - infrared (FT-IR), ultra violet (UV)-Visible, electro paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India.

Awards and academic achievements:

  • Research led to winning "Adventurers in Energy research" grant worth half-a-milion GBP.
  • Young Chemical Engineer of the Year 2017 by IChemE, IMechE and IET.
  • Doctoral researcher award by Association of British Turkish Academics (ABTA).
  • ‘Letter of appreciation’ by Prof. Matthew Lambon Ralph (Director of Manchester doctoral college) and Dr Ann Webb (Dean of Graduate Education), University of Manchester for enhanced performance in research, teaching and outreaching.   
  • ‘Inspirational speaker award’ by Young Malaysian Engineers’ society, Manchester, UK.
  • Article cited as one of hottest paper among 35 research publications in Wiley.
  • President's doctoral fellowship for pursuing PhD research.
  • ​Selected as one of the candidates across the globe for presenting my research work in Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • ​Awarded member of Electrochemical Society (ECS), USA.
  • Several travel and registration grants.
  • My group project sponsored by the University of Manchester has been shortlisted for Engineering YES (Young Entrepreneurs Scheme) Competition 2013, a business plan contest for Engineering PhD and Postdoctoral Researchers in United Kingdom.
  • Third Prize for best poster in "Use of graphene systems in fuel cells" organized by Royal Academy of Engineering, UK.
  • ​Alison-Uttley award from  Ashburne committee (University of Manchester), for academic achievements.
  • ​​Shri KV Prasad memorial award for academic achievements in undergrad studies.
  • ​Best poster prize for "Fuel Cells – A greener solution to energy and environmental crisis” (March 2011) in ‘International Symposium on Energy Materials’ (ISEM 2011) organized by Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), Kolkata, West Bengal, INDIA.
  • ​Central Government scholarship (from Indian government), for pursuing higher secondary education.
Dr Prabhuraj MIChemEUK