by Suresh Pd Nikhar
Gaya : Dr. Rohit Ranjan Shahi, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at the Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), has been awarded a grant of Rs 11 lakhs from the Inter University Accelerator Center (IUAC)-UGC, New Delhi. This funding is designated for collaborative research focused on the development of materials for hydrogen storage and production.
CUSB Vice-Chancellor Professor Kameshwar Nath Singh congratulated Dr. Shahi, emphasizing the significance of such joint research efforts for the university and their potential benefits for renewable energy in India. The Registrar of CUSB, Prof. Narendra Kumar Singh, also extended his congratulations on this achievement.
Public Relations Officer Mohammad Mudassir Alam noted that Dr. Shahi’s colleagues, including Professor Amiya Priyam, Dean of the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, and Prof. Venktesh Singh, Head of the Physics Department, have also expressed their support and best wishes for the successful execution of the project. Dr. Shahi dedicated this achievement to the hard work of his Ph.D. scholars, Priyanka Shahi and Aryan.
Dr. Shahi has conducted extensive research on the electrochemical properties of high-entropy materials over the past five years at CUSB. He explained that the project will involve a joint investigation to develop advanced catalytic materials for hydrogen production, which will be ion-irradiated to enhance hydrogen generation from water. The research aims to explore the catalytic properties and storage capabilities of innovative high-entropy materials with multifunctional properties.
The central government has set a goal of achieving zero emissions by 2047 to combat global warming and reduce the carbon footprint. Hydrogen, a key player in renewable energy, can be produced from water and reverts to water after combustion in internal combustion engines or fuel cells. CUSB is actively contributing to this field, with a focus on investigating and developing catalysts for hydrogen production. The collaborative project will involve designing and testing novel two-dimensional multi-component high-entropy materials for hydrogen generation.