Debasis Bera

Objective

To obtain a challenging position in research and development of nanomaterials requiring strong technical and analytical skills to enhance technical competency in the field of nanotechnology in a reputed organization

Educational Qualifications

Presently pursuing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at University of Central Florida (UCF) on Nanomaterials research at Mechanical Materials and Aerospace Engineering Department; Started on Fall 2002. Expected date of degree: Fall 2004

Current GPA: 3.8

Master of Technology: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, January 2002

Major: Materials Science and Engineering; Minor: Metallurgical Engineering

CPI: 8.1/10

Master of Science: Jadavpur University, July 1999

Major: Analytical Chemistry; Minor: Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry

% Marks: 62.5% (First Class)

Awards and Honors

    §         Student Travel Grant recipient from Electrodeposition Division of Electrochemical Society (ECS) for the ECS conference at Hawaii (August 2004)

    §         First place in Poster contest at International Metallographic Contest 2004 Organized by IMS and ASM in the category Class 8: Artistic Microscopy (August 2004)

    §         Honorable Mention position in Poster contest at International Metallographic Contest 2004 Organized by IMS and ASM in the category Class 3: Transmission Electron Microscopy (August 2004)

    §         Student Government Association (SGA) travel grant for ECS Conference at Hawaii (August 2004)

    §         ECS Travel Grant for presenting paper at ECS conference at San Antonio on 10th May 2004

    §         Awarded Fellowship for Summer Research Institute at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for 10 weeks program (May 2004).

§         First Place in Florida chapter poster competition American Society of Materials (ASM); (April 2004)

§         Travel Award from Student Government Association (SGA) for oral presentation at 205th Electrochemical Society Meeting at San Antonio TX (April 2004).

§         Best in the Category Award at the category of ‘All Science and Engineering departments, CREOL, Simulation and Training’ for poster competition organized by Graduate Research Forum at University of Central Florida (March 2004)

§         Graduate Travel Award from Graduate Studies of University of Central Florida (March 2004)

§         Certificate of Excellence for Poster Presentation organized by Graduate Research Forum (University of Central Florida) (March 2004)

    §         AFM Certificate from Molecular Imaging (Arizona) (September 2003).

    §         NSF Fellowship for NSF Summer Institute on Nanomechanics and Materials, (August 2003)

    §         Certificate of Appreciation for the Participation in NSF sponsored RET & REU program, (July, 2003)

     §      Award of CSIR/NET Qualification and CSIR Fellowship (India’s Most Prestigious fellowship in science at graduate level) in Chemistry (June 2000)

    §     Award of GATE Qualification (Chemistry)-2000 (Percentile 91.33) and GATE Fellowship in Chemistry (April 2000).

Patent

Work on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is being considered as an intellectual property (at final stage).

Ph.D. Thesis Work:

Novel Synthesis Methods for Nanoparticles Decorated Carbon Nanotubes and Their Application: Numbers of various oxide and metallic nanoparticles (diameter 3-5 nm) decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been synthesized using arc-discharge in solutions method. Palladium nanoparticles decorated CNTs have been synthesized using above mentioned method to develop high efficiency hydrogen storage materials. Surface area has been measured using BET Sorptometer. The samples were characterized by SEM, EDS, XPS, TEM, SAED and STEM investigation revealed that Pd-nanoparticles consisted of a large number of nanocrystallites in the size range of 5-10 nm.

MS Thesis Work:

Synthesis of 45S5-Bioglass composites: 45S5 Bioglass has been synthesized through sol-gel route using penta-coordinated silicon complex as a precursor, where ethylene glycol was used as a ligand. The dimer of penta-coordinated complex was synthesized using tetra-ethylene-ortho-silicate (TEOS) under nitrogen atmosphere at 200 degree centigrade for 2 hours. Then composites were made with the incorporation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Modulus of rupture (MOR) of different samples, varying ratio of PMMA and Bioglass, was plotted and optimized. These samples were characterized using FTIR, TGA, DTA and XRD techniques.

Other Research Activities

1. Development of Hydrogen Sensor

Working on a project funded by NASA, entitled “Synthesis of nanomaterials for extremely sensitive, cost effective, high efficiency hydrogen sensing device”. Arrays of Pd-nanoparticles through electrodeposition method has been synthesized using with the help of EG&G Potentiostatic Instruments. To characterize the substrates and samples various surface analysis techniques used including AFM, SEM, TEM, EBSD, OIM, XPS, STEM and EBSD.

2. Working on a DOE sponsored project titled as “Influence of multiple interfaces on oxygen ionic conductivity in gadolinium-doped simple crystal oxide electrolyte multi-layer nano films”. Epitaxially grown Gd-doped ceria thin-films on zirconia (111) buffered, alumina (0001) were synthesized using oxygen plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (OPA-MBE) due to its applications in technological devices such as sensors, solid oxide fuel cells, batteries and three-way catalysts of automobiles. These films were characterized by several surface and bulk sensitive capabilities including RHEED, in-situ XPS, AFM and RBS. Oxygen ionic conductivity in Gd-doped ceria films has been measured as a function of Gd-concentration. Inter-diffusion of elements at the CeO2/ZrO2 interface has been studied using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling.

Related Course Work

At Graduate level

Mechanical Properties of Materials, Concepts of Materials and Characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, AFM, BET etc), Diffusion of Materials, Microfabrication and MEMS, Physical Metallurgy, Corrosion Fundamentals and Application, Advanced Composites, Advanced Ceramics and Powder and Sintered Product.

At undergraduate level

Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry (Specialization), Characterization: FTIR, UV-Vis, AAS, AES, GC etc.

Instrument

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES).  Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Rutherford Backscattered Spectroscopy (RBS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), BET sorptometer, Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectrometer (FTIR), Ultraviolet spectrometer (UV-Vis), Atomic Absortion and Emission Spectrometer (AAS and AES).

Publications

1.      D. Bera, S. Seal, “Hydrogen adsorption and desorption behaviors of palladium nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotubes” (under preparation)

2.      D. Bera, S. Patil, K. Scammon, S. Seal, “Novel synthesis method of nanostructured fractals of fluorine doped tin oxides using anodization for fuel cell application” (under preparation).

3.      D. Bera, E. Brinley, Suresh C. Kuiry, M. McCutchen, H. Heinrich, S. Seal, “Optoelectronic Automated System for Arc-discharge in Solution to Synthesize Carbon Nanotubes” Review of Scientific Instruments (communicated). 

4.      D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, Z. Rahman, S. Seal, “Palladium Nanoparticle Arrays Using Template-assisted Electrodeposition” Journal of Electrochemical Society (Communicated)

5. D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, M. McCutchen, H. Heinrich, Grady C. Slane, S. Seal, “In-situ synthesis of carbon nanotubes decorated with palladium nanoparticles using arc-discharge in solution method Journal of Applied Physics. (Accepted)

6.      D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, M. McCutchen, A. Kruize, H. Heinrich, M. Meyyappan, S. Seal, “In-situ Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles Carbon Nanotubes using Arc-discharge in Solution” Chemical Physics Letters, 386, p364-368, 2004.

7.      D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, S.Seal, “Using Template-assisted Electrodeposition to synthesize Nanostructured materials” JOM, 56 (1), p49-53, 2004.

8.      D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, S.Seal, “Kinetics and Growth of Electrodeposited Palladium Nanocrystallites” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 108, p556-562, 2004.

9.      D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, S. Patil, S.Seal. “Palladium Nanoparticles Arrays Using Template-assisted Electrodeposition", Applied Physics Letter, 82 (18), p3089-3091, 2003.

10.  D. Bera, A. Anal, B.T. Rao, T.R.R. Mohan, “Synthesis of silicon penta-coordinate complex as a precursor for processing glass and glass ceramics”; Proceedings of the 28th International Annual meeting of  Powder Metallurgy Association of India "PM 02", New Delhi; India, 22-24^th January 2002.

Conference Presentation:

1.      D. Bera, S. Seal, “Synthesis of Arrays of Palladium Nanoparticles through Template-Assisted Electrodeposition” Surface Analysis ’04, organized AVS and PNNL, Richland, Washington 16^th June 2004.

2.      D. Bera, S. C. Kuiry, M. McCutchen, S. Seal, “Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes Filled with Nanoparticles Using Arc Discharge in Solution” Presentation at 205^th Electrochemical Society Meeting at San Antonio TX (10^th May 2004).

3.      D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, S. Patil, S.Seal, “Template Assisted Electrodeposition of Palladium Particles” Presented at 204^th Meeting (Orlando) of Electrochemical Society (ECS), Orlando, Florida, October 12-17, 2003.

4.      M. McCutchen, D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, S. Seal, “Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles Carbon Nanotubes using Arc-discharge in Solution” Presented at 204^th Meeting (Orlando) of Electrochemical Society (ECS), Orlando, Florida, October 12-17, 2003.

    5.      D. Bera, S.C. Kuiry, S. Patil, S.Seal. “Palladium Nanoparticles Arrays Using Template-assisted Electrodeposition", Annual Joint Symposium of American Vacuum Society (AVS) and Florida Society of Microscopy, Orlando, Florida, 17-18^th March 2003.

    6.      D. Bera, S. Seal; “Template Assisted Electrodeposition of Palladium Arrays”, 2003 AESF SUR/FIN Conference, Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 23-26, 2003.

     7.      D. Bera, A. Anal, B.T. Rao, T.R.R. Mohan, “Synthesis of silicon penta-coordinate complex as a precursor for processing glass and glass ceramics”; Powder Metallurgy Association of India "PM 02", New Delhi; India, 22-24^th January 2002.

Professional Membership

·    Member of Materials Research Society (MRS)

·    Electrochemical Society (ECS)

·    American Vacuum Society (AVS)

·    American Society of Materials (ASM)

·    The Materials, Minerals and Metals Society (TMS)

Other Activities

1.      Vice-president of Electrochemical Society (ECS) Student Chapter (Alfa) at University of Central Florida since Jan 2003.

2.      Treasurer of Materials Research Society (MRS) Student Chapter at University of Central Florida since Jan 2003.

3.      Active member of American Vacuum Society (AVS)

4.      Research coordinator of undergraduate students for Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology sponsored by NSF.

5.      NASA (KSC) Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) laboratory for experiment

6.      Webpage designing is my hobby.

Contact Details