DESCRIPTION :

Dr. Balaji Umapathi is a Materials engineer working in basic and applied R&D relevant to industries. His research focuses on (a) Chemical processes: Resource utilization and value addition which focuses on the Recovery of valuable materials from spent electrodes and the preparation of high-value products from recovered materials. (b) Surface Engineering: Utilizing primary and secondary sources for developing electrochemical & electroless coatings, DBD Plasma cleaning & activation of surfaces, Anodizing, Surface finishing, Functional coatings and Thin films, and Metamaterial surfaces for energy harvesting and energy management.

Dr. Umapathi holds a PhD in Engineering from AcSIR New Delhi, an M.Tech in Material Resource Engineering, and a B.Tech in Biotechnology. His current work includes process development for maximizing resource utilization and functional product development for value realization.

• 2009-2011 Quick Hire Scientist Fellow.
• 2011-2017 Scientist.
• 2017-2021 Senior Scientist
• 2021-Till date Principal Scientist.

• Developing energy-efficient processes for resource utilization from spent carbon-based electrodes.
  
• Value addition through electrochemical engineering and surface finishing for property modification using carbon-based materials.
  
• Design and development of graphene-based industrial functional coatings.
• Plasma engineering for cleaning and surface activation.

• Mukherjee M, Dutta SP, Balaji U, Pandey S, Sankaran K J, Lenka D Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment for microbial disinfection and enhanced germination in paddy seeds. Applied Food Research (2025)
• S Suman, DK Sharma, O Szabo, B Rakesh, M Marton, M Vojs, A Vincze, SP Dutta, U Balaji, D Debasish, R Sakthivel, KJ Sankaran and A Kromka, Vertically aligned boron-doped diamond nanostructures as highly efficient electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors. Royal Society of Chemistry - Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2024)
• S Suman; Sharma, D ; Szabó, O; Rakesh, B, U, Balaji; Marton, M; Vojs, Marian; Dutta, S; Debasish, D; Sakthivel, R; Sankaran, K; Kromka, A, Vertically aligned boron-doped diamond nanostructures as highly efficient electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors, Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2024)
• B. S. Tripathy,R. N. P. Choudhary, U. Balaji , P. Nayak & S. K. Parida Structure, dielectric, vibrational, and optical properties of lead-free double perovskite Bi2FeMnO6, Ferroelectrics, (2024)
• S. Suman, D.K. Sharma, S. Sain, O. Szabo, Benadict Rakesh, U. Balaji, M. Marton, S.S. Sinha, R. Sakthivel, K.J. Sankaran, A. Kromka Nanoscale Investigation on the Improvement of Electrical Properties of Boron-doped Diamond Nanostructures for High-performance Plasma Displays, ACS Applied Electronic Materials, 5, 4946 (2023)
• S.K. Mahanta, S. Suman, S.K. Ghadei, U. Balaji, R. Sakthivel, K.J. Sankaran Direct Fabrication of Metal-Free Graphene Nanohairs/Polyimide Heterojunction for the Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Industrial Dyes, Diamond and Related Materials, 137, 110096 (2023)
• M. Mukherjee, S.K. Gadhei, B. Rakesh, U. Balaji, R. Sakthivel, K J Sankaran Fluorine-free Sustainable Three-dimensional Superhydrophobic and Superoleophilic Robust Foam for Efficient Oil/Water Separation, ACS Applied Engineering Materials, 2, 234 (2023)
• S K Mahanta, U. Balaji, S. K. Pradhan, S Suman, K J Sankaran Towards High-quality graphite oxide from graphite – Systemization of the balance in oxidative and mechanical forces for yield enhancement. Chemical Engineering Science, 259, 117815 (2022)
  
• Sankaran K J, S Suman, A Sahaw, U Balaji, R Sakthivel, Improved LPG sensing properties of nickel doped cobalt ferrites derived from metallurgical wastes, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 537, 168231, (2021)
• S.K. Pradhan, U. Balaji, S. Mishra, M. Jeevitha, S. Swain, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering on Chemically Etched Copper Surface: An Upper-Level Spectroscopic Measurement and Analysis, Journal of Chemical Education 97, 2, 557-564, (2020)
  
• U. Balaji, Controlling integral surface colouring of titanium in HF system through simultaneous parametric tracking during interaction (2019) Proceedings of the National Conference on Industrial Coatings (2019)
• A. Shukla, U. Balaji, Correlating surface processing and wetting characteristics  in nano and micro-structured anodized titania for preparing a suitable surface for photocatalytic degradation of  pollutants, Indian National Science Academy Publication (Authorcafe) 12494, (2018)
  
• U. Balaji, S.K. Pradhan, Titanium anodisation designed for surface coloration- Systemization of parametric interaction using response surface methodology, Materials and Design 139 (2018) 409-418.
• U. Balaji, S.K. Pradhan, M. Jeevitha, Pigment free colour anodisation and colour characterization, Proceedings of the Workshop on advanced coating technology-2016 (2016)
  
• M.Jeevitha, S.K.Pradhan, M.Debata, U.Balaji, Optical study of sputtered N doped TiO2 thin films, Proceedings of the European Materials Research Society Spring meeting-2016 –Symposium: EE (protective coatings and thin films) (2016)
• M.T.Arasu, U.Balaji, S.Behera, P.K.Panda, B.K.Mishra, Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticle from leaf extract of Desmodium Gangeticum (L.) DC and its biomedical potential, Spectrochim Acta A (2013) 116: 424-7.
• U.Balaji, L.Besra, A modified approach for quick fabrication of ordered nanostructures by an advanced single step anodization, Conference proceedings, EURO-Intelligent materials 2013, Kiel, Germany. (2013)
• U.Balaji, L.Besra, Fabrication of Ordered Porous Oxides by Anodization for Application as Templates for Nanowire Synthesis & Platform for Bio-Sensing, Conference proceedings BIO 2011, CGCRI Kolkata, Vol-1. (2011)

Patents Filed

1.      AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF GRAPHITE FROM DISCARDED CARBONACEOUS ELECTRODE WASTE, PCT/IB2024/054590

2.      AN EFFICIENT SELF-CONVEYING PLASMA TREATMENT DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING FLOWABLE OBJECTS. IN 202411009987

3.      PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF MAGNETITE NANOPARTICLES FROM MILL SCALE FOR PRINTING, IN202411098539

4.      AN INTEGRAL DOUBLE-SIDED ABSORBER-EMITTER FOR SOLAR THERMAL PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES, IN202411071625

5.      A METHOD OF REDUCTIVE ELECTRO-BIOLEACHING OF OXIDE MINERALS IN202411071625

6.      TEXTILE FIBRE WASTE-BASED REUSABLE COMPOSITE SURFACE COVERING PANEL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THEREOF IN202431078937

 Patents Granted

1.      AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF GRAPHITE FROM DISCARDED CARBONACEOUS ELECTRODE WASTE. Indian patent no. 563649

2.      COMPOSITE SOLAR PANEL COVER AND METHOD OF FORMATION THEREOF Indian patent no. 415426

1. Technology development for utilization of spent EAF graphite electrodes to prepare high commercial value graphene products - [GAP-394]- Ministry of Steel - Principal Investigator 
2. Utilization of spent graphite electrodes for value addition & reuse in smelter - [HCP-54]- CSIR-Mission Waste to Wealth - Principal Investigator 
3. Process for Detoxification of Spent Pot Liner Waste Material from Aluminium Industries a Feasibility Study - [SSP-533] - Principal Investigator 
4. Technology development for preparing electrode-grade graphite from primary and secondary resources - [GAP-358]-DST-SHRI - Principal Investigator
5. Recovery of Graphite and Cryolite from Spent Pot Lining - A feasibility study [SSP-430]-Vedanta Aluminium Business - Principal Investigator
6. Recovery of Graphite from shot blast anode dust - A feasibility study [SSP-445] - Bharat Aluminium Company - Principal Investigator
7. Strategic Recycling of Cold Rolling Mill oil sludge of Jindal Stainless Ltd. to recover the valuables [SSP-473 & GAP-396] - Jindal Stainless Ltd. - Co-Principal Investigator
8. Nanostructured Diamond Hybrid Emission Sources for Optoelectronic Applications [GAP-371] - DST Indo Japan Program - Co-Principal Investigator
9. Basic engineering package for low soda ATH from Odisha bauxite - [SSP-538] - Co-Principal Investigator
10. Dark and bright surface manipulated alumina-based metasurface for use as a broadband EM absorber, band emitter well as a surface for radiative cooling [HCP-30 WP.5.1]- CSIR - Principal Investigator
    
11. Scaling-up of Electroless RGO-Ni nanocomposite coating process [OLP-71] - CSIR-IMMT - Principal Investigator
12. Shelf-life enhancement of seeds/grains by plasma treatment [MLP-72] - CSIR - Principal Investigator
13. Temperature-sensitive Liquid crystal thermometer based on cholesteric compounds for instant contactless body temperature measurement - COVID-19 Tech - Principal Investigator
14. Development of process for recovery of FeCr from slag and use non-metallic slag in metallurgical application [SSP-339] - TATA Steel - Member
15. A study on effect of additives for improvement of hot metal (FeCr) productivity [SSP-338] - TATA Steel - Member
16. Establishment of Common research & technology development hubs (CRTDH) for industrial R&D & Common R&D facilities [GAP-310] - DSIR, New Delhi - Member
17. Development of advanced tribological coatings and environmental barrier coatings by electrophoretic desposition and thermal spraying for mining equipment, pipelines, industrial applications and processes [MLP-56] – FTT Project - Member
    
18. Testing and analysis project – Ellipsometry [LT-01] - CSIR-IMMT - Activity lead
19. Development of CrAlSiN based super hard nanocomposite coatings [GAP-316] - SERB - Member
20. Centre for Special materials – WP 2 Deposition& characterization of optical coatings [CSM-ESC0401] - CSIR-IMMT - WP leader
21. Nanostructured surfaces for structural colour generation [OLP-55] - CSIR-IMMT - Principal Investigator
22. GEM – WP3, WP 4 Treatment of gem by surface diffusion and ion implantation. – Observing and improving optical property [GEM-ESC0206] - CSIR-IMMT - Member
23. Synthesis of magnetite from Blue dust and Iron ore tailings [GAP-239] - SERB (DST) - Member
24. Study on mechanical properties of metals, alloys, composites, etc., for the assessment of their service suitability. [TSP-005] - CIPET, Bhubaneswar - Prinicipal Investigator
    
25. Study of surface induced self-assembly of amphiphilic biomolecules for variable adhesion [OLP-60] - CSIR-IMMT - Member

Process for Brass Coating on Aluminium surface for decorative & aesthetic purposes - M/s Innovative Metal Art, Thane