Staff Profile

BACKGROUND

Dr Neeraj Kumar is a UKRI/Marie Curie Fellow in Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University. He received his master's degree in Chemical Synthesis and Process Technologies from University of Delhi in 2012. During his masters, he dedicated a year to intensive research training at Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP). Subsequently, he embarked on a research journey with Prof AK Ganguli at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD) as a Research Assistant. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious NRF-Innovation Doctoral Scholarship by the South African Government to pursue his PhD degree in chemistry at University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His PhD research produced various novel methodologies for the nanoengineering of metal chalcogenides and their application in environmental remediation. After PhD, Dr Kumar joined the Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa in January 2018 as a Postdoctoral Researcher. In 2022, he was promoted to Senior Researcher at CSIR where he worked on process development for scale up (1 kg scale) production of nanomaterials such as graphene-based materials. He was also included in NRF rated researchers (Y2 category) in 2023. His research made innovative advances in the controllable synthesis and processing of emerging two-dimensional (2D) materials, especially graphene, MXenes, and metal chalcogenides and their hybrids/composites for environmental and energy applications, including water treatment, photocatalysis, carbon dioxide capture and conversion and energy storage.

Presently, Dr Kumar's research is primarily oriented towards the development of sustainable wearable energy storage systems by incorporating 2D materials and bio-derived materials. 

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RESEARCH FOCUS

Dr Kumar’s research is focused on the synthesis and processing of functional 2D materials into next-generation macroscopic structures (fibers, films, yarns, and fabrics) for the development of sustainable flexible energy storage systems (supercapacitors) to advance wearable electronics and textiles. His multidisciplinary research endeavors aim to unearth fundamental insights into the nanoscale attributes of 2D materials and to develop innovative processing and fabrication techniques for metamorphosing these materials into multifunctional architectures and devices with the integration of sustainable bio-based materials.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Synthesis and processing of emerging 2D materials such as graphene, MoS₂ and MXenes
• Flexible and wearable energy storage systems
• Nanomanufacturing: Development of affordable scale-up and fabrication processes 
• Environmental remediation via photocatalytic, electrochemical and adsorption approaches
• Sustainable materials and technologies

RESEARCH FUNDING

2024 EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account – EPSRC (£10,000), PI

2023 Horizon Europe MSCA Fellowship UKRI Guarantee – EPSRC (£200,511.96), PI

2023 NRF Rated Researcher, NRF South Africa (~£10,600), PI

2019 Parliamentary Grant and DSI, South Africa (~£250,000), Co-PI

2016 Travel Grant for International Conference, NRF South Africa (~£1700), PI

2014 NRF-Innovation Doctoral Scholarship, NRF South Africa (~£16000), PI

2009 University Grant Commission Fellowship (M. Tech.), UGC India (~£2000)

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• Inclusion in NRF Rated Researchers (Y2 category) by NRF South Africa in 2023
• Best Poster Award, 3rd conference on “Emerging Frontiers for Sustainable Water, A Trilateral Partnership: Africa-India-UK”, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2015
• Qualified (All India Rank-40) CSIR National Eligibility Test (CSIR-NET) for lectureship/research in India, 2013

PRESENTATIONS

1. EcoMat Conference 2024, 8-10 July 2024, Newcastle, United Kingdom. (Oral Presentation)
2. Graphene2024 (Largest European Event in Graphene and 2D Materials), Madrid, Spain, 25-28 June 2024. (Poster Presentation)
3. First Online International Conference on Advanced Two-Dimensional Materials, 9-11 Jun 2022, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India. (Invited talk and advisory board)
4. Polymer Processing Society (PPS) Europe-Africa 2019 Regional Conference, 18-21 Nov 2019, CSIR Pretoria, South Africa. (Invited talk and Session Chair)
5. International Conference on Environment, Materials and Green Technology, 24-25 Nov 2016, VUT, South Africa. (Oral Presentation)
6. Applied Nanotechnology and Nanoscience International Conference, Barcelona, Spain, Nov 9-11, 2016. (Oral Presentation)
7. International Conference on Nanoscience, Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, GITAM University, India, 14-17 Dec 2015. (Oral Presentation)
8. 3rd International Symposium on Electrochemistry, University of the Western Cape, South Africa, May 26-28, 2015. (Oral Presentation)
9. 3rd conference on Emerging Frontiers for Sustainable Water, A Trilateral Partnership: Africa-India-UK, Johannesburg, South Africa, 3-5 Aug 2015. (Best Poster Award)
10. MAM-14 7th International Symposium on Macro and Supramolecular Architectures and Materials, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23-27 Nov 2014. (Oral Presentation)
11. JNCASR-University of Cambridge-Sheikh Saqr Laboratory Winter School -2014 on Frontiers in Materials Science, JNCASR, Bangalore, India, 1-5 Dec 2014. (Poster)
12. 23rd AGM, MRSI-Functional Materials for Sustainable Energy and Advanced Technologies, 13-15 Feb 2012, Thapar University, India. (Poster)

Past Supervision

• Supervising/Mentoring various MEng, MSc and PhD students at Newcastle University
• Co-supervised four MEng/MSc students at Newcastle University and one MSc student at North-West University, South Africa.

Past teaching experience

• Instructor (2014-2016): Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Laboratory, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
• Instructor (2016): Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
• Introductory Chemistry for Engineers

• Articles

  • Kumar N, Gusain R, Pandey S, Ray SS. Hydrogel Nanocomposite Adsorbents and Photocatalysts for Sustainable Water Purification. Advanced Materials Interfaces 2023, 10(2), 2201375.
  • Kumar N, Gusain R, Masukume M, Ray SS. B₂O₃-Nanoparticles-Decorated N-Rich Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites for the Enhanced Visible-Light-Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin. Solar RRL 2023, 7(20), 2300475.
  • Gusain R, Kumar N, Ray SS. 3D‐Printed Hydrogels and Aerogels for Water Treatment and Energy Storage Applications. ChemistrySelect 2023, 8(20), e202300738.
  • Folorunso O, Kumar N, Hamam Y, Sadiku R, Ray SS. Facile solvent/drying fabrication of PVA/PPy/rGO: A novel nanocomposite for energy storage applications. Results in Materials 2022, 15, 100295.
  • Kumar N, Setshedi K, Masukume M, Ray SS. Facile scalable synthesis of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide: Comparative investigation of different reduction methods. Carbon Letters 2022, 32(4), 1031-1046.
  • Kumar N, Salehiyan R, Chauke V, Botlhoko OJ, Setshedi K, Scriba M, Masukume M, Ray SS. Top-down synthesis of graphene: A comprehensive review. FlatChem 2021, 27, 100224.
  • Folorunso O, Kumar N, Hamam Y, Sadiku R, Ray SS. Recent progress on 2D metal carbide/nitride (MXene) nanocomposites for lithium-based batteries. FlatChem 2021, 29, 100281.
  • Gusain R, Kumar N, Opoku F, Govender PP, Ray SS. MoS₂ Nanosheet/ZnS Composites for the Visible-Light-Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Oxytetracycline. ACS Applied Nano Materials 2021, 4(5), 4721-4734.
  • Folorunso O, Hamam Y, Sadiku R, Ray SS, Kumar N. Investigation and modeling of the electrical conductivity of graphene nanoplatelets-loaded doped-polypyrrole. Polymers 2021, 13(7), 1034.
  • Maswanganyi S, Gusain R, Kumar N, Fosso-Kankeu E, Waanders FB, Ray SS. Bismuth molybdate nanoplates supported on reduced graphene oxide: an effective nanocomposite for the removal of naphthalene via adsorption–photodegradation. ACS Omega 2021, 6(26), 16783-16794.
  • Mukwevho, N, Gusain, R, Fosso-Kankeu, E, Kumar, N, Waanders, F, Ray, SS. Removal of naphthalene from simulated wastewater through adsorption-photodegradation by ZnO/Ag/GO nanocomposite. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 2020, 81, 393-404.
  • Gusain R, Kumar N, Ray SS. Recent advances in carbon nanomaterial-based adsorbents for water purification. Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2020, 405, 213111.
  • Kumar N, Kumar S, Gusain R, Manyala N, Eslava S, Ray SS. Polypyrrole-Promoted rGO–MoS₂ Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Conversion of CO₂ and H₂O to CO, CH₄, and H₂ Products. ACS Applied Energy Materials 2020, 3(10), 9897-9909.
  • Pandey S, Fosso-Kankeu E, Spiro MJ, Waanders X, Kumar N, Ray SS, Kim J, Kang M. Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies of lead ion adsorption from mine wastewater onto MoS2-clinoptilolite composite. Materials Today Chemistry 2020, 18, 100376.
  • Gusain R, Kumar N, Fosso-Kankeu E, Ray SS. Efficient Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from Industrial Mine Water by a Hierarchical MoS₂/SH-MWCNT Nanocomposite. ACS Omega 2019, 4, 13922-13935.
  • Kumar N, Fosso-Kankeu E, Ray SS. Achieving Controllable MoS₂ Nanostructures with Increased Interlayer Spacing for Efficient Removal of Pb(II) from Aquatic Systems. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2019, 11, 19141-19155.
  • Umukoro EH, Kumar N, Ngila JC, Arotiba OA. Expanded graphite supported pn MoS2-SnO2 heterojunction nanocomposite electrode for enhanced photo-electrocatalytic degradation of a pharmaceutical pollutant. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 2018, 827, 193-203.
  • Malkappa K, Ray SS, Kumar N. Enhanced Thermo-Mechanical Stiffness, Thermal Stability, and Fire Retardant Performance of Surface-Modified 2D MoS₂ Nanosheet-Reinforced Polyurethane Composites. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 2018, 304, 1800562.
  • Kumar N, Mittal H, Alhassan SM, Ray SS. Bionanocomposite Hydrogel for the Adsorption of Dye and Reusability of Generated Waste for the Photodegradation of Ciprofloxacin: A Demonstration of the Circularity Concept for Water Purification. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2018, 6, 17011-17025.
  • George BPA, Kumar N, Abrahamse H, Ray SS. Apoptotic efficacy of multifaceted biosynthesized silver nanoparticles on human adenocarcinoma cells. Scientific Reports 2018, 8, 14368.
  • Kumar N, George BPA, Abrahamse H, Parashar V, Ngila JC. Sustainable one-step synthesis of hierarchical microspheres of PEGylated MoS2 nanosheets and MoO3 nanorods: Their cytotoxicity towards lung and breast cancer cells. Applied Surface Science 2017, 396, 8-18.
  • Kumar N, Ray SS, Ngila JC. Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of Ag/Ag 2 Te nanocrystals via a hydrothermal route for enhanced photocatalytic performance. New Journal of Chemistry 2017, 41, 14618-14626.
  • Kumar N, Reddy L, Parashar V, Ngila JC. Controlled synthesis of microsheets of ZnAl layered double hydroxides hexagonal nanoplates for efficient removal of Cr (VI) ions and anionic dye from water. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 2017, 5, 1718-1731.
  • Kumar N, George BPA, Abrahamse A, Parashar P, Ray SS, Ngila JC. A novel approach to low-temperature synthesis of cubic HfO₂ nanostructures and their cytotoxicity. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 9351.
  • Kumar N, Mittal H, Parashar V, Ray SS, Ngila JC. Efficient removal of rhodamine 6G dye from aqueous solution using nickel sulphide incorporated polyacrylamide grafted gum karaya bionanocomposite hydrogel. RSC advances 2016, 16, 21929-21939.
  • Kumar N, Mittal H, Reddy L, Nair P, Ngila JC, Parashar P. Morphogenesis of ZnO nanostructures: role of acetate (COOH⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) ligand donors from zinc salt precursors in synthesis and morphology dependent photocatalytic properties. RSC Advances 2015, 5, 38801-38809.
  • Kumar N, Kumar V, Swart HC, Mishra AK, Ngila JC, Parashar V. Controlled microstructural hydrothermal synthesis of strontium selenides host matrices for EuII and EuIII luminescence. Materials Letters 2015, 146, 51-54.
  • Mungse HP, Verma S, Kumar N, Sain B, Khatri OP. Grafting of oxo-vanadium Schiff base on graphene nanosheets and its catalytic activity for the oxidation of alcohols. Journal of Materials Chemistry 2012, 22, 5427-5433.
  • Verma S, Mungse HP, Kumar N, Choudhary S, Jain SL, Sain B, Khatri OP. Graphene oxide: an efficient and reusable carbocatalyst for aza-Michael addition of amines to activated alkenes. Chemical Communications 2011, 47, 12673-12675.

• Authored Book

  • Ray SS, Gusain R, Kumar N. Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Adsorbents for Water Purification. Elsevier, 2020.

• Book Chapters

  • Kumar N, Gusain R, Ray SS. Nano-engineered 2D Materials for CO₂ Capture. In: Kumar N; Gusain R; Ray SS, ed. Two-Dimensional Materials for Environmental Applications. Cham: Springer, 2023, pp.409-439.
  • Gusain R, Kumar N, Ray SS. Applications of MoS₂ Nanostructures in Wastewater Treatment. In: Kumar N; Gusain R; Ray SS, ed. Two-Dimensional Materials for Environmental Applications. Cham: Springer, 2023, pp.351-374.
  • Gusain R, Kumar N, Ray SS. Metal Oxide-Based Nanocomposites for photocatalytic reduction of CO₂. In: Naveen Kumar and Peter Ramashadi Makgwane, ed. Advanced Materials for a Sustainable Environment: Development Strategies and Applications. CRC Press, 2022, pp.293-315.
  • Gusain R, Kumar N, Ray SS. Factors Influencing the Photocatalytic Activity of Photocatalysts in Wastewater Treatment. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2020, pp.229-270.
  • Kumar N, Ray SS. Synthesis and Functionalisation of Nanomaterials. In: Processing of Polymer-based Nanocomposites. Springer, Cambridge, 2018, pp.15-55.

• Edited Book

  • Kumar N, Gusain R, Ray SS, ed. Two-Dimensional Materials for Environmental Applications. Berlin: Springer, 2023.