Shafeeq Sarfudeen PhD

Dr. Shafeeq earned his PhD in Materials Chemistry from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India, where he was awarded the prestigious CSIR–Senior Research Fellowship (CSIR-SRF). His doctoral research, titled “Design and Synthesis of Zeolite-like Metal–Organic Frameworks for Sensing and Energy-Related Applications,” focused on developing advanced porous materials for next-generation sensing and sustainable energy technologies.

Prior to his PhD, he completed his Master’s degree in General Chemistry with First Class distinction. His postgraduate thesis, “Localized Formation of Highly Surface-Active Gold Nanoparticles on Intrinsic Nickel-Containing Carbon Black and its Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy Interrogation and Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Hydrazine,” explored nanostructured electrocatalysts and advanced electrochemical characterization techniques.

He also holds a First Class Bachelor’s degree with Triple Honours in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore, India—reflecting his strong interdisciplinary foundation in the physical sciences.

Currently, Dr. Shafeeq is a member of the Multifunctional Materials & Composites Laboratory. His research centers on the nanoengineering of triboelectric energy generators using metal–organic framework (MOF) materials, aiming to advance efficient and sustainable energy harvesting technologies.

• Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) : Specifically the design, synthesis, and application of emerging Zeolitic Tetrazolate Frameworks (ZTFs), Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs).
• Nanogenerators: Development of high-performance Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) for mechanical energy harvesting.
• Self-Powered Sensing: Engineering materials for self-powered detection of neurochemicals, nitro-explosives, and humidity.
• Electrocatalysis: Exploring bifunctional electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions (ORR), Oxygen Evolution Reactions (OER), and selective detection of substances like dopamine and superoxide anions.
• Energy Storage & Conversion: Researching materials for fuel cells and overall energy sustainability.
• Nano-architectonics: Utilizing core-shell nano-architectonics to enhance the performance of material frameworks in sensing and energy applications.

Nanoengineering of Triboelectric Energy Generators Employing Metal-Organic Framework Materials : This project focus on the development and engineering of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials for advanced triboelectric energy generators (TEGs) to enhance energy harvesting capabilities