research team

Nishant Peddagopu - ESR 1

Nationality : Indian
Educational background :
- MSc : Material Science, University of Augsburg, Germany
Host institution : University of Catania, INSTM, Italy
PhD project overview
- Title : Engineering of metal-organic precursors from synthesis to mechanistic aspects
- Overview : The goal of ESR 1's PhD project is to work on the synthesis of metal-organic precursors (single and bimetallic sources) of Li, Na, K and Nb, on improved incorporation of alkaline elements in the films and nanostructures at 500-700 °C and enabling growth of vertically aligned nanostructures
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : nishant.peddagopu@studium.unict.it
- linkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishantpeddagopu

Faraz Habib - ESR 2

Nationality : Pakistani
Educational background :
- MSc : Mechanical Engineering, Renewable Energy Innovation, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
Host institution : AIXTRON SE, Germany
PhD project overview
- Title : Modelling and simulations of CVD processes
- Overview : The goal of ESR 2's PhD project is to work on the control of alkaline element precursor transport and decomposition process; on modelling of commercial and advanced precursor chemical decomposition processes; on the theoretical definition of the deposition conditions for the growth of thin films, highly conformal coverage of 3D structures or initiation of nanowire growth from vapour phase; on simulation of chemical processes, heat transfer and flows in the reactors of academic partner by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), commercial and AIXTRON developed softwares; on the evaluation of up- scaling possibilities of developed growth methods and the potential market
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : F.Habib@aixtron.com

Quentin Micard - ESR 3

Nationality : French
Educational background :
- MSc : Engineering Physics with a major in Material Science, Polytech’ Clermont-Ferrand, University Clermont-Auvergne, France
Host institution : University of Catania, INSTM, Italy
PhD project overview
- Title : Multiferroic BiFeO₃films and nanostructures for hybrid Lt-Vi EHs
- Overview : The goal of ESR 3's PhD project is to work on the growth of epitaxial BFO films on SrTiO₃:Nb substrate, of textured BFO films with optimized texture/stoichiometry/defects/ composition/domain (natural and artificial) structure on Si or metal foil; on the optimisation of doping on the A and/or B site and poling procedure to improve the piezoelectric, photovoltaic and pyroelectric properties with particular emphasis on PV-Pi relationship; study of Py-Pi properties as a function of temperature; on the study of PV properties of ENHANCE developed materials; on testing the possibility to grow VAN or 3D structured films of BFO from vapour phase or by using templates; on the study of the relationship between processing-composition-structure-morphology-physical properties (Pi-PV-Py)
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : quentin.micqrd@studium.unict.it
- linkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentin-micard

Giacomo Clementi - ESR 4

Nationality : Italian
Educational background :
- MSc : Physics, University of Perugia, Italy
Host institution : University of Franche-Comté, France
PhD project overview
- Title : Piezoelectric and pyroelectric LiNbO₃:Fe films and nanostructures for hybrid Th-Vi EHs
- Overview : The goal of ESR 4's PhD project is to work on the synthesis of LN films doped Fe and textured along (012) direction with high K², on metal foil or Si substrates; on the optimisation of piezoelectric, photovoltaic and pyroelectric properties by tuning doping level, Li nonstoichiometry, oxygen deficiency with special attention on relationship between Py-Pi properties and their change as a function of temperature; on the simulation of optimal piezoelectric transducer configuration (number of layers, composition, electrodes, etc.) and its micro-fabrication from the optimized films ; on testing the possibility of self-organized VAN growth, or 3D conformal coverage of existing VAN
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : giacomo.clementi@femto-st.fr

Anjneya Verma - ESR 5

Nationality : Indian
Educational background :
- MSc : Nanotechnology, Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, Amity University, Noida, U.P., India
Host institution : University of Cologne, Germany
PhD project overview
- Title : Growth of KNN nanostructures and films for vibrational energy harvesters
- Overview : The goal of ESR 5's PhD project is to work on the growth of substrate-supported VAN and films of 0.94KNN:0.06LN from vapour phase or from solutions by using commercial precursors or designed precursors (supplied by ESR1); on the optimization of the vertical alignment of the nanostructures; on the enhancement of piezoelectric, elastic, pyroelectric, photovoltaic properties (with a focus on the elastic and piezoelectric properties) by adjusting the composition (Na/K ratio or LN concentration), dimensions of nanostructures and growth direction; on electrical poling of the grown structures; on the relationship processing-composition-structure-size-morphology-physical properties
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : anjneya.verma@uni-koeln.de

Arun Ichangi - ESR 6

Nationality : Indian
Educational background :
- MSc : Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London
Host institution : University of Cologne, Germany
PhD project overview
- Title : Self-supported nanomeshes of KNN-based materials for vibrational energy harvesters
- Overview : The goal of ESR 6's PhD project is to work on enabling controlled growth of SSNM of KNN and its derivatives by electrospinning through adapted chemical and processing parameters (using commercial precursors or designed precursors); on the elaboration of tandem approaches (Electrospinning + CVD) to control texture/stoichiometry; on the enhancement of piezoelectric/elastic/pyroelectric/photovoltaic properties by adjusting the dimensions of nanostructures and solid solution composition/doping; on electrical poling of the grown structures; on the relationship between processing- composition-structure-size-morphology-physical properties
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : arun.ichangi@uni-koeln.de

Gabriel Barrientos - ESR 7

Nationality : Guatemalan
Educational background :
- MSc : Electronic Engineering, University of San Carlos, Guatemala, Guatemala
- MSc : Microelectronics, Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Host institution : University of Catania, INSTM, Italy
PhD project overview
- Title : Simulation and design of autonomous sensor systems and microfabrication processes
- Overview : The goal of ESR 7's PhD project is to work on the selection of the ST sensor systems (off the shelf) which would fit PSA needs, simulations of the complete autonomous wireless sensor system, including sensing element, standard electrical circuit, RF communication module, digital signal processing module and power management modules (specific pre-designs of power modules will be done by ESR13), and definition of power supply profile and requirements according to the sampling frequency and packaging/size limitations for power modules to be integrated to the autonomous sensor systems with the total size acceptable for specific defined application in the vehicle ; on the evaluation of feasibility and potential of application in standard industrial micro-fabrication of designed structures of hybrid transducers; on simulation of micro-fabrication process and definition of protocols, compatible with MEMS industry, for the realization of developed piezoelectric and hybrid transducers; on simulating the performance of prototype sensor systems including the specifications of developed ENHANCE power modules, evaluate their price and potential market
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : gabriel.barrientos@studium.unict.it
- linkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-barrientos-r

Namanu Panayanthatta - ESR 8

Nationality : Indian
Educational background :
- MSc : Nanotechnologies, National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, India
Host institution : Grenoble INP, France
PhD project overview
- Title : Vertical nanowire integrated nanogenerators based on nanostructures with high K²
- Overview : The goal of ESR 8's PhD project is to work on the study of direct piezoelectric effect in nanowires (grown by ESR6 & ESR 7) by lateral and vertical AFM piezoelectric measurements; on the study of size effect and size distribution on the piezoelectric coefficients; on electrical modelling of nanowire based transducers; on FEM simulations for predictive scaling of nanowires; on modelling, fabrication and characterization (Pi- and Py-FoM) of vertical nanowire (KNN, BFO, LN) integrated nanogenerators (VING) working in non-resonance mode; on the comparison of performance of VINGs based on materials with low and high K²
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : namanu.panayanthatta@grenoble-inp.fr
- linkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/namanu-panayanthatta-a118a396

Neetu Kumari - ESR 9

Nationality : Indian
Educational background :
- MSc : Technologies (Polymers), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India
Host institution : University of Franche-Comté, France
PhD project overview
- Title : Design of mechanical structure of Th-Vi PiEHs and electronic interface of hybrid energy harvesters
- Overview : The goal of ESR 9's PhD project is to work on models of structures with passive (non-piezoelectric) and active (piezoelectric) devoted to harvesters by considering (vibrational) mechanical and thermal excitations; on optimized structures with multi-degrees of freedom by combining piezoelectric modeling with control theory tools; on the design of optimal multi-modal Th-Vi PiEHs operational up to 600 °C with specifications relative to engines in automotives; on micro-fabrication and characterization of hybrid transducer. Development of energy harvesting electronic interface able to efficiently extract different type energies (vibrational and/or thermal) converted by the same active electromagnetic and/or piezoelectric transducer. This includes development, modelling and design of efficient, low-power electronic interfaces and regulation circuits: able to maximize the extracted energy for each transducer, based for example on nonlinear treatments of the output electrical quantity (voltage, current, charge) of the transducers²⁴; able to harvest energy in an efficient way from several sources or conversion effects (hybrid energy harvesting); ensuring optimal operation of the extraction interfaces, based for example of DC/DC converters²⁵or Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)²⁶. The particular attention will be given to the power consumption of the proposed technique
Publications : click here & here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : neetu.kumari@femto-st.fr

Ioannis Nikiforidis - ESR 10

Nationality : Greek
Educational background :
- MSc : Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
Host institution : Imperial College London, UK
PhD project overview
- Title : Integrated wireless power delivery systems
- Overview : The goal of ESR 10's PhD project is to work on the investigation of the potential for powering sensors and other ancillaries in a vehicle environment, including cabin and engine bay, using wireless power delivery; on the set up EM simulations to determine the losses in vehicle metal and the effect of magnetic fields on vehicle occupants; on the investigation of the capability for powering multiple devices (possibly high and low power) from a common source and determine limits on power, distance, materials, in vehicle locations
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : i.nikiforidis@imperial.ac.uk
- linkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikiforidis

Akshayaa Pandiyan - ESR 11

Nationality : Indian
Educational background :
- MSc : Renewable Energy Engineering and Management, Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Host institution : Imperial College London, UK
PhD project overview
- Title : Hybrid energy harvesting based on photovoltaic and piezoelectric transduction mechanisms
- Overview : The goal of ESR 11's PhD project is to work on the design and fabricate a motion energy harvester based on electromagnetic and electrostatic energy transduction. A customized, MEMS fabricated BiFeO₃multiferroic film developed in WP4 will be used. The exploitation of photovoltaic properties as a source for electrostatic voltage priming will be considered. A multiferroic specific power management circuit will be developed, in co-design with the mechanical oscillator structure, incorporating recently developed frequency up-conversion and pre-biasing methods [Jiang et al, IEEE Trans. Internet of Things, in press]
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : a.pandiyan@imperial.ac.uk
- linkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshayaapandiyan

Giulia Lombardi - ESR 12

Nationality : Italian
Educational background :
- MSc : Energy Engineering, University of Bologna, Italy
Host institution : INSA Lyon, France
PhD project overview
- Title : Electronics interface for efficient energy harvesting from microscale transducers and micro-scale transducer arrays
- Overview : The goal of ESR 12's PhD project is to work on developing rectifying interfaces compatible with low voltage levels to overcome low output power and to get stabilized DC voltage, transducer voltage output compatible rectifier will be developed; on surmounting interfacing problems due to high output impedance, low capacitance compatible energy extraction interface will be designed; attaining stabilized voltage level in the volt range, required for electronic circuits, electrical components able to step up DC voltage to a suitable level with minimal losses will be developed; getting reasonable output power circuit microscale harvesters will be packaged in arrays and hence, a dedicated interface aiming at interfacing arrays of transducer with optimized energy conversion and extraction techniques will be developed
Publications : click here
Dissemination & Awards : click here
Contacts :
- email : giulia.lombardi@insa-lyon.fr
- linkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/giulia-lombardi

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