suraj talekar
About Candidate
During my internship at CSIR-NCL Pune under Dr. Manjusha Shelke, I worked on the fabrication and electrochemical evaluation of V₂O₅-CNT composite electrodes for magnesium-ion battery applications. Through this project, I gained hands-on experience in electrode preparation, preparing homogeneous slurries containing active material, conductive additives, and binder, followed by coating and drying to fabricate battery electrodes. I was involved in assembling both coin cells and pouch cells inside a glove box under an inert atmosphere, which helped me understand battery fabrication protocols and the importance of moisture- and oxygen-free environments. I performed electrochemical testing, including cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, to evaluate the electrodes’ electrochemical behavior and performance. Alongside battery fabrication and testing, I characterized the materials using XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM to correlate the structural and morphological properties with electrochemical performance. Through this work, I developed a deeper understanding of energy storage mechanisms, electrode-material design, battery assembly, electrochemical analysis, and the practical challenges involved in developing next-generation rechargeable battery systems. The project strengthened both my experimental skills and my ability to analyze and interpret characterization and electrochemical data for energy storage applications.
Education
During my Master's in Nanoscience and Technology at Bharathiar University, I gained a strong theoretical foundation and practical training in nanomaterials, nanofabrication, characterization techniques, and their applications in energy, electronics, environmental, and biomedical fields. The coursework provided me with knowledge of the physical, chemical, and electronic properties of materials at the nanoscale, semiconductor physics, surface science, quantum mechanics, and energy storage technologies. Through laboratory courses and research activities, I developed hands-on experience in nanomaterial synthesis using methods such as hydrothermal and solvothermal synthesis, electrodeposition, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), spray pyrolysis, drop casting, coating techniques, and green synthesis approaches. I also gained experience in characterization techniques and instrumentation, including AFM, STM, XRD, UV–Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and gas reactor systems, along with exposure to FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and electrochemical analysis. As part of my master's research project at CSIR-NCL Pune, I worked on the fabrication and electrochemical evaluation of V₂O₅–CNT composite electrodes for magnesium-ion battery applications, where I gained practical experience in electrode fabrication, coin-cell and pouch-cell assembly, glove-box operation, electrochemical testing, and material characterization. Through my coursework and research training, I developed a broad understanding of the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanomaterials in sensors, semiconductors, catalysis, gas capture and conversion, and energy storage and conversion systems.
I have completed my undergraduate studies in Chemistry, with Physics and Mathematics as supportive subjects. During this period, I gained both theoretical knowledge and practical laboratory experience, particularly in synthesis techniques. My coursework and practical training helped me understand fundamental physical phenomena and develop strong problem-solving skills in mathematics. As part of my academic journey, I undertook a project focused on the synthesis of nanoparticles and the investigation of their photocatalytic activity and antimicrobial properties.
Work & Experience
As a summer intern, I conducted research on Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), focusing on synthesizing materials for gas conversion reactions. My work involved reducing harmful gases by capturing and converting them into less harmful forms. During this period, I gained hands-on experience with gas reactors and performed extensive material synthesis using techniques such as doping and ultrasonication. I also worked on developing core–shell particles as potential catalysts. Alongside experimental work, I carried out detailed analysis and theoretical studies to better understand the catalytic mechanisms.
I successfully synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for photocatalytic degradation of dye-contaminated water, targeting methylene blue, methyl orange, and ethylene blue. The unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity under light irradiation. A green approach using Dracaena trifasciata extract was employed for synthesis, contributing functional groups that enhanced stability and catalytic efficiency. This plant-based method improved biocompatibility and introduced bioactive compounds that facilitated dye degradation. Beyond photocatalysis, the synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, likely due to silver's intrinsic antimicrobial properties. Characterization techniques included UV-Vis spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and XRay Diffraction (XRD). Antimicrobial potential was evaluated in a microbiology laboratory, where AgNPs showed excellent activity against microbial contaminants.
I worked on a battery research project focused on the fabrication and electrochemical evaluation of V₂O₅–CNT composite electrodes and their application in magnesium-ion battery systems. Through this project, I gained both practical and theoretical knowledge of battery materials, electrochemical energy storage mechanisms, cell fabrication, and battery performance evaluation. My work involved electrode slurry preparation, electrode fabrication, coin-cell and pouch-cell assembly, and glove-box handling under inert atmospheric conditions. As part of the project, I employed electrochemical characterization techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge testing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), to investigate charge storage behavior, reaction kinetics, interfacial properties, and overall electrochemical performance. I also utilized characterization techniques such as XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM to study the structural, chemical, and morphological properties of the electrode materials. This experience enhanced my understanding of battery chemistry, electrode design, material characterization, and the development of advanced energy storage systems.
