Pulickel Ajayan

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Research

Ajayan's research has been in the field of nanotechnology, and he is noted for leading advances in carbon nanotube technology. In 1992, at the NEC Fundamental Research Laboratory in Tsukuba, Japan"Nanotubes FOR Electronics" by Philip G. Collins and Phaedon Avouris: Scientific American: Dec2000, Vol. 283 Issue 6, p62.] (the lab of Sumio Iijima, the discoverer of nanotubes), he teamed with Thomas Ebbesen to develop the first method for making macroscopic quantities of nanotubes."Nanotubes FOR Electronics" by Philip G. Collins and Phaedon Avouris: Scientific American: Dec2000, Vol. 283 Issue 6, p62.] They demonstrated that nanotubes can be produced in bulk quantities by varying the arc-evaporation conditions. The experiment involved placing two graphite rods millimeters apart, and wiring them to a power supply. As 100 amperes of current sparked between the rods, hot plasma was created by the vaporization of carbon. Some of this plasma underwent condensation and formed nanotubes."Nanotubes FOR Electronics" by Philip G. Collins and Phaedon Avouris: Scientific American: Dec2000, Vol. 283 Issue 6, p62.] This was a considerable advance in the technology, and created a boom in carbon nanotube research.

Ajayan’s research interests are mainly focused on the synthesis and characterization of one-dimensional nanostructures with special emphasis on carbon nanotubes. He is a pioneer in the area of nanotubes and has published some of the key papers in the field with more than 3000 citations for his work in this area. Among his research accomplishments, he presented a simple chemical method of opening and filling nanotubes. He, along with Vinod P. Veedu, Anyuan Cao and Mehrdad N. Ghasemi Nejhad have been awarded a Guinness World Record for creating the smallest nanotube brushes with bristles. [http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=14632 Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: US nanotechnologists make it to the Guinness Book of World Records] ] According to a Science Watch Analysis, he is the 7th most cited author in Nanotechnology for the period of 1992-2002. [http://www.sciencewatch.com/july-aug2003/sw_july-aug2003_page2.htm Sweating the Small Stuff, 1992-2002] ] In August 2007, he was in the news again for collaborating with several other researchers on the development of the world's first paper battery, which utilizes carbon nanotubes embedded within paper. In a brief interview with Discover Magazine, Ajayan stated he believes the paper battery will have many important future applications in industry and medicine. [cite news | url = http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jan/amazing-battery-made-of-paper | title = 52. Amazing Battery Made of . . . Paper | author = Richard Morgan | publisher = Discover Magazine | date = January 1, 2008 | accessdate = 2008-01-15] In 2008, Pulickel Ajayan's team created the darkest material on the Earth, known to man — a carpet of carbon nanotubes that reflects only 0.045% of the light. [cite news
url = http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5451632.html
title = A dark discovery — no, really, this stuff is dark
author = Eric Berger
publisher = Houston Chronicle
date = January 14, 2008
accessdate = 2008-01-15]

Pedagogy

Ajayan teaches materials science and nanotechnology in Rice's Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. In his role as an academic at RPI, Ajayan has been a major promoter of nanotechnology, teaching various interdisciplinary courses at the undergraduate level, which emphasize the changes occurring in materials science. Constantly traveling to expand the field, Ajayan spends a good amount of time abroad and around the United States.

At RPI, Ajayan was a reputed professor known for his relaxed attitude. He has earned the praise of his fellow researchers and students, along with the nickname, "the Prime Minister" stemming from his initials (P. M.) and his role as a dignitary of nanotechnology.

Educational background

Ajayan's early education was in Kerala, India. Till the sixth standard, he studied in a government school in Kodungallur [http://ashok.loyolites.com/2007/03/12/pm-ajayan-a-science-hero-from-loyola/ loyolites.com - P.M. Ajayan: Science Hero from Loyola] ] , after which he moved to Loyola School, Thiruvananthapuram [http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/dec/15inter.htm rediff.com - Nanotech holds key to the future] ] , a high school he has credited for making a strong impact on him, and for making him "realize that learning is the most exciting thing one can ever befriend". [http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/dec/15inter.htm rediff.com - Nanotech holds key to the future] ] He graduated from Loyola in 1977. [http://ashok.loyolites.com/2007/03/12/pm-ajayan-a-science-hero-from-loyola/ loyolites.com - P.M. Ajayan: Science Hero from Loyola] ] In 1985, Ajayan graduated with a B.Tech. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India [http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/mems/people.cfm?doc_id=11343 Rice University - Faculty Page of Pulickel M. Ajayan] ] . He did so by finishing at the top of his class, thereby winning the department's gold medal [http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/mems/people.cfm?doc_id=11343 Rice University - Faculty Page of Pulickel M. Ajayan] ] . In 1989, he earned a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering [http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/dec/15inter.htm rediff.com - Nanotech holds key to the future] ] [http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/mems/people.cfm?doc_id=11343 Rice University - Faculty Page of Pulickel M. Ajayan] ] from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

Honors

* Named Scientific American magazine as a Research Leader within the 2006 “Scientific American 50” [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=CA663E2C-E7F2-99DF-3B212D4B44CF6D05&pageNumber=2&catID=9 Scientific American 50: SA 50 Winners and Contributors: Scientific American] ] [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=CA41CF93-E7F2-99DF-332D036FA997032C&pageNumber=9 Scientific American 50: Trends in Research, Business and Policy: Scientific American] ] [http://newsroom.spie.org/x5215.xml SPIE: Notice on Scientific American's top 50] ]
* Materials Research Society (MRS) medal, 2006
* National Science Foundation 1998 CAREER early development award

External links

* [http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/mems/people.cfm?doc_id=11343 Rice University - Faculty Page of Pulickel M. Ajayan]
* [http://www.nanosprint.com/nanotubes/newsletter/monthly_0406/researcher_Pulickel_Ajayan.html Profile on "Carbon Nanotubes Monthly"]
* [http://www.rpi.edu/dept/materials/PMA/ Older home page]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4700495 Prof. Ajayan speaks on NPR about the extremely small brushes he and his team made]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inLm0BeuYPw Prof. Ajayan speaks at Oceanit about nanotechnology]

References