Resume

• 2008

  Ph.D.

  Chemistry

  University of Central Florida

• 2004

  English

  Chemistry

  Madera Community College Center

  BS

  Chemistry

  California State University-Fresno

  Chemical Thermodynamics

  Applied Organic Synthesis

  Solid State Inorganic Chemistry

  Kinetics and Catalysis

  Techniques in Polymer Science

  Applied Analytical Chemistry

  Polymer Chemistry

• Organized on campus soccer games between student club members and actively supported the Mendocino College Men's and Women's soccer programs

  Mendocino College Soccer Club

  Faculty Adviser

  Organized students in the Chemistry Department to perform outreach activities at local K-12 schools.

  Mendocino College Chemistry Club

  Quartz Crystal Microbalance

  Nanomaterials

  Organic Chemistry

  Electrochemistry

  Chemistry

  Chemistry Education

  Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance

  Spectroscopy

  Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

  TEM

  Fuel Cells

  IR spectroscopy

  Transmission electron microscopy

  Capacitors

  X-ray spectroscopy

  NMR

  Scanning Electron Microscopy

  UV/Vis

  Nanotechnology

  IR Spectroscopy

  Structural evolution of multi-walled carbon nanotube/MnO2 composites as supercapacitor electrodes

  Lei Zhai

  Yiqing Chen

  Qiang Li

  Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/MnO2 supercapacitor electrodes containing MnO2 nanoflakes in the MWCNT network are fabricated through the oxidation of manganese acetate with poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS) dispersed MWCNTs. The structural evolution of the electrodes under charge/discharge (reduction/oxidation) cycles and its impact on the electrodes’ electrochemical properties are evaluated. Structural evolution involves the dissolution of MnO2 upon reduction

  the diffusion of the reduced Mn species from the MWCNT network toward the electrolyte solution

  and the deposition of MnO2 on the electrode surface upon oxidation. Electrode structural changes

  including the electrode dissolution and the growth of the MnO2 crystals

  are scan rate dependent and have deteriorating effect on the electrode's electrochemical properties including the specific capacitance and cyclic stability.

  Structural evolution of multi-walled carbon nanotube/MnO2 composites as supercapacitor electrodes

  Sudipta Seal

  Diego Diaz

  Nathan Greenletch

  Jigna Patel

  Nanocrystalline Pt/CeO2 composite electrodes were fabricated to study the electrochemical oxidation of methanol and ethanol. The performance of the electrodes was tested as the ceria solutions aged over time. It was observed that the performance oscillated with time

  suggesting that the catalytic behavior towards alcohol oxidation was greatly dependent on the aging of the particles. These results point to a great dependence of the catalytic effect on the redox state of the ceria particles.

  Aging effects of nanoscale ceria in ceria–platinum composite electrodes for direct alcohol electro-oxidation

  Ph.D. Dissertation reporting my work in fuel cell catalysis

  Electrochemical Studies of Nanoscale Composite Materials as Electrodes in PEM Fuel Cells

  Sudipta Seal

  Diego Diaz

  Nanocrystalline Pt/Au/CeO2 composite electrodes of varying Pt/Au ratios were prepared on polycrystalline Pt and Au electrodes by simultaneous electrodeposition from K2PtCl6

  AuCl3

  and CeO2 solutions. The ratio of Pt:Au was varied from 0:2 to 2:0. It was observed that the electrodes prepared from a 2:1 Pt:Au solution yielded a slightly higher current for the oxidation of methanol. Scanning electron microscopy showed stark changes in the electrode morphology and surface area as the Au concentration is increased. The morphology of the electrodes varies with the ratio of Pt:Au

  ranging from a relatively smooth deposit for Pt

  a globular particulate for Pt:Au

  and a dendrite-like triangular shape for Au. It was also observed that the 1:2 Pt:Au ratio gave a 2-fold increase in the oxidation current for the oxidation of ethanol

  suggesting that the Pt:Au composite electrode proves to be a better catalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of ethanol. The changes in morphology of the film can probably be attributed to the catalytic enhancement in ethanol. However

  the increase in the current is larger than what can be explained by surface area effects

  suggesting a synergistic effect for the electrochemical oxidation of the alcohol.

  Nanoceria-Modified Platinum−Gold Composite Electrodes for the Electrochemical Oxidation of Methanol and Ethanol in Acidic Media

  Astha Malhotra

  Matthew D. McInnis

  The electrochemical oxidation of methanol and ethanol in acidic media was studied using electrodes composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with Pt

  Ru and ceria nanoparticles. Polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) was used to disperse the MWCNTs in water and provide nucleation sites for the growth of catalyst nanoparticles. Composite electrodes were characterized for structural and electrochemical properties and all electrodes modified with Ru displayed greater catalytic ability for alcohol oxidation than those without Ru. In addition

  the inclusion of ceria seemed to increase the catalytic ability in every sample suggesting a synergistic effect between Pt

  Ru and ceria for the oxidation of methanol and ethanol. The catalytic effect of Pt and Ru concentration was studied by holding Ru concentrations constant and increasing the concentration of Pt. The same concentration of ceria was used for all modified electrodes. The results of this study show that the electrode prepared from 3:1 Pt:Ru solutions with ceria showed the highest peak current density for methanol oxidation (at 0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl/Cl- which was nearly 20 times greater than that for an unmodified Pt electrode. Similar results were seen for ethanol oxidation on the same electrode which resulted in peak current densities greater than 20 times those for the unmodified Pt electrode at 0.8 V versus Ag/AgCl/Cl-.

  Aqueous route for the synthesis of platinum

  ruthenium and ceria nanoparticles on mullti-walled carbon nanotubes for the electrooxidation of methanol and ethanol

  Jordan

  Mendocino College

  University of Central Florida

  Clovis Community College

  California State University

  Fresno

  Ukiah

  CA United States

  Full-time instructor of introductory and general chemistry at Mendocino College.

  Chemistry Instructor

  Mendocino College

  Worked with Dr. Kevin Miller in the Chemistry Department. My research focused on forensic validation studies involving test strips for blood and semen detection.

  Undergraduate Research Assistant

  Fresno

  California Area

  California State University

  Fresno

  Taught undergraduate labs and discussions including general and organic chemistry.

  University of Central Florida

  Clovis Community College

  Fresno

  California Area

  Full-time instructor of chemistry at Clovis Community College.

  Chemistry Instructor

  Worked in the lab of Dr. Lei Zhai at UCF's NanoScience Technology Center. Research focused on nanocomposite fabrication of electrodes in fuel cells and supercapacitors.

  Graduate Research Assistant

  Orlando

  Florida Area

  University of Central Florida