Arslan Raza Safdar

Ph.D. candidate in Scienza E Tecnologia Dei Materiali , 40th cycle (2024-2027)
Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT)

Profile

PhD

Research topic

Design and development of photocurable resins with vitrimeric properties for additive manufacturing applications

Tutors

Research interests

Electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties / Proprietà elettriche, magnetiche e meccaniche
Materials for adsorption, catalysis, photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis / Materiali per l'adsorbimento la catalisi, fotocatalisi e fotoelettrocatalisi
Materials for energy / Materiali per l'energia
Materials characterization / Caratterizzazione di materiali
Materials synthesis / Sintesi di materiali
Nanomaterials / Nanomateriali
Additive manufacturing / Manifattura additiva
Composites / Compositi
Polymers / Polimeri
Metals / Mettalli
Functional materials / Materiali funzionali

Biography

Working On
Vitrimers are a new class of polymer systems with properties in between those of conventional thermoplastic and thermoset materials. These materials have gained attention due to such desirable covalent dynamic bond exchange processes without losing/breaking bonds during thermal variations with excellent healing properties.
My journey in the field of material physics has been driven by a profound interest in the study of metamaterials and nanostructured devices, including nanobots, nanodots, nanowires, nanocomposites, and nanoparticles. This passion has guided my research and project activities, leading to significant contributions in various domains such as spintronics, supercapacitors, and advanced characterization techniques. My work has also extended to optoelectronics, electromagnetic, electrical, and electrochemical applications.
During my tenure in Estonia from March 2023 to July 2024, I was involved in the development of luminescence materials using band structure engineering approaches for scintillation applications. This project, conducted at the Laboratory of Ionic Crystal, Institute of Physics, UT, Estonia, aimed to enhance the performance of scintillation materials by incorporating alkali halides and rare earth metals.
In South Korea, I contributed to the development of ferrous and non-ferrous electrodes for electrochemical water-splitting reactions. This project, undertaken at the Advanced Quantum and Nanomaterial Laboratory in Seoul, focused on improving the efficiency of hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions (HER/OER). The research involved the synthesis and characterization of novel electrode materials, which are crucial for sustainable energy solutions.
My MS research work at COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan, from July 2021 to June 2022, centered on developing 2D MXene thin films for electromagnetic interference shielding. This project aimed to create materials with superior shielding effectiveness to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic interference. Additionally, I worked on synthesizing NiFe2O4/0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 - 0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (NFOBCZT) composites to enhance spin-based polarization properties. These projects provided me with hands-on experience in material synthesis and characterization techniques.
During my MS graduate lab work from February 2021 to June 2021, I engaged in several projects at the Nanophysics Lab, COMSATS University Islamabad. These included the synthesis and characterization of Bi2Se3 nanosheets for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications, attenuation factor calculations of gamma rays for aluminum sheets, and the storage and retrieval of information in quantum dots.
My BS (Hons) project at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from December 2017 to June 2018, involved the fabrication of zinc oxide (ZnO2) nanowires for photocatalytic applications. This project aimed to develop efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation, showcasing the potential of nanotechnology in addressing global challenges.
Throughout my academic and research career, I have developed a diverse set of skills. My experimental skills include photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, SEM with EDS operation, magnetron sputtering, XRD, FTIR, SPM (STM, AFM), lithography, and RAMAN spectroscopy. These techniques are essential for the synthesis and characterization of advanced materials.
In addition to my experimental skills, I am proficient in various digital and software tools, including Origin, MATLAB, Python, MS Office, and MDI Jade. These tools are indispensable for data analysis, simulation, and presentation of research findings.

Curriculum

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