Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Developing novel material driven solutions for addressing the growing challenges in the climate-energy-water nexus
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Developing novel material driven solutions for addressing the growing challenges in the climate-energy-water nexus -------------------------------
"Study hard what interests you most, in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible."
- Dr. Richard P. Feynman
EMERGING MATERIALS FOR ELECTRIC-VEHICLES, RENEWABLES AND GREEN ENERGY
at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras
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BATTERY ANALYSIS & TESTING LABORATORY (BAT LAB)
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS & ADVANCED RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES LABORATORY (SMART LAB)
RECYCLING E-WASTE FOR VALORIZING ADVANCED MATERIALS & PLASTICS LABORATORY (REVAMP LAB)
Emerging Battery Material Development
New critical material free battery chemistries that cater to the needs of emerging economies are also of particular interest to a world that is on a quest for rapid electrification and e-mobility via modern electric vehicles (EV) and electric vertical take-off and lift platforms (EVTOL).
To address these needs, our group focuses on the developing advanced morphologically optimized cathodes, anodes, electrolytes and chemistries for:
Next-Gen Li-ion battery systems (LIB)
Beyond Li: Na-ion (NIB), K-ion (KIB) and Alternative: Ca and Mg battery systems
Liquid electrolyte based Metal Batteries
Next-Gen All solid-state batteries (SSB)
Battery Manufacturing R&D
Manufacturing battery materials and cells in relevant form factors that can give meaningful data and performance is a critical need in modern battery research. Our group has capabilities to upscale to kg levels - new battery materials and formulations and fabricate pouch cells in (0.1-1 Ah) configurations that can be used to benchmark and validate new chemistries.
Li-ion Batteries (LFP and NMC types)
Advanced Li-ion (LMFP, High Ni, Co-Free)
Na-ion Batteries (NFMO/NFPP - HC, etc.)
New Battery Recycling Approaches
Li-ion battery recycling is increasingly becoming a vital area in Modern Battery R&D. This area of research is unique as most of the battery recycling technologies that we are trying to develop are for batteries that are nearing or not yet reached their end of life. The batteries we recycle today using pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical techniques were put into service years ago and then there is Direct Recycling..... Well our team works on all these areas.
Some of the areas we are currently looking at includes:
Hydrometallurgy - Conventional pilot scale processes, Deep Eutectic Solvents, Mixed hydroxide precipitation, Electrochemical Extraction, etc.
Direct Recycling - Upcycling of CAMs, Electrochemical Recovery
Extreme Environment Energy Storage for Next-Gen Electric Platforms
We love exploring the vast potential of modern energy storage systems to power next-generation electric platforms such as EVs, EVTOLs, Satellites, Spaceships, etc. Development of novel material driven solutions that can enable energy storage at extreme environmental conditions are a key area of capability growth our group is interested in.
Some of the areas we are currently looking at includes:
Energy storage solutions for water-energy-carbon nexus
Urban air mobility platforms
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Professor Nitin Muralidharan is a Material Scientist and Chemical Engineer with background in the area of next-generation energy storage technologies for Electric Vehicle (EV) and Electric Vertical Take-off and Lift (EVTOL) applications. His research expertise encompasses key directions into Li, Na ion and metal batteries, solid state batteries and next-gen electrochemical energy storage systems. Prior to joining IITM, Dr. Nitin Muralidharan was a Staff Scientist at United States Department of Energy's (US. DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He was also a Post-doctoral Research Associate at ORNL at the US. DOE's Battery Manufacturing Facility (BMF). He received his Doctoral Degree in Interdisciplinary Materials Science from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Prof. Nitin joined Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Department of Chemical Engineering in April 2023 is currently establishing an R&D group aimed at developing material driven solutions to combat the challenges pertaining to the climate-water-energy nexus. 
Opportunities and Contact
We are actively looking for passionate, motivated, highly-driven and exceptional Ph.D., M. Tech., M.S., B.Tech., students and Post-docs to join our EMERGE R&D group. Please contact Prof. Nitin Muralidharan directly or apply to the respective programs at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Chemical Engineering) The team's overall goal is to cultivate passionate researchers who are excited about scientific pursuits that addresses major challenges facing the world today. Our vision is big, approach is multidisciplinary, what we do requires positivity and our solutions are to be out of the box.
Email
muralidharan@iitm.ac.in