Electrical Engineering

Farah Alvi 832-***-****

**** ******* ***** *** ***,77030 ***********@*****.***

Resourceful, creative scientist with a proven track record of success in conceiving and

implementing innovative solutions to address complex research challenges. Highly conscientious

professional with electrical engineering, material science, polymer, Quantum Dots, LEDs,

Photovoltaic and Photocataylsis, semiconductor devices and nanotechnology background, who

consistently seeks new challenges as learning opportunities.

BACKGROUND SUMMARY

LEDs Dye sensitized solar cell

Supercapacitor

Flexible Plastic Electronics Process and Product engineering Lithium ion

battery

Thin film PV modules Smart materials Bio fuel cell

Sputtering system Polymer Synthesis Nanostructures

fabrication

Graphene Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM) Stochastic

simulation

Hitachi S800 SEM CVD system

Photoluminescence

Electrochemical impedance analyzer Electrochemistry Roll to Roll

manufacture of PV

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Senior Scientist

Energy Storage August 2011 till present

Houston, TX

***@*****-*******-*****.***

Led the development of portable, flexible printable battery. Conceptualized the use of smart

materials e.g. Si-graphene core shell, graphene, graphene oxide-conducting polymers

nanostructures as cathode electrodes of Lithium ion battery. Designed the portable, flexible

paintable battery by conceiving the novel screen printing technique and enhanced the overall

discharge capacity of device by 30%. Leading a team on the novel electrolytes combination to

render high oxidization and voltage decomposition potential to improve the life and performance

of device. Results: Successfully developed novel robust storage technology for consumer

electronic applications. and various important electronic applications.

Spearheaded the development of the printing circuits for flexible electronic applications:

Identified the current challenges and scope of the flexible electronics especially in the use of

high speed and cheap computing setup. Developed the processes of inkjet printer and

conceptualized its outcomes in making electric circuits on the flexible substrates e.g. conducting

plastic ITO, flexible graphene sheet and Si coating flexible glass or ceramic. Results: Novel

printing based technology is under piloting for commercialization.

Conceptualized and developed smart coating systems.

Conceived and engineered the smart coating systems for marine, aerospace and biomedical

applications. Created a smart coating strategy through employing inherently conductive polymers

based systems to sense local corrosion effects and release corrosion inhibitors. Developed

intelligent coating systems based on resins, microencapsulated ingredients, pigments,

antimicrobial characteristics of intelligent materials in response to various stimuli like heat,

pressure, pH, impact, vibrations, pathogens, humidity, electronic field and sunlight. Result: The

novel intelligence based systems are commercialized in variety of applications.

Evaluated the potential uses of fuel cells in mobile and stationary power applications.

Managed the development of computational models of various fuel cells e.g., PEM and SOFC.

Developed a process report regarding the feasibility and challenges in commercialization of fuel

cell technology. Results: Developed and submitted proposals to industry and National Science

Foundation (NSF). Instrumental in securing significant NSF funding for university.

Conceived and developed colloidal quantum dot based Inorganic white light emitting diode

(WLED).

Fabricated the cheap, robust and long lasting white LED with the incorporation of novel solgel

based coreshell Sb2S3/ZnS/CdSe quantum dots. By contrast to traditional LED phosphorous i

developed the facile scheme with the addition of p-type NiO hole transport layer (HTL) and with

n-type ZnO electron transport layer (ETL) which yielded promisingly bright light intensity and

high efficacy. Result: one patent and two journals articles on novel design of robust LED.

2008-2012

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Research Associate Tampa/FL

Researched the growth of metal oxides nanowires for Energy harvesting/Energy storage

device.

Worked on the National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal to Study and investigate the growth

process of metal oxides nanowires e.g. Si, ZnO and TiO2 using different approaches with special

focus on VLS method and hydrothermal method for different applications including gas sensing,

energy harvesting. Also developed the stochastic Monte Carlo model for the growth of ZnO

nanowires. Results: Three journal articles on the modeling as well as the application of ZnO

nanowires.

Fabricated the Quantum dot and plasmonic efficient solar cell . Carried out 2-years company

funded research project on the photoelectrochemical and dye sensitized solar cell using novel

materials. The study of novel hybrid nanodiamond- Regioregular Polyhexylthiophene has been

investigated for photo electrochemical cells. Besides, the challenges in the performance of dye

sensitized solar cell were also explored by employing the Graphene-condcuting polymers for

efficient counter electrode and the plasmonic metal particles e.g. Au, Pt. with working electrode

to enhance the efficiency of solar cell. Obtained efficiency was from 0.9%to 4% for the working

electrodes fabricate of nanowires and nanoparticles in dye sensitized solar cell. Results: Two

journal articles are in submission and one in print.

Developed novel Graphene-condcuting polymer nanocomposites for Supercapacitor.

Carried out the detailed Investigation of synthesis and characterization of graphene based

conducting polymer/metal oxides nanocomposites for green, low cost and high performance

electrochemical capacitor. Results: Managed to publish several journal articles on the different

aspects of investigation.

Evaluated the potential use of Graphene-condcuting polymer nanocomposites for Li-ion

battery.

Carried out the possibility of Graphene-condcuting polymer /metal oxides nanocomposites to a

solution of different challenges in recent Li-ion battery. Investigated the use and role of

Graphene-conducting polymer as anode and cathode electrodes for durable and safe Li-ion

battery. Results: Two journal articles on the low cost, green polymer based Li-ion battery.

2006-2008

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Research Assistant Tampa/FL

Evaluated the Influence of barrier layer, back contacts and impurity in CdTe/CIGS solar

cell. Identified and evaluated different materials as a barrier layers in CdTe solar cell Including

ZnO/TiO2. Completed a comprehensive study of back contacts e.g. (Ag, C, Mo) and different

ratios of ZnO/TiO2 as a barrier layer, also wrote a technical report. Investigated the possible

ways of successful doping of antimony (Sb) in CdTe using MOCVD process. Obtained

efficiency was approximately 13% for thin film solar cell. Result: Published a journal article

describing the challenges and benefits of Sb doping in CdTe solar cell.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 2006-2012

Tampa/FL

Instructor

Managed to independently teach the capstone course of Electronics 1 and Electronics 11 at least

for 2years. Also independently taught the courses like semiconductor characterization, applied

physics for Engineers, Nanotechnology for electrical engineers, Result: Secured excellent

student evaluations.

Technical Skills Acquired During PhD Research Projects

Film Deposition Systems

Skillful operation and troubleshooting of deposition systems given below including nanocrystalline,

polycrystalline and amorphous deposition of metals and metal oxides.

• Leskar sputtering system

• CVD system (Chemical Vapor Deposition)

• HF (Hot Filament) CVD system

• PLD (Pulse Laser Deposition) system

• Ebeam Evaporator

• Thermal Evaporator

• Focused Ion beam

• Direct reactive ion etching (DRIE)

• ALD(Atomic layer deposition)

• MOCVD

Films Characterization Facilities used in Projects of Photovoltaics, Supercapacitor, Lithium ion

battery .

Skillful operation of

• Hitachi S800 SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope)

• Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM)

• X’Pert XRD (X-Ray Diffraction)

• Pacific AFM (Atomic Force Microscope)

• Renishaw Raman Spectroscopy

• Photoluminescence Spectroscopy

• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

• UV/visible spectroscopy (UV)

• Electrochemical impedance analyzer

• Micro Manipulator 6000 series probe station

• Alpha Step 200 Profilometer

• Nanospec

• Photo lithography

• E beam lithography

• Clean room fabrication experience

Nanowires Growth by VLS (Vapor Liquid Solid) and Hydrothermal Method

Skillful operation of “Lindberg-blue Thermal Furnace”

Mostly for the growth of ZnO nanowires, TiO2 nanowires and Si nanowires under vacuum and

atmospheric pressure.

Significant Research Projects In USF (2007 – 2012)

• Fabricate MEMS pressure sensor.

• Fabricate Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitor.

• Synthesized metal oxide and metal Nanowires and Nanoparticles based gas sensors.

(obtained fast response in sensing the hazardous and nonhazardous gases)

• Fabricate and simulate 16 bit carry look adder using bench board and VHDL simulator.

Software Simulation

• Coventor, Cadence, Matlab.

• Intuitive understanding of CMOS VLSI Design.

• Incredibly powerful technical engineering software packages skills in the context of the

design & analysis of engineering systems: MATLAB (full command on the most popular

toolboxes like image processing, data analysis, and math), PSPICE (for computer

analysis of Electronic circuits), Electronics Workbench Multiuse Software (command on

the circuit simulation tool for the computer analysis of all kinds of electronic circuits).

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Master in Physics, Punjab University Lahore (Analog & Digital Electronics)

August 2000

Master of Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida, 2006 January to summer 2008

“Effect of back contacts and barrier layers on the performance of thin film CdTe/CdS solar cell”

(Research funded by NSF on the project of efficiency enhancement of thin film CdTe/CdS solar

cell on flexible substrates.)

Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida, summer 2008 to summer 2012

“Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, nanostructured materials for energy storage and

energy harvesting Applications” (PhD research funded by cleanse international on the project for

novel applications of smart polymer)

Awards

1: Grand Prize for best poster presentation at the 2008 Annual Joint Symposium of the FLAVS

and FSM.

2: Graduate research assistant for NSF grant # 0728100. “In Situ Nanomanufacturing Process

Control through Multiscale Nanowire Growth Modeling”.

Selected Publications

Journals

Photo Electrochemical Cells

• H. Zhao, Alvi Farah, D. Morel, and C.S. Ferekides, “The effect of impurities on the

doping and VOC of CdTe/CdS thin film solar cells.” Thin Solid Films 517 (2009) 2365–

2369(published).

• F.Alvi M.K.Ram, E.Stefanakos and Ashok Kumar, “Novel Nano-hybrid Structured

Regioregular Polyhexylthiophene Blend Films for Photo-electrochemical Energy

Applications” (journal of Physical chemistry C) published.

Super Capacitor

• H. Gomez, M.K.Ram, F.Alvi, P.Villalba, E.Stefanakos, Ashok Kumar, “Graphene-

conducting polymer nanocomposite as novel electrode for Supercapacitors”Journal of

Power Sources 196 (2011) 4102–4108 (published).

• F. Alvi, M. K. Ram, P. Baskaya, E.s Stefanakos, Y. Goswami and Ashok Kumar, “Novel

Graphene-polyethylenedioxythiophene Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite Based

Supercapacitor.” Electrochimica Acta” (published).

• F.Alvi, M.K. Ram, P. Baskaya, E. Stefanakos, Y. Goswami and Ashok Kumar,

“Graphene-Polythiophene Nanocomposite as Novel Supercapacitor Electrode Material.

“journal of new materials for electrochemical systems” (published).

Lithium Ion battery

• F.Alvi, M. K. Ram, P.Baskaya, E.Stefanakos, Y. Goswami and Ashok Kumar, “Graphene-

Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites as Novel cathode Electrodes for Rechargeable

Battery Application” under review in Journal of electrochemical acta”.

• F. Alvi, M. K. Ram, P. Baskaya, E. Stefanakos, Y. Goswami and Ashok Kumar,

“Graphene-Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites as Novel anode Electrodes for

Lithium ion Battery” Submitted in “Journal of nanoparticle research”.

Modeling of Nanowires& Nanocomposite

• F. Alvi, R. K. Joshi, Q. Huang and Ashok Kumar, “Coarse-grained kinetic scheme-based

simulation framework for solution growth of ZnO nanowires. Journal of nanoparticle

research 2010(published).

• F.Alvi, M. K. Ram, H.Gomez, R. K.Joshi and Ashok Kumar, “Evaluating the chemio-

physio properties of novel zinc oxide–polyaniline nanocomposite polymer films.”

Polymer journal 2010 (published).

Corrosion behavior of Nanocomposite

• H.Gomez, M.K.Ram, F.Alvi, E.Stefanakos, Ashok Kumar, “Novel Synthesis,

Characterization, and Corrosion Inhibition Properties of Nanodiamond-Polyaniline

Films”J. Phys. Chem. C. 114 (2010)18797–18804 (publishedd).

• F. Alvi, M.K. Ram, P. Baskaya, E. Stefanakos, Y. Goswami and Ashok Kumar,

“Corrosion inhibition study of zinc oxide-polyaniline nanocomposite for Aluminum and

Steel in Acidic and Alkaline Medium.” Submitted in journal of synthetic metals”.

Gas Sensing

• R. K. Joshi Q. Hu, F.Alvi, N. Joshi and Ashok Kumar, “Au Decorated ZnO Nanowires for

CO sensors” Journal of Physical Chemistry C- Vol. 113, pp. 16199, (2009).

(published).

• R. K. Joshi H. Gomez, F.Alvi, and Ashok Kumar, “Graphene Films and Ribbons for

Sensing of O2, and 100 ppm of CO and NO2 in Practical Conditions” Journal of

Physical Chemistry C- Vol. 114, pp 6610 (2010) (published).

Conferences Presentation

1: F.Alvi, R. K. Joshi and Ashok Kumar," Controlling the Aspect Ratio of ZnO Nanowires

through Modulating Erosion Rate of ZnO Nanorods" FLAS spring Meeting, university of central

Florida, Orlando 8-12 March (2009).

2: F. Alvi, R.K. Joshi, Q. Huang, and Ashok Kumar, "Monte Carlo Simulation based Model for

Solution Growth of ZnO Nanowires". Nanotech Spring Meeting Houston, Texas, 3-7 May,

(2009).

3: F.Alvi, M. K. Ram, P. Baskaya, E.Stefanakos, Y.Goswami and Ashok Kumar, “ ZnO-Pani as

an organic sensitizer for photoelectrochemical cell” MRS Meeting Fall, 29Nov-3 rd Dec ( 2010)

(Boston).

4: F.Alvi, M. K. Ram, P. Baskaya, E.Stefanakos, Y.Goswami and Ashok Kumar, “ Graphene-Pani

as an efficient counter electrode for photoelectrochemical cell” MRS Meeting Fall, 29Nov-3 rd

Dec ( 2010) (Boston).

Patents

• Novel graphene-polyethylenedioxythiophene nanocomposites for fast redox capacitor.

• Novel Nano-hybrid Structured Regioregular Polyhexylthiophene Blend Films for Photo-

electrochemical Energy Applications.

• Novel incorporation of colloidal Sb2S3 quantum dots for robust and Low cost white

LED.

Courses Taught

Graduate

• Electronics 1

• Nanotechnology

• Material characterization

• Semiconductor 1 &11

Under Graduate

• Microelectronics and mechanical systems (MEMS 1 &11)

• Electronics 11

• Electrochemistry

• Renewable energy

• Electric circuit

• Network analysis

Contact this candidate