Ram Gupta

Courses Taught | Professional Interests | Recent Activites | Lab Instruments | Research Interests | Publications, Presentations, and Awards

Courses Taught

CHEM 320: Introductory Organic Chemistry
CHEM 326: Organic Chemistry I LaboratoryCHEM 336: Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
CHEM 620: Polymer Chemistry
CHEM 626: Polymer Synthesis and Characterizations Laboratory
CHEM 680: Physical Properties of Polymer
CHEM 785: Physical Chemistry of Polymer
CHEM 815: Advanced Topics: Polymer Physical Chemistry

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Professional Interests

• Polymer chemistry
• Conducting polymers
• Organic chemistry
• Organic-inorganic devices
• Nanotechnology for next genetaionn devices 

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Recent Activities

1. Work based on hydrogen evolution from water published in Nature Communications.
2. Work based on bifunctional materials for HER and supercapacitor published in JMCA.

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Lab Instruments

Dr. Gupta’s research includes optoelectronics and photovoltaics (solar cell) devices, high capacity energy storage devices, polymers and composites, bio-based polymers, biocompatible nanofibers for tissue regeneration, scaffold and antibacterial applications, bio-degradable metallic implants, dilute magnetic semiconductors, ferromagnetic materials and multiferroic materials for sensor and data storage applications

1. Spin Coater

The Laurell WS-650-23 Spin Coater is compact and packed with advanced features. This 650-series coater system will accommodate up to ø150mm wafers and 5" × 5" (127mm × 127mm) substrates, and features a maximum rotational speed of RPM (based on a ø100mm silicon wafer).

Applications:

• Solar cells based on organic/inorganic materials
• Thin films of dilute magnetic semiconductors
• Coating of thin films of optoelectronic materials
• Photoresist for defining patterns in microcircuit fabrication.
• Dielectric/insulating layers for microcircuit fabrication
• Flat screen display coatings. - Antireflection coatings, conductive oxide, etc.

2. Potentiostat/Galvanostate

The VersaStat 4 utilize high-speed digital to analog converter circuitry, providing instantaneous step changes and pulses to generate the most complex potentiostatic / galvanostatic waveforms. Three high-speed, (500k samples / second) analog to digital converters provide fully synchronized measurements of the cell voltage, cell current and auxiliary voltage input.

The units provide 4-terminal cell connections, which allows great flexibility for the analysis of both high and low impedance cells. In low impedance applications, errors due to cell connection cable impedance may adversely affect the accuracy of results. The use of 4-terminal connections, allows the cell voltage to be measured at the cell terminals, minimizing errors due to cable impedance. The VersaStat 4 provide an optional built-in frequency response analyzer (FRA) that is able to characterize a wide range of electrochemical cells. The FRA is fully integrated into the system allowing high speed switching between DC and EIS measurements.

Applications:

• Corrosion Research
• Battery, Fuel Cell and Supercapacitor Research  
• Research electrochemistry
• Sensors
• Biomedical applications

3. Semiconductor Characterization System

The Model 4200-SCS is a total system solution for electrical characterization of devices, materials and semiconductor processes. This advanced parameter analyzer provides intuitive and sophisticated capabilities for semiconductor device characterization by combining unprecedented measurement sensitivity and accuracy with an embedded Windows-based operating system and the Keithley Interactive Test Environment. It is a powerful single box solution. To get a complete picture of any device or material, three fundamental electrical measurement techniques are required. The Model 4200-SCS offers all three.

• Precision DC Current-Voltage (I-V) measurements are the foundation of a full characterization plan.
• AC Impedance, including the well known Capacitance-Voltage (C-V) technique, provides information beyond what DC alone can provide.
• Pulsed and transient testing adds a time domain dimension and allows for dynamic characteristics to be explored.

Applications:

• Solar cells
• Sensors
• Electrical characterization of nano-devices
• Optoelectronic devices
• Pulsed electrical characterization

4. Solar Simulator

The 66997 Research Series QTH Source includes a lamp housing for QTH lamps, a 69931 Radiometric Power Supply, and 250 W QTH lamp. The lamp housing provides a temperature controlled environment to run the lamp efficiently and holds the condensing optics and rear reflector to collect the lamp radiation. You can power the supply on and off, set the current/power preset and limit, and monitor the current, voltage, power, and operating hours.

Applications:

• Solar cells
• Optoelectronic devices
• Photo-sensors

5. High Energy Probe Ultrasonication

The Q700 ultrasonicator is the most technologically advanced sonicator available today.  A state-of-the-art touch screen interface offers intuitive control and provides a user-friendly experience.  The most important feature of a Sonicator is reproducibility. Improved internal circuitry guarantees more efficient operation, sample-to-sample consistency and most importantly, a reliable end result. The Q700 is the only sonicator that offers full amplitude control from 1-100%.  This enables greater control of the probe’s intensity, helping to pinpoint the optimum settings for efficient sample processing.

Applications: 

• Preparation of nanostructured materials 
• Dispersion of graphene based materials
• Cell Disruption
• Nanoparticle Dispersion
• Creating Emulsions

6. High Speed Centrifuge

The Sorvall centrifuge is designed for maximum productivity and high speed up to 15,000 rpm. Class leading acceleration and deceleration rates deliver additional time savings. This is engineered for maximum sample protection. Unlike other centrifuges that require high-maintenance vacuum systems to achieve speed, the Sorvall spins samples at atmospheric pressure, without the need for a vacuum. This superior design minimizes maintenance and helps prevent sample leakage, rotor imbalance and run shut-downs.

 Applications:

• Purification and separation of graphene
• Purification and separation of nanostructured materials 

7. Electrospum

In house developed electrospun system provide full control over wide range of potential. This instrument can produce nano-fibers of polymer for various applications such as non-woven cloth, scaffold and biomedical. This technique can produce fibers with high mechanical strength for defense applications. These nanofibers could have amazing characteristics such as very large surface area-to-volume ratio and high porosity with very small pore size and therefore can be also used for many biomedical applications.

Applications: 

• Nanofibers form scaffold applications
• Nonwoven cloth for defense applications
• Nanofibers for energy storage devices
• Magnetic nanofibers for enhanced osteogenesis for bone repair

Central Facilities at PSU

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscope
• X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD)
• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
• Sputtering System
• Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
• Raman Spectroscopy
• Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
• Raman Spectroscopy
• FT-IR
• Gel Permiasion Chromatorgaphy (GPC)
• Thermal analysis (TG, DSC, DMA)

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Research

Project 1 | Project 2 | Project 3 | Project 4 | Project 5 | Project 6 | Project 7

Project 1: High Efficiency Solar Cells based on Nanostructured Materials

Renewable energy, such as solar, offers major opportunities for satisfying increasing demands for energy by the rapid industrial development and fast growing human population. The challenge for effective use of renewable energy is in the development of high-performance, low-cost, environmentally friendly conversion and storage systems. For this, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on titanium oxide (TiO₂) offer a very promising opportunity due to their multiple advantages, such as low cost, light weight, long life and relative ease of tailoring properties. However, their efficiency is still limited by low absorption coefficients, inefficiency of electron transfer and lack of organic materials with suitable bandgap.

The objective of the research project is to improve the efficiency of the solar cell by incorpotation of graphene. We select the dye from red-cabbage because it is cheap, environmentally friendly and very efficient. Its cost/performance coefficient (conversion efficiency/cost of dye) when used in a solar cell should be much higher than that of the corresponding traditional synthetic ruthenium dye.  We have investigated the effect of graphene on the efficiency of the solar cells. The high conductivity, high specific surface area, high stability and light weight makes graphene very suitable for these applications.

The effect of light intensity on the solar efficiency of the TiO₂/graphene/cabbage dye solar cell was investigated. It was observed that the efficiency of the DSSC increases with increasing the light intensity e.g. the efficiency of the solar cell increases from 0.013% to 0.150% by increase in light intensity from 30 to 100 mW/cm², respectively. The solar efficiency of the natural dye used in this research was compared with commercial dye (N 719) under similar experimental conditions and observed that the natural (purple cabbage) dye has higher efficiency (0.150%) than N 719 (0.078). It was further evaluated that the efficiency of the fabricated solar cell could improve by incorporating graphene oxide. The efficiency of the TiO₂ dye-sensitized solar cell was found to increase from 0.150% to 0.361% by incorporating graphene oxide into purple cabbage dye. 

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Project 2: High Performance Supercapacitors for Green Energy Storage

The solar cell is an efficient way to produce energy from non-conventioanl sources. However the produced enrgy needs to be stored efficiently also. We are working to develop nanostrctured materials for energy storage. We have developed a facile method for the synthesis of nearly mono-dispersed iron oxide nanocrystals. The average particle size of the iron oxide was estimated to be 8 ± 2 nm (Fig. 3). The observed particle size is in good correlation with particle size estimated using magnetic measurement. Furthermore, these nanocrystals showed bi-functional ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic behavior below and above the blocking temperature, respectively. The potential use of these nanocrystals as an electrode for supercapacitors was examined by investigating the electrochemical behavior of the iron oxide using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests. The CV characteristics of the iron oxide electrode showed a typical pseudocapacitive behavior in 3M KOH solution. Moreover, the specific capacitance of 185 F/g at the current of 1mA was observed with excellent cyclic stability. This work provides an ultimate facile method to synthesize nanostructured iron oxide for the applications in next generation energy storage material.

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Project 3 Novel Polyurethanes Foams based on Bio-Waste and Renewable Materials

The demand for utilizing renewable and environment friendly resources for chemical and automobile industry is becoming increasingly important due to sustainability. Therefore, the search for a sustainable development based on non-petrochemical feedstock had become one of the major research field. Biomass from plant-derived resources are renewable raw materials and capable of providing a wide variety of starting materials for monomers and polymers. Juicing and peel processing industry (citrus industry) produces bio-waste (orange oil) that contains approximately 90-95% of limonene. The limonene from the renewable bio-waste can be used for preparation of environment friendly polyols. We have been utilizing the limonene based polyols for preparation of rigid polyurethane foams. These polyols were synthesized using number of techniques. These limonene based polyols were structurally characterized using wet methods (hydroxyl number, acid value and viscosity), gel permeation chromatography and spectroscopic methods. The results indicated that high yield of polyols from limonene based materials can be obtained using thiol-ene reaction. These limonene based polyols were used successfully for preparation of rigid polyurethane foams. These foams had regular shape cells and uniform cell size distribution. Thermal studies on these foams indicated that foams were thermally stable up to 250 ^oC. The glass transition temperature of the foams was higher than 200 ^oC. These rigid polyurethane foams had high compressive strength and the highest compressive strength of 195 kPa was observed. These foams have good physical-mechanical characteristics and could be suitable for all the applications of rigid polyurethane foams such as thermal insulation of freezers, storage tanks for the chemical and food industries, and packing materials for food industries.  

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Project 4: Biodegradable Metallic Implants 

Craniofacial applications will benefit children who are born with birth defects-cleft palettes, congenital heart defects, etc. Currently children with these defects are fitted with devices that are applied with “nuts and bolts” to the face. These fixtures do not have the ability to "grow" with the child and hence have to be removed and refitted every so often. My research is focused on developing new bio degradable materials such as magnesium with advanced properties. The magnesium and its alloys can be disposed by the body after their work is done, through the blood stream with no side effects. This will have a tremendous impact in the craniofacial and orthopedic markets. We are also working to develop new metallic materials to be introduced as stents in the treatment of cardiovascular problems. In recent work, we have used polymer and ceramic coatings on magnesium to reduce the corrosion rate and improve the bioactivity. Fig.6 shows the SEM images of uncoated magnesium and Mg(OH)₂ coated magnesium using hydrothermal technique. The presence of nanostructure on the surface of the magnesium promotes cell attachment and cell growth. 

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Project 5: Nanofibers for Enhanced Cell Adhesion and Corrosion Protection for Biodegradable Metallic Implants

Biocompatible polymers have attracted considerable research interest due to their potential in biomedical applications. Nanofibers of such polymers are particularly useful for tissue engineering, scaffolds, and wound healing applications. For biodegradable metallic implants, magnesium is an attractive metal because of its biocompatibility, low density, high specific strength, castability, and appropriate hardness. However, the high degradation rate and low cell growth on magnesium limits its extensive utilization for such applications. One of the most effective methods of reducing the corrosion rate and improving the cell growth is to coat a layer of biocompatible polymers with high surface area on the surface of the magnesium. The coated polymer will reduce the corrosion rate of magnesium by reducing the percolation and permeation of reactive ions in the solution to magnesium substrate, whereas high surface area and porous structure of nanofibers will improve cell adhesion. Polylactic acid is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer widely used in biomedical applications. We have fabricated nanofibers of polylactic acid embedded with nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite. Since the chemical and crystallographic structure of hydroxyapatite is very similar to the bone, the presence of hydroxyapatite will promote new bone tissue formation and hence bone growth. The degradation rate of the uncoated and coated magnesium substrate was studied using potentiodynamic polarization technique in the phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. It was observed that the coating decreases the corrosion rate of magnesium significantly.   The corrosion current decrease from 2.98 mA to 1.40 nA, indicating about 10³ times improvement in corrosion of magnesium. Biological studies indiacte notoxicity at any concetration and high osteroblast cell adhesion on the nanofibers.     

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Project 6: Next Generation Nanostructured Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Devices

The overall performance of polymer-based field-effect transistors (FETs), metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) diodes, solar cells, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is strongly dependent upon the quality of the polymer–dielectric, polymer–metal, and polymer–polymer interfaces. Spin-coating and dip coating techniques are typically used for deposition of thin polymer films; however, these methods do not permit a precise control of the thickness of the films, a necessity for nanoscale polymer-based devices. Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE), a derivative of pulsed laser deposition (PLD), is an alternative method of depositing polymer and biomaterial films that allows homogenous film coverage of high molecular weight organic materials for a layer-by-layer growth without any laser induced damage. In this technique the organic material is dissolved in a volatile non-interacting solvent and frozen at liquid nitrogen temperatures. The frozen target is irradiated by a pulsed laser beam (e.g. KrF excimer laser), whose energy is absorbed by the solvent; the volatile solvent is pumped away and the solute molecules gently evaporate and deposit on the substrate (Fig.9).      

Fig. 10 show the transfer characteristics from MAPLE-grown PFB-based FETs on SiO₂. The insets show the output characteristics. This research has shown the MAPLE technique to be a viable alternative to spin-coating in the fabrication of device quality organic MIS diodes and FETs. The MAPLE grown sample exhibited less accumulation capacitance and time constant dispersions. The FETs show a consistently better on/off ratio for the MAPLE grown PFB films compared to the spin-coated films. MAPLE grown films provide an added advantage of patterning the active layer with minimum surface modification requirements of the dielectric–polymer interface. This opens up potential applications of the MAPLE technique in nanostructured organic devices.

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Project 7: Photosensors based on Heterojuctions

Our group is developing some high performance diodes for photosensor applications. Recently, we have used graphene oxide for photosensing applications. Schottky barrier diode based on graphene oxide (GO) with the structure of Al/GO/n-Si/Al was fabricated. The current–voltage characteristics of the diode were investigated under dark and various light intensity. It was observed that generated photocurrent of the diode depends on light intensity. The transient photocurrent measurement indicated that the Al/GO/n-Si/Al diode was very sensitive to illumination. The photocurrent of the diode increases with increase in illumination intensity. The capacitance–voltage–frequency (C–V–f) measurements indicated that the capacitance of the diode depends on voltage and frequency. The capacitance decreases with increasing frequency due to a continuous distribution of the interface states. These results suggest that the Al/GO/n-Si/Al diode can be utilized as a photosensor.

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Publications, Presentations, and Awards

Selected Publications | Selected Presentations | Honors, Grants, and Awards 

Dr. Gupta has published more than 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented/attended more than 100 national/international conferences. He is a reviewer for various leading science journals. Dr. Gupta has received several internal (university) and external (National Science Foundation) funding to promote research and educational activities. 

Selected Peer Reviewed Publications (Total Publications Exceeds 120)

1. Facile synthesis and characterization of nanostructured chromium oxide. R.K. Gupta, E. Mitchell, J. Candler, P.K. Kahol, K. Ghosh, L. Dong, Powder Technol. 254 (2014) 78
2. Improved solar efficiency by introducing graphene oxide in purple cabbage dye sensitized TiO₂ based solar cell. Ahmed A. Al-Ghamdi, R.K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol, S. Wageh, W. El Shirbeeny, F. Yakuphanoglu, Solid State Commun.  183( 2014) 56
3. Corrosion protective conversion coatings on magnesium disks using a hydrothermal technique. R.K. Gupta, K. Mensah-Darkwa, D. Kumar, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 30 (2014) 47
4. Co_xCu_1−xCr₂S₄ Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Magnetism, and Band Structure Calculations. Karthik Ramasamy, Hunter Sims, R.K. Gupta, Dhananjay Kumar, William H. Butler, Arunava Gupta, Chem. Mater. 25 (2013) 4003
5. Graphene oxide based low cost battery. R.K. Gupta, Z. A. Alahmed, F. Yakuphanoglu, Mater. Lett. 112 (2013) 75
6. Preparation and characterization of dye sensitized solar cell based on nanostructured Fe₂O_3. M. Cavas, R.K. Gupta, Ahmed A. Al-Ghamdi, Zarah H.Gafer, Farid El-Tantawy, F. Yakuphanoglu, Mater. Lett. 105 (2013) 106
7. Electrical and photoresponse properties of Al/p-CuFeO₂/p-Si/Al MTCOS photodiode. R.K. Gupta, M. Cavas, Ahmed A. Al-Ghamdi, Z.H.Gafer, F. El-Tantawy, F. Yakuphanoglu, Solar Energy 92 (2013) 1
8. Mechanical and corrosion properties of magnesium-hydroxyapatite (Mg-HA) composite thin films. K. Mensah-Darkwa, R.K. Gupta, D. Kumar, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 29 (2013) 788
9. Effect of post heat treatment on corrosion resistance of phytic acid conversion coated magnesium. R.K. Gupta, K. Mensah-Darkwa, D. Kumar, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 29 (2013) 180
10. Photodiodes based on graphene oxide-silicon junctions. D.-T. Phan, R.K. Gupta, G.-S. Chung, A.A. Al-Ghamdi, Omar A. Al-Hartomy, F. El-Tantawy, F. Yakuphanoglu,  Solar Energy 86 (2012) 2961
11. Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured aluminum borate by sol-gel method. R.K. Gupta, A.A. Al-Ghamdi, O.A. Al-Hartomy, Faten Al-Hazmi, F. El-Tantawy, F. Yakuphanoglu, J. Sol-Gel Sci Technol 64 (2012) 100
12. Series resistance controlling photosensor of Ag/DNA/p-Si/Al diode. R.K. Gupta, A.A. Al-Ghamdi, O. Al-Hartomi, H. Hasar, F. El-Tantawy, F. Yakuphanoglu, Synth. Met. 162 (2012) 981
13. Photoconductive Schottky diode based on Al/p-Si/SnS₂/Ag for optical sensor applications. R.K. Gupta, F. Yakuphanoglu, Solar Energy 86 (2012) 1539
14. p-Si/DNA photoconductive diode for optical sensor applications. R.K. Gupta, F. Yakuphanoglu, H. Hasar, Abdulaziz A. Al-Khedhairy, Synth. Met. 161 (2011) 2011
15. Matrix-assisted pulsed-laser evaporated polymer films in all organic field-effect transistors and metal-insulator-semiconductor diodes. N.B. Ukah, D. Adil, J. Granstrom, R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, S. Guha, Org. Electron. 12 (2011) 1580
16. Vertical exchange bias effects in multilayer thin films based on iron oxide and chromium oxide. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, and P.K. Kahol, Mater. Lett. 65 (2011) 2429
17. Structural and magnetic properties of epitaxial SnFe₂O₄ thin films. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, P.K. Kahol, Mater. Lett. 65 (2011) 2149
18. Glucose stabilized ZnO nanoparticles for biomedical applications. N. Nag, A. Bhattacharya, R.K. Gupta, K. Manivannan, P.K. Kahol, A.K. Wanekaya, R.K. Delong, K. Ghosh, J. Nanoscience Letters 1 (2011) 172
19. Effect of Particle Size Distributions on Absorbance Spectra of Gold Nanoparticles. J. Doak, R.K. Gupta, K. Manivannan, K. Ghosh, and P.K. Kahol, Physica E 42 (2010) 1605
20. Electrical properties of rectifying contacts on selectively carrier controlled grown ZnO thin films. Bhattacharya, R.K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol. K. Ghosh, J. Appl. Phys. 108 (2010) 034514
21. Interface-controlled pulsed-laser deposited polymer films in organic devices. D. Adil, N. B. Ukah, R. K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, and S. Guha, Synth. Met. 160 (2010) 2501
22. Optical, mechanical and electrical studies of polymer composites based on charge transfer complex of phenothiazine - iodine with polyvinylchloride. S.K. Singh, R.K. Gupta, R.A. Singh, Synth. Met. 159 (2009) 2478
23. Pulsed laser thin film growth of di-octyl substituted polyfluorene and its co-polymers. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, P.K. Kahol, J. Yoon, S. Guha, Appl. Surf. Sci. 254 (2008) 7069 
24. Inhibition of corrosion by poly (N-hexadecylaniline)/docosanol mixed Langmuir-Blodgett films on copper in sea water. R.K. Gupta, R.A. Singh, Mater. Chem. Phys. 97 (2006) 226
25. fabrication and characteristics of Schottky diode based on composite organic semiconductors. R.K. Gupta, R.A. Singh, Comp. Sci. Tech. 65 (2005) 677
26. Preparation and characterization of electrically conducting Langmuir- Blodgett films of poly (N-octadecylaniline). R.K. Gupta, R.A. Singh, J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 285 (2005) 67
27. Preparation and characterization of polymer composites of polyaniline with poly (vinyl chloride) and polystyrene. R.K. Gupta, R.A. Singh, J. Non Cryst. Solids 351 (2005) 2022
28. Junction properties of Schottky diode based on composite organic semiconductors. R.K. Gupta, R.A. Singh, J. Mater. Sci.16 (2005) 253
29. Removal of mercury ions from aqueous solutions by composite of polyaniline with polystyrene. R.K. Gupta, R.A. Singh, S.S. Dubey, Sep. Purif. Technol. 38 (2004) 225
30. Electrical properties of junction between aluminium and poly (aniline)-poly (vinyl chloride) composite. R.K. Gupta, r.A. Singh, Mater. Chem. Phys. 86 (2004) 279
31. Semiconducting mixed Langmuir-Blodgett films of poly (N-hexadecylaniline) with stearic acid. R.A. Singh, U. Singh, R.K. Gupta, J. Polym. Mater. 20 (2003) 12

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Selected Conference/Symposium/Poster/Presentations (Total publications exceeds 100)

1. Fabrication of graphene oxide/p-Silicon diode and its application as photosensor. K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol, A. Alahmed, F. Yakuphanoglu, MRS Spring meeting, San Francisco, California, April 21-25, 2014 
2. Polyaniline and graphene oxide based ultracapacitor for energy storage. E.M. Mitchell, R.K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol, PSU Undergraduate Research Colloquium, April 16, 2014 
3. Hydrothermal Synthesis of NiCo₂O₄-Graphene Nanocomposite for High Performance Supercapacitors. E. Williams, E.M. Mitchell, R.K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol, PSU Undergraduate Research Colloquium, April 16, 2014 
4. Fabrication and characterization of nanofibers of polylactic acid- silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial wound dressing. J. Candler, R.K. Gupta, Madhu Srinivasan, I. Zegar, J. McAfee, P.K. Kahol, PSU Undergraduate Research Colloquium, April 16, 2014 
5. Polylactic acid- hydroxyapatite nanofibers: Fabrication, characterization and application for biodegradable metallic implants. T. Elmore, E.M. Mitchell, R.K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol, PSU Undergraduate Research Colloquium, April 16, 2014
6. Graphene oxide for electronic devices. R.K. Gupta, F. Yakuphanoglu, Energy Materials Nanotechnology Spring Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 24-March 2, 2014 
7. Nano-Fibers of Hydroxyapatite Embedded Poly (Lactic Acid) for Biomedical Applications. Elias M. Mitchell, Ram K. Gupta, Madhu Srinivasan, Pawan K. Kahol, Capitol Student Research Day, the Kansas State Capitol, February 12, 2014. 
8. Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. Elias M. Mitchell, John Candler, Ram K. Gupta, Pawan K. Kahol, K-INBRE, January 18, 2014 
9. From orange peel to polyurethane. Mihail Ionescu, Ram Krishna Gupta, Dragana Radojcic, Xianmei Wan and Zoran S. Petrovi?, CPI Polyurethane Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, September 23-25, 2013 
10. Fabrication and characterization of Hydroxyapatite-Magnesium Composite Thin Films on Magnesium plates for Implant Applications. Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa, Ram K. Gupta, Dhananjay Kumar, Proceedings of the ASME 2012 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, November 9-15, 2012, Houston, Texas, USA 
11. Development of Ceramic Biomaterial Coatings for Implant Applications. Talisha Haywood, Dhananjay Kumar, Kwadwo Darkwa, Ram Gupta, BMES 2012 Annual Meeting scheduled for October 24-27, Atlanta, Georgia 
12. Fabrication and characterization of Metallo-Ceramic Composite Films For Bone Implant Applications. Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa, Dhananjay Kumar, Ram Gupta, BMES 2012 Annual Meeting scheduled for October 24-27, Atlanta, Georgia 
13. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) Studies on Magnesium-Hydroxyapatite Composite Coating for Bioimplants. Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa, R. K. Gupta, D. Kumar, European –Materials Research Society, Central Campus of Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), September 17-21, 2012 
14. Environment friendly corrosion resistive coating on magnesium using phytic acid. R.K. Gupta, Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa, D. Kumar, European –Materials Research Society, Central Campus of Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), September 17-21, 2012
15. Fabrication, characterization, and mechanism of vertically aligned untapered titanium nitride nanowires. M. Faruque, T. Haywood1, K. M-Darkwa1, C. Watson, R. Gupta, C. Waters, J. Waterman, D. Kumar, Materials Research Society Meeting, San Francisco, California, April 09-13, 2012 
16. Preparation and photocatalytic properties of hybride core-shell reusable CoFe₂O₄-ZnO nanospheres. A. Wilson, S.R. Mishra, R. Gupta, K. Ghosh, Materials Research Society Meeting, Boston, MA, November 28 - December 2, 2011 
17. Anomalous magneto-resistance behavior in Co-doped In₂O₃ thin films. R.K. Gupta, E. Nahlik, M. Langhoff, A. Ghosh, Y.D. Kolekar, P.K. Kahol, K. Ghosh, Materials Research Society Meeting, San Francisco, California, April 25-29, 2011 
18. Interface-controlled polymer dielectric interfaces for improved organic device performance. N.B. Ukah, D. Adil, J. Granstrom, R. Gupta, K. Ghosh, S. Guha, Materials Research Society Meeting, San Francisco, California, April 25-29, 2011 
19. Synthesis and characterization of cobalt nanoparticles for biomedical applications. H. L. Bhatta, R.K. Gupta, P. Kahol, R. Delong, A. Wanekawa, K. Ghosh, Interdisciplinary Research Forum, Missouri State University, MO, April 2, 2011 
20. Studies on magneto-transport properties of dilute magnetic semiconductor. R.K. Gupta, A. Ghosh, Y. Kolekar, K. Ghosh, P. Kahol, American Physical Society, Texas, USA, March 21-25, 2011
21. Low temperature processed highly conducting, transparent, and wide bandgap gadolinium doped CdO thin films for optoelectronics. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, R. Patel, P.K. Kahol, MRS Fall meeting-2010, Boston, MA, USA, November 29- December 03, 2010 
22. Bandgap engineered high mobility indium oxide thin films for photovoltaic applications. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, P.K. Kahol, MRS Fall meeting-2010, Boston, MA, USA, November 29- December 03, 2010 
23. Fabrication and characterization of p-n junction based on ZnO and CuPc. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, P.K. Kahol, MRS Spring meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA. April 5-9, 2010 
24. Synthesis and characterization Cr-doped In2O3 dilute magnetic semiconductor films. N. Ukah, A. Ghosh, R.K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol, K. Ghosh, MRS Spring meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA. April 13-17, 2009 
25. Oxygen pressure controlled growth of rectifying contacts on ZnO films and its usage towards photovoltaic effect. A. Bhattacharya, R.K. Gupta, P.K. Kahol, K. Ghosh, MRS Spring meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA. April 13-17, 2009 
26. A novel approach to synthesis and characterization of biocompatible ZnO nanoparticles N.  Nag, J. Doak. K. Gupta, S.R. Mishra, P. Kahol, K. Ghosh, K. Manivannan, MRS Fall meeting, Boston, MA, USA. December 1-5, 2008 
27. Magneto-transport properties of Gd-doped In₂O₃ thin films. R.K. Gupta, D. Brown, K. Ghosh, S.R. Mishra, P.K. Kahol, MRS Fall meeting, Boston, MA, USA. November 26-30, 2007 
28. Electrical and optical properties of high mobility W-doped In₂O₃ thin films. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, S.R. Mishra, P.K. Kahol, MRS Fall meeting, Boston, MA, USA. November 26-30, 2007 
29. Gold-carbon nanocomposite for switching and memory devices. N. Ganti, S. Manchiraju, A. Manivannan, C. Wolf, R.K. Gupta, K. Manivannan, P. Kahol, K. Ghosh, Interdisciplinary Forum, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, UAS. April 14, 2007

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Honors, Grants, and Awards

Review Editor: Frontiers in Chemistry  

Editorial Board Member: Journal of Materials, Thin Films Science and Technology, Journal   of Science

Reviewer: Applied Physics A, Advanced Power Technology, Applied Surface Science, Electrochimica Acta, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Materials Chemistry and Physics, Microelectronic Engineering, Materials Letters, Materials Research Bulletin, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, etc

Funded Grants:

• “Bioactive polymeric coatings on magnesium for biodegradable metallic implants”, Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE), ($25,000), PI, Funded in 2014
• “Smart composites based on polyurethane and magnetic materials: Effect of morphology, size and content of the magnetic materials on the properties of polyurethane,” Pittsburg State University- Undergraduate Research Infrastructure Award, (US $ 2,000), PI, Funded in 2013
• “MRI-RUI: Acquisition of a Micro-Raman-Photoluminescence Instrument for Materials-Related Research and Education”, National Science Foundation, (US $391,765), co-PI, Funded in 2011
• “Hydrothermal synthesis of nano-particles for advanced biomedical applications”, Faculty Research Grant, Missouri State University, (US $7,470), PI, Funded in 2011. 
• “N-type ferromagnetism in oxide based dilute magnetic semiconductors”, National Science Foundation, (US $264,747), co-PI, Funded in 2009
• “MRI-RUI-Acquisition of a field emission scanning electron microscope to advance research and education at Missouri State University”, National Science Foundation, (US $ 467,000), co-PI, Funded in 2008
• “X-ray characterization and analysis facility”, Missouri State University, (US $315,000), co- PI, Funded in 2007

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