Profile
Apparao Rao
Physics and Astronomy
Endowed Professor
Founding Director, Clemson Nanomaterials Institute
R. A. Bowen Endowed Professor of Physics
Fellow of the American Physical Society
Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science
Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
Fellow of the Materials Research Society
864-656-6758
Duke Energy Innovation Center 200 [Lab]
Duke Energy Innovation Center 200A [Research Laboratory Service]
Duke Energy Innovation Center 207B [Lab]
Duke Energy Innovation Center 209 [Lab]
Duke Energy Innovation Center 211 [Lab]
Duke Energy Innovation Center 211A [Lab]
Duke Energy Innovation Center 211B [Lab]
Kinard Lab 202C [Office]
Educational Background
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Materials Science and Engineering, MIT, 1991
Ph.D., Condensed Matter Physics, University of Kentucky, 1989
M.S., Physics, University of Kentucky, 1985
B.S., Physics, University of Bombay, 1983
Profile/About Me
Apparao M. Rao joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University in Fall 2000. He currently serves as the Robert A. Bowen Endowed Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University and the founding director of the Clemson Nanomaterials Institute (CNI). He is known for developing Raman spectroscopy as a versatile tool for characterizing carbon nanomaterials, and for developing the liquid-injection based synthesis methods for carbon nanotubes. Because of his sustained research in nanomaterials and for building competitiveness in the State of South Carolina, the Governor of South Carolina, the Honorable Nikki Haley conferred on him in 2014 the State’s highest honor - the Governor’s award for excellence in scientific research. Four prestigious scientific societies - the American Physical Society , the American Association for the Advancement of Science , the Materials Research Society and the National Academy of Inventors - elected him as a Fellow for lifetime recognition of his research, leadership or service to the materials field. Rao is the first faculty member at Clemson and in the entire State of South Carolina to earn Fellow status in the Material Research Society. Rao is an adjunct professor at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), India where he initiated a nanomaterials program, and continues to directs research projects of M.S. and Ph.D. students at SSSIHL. He is also the Brahm Prakash Visiting Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India.
Research Interests
Rao's research at Clemson University focuses on carbon and other nanomaterials' fundamental properties and their utility in energy generation (thermoelectrics and harvesting low-grade waste heat) and energy storage (supercapacitors and batteries) technologies. Future interests include using machine learning to accelerate discovery and development at CNI and quantum technologies. His research team uses atomic scale simulation techniques such as Molecular Dynamics (MD) and physics-based continuum scale analytical and/or numerical models to guide material choices and understand experimentally observed and previously unexplained phenomena. His broad research interests are evident from his list of research publications which can be found at
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=jCXInTYAAAAJ
Research Group (Lab)
CNI is located at the Clemson University Advanced Materials Research Laboratory in Anderson County. The Institute specializes in the fundamental properties and applications of a broad range of nanomaterials. It is developing cutting-edge multidisciplinary research that can widen the frontiers of nanoscience and significantly impact industrial technologies. Established in 2013, CNI contains approximately 5,000 square feet of research space and houses various synthesis and characterization equipment. CNI has seven active agreements with industrial partners, and nearly 10 faculty members and 25 students and postdocs use the facility for various collaborative projects. For example, Kyocera-AVX and Clemson University have partnered to advance the development of supercapacitors in SC and beyond. As another example, Atlis Motor Vehicles has worked with CNI to develop electric-vehicle batteries that charge faster, last longer, and are scalable to fit a variety of vehicle classes.
Courses Taught
General Physics Course in Mechanics, Heat and Sound
General Physics Course in Electricity, Magnetism, Optics & Relativity
Calculus-based Physics Course in Modern Physics
Solid-State Physics
Methods of Spectroscopy
Optics
Selected Research Topics
Selected Publications
Selected Publications
“Permeable void-free interface for all-solid-state alkali-ion polymer batteries,” W. Lyu, H. Fu, A. M. Rao, Z. Lu, X. Yu, Y. Lin, J. Zhou, B. Lu, Science Advances, 10 (42), eadr9602 (2024).
“Safe electrolyte for long-cycling alkali-ion batteries,” X. Yi, H. Fu, A. M. Rao, Y. Zhang, J. Zhou, C. Wang, B. Lu, Nature Sustainability, 7, 326 – 337 (2024).
“Molecular-level design for a phosphate-based electrolyte for stable potassium-ion batteries,” Y. Geng, H. Fu, Y. Hu, A. M. Rao, L. Fan, J. Zhou, B. Lu, Appl. Phys. Lett., 124, 063901 (2024), doi.org/10.1063/5.0178871.
Invited to contribute to the special Carbon-based Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage collection.
“Bioderived silicon nano-quills: synthesis, structure, and performance in lithium-ion battery anodes,” N. Chen, M. Sabet, N. Sapkota, M. Parekh, S. Chiluwal, K. Koehler, C. M. Clemons, Yi Ding, A. M. Rao, and S. Pilla, Green Chemistry, doi:10.1039/d4gc00498a (2024).
“Bio-inspired carbon electrodes for metal-ion batteries,” Y. Yang, J. Zhou, A. M. Rao, and B. Lu, Nanoscale, Issue 12 (2024).
“Building Stable Solid-State Potassium Metal Batteries,” W. Lyu, X. Yu, Y. Lv, A. M. Rao, J. Zhou, and B. Lu, Advanced Materials, doi.org/10.1002/adma.202305795, (2024).
“Development of pH-Sensitive Film for Detection of Implant Infection via Ultrasound Luminescent Chemical Imaging,” G. B. Schober, U. Uzair, M. Reel, V. Abbaraju, H. Behlow, A. M. Rao, S. Bhattacharya, and Jeffrey N. Anker, Adv. Sensor Res. (2024), 2300182, https://doi.org/10.1002/adsr.202300182.
“A tailored electrolyte for safe and durable potassium ion batteries,” L Fan, H Xie, Y Hu, Z Caixiang, A. M. Rao, J. Zhou, and B. Lu, Energy & Environmental Science, 16, 305-315 (2023).
“Thermoelectric figure-of-merit from Peltier cooling,” S. Bhattacharya, H. Behlow, I. Rancu, A. M. Rao, and H. J. Goldsmid, Journal of Applied Physics 132 (17), 175106 (2022).
“A Novel Route to Fibers with Incongruent and Volatile Crystalline Semiconductor Cores: GaAs,” Thomasina Zaengle, Ursula J Gibson, Thomas W Hawkins, Colin McMillen, Basanta Ghimire, A. M. Rao, John Ballato, ACS Photonics, 9, 1058-1064 (2022).
“Phonon anharmonicity in binary chalcogenides for efficient energy harvesting”, Prakash Parajuli, Sriparna Bhattacharya, Rahul Rao, Apparao M Rao, Materials Horizons 9, 1602 – 1622 (2022).
“Green Synthesis of a Novel Porous Gold-curcumin Nanocomposite for Super-Efficient Alcohol Oxidation”, Sai Prasad Nayak, Lakshman K. Ventrapragada, Sai Sathish Ramamurthy, J. K. Kiran Kumar, Apparao M. Rao, Nano Energy, 94, 106966 (2022).
A full list of publications can be found at
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=jCXInTYAAAAJ
Selected Talks
"An electrochemical oscillator for harvesting near room temperature waste heat," Plenary talk at the International Conference on Advances in Carbon Science and Innovation, 11-13 November 2024, Sydney, Australia.
“Carbon for Energy Generation and Storage,” Distinguished Speaker, The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, at Texas A&M University, October 17th 2024.
“High-temperature lithium-sulfur batteries with commercial paper-derived solid-state electrolyte,” N. Sapkota, M. Sabet, M. Parekh, N. Chen, Y. Ding, S. Pilla, A.M. Rao, 245th ECS Meeting, May 26–30, 2024, San Francisco, CA, USA.
“Carbon-coated mesoporous silica nano-quills from bioderived cellulosic templates for low-cost anodes,” N. Chen, M. Sabet, C.M. Clemons, A.M. Rao, S. Pilla, 245th ECS Meeting, May 26–30, 2024, San Francisco, CA, USA.
“A thermally rechargeable electrochemical oscillator for harvesting near room temperature ultra-low grade waste heat,” B. Ghimire, M. Parekh, H. Behlow, M. Sabet, S. Bhattacharya, N. Sapkota, P.S. Chauhan, A. Misra, A. M. Rao, APS March Meeting 2024, March 4–8, 2024, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
“Porous silicon-based anodes for extreme temperatures,” M. Sabet, M. Parekh, Y. Ding, S. Pilla, A.M. Rao, 2023 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, Nov. 26–Dec. 1, 2023, Boston, MA, USA.
“Transforming commercial paper into flexible solid electrolyte with high-ionic conductivity for durable lithium-sulfur batteries,” M. Sabet, N. Sapkota, M. Parekh, N. Chen, Y. Ding, S. Pilla, A.M. Rao, 2023 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, Nov. 26–Dec. 1, 2023, Boston, MA, USA.
“Binder-free silicon-impregnated carbon paper electrodes,” P. Karki, M. Sabet, M. Parekh, Y. Ding, S. Pilla, A. M. Rao, 2023 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, Nov. 26–Dec. 1, 2023, Boston, MA, USA.
“A study of lithiation-delithiation kinetics for porous 1D silicon-based anodes,” N. Chen, M. Parekh, M. Sabet, Y. Ding, A.M. Rao, 2023 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, Nov. 26–Dec. 1, 2023, Boston, MA, USA.
“Enhancing the durability of silicon anodes by anchoring carbon-coated active particles to reduced graphene oxide,” N. Sapkota, N. Chen, M. Sabet, M. Parekh, Y. Ding, S. Pilla, A. M. Rao, 2023 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, Nov. 26–Dec. 1, 2023, Boston, MA, USA.
“High-performance silicon active materials from biorenewable resources,” N. Chen, M. Sabet, C. M. Clemons, A. M. Rao, S. Pilla, 2023 AIChE Annual Meeting, Nov. 5–10, 2023, Orlando, FL, USA.
“Synthesis of highly porous silica anode materials facilitated by cellulose nanocrystal templating for lithium-ion batteries,” N. Chen, M. Sabet, N. Sapkota, C. M. Clemons, A. M. Rao, S. Pilla, ACS Fall 2023, Aug. 13–17, 2023, San Francisco, CA, USA.
“Emerging power sources in wearable health monitoring devices for older adults,” M. Sabet, M. Parekh, B. Ghimire, S. Bhattacharya, H. Behlow, A. M. Rao, 2023 SGS Annual Meeting & Conference, Apr. 11–15, 2023, Norfolk, VA, USA.
Memberships
Member, National Academy of Inventors (2018- present)
Member, Materials Research Society, MRS (1985- present)
Member, American Physical Society, APS (1985- present)
Member, American Carbon Society, (1985- present)
Member, American Association for Advancement of Science (2002- present)
Member, American Chemical Society (2010- present)
Member, The Minerals, Metals, and Materials (TMS) Society (2006- present)
Member, Electrochemical Society, (1999- present)
Member, IEEE, (2014)
Member, American Vacuum Society, (2002-2004)
Honors and Awards
Brahm Prakash Endowed Visiting Chair Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India, 2021.
Elected as the Fellow of the Materials Research Society, 2020.
Elected as the Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, 2018
University Research, Scholarship and Artistic Achievement Award, 2018.
Governor's Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, South Carolina, 2014.
Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, Clemson University, 2012.
Elected as the Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011.
Appointed as the R. A. Bowen Endowed Professor of Physics, 2010.
Elected as the Fellow of the American Physical Society, 2008.
Outreach
Clemson Nanomaterials Center reaches out to community
https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-nanomaterials-center-reaches-out-to-community/
