Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

European University of Brittany, France

Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering (Prof. Jean-François Feller)

Thesis: Carbon Nanotube Filled Conductive polymer Nanocomposite for Sensing application

September 2010

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Postdoctoral Associate, University of Louisville,

Department: Conn Center For Renewable Energy Research,

Advisor: Dr. Joshua Spurgeon

Developed a new route for electrochemical conversion of CO2

Initiated collaboration with many groups (e.g., Prof. Petr Kral, UIC) for the investigation of CO2 reduction mechanism

Supervise three high school and two undergraduate students

Two manuscripts have been submitted in Journal of American Chemical Society and Catalyst today. Two other manuscripts are under preparation.

December 2014-Cont..

Postdoctoral Associate, University of Illinois at Chicago,

Department: Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,

Advisor: Dr. Amin Salehi Khojin

Established the research facility for metal air battery

Designed new catalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction

Developed new sensing platform for chemical detection

Trained three PhD students and two master students

Write the grant proposal independently for NSF

Eight manuscripts have been published in journals including Science, Nature, Advanced materials, ACS nano, Nanoletters Nature Comm.

Three Patents have been filed. One “proof of concept” award of $75000 was won. The written proposal is funded by NSF.

September 2012-December 2014

Postdoctoral Associate, CEA Grenoble, France

Department: Institute for Nanoscience and Cryogenics,

Advisor: Dr. Florence Duclairoir

Established the epitaxial graphene growth facility and developed the high quality graphene growth protocol

Selectively functionalization of single and multi-layers graphene for bio sensing application

One manuscript has been published in Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures. Another one is under review.

December 2010-July 2012

AWARDS

UIC Proof-of-Concept (POC) Award as Co-PI (75,000 $) – 2013, (UIC Proof-of-Concept Awards).

FCT Postdoctoral Research Fellowship awarded (SFRH/BPD/86066/2012) – 2013.

Best Presentation award – 2010 Macro IIT Chennai, India

RESEARCH IN NEWS

National Science Foundation (NSF), Graphene Flaws Key to Creating Hypersensitive ‘Electronic Nose’.

Department of Energy (DOE), Graphene Flaws Key to Creating Hypersensitive ‘Electronic Nose’.

Yahoo News, Production of synthetic gasoline comes one step closer to reality.

Science Daily, Process Holds Promise for Production of Synthetic Gasoline from Carbon Deoxide.

Science Daily, Engineers Fine-Tune the Sensitivity of Nano-Chemical Sensor.

PATENTS

1. Graphene Grain Boundary Based Chemical Sensors.

Amin Salehi-khojin, Poya Yasaei, Bijandra Kumar. 2014. U.S. patent application No. DH073, filed June 2014.

2. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) based catalysts for CO2 reduction.

Amin Salehi-khojin, Mohammad Asadi, Bijandra Kumar. 2013. U.S. Patent identification No. DG107. Filed Febreary 2013.

3. Novel Catalysts for Advanced Li-air Battery.

Amin Salehi-khojin, Mohammad Asadi, Bijandra Kumar. 2013. U.S. Patent identification No. DG071. Filed September 2014.

PUBLICATIONS

Published Research Papers: 31, Chapters in books: 2, Patents: 3 (under consideration),

National/International Conferences/Symposiums attended: 20, H-index – 16, Citation ~ 700

a) Under review:

1)D. Ponnamma, K. K.Sadasivuni, J. Cabibihan, B. Kumar “Reduced Graphene Oxide Filled Poly(dimethyl siloxane) based Transparent Stretchable, and Touch-Responsive Sensors ” Submitted (Corresponding Author).

2)B.Kumar, J. Spurgeon, “New trends toward the development of heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction” Submitted ((Corresponding Author).

3)B.Kumar, W. Turner, S. Kumari, J. Spurgeon, “Controlling the Product Syngas H2:CO Ratio through Pulsed Bias Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 on Copper” Submitted.

b) Refereed Journals:

4)A. Behranginia, M. Asadi, C. Liu, P. Yasaei, B. Kumar, P. Phillips, T. Foroozan, J. Waranius, K. Kim, J. Abiade, R. Klie, L. Curtiss, A. Salehi-Khojin, “Highly Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Using Crystalline Layered Three Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfides Grown On Graphene Film” Accepted in Chemistry of Materials.

5)M. Asadi, K. Kim, C. Liu, V. A. Addepalli, P. Phillips, P. Abbasi, A. Behranginia, P. Yasaei, R. Haasch, P. Zapol, B. Kumar, R. F. Klie, J. Abiade, L. A. Curtiss, A. S.Khojin, “Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction” under review in Science.

6)J. Lu, Y. J. Lee, X. Luo, K. C. Lau, M. Asadi, H. Wang, S. Brombosz, J. Wen, D. Zhai, Z. Chen, D. Miller, Y.Jeong, J. B. Park, Z. Z. Fang, B. Kumar, A. S. Khojin, Y. K. Sun, L.A. Curtiss, K. Amine, “A Lithium-Oxygen Battery Based on Lithium Superoxide.” Accepted in Nature.

7)M. Asadiψ, B. Kumarψ, C. Liu, P. Phillips, P. Yasaei, A. Behranginia, P. Zapol, R. F. Klie, L. A. Curtiss, A. S. Khojin, “Molybdenum Disulfide Bi-functional Catalyst for Metal-Air Batteries”. Accepted in ACS nano.

ψ – Equal contribution

8)B. Kumar, M. Baraket, M. Paillet, J.-R. Huntzinger, A. Tiberj, A.G.M. Jansen, L. Vila, M. Cubuku, C. Vergnaud, M. Jamet, G. Lapertot, D. Rouchon, A.-A. Zahab, J.-L. Sauvajol, L. Dubois, F. Lefloch, F. Duclairoir, “Growth protocols and characterization of epitaxial graphene on SiC elaborated in a graphite enclosure”. Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures, (accepted).

9)P. Yasaei, B. Kumar, T. Foroozan, C. Wang, M. Asadi, D. Tuschel, J. E. Indacochea, R. F. Klie, A. Salehi-Khojin, “High-Quality Black Phosphorus Atomic Layers by Liquid-Phase Exfoliation” Advanced Materials, 11, 1887–1892, 2015.

10)P. Yasaei, B. Kumar, R. Hantehzadeh, M. Kayyalha, A. Baskin, N. Repnin, C. Wang, R. F. Klie, Y. P. Chen, P. Král, A. Salehi-Khojin “Chemical sensing with switchable transport channels in graphene grain boundaries” Nature Communications 5, 4911, 2014.

11)J-F. Feller, N. Gatt, B. Kumar, M. Castro, “Selectivity of chemoresistive sensors made of chemically functionalized carbon nanotube random networks to volatile organic compound VOC,” Chemosensors. 2(1), 26-40, 2014.

12)M. Asadi ψ, B. Kumar ψ, A. Behranginia, B. A. Rosen, A. Baskin, N. Repnin, D. Pisasale, P. Phillips, W. Zhu, R. Haasch, R. F. Klie, P. Král, J. Abiade, A.Salehi-Khojin, “Robust Carbon Dioxide Reduction on Molybdenum Disulfide Edges.” Nature Communications, 5, 4470, 2014.

ψ – Equal contribution

13)B. Kumar, M. Castro, J. F. Feller, “Quantum resistive vapour sensors made of polymer coated carbon nanotubes random networks for biomarkers detection.” Chemical Sensors, vol. 3, p. 20, 2013.

14)B. Kumar et al., The Role of External Defects in Chemical Sensing of Graphene Field-Effect Transistors, Nano Letters 13, 1962–1968 (2013).

(Highlighted in more than 200 news magazines).

15)B. Kumar, et. al., “Renewable and metal-free carbon nanofibre catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction,” Nature Communications, 2013. [I.F: 10.10]

(Highlighted in more than 200 news magazines).

16)B. Kumar, M. Castro, and J.-F. Feller, “Tailoring the chemo-resistive response of self-assembled polysaccharide-CNT sensors by chain conformation at tunnel junctions,” Carbon, vol. 50, no. 10, pp. 3627–3634, 2012.

17)B. Kumar, M. Castro, and J.-F. Feller, “Controlled conductive junction gap for chitosan–carbon nanotube quantum resistive vapour sensors,” Journal of Materials Chemistry, vol. 22, no. 21, pp. 10656–10664, 2012.

18)B. Kumar, Y. Park, M. Castro, J. Grunlan, and J.-F. Feller, “Fine control of carbon nanotubes–polyelectrolyte sensors sensitivity by electrostatic layer by layer assembly (eLbL) for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOC),” Talanta, vol. 88, pp. 396–402, 2012.

19)B. Kumar, M. Castro, and J.-F. Feller, “Poly (lactic acid)–multi-wall carbon nanotube conductive biopolymer nanocomposite vapour sensors,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 161, no. 1, pp. 621–628, 2012.

20)M. Castro, B. Kumar, J.-F. Feller, Z. Haddi, A. Amari, and B. Bouchikhi, “Novel e-nose for the discrimination of volatile organic biomarkers with an array of carbon nanotubes (CNT) conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPC) sensors,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 159, no. 1, pp. 213–219, 2011.

21)J.-F. Feller, J. Lu, K. Zhang, B. Kumar, M. Castro, N. Gatt, and H. Choi, “Novel architecture of carbon nanotube decorated poly (methyl methacrylate) microbead vapour sensors assembled by spray layer by layer,” Journal of Materials Chemistry, vol. 21, no. 12, pp. 4142–4149, 2011.

22)J. Lu, J.-F. Feller, B. Kumar, M. Castro, Y. Kim, Y. Park, and J. Grunlan, “Chemo-sensitivity of latex-based films containing segregated networks of carbon nanotubes,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 155, no. 1, pp. 28–36, 2011.

23)B. Kumar, J.-F. Feller, M. Castro, and J. Lu, “Conductive bio-Polymer nano-Composites (CPC): Chitosan-carbon nanotube transducers assembled via spray layer-by-layer for volatile organic compound sensing,” Talanta, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 908–915, 2010.

24)J. Lu, B. J. Park, B. Kumar, M. Castro, H. J. Choi, and J.-F. Feller, “Polyaniline nanoparticle–carbon nanotube hybrid network vapour sensors with switchable chemo-electrical polarity,” Nanotechnology, vol. 21, no. 25, p. 255501, 2010.

25)V. Rana, A. K. Pandey, R. P. Singh, B. Kumar, S. Mishra, and C.-S. Ha, “Enhancement of thermal stability and phase relaxation behavior of chitosan dissolved in aqueous l-lactic acid: Using ‘silver nanoparticles’ as nano filler,” Macromolecular Research, vol. 18, no. 8, pp. 713–720, 2010.

26)J. Lu, B. Kumar, M. Castro, and J.-F. Feller, “Vapour sensing with conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPC): Polycarbonate-carbon nanotubes transducers with hierarchical structure processed by spray layer by layer,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 140, no. 2, pp. 451–460, 2009.

27)M. Castro, J. Lu, S. Bruzaud, B. Kumar, and J.-F. Feller, “Carbon nanotubes/poly (ε-caprolactone) composite vapour sensors,” Carbon, vol. 47, no. 8, pp. 1930–1942, 2009.

28)B. Kumar, I. Kumar, and R. Singh, “Photodegradation of EPDM/MWCNT nanocomposites: Effect of singlet oxygen,” Polymer Composites, vol. 30, no. 7, pp. 855–860, 2009.

29)D. Depan, B. Kumar, and R. P. Singh, “Preparation and characterization of novel hybrid of chitosan-g-PDMS and sodium montmorrilonite,” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, vol. 84, no. 1, pp. 184–190, 2008.

30)B. Kumar, S. Rana, and R. P. Singh, “Photo-oxidation of EPDM/layered double hydroxides composites: Influence of layered hydroxides and stabilizers,” Express Polymer Letters, vol. 1, pp. 748–754, 2007.

31)K. R. Reddy, B. Kumar, S. Rana, A. K. Tevtia, and R. P. Singh, “Synthesis and characterization of hindered amine light stabilizers based on end functionalization of polypropylene,” Journal of applied polymer science, vol. 104, no. 3, pp. 1596–1602, 2007.

32)S. Fernandes, S. Correia, I. Matos, M. M. Marques, S. Rana, B. Kumar, M. Gupta, and R.P. Singh, “Photodegradation of ethylene/propylene/polar monomers, co-, and terpolymers. II. Prepared by Ni catalyst systems,” Journal of applied polymer science, vol. 104, no. 3, pp. 1783–1791, 2007.

33)S. Rana, A. K. Tevtia, B. Kumar, R.P. Singh, and N. S. Tomer, “Preparation and Performance Evaluation of EPDM Nanocomposites under Accelerated Weathering,” Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 461–474, 2006.

34)A. P. Kumar, J. K. Pandey, B. Kumar, and R.P. Singh, “Photo-/Bio-degradability of Agro Waste and Ethylene–Propylene Copolymers Composites Under Abiotic and Biotic Environments,” Journal of Polymers and the Environment, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 203–212, 2006.

c) Book Chapters:

35)J. F. Feller, M. Castro, B. Kumar, “Polymer CNT conductive nanocomposite for sensing” in Polymer carbon nanotube composites: Preparation, Properties & Applications, Ed. T. Mc Nally, Whoodhead Publishing Ltd, Cambridge, UK, Chap. 25, pp 848, ISBN 184******* (2011).

36)J. F. Feller, M. Castro, B. Kumar, “Conductive BioNanoComposites for Sensors” in Nanocomposites with Biodegradable Polymers: Synthesis, Properties & Future Perspectives, Ed. V. Mittal, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, Chap. 15, pp 440, ISBN 978-0-19-958192-4 (2011).

d) Selected Conference Submissions:

37)N. Repnin, A. Baskin, P. Yasaei, R. hantehzadeh, B. Kumar, P. Kral, A. Salehi-khojin, Electrochemistry and molecular sensing in layered materials, APS March Meeting 2014, Volume 59, Number 1, March 3–7, 2014; Denver, Colorado, USA.

38)B. Kumar, F. Duclairoir, L. Dubois, G. Lapertot, D. Rouchon, J.-L. Sauvajol, M. Paillet, G. Bidan, J.-R. Hutzinger, P. Maldivi, A. Tiberj, A. Zahab, Epitaxial Graphene on Si face of SiC: A Comparative Study of Different Growth Conditions, Graphene 2012, Brussels Belgium.

39)J.F. Feller, M. Castro, B. Kumar, Volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors of polymer carbon nanofiller films hierchically assembled by spray LbL, MED 2011, 22 - 24 Mars 2012, Hammamet, Tunisie.

40)M. Castro, B. Kumar, J. Lu, J. F. Feller, Conductive Polymer Composites based sensors for detection and discrimination of VOCs, MRS 2011, 28th November – 2nd December 2011, Boston, USA.

41)J.F. Feller, M. Castro, B. Kumar, Tailoring CNT/CNT junctions in VOC sensors by spray LbL assembly of carbon nanotube decorated poly(methyl methacrylate) microbeads, IWNA 2011, 10-12th November 2011, Vung Tau, Vietnam.

42)J. F. Feller, J. Lu, K. Zhang, B. Kumar, M. Castro, H. J. Choi, Vapour sensors designed by Spray LbL assembly of carbon nanotube decorated poly(methyl methacrylate) microbeads, NanoPrint, 4-5 July 2011, Nanyang, Singapore.

43)B. Kumar, M. Castro, J. Lu, J-F. Feller, Poly (Methyl Methacrylate)/CNT Conductive Polymer nanoComposite: Conductive Network Architecture and Potential as Sensor. SAMPE 2010, May 17-20, 2010 Seattle, USA.

44)M. Castro, B. Kumar, J. Lu, and J. Feller, “Polycarbonate-Carbon Nanotubes Transducers with Hierarchical Structure for Vapor Sensing,” SAMPE 2010, May 17-20, 2010 Seattle, USA.

45)B. Kumar, Jianbo Lu, Mickael Castro, Jean-François Feller, Conductive Polymer nano-bioComposites(CPC): Chitosan carbon nanoparticle a good condidate to design polar vapour sensors, Polychar 17, Rouen, 20-24 April 2009.

46)B. Kumar, M. Castro, J. Lu, J-F. Feller, "Recyclable Polypropylene/Polycaprolactone Carbon Nanotubes based Bi-phasic Conducting Polymer Composite as temperature sensor", Macro 2009, Madras, India, 9-11 March 2009.

47)S. Bruzaud, M. Castro, J. Lu, B. Kumar, J-F Feller, Elaboration Of Poly(Caprolactone)-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes By In Situ Polymerization Leading To Nanocomposite Materials For Sensing Application, Polymers for Advanced Technologies 2009, 11-14 octobre 2009, Jérusalem, Israël.

48)J. Lu, M. Castro, B. Kumar, J. F. Feller, S. Pegel, P. Pötschke, Effect of processing conditions on vapor sensing ability of polycarbonate-multiwall nanotubes conductive nanocomposites (CPC), Eurofillers 2009, June 21-25, Alessandria, Italy.

49)J. Lu, B. Kumar, M. Castro, J.F. Feller, Vapor sensor with hierarchical structure: polycarbonate-carbon nanotubes conductive polymer nanocomposites, Polychar 17, Rouen, 20-24 avril 2009.

50)M. Castro, J. Lu, S. Bruzaud, B. Kumar, J-F Feller, "Influence of carbon nanotube grafting on chemo-electrical properties of Conductive Polymer nanoComposites", Polychar 17, Rouen, 20-24 avril 2009.

51)J-F. Feller, B. Kumar, M. Castro, J. Lu, “Conducting Polymer nanoComposites (CPC): Nanocharacterisation of layer by layer sprayed PMMA-CNT vapour sensors by Atomic force Microscopy in current Sensing Mode (CS-AFM)”, MRS Proceedings, vol. 1143, Warrendale, PA, 2009, doi:10.1557/PROC-1143-KK02-06.

52)B. Kumar, E. Balnois, M. Castro, J-F. Feller, "Conducting Polymer nanoComposites (CPC): Nanocharacterisation of layer by layer sprayed PMMA-CNT vapour sensors by C-AFM", MRS Fall meeting, Boston, USA, 1-5 décembre 2008.

53)B. Kumar, J. Lu, M. Castro, J-F. Feller, "Poly(lactic acid)-Carbon Nanotube Conductive Polymer nanoComposites as a Smart Material for Vapour Sensing", 2èmes Journées NanoScience de Bretagne (C'Nano), Nantes, 5-6 Juin 2008.

54)J. Lu, M. Castro, B. Kumar, and J.-F. Feller, “Thermo-and chemo-electrical behavior of carbon nanotube filled co-continuous conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPC) to develop amperometric sensors,” MRS Proceedings, vol. 1143, pp. 1143–KK05, 2008.

55)M. Castro, J. Lu, B. Kumar, S. Bruzaud, and J.-F. Feller, “Influence of carbon nanotube grafting on chemo-electrical properties of Conductive Polymer nanoComposites,” MRS Proceedings, vol. 1143, no. 1, 2008.

56)M. Castro, J. Lu, S. Bruzaud, B. Kumar, J-F Feller, "Influence of carbon nanotube grafting on chemo-electrical properties of Conductive Polymer nanoComposites", MRS Fall meeting, Boston, USA, 1-5 décembre 2008.

(Bijandra Kumar)

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