Nishu Devi
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Contact
Bio
Nishu Devi is a postdoctoral research associate at the Geochemistry and Interfacial Sciences (GIS) Group, Chemical Sciences Division (CSD), Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Her current research project focuses on electrocatalysis for CO₂ capture and conversion funded by an Energy Research Frontier Center (EFRC)—the center for Understanding and Controlling Accelerated and Gradual Evolution of Materials for Energy (UNCAGE-ME III). The goal of this project is to gain a fundamental understanding of the degradation of electrocatalysts during combined capture and conversion of CO₂ using ionic liquids and electrolytes.
Dr. Devi's research interests encompass material science, electrochemistry, and surface chemistry of electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Her work spans the development of advanced materials and the exploration of electrochemical processes for energy storage (supercapacitors, batteries), carbon mitigation (electrochemical carbon capture and conversion), and clean energy and water systems (fuel cells, hydrogen generation, and water electrolysis).
Dr. Devi holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa, with a specialization in electrochemistry. Her doctoral research focused on the design and characterization of novel electrode materials for high-performance electrochemical energy storage, specifically supercapacitors. She also holds a Master’s (M.Tech.) and Bachelor’s (B.Tech.) degree in Chemical Engineering from Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology (DCRUST), Murthal, Haryana, India, grounding her learnings in core principles of chemical process design and materials engineering.
Before joining ORNL, Dr. Devi worked at Northwestern University, Evanston, USA, in the Subsurface Opportunities and Innovations Laboratory (SOIL) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, focusing on electrochemical carbon sequestration as solid carbonate minerals using seawater. Prior to her time in the USA, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Johannesburg, DFC campus, and a visiting researcher at a national laboratory in South Africa, CSIR-Pretoria, where she studied the applications of polymer-nanocomposites for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Earlier in her career, she gained research experience as a project assistant at a national laboratory in India, CSIR-IIP, contributing to petroleum refinery process optimization. Additionally, she served as a visiting faculty member in the chemical engineering department, teaching foundational concepts to undergraduate students for a short duration.
At ORNL, Dr. Devi brings interdisciplinary expertise in electrochemical systems, materials science, and chemical engineering. She is passionate about developing innovative solutions to address global energy and climate challenges through collaborative research and technology development utilizing electrochemistry.
Professional Experience
March 01, 2022-April 30, 2025, Postdoctoral researcher, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
May 01, 2020-February 28, 2022, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Johannesburg, DFC campus, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, and Visiting researcher at CSIR-Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
September 01, 2016-December 31, 2016, Visiting Faculty, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Haryana, India
July 01, 2015-August 18, 2016, Project Fellow, CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Awards
Global Excellence and Stature (GES) Fellowship from University of Johannesburg, South Africa (March 2017–December 2019)
Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) Scholarship (2014)
Education
Ph.D. in Chemistry: University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (March 2017-April 2020)
Thesis title: Performance of bismuth-based materials for electrochemical energy storage devices (Advisor: Prof. Kaushik Mallick)
M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering: Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Haryana, India (July 2013-June 2015)
Dissertation title: Combined process for transesterification and selective hydrogenation for biodiesel production from non-edible vegetable oils (Advisor: Dr. Umesh Kumar, Co-advisor: Prof. DP Tiwari)
B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering: Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Haryana, India (July 2009-June 2013)
Dissertation Title: Analysis of various samples of water and study of their purification techniques (Advisor: Dr. Priyanka Lahot)
Other Publications
Nishu Devi, Xiaohui Gong, Daiki Shoji, Amy Wagner, Alexandre Guerini, Davide Zampini, and Alessandro F. Rotta Loria, “Electrodeposition of Carbon-Trapping Minerals in Seawater for Variable Electrochemical Potentials and Carbon Dioxide Injections”, Adv. Sustainable Syst., 2025, 2400943.
Nishu Devi, Amy Wagner, Jeffrey Lopez, Alexandre Guerini, Davide Zampini, and Alessandro F. Rotta Loria “Mechanistic Insights into Electrodeposition in Seawater at Variable Electrochemical Potentials,” Adv. Sustainable Syst., 2023, 2300446.
Kirti Mishra, Nishu Devi, Samarjeet Singh Siwal, and Vijay Kumar Thakur, “Dual role of 2-aminodiphenylamine with graphene oxide-palladium supported catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell application and removal of Otto fuel II component,” Surf. Interfaces, 2024, 46, 104015,
Karamveer Sheoran, Nishu Devi, Walaa F. Alsanie, Samarjeet Singh Siwal, and Vijay Kumar Thakur, “An Aniline-Complexed Bismuth Tungstate Nanocomposite Anchored on Carbon Black as an Electrode Material for Supercapacitor Applications,” ChemistrySelect, 2023, 8, e20230187.
Karamveer Sheoran, Nishu Devi and Samarjeet Singh Siwal, “Incorporation of sulfur with graphitic carbon nitride into copper nanoparticles toward supercapacitor application,” Nanofabrication, 2023, 8, 1-11.
Kirti Mishra, Nishu Devi, S. S. Siwal, V. K. Gupta, and V. K. Thakur, “Hybrid Semiconductor Photocatalyst Nanomaterials for Energy and Environmental 7 Applications: Fundamentals, Designing, and Prospects,” Adv. Sustain. Syst., 2023, 7, 230009.
Kirti Mishra, Nishu Devi, S. S. Siwal, and V. K. Thakur, “Insight perspective on the synthesis and morphological role of the noble and non-noble metal-based electrocatalyst in fuel cell application,” Appl. Catal. B Environ., 2023, 334, 122820.
Harjot Kaur, Nishu Devi, S. S. Siwal, W. F. Alsanie, M. K. Thakur, and V. K. Thakur, “Metal–Organic Framework-Based Materials for Wastewater Treatment: Superior Adsorbent Materials for the Removal of Hazardous Pollutants,” ACS Omega, 2023, 8, 9004–9030.
Nishu Devi, Samarjeet Singh Siwal, “MXene-based nanomaterials for supercapacitor applications: New pathways for the future”, Nanofabrication, 2022, 7, 165-173.
Kirti Mishra, Nishu Devi, Samarjeet Singh Siwal, Qibo Zhang, Walaa F Alsanie, Fabrizio Scarpa, Vijay Kumar Thakur, “Ionic Liquid‐Based Polymer Nanocomposites for Sensors, Energy, Biomedicine, and Environmental Applications: Roadmap to the Future”, Advanced Science, 2022, 9, 2202187.
Nishu Devi, Suprakas Sinha Ray, “Electromagnetic interference cognizance and potential of advanced polymer composites toward electromagnetic interference shielding: A review”, Polym. Eng. Sci., 2022, 62, 1-31.
Samarjeet Singh Siwal, Qibo Zhang, Nishu Devi, Adesh Kumar Saini, Vipin Saini Bhawna Pareek, Sergejs Gaidukovsh, Vijay Kumar Thakur, “Recovery Processes of Sustainable Energy using Different Biomass and Wastes”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021, 150, 111483.
Nishu Devi, Suprakas Sinha Ray, “Performance of bismuth-based materials for supercapacitor applications: A review” Mater. Today Commun., 2020, 25, 101691.
Nishu Devi, Sarit K. Ghosh, Venkata K. Perla, and K. Mallick, “Organic–Inorganic Complexation Chemistry-Mediated Synthesis of Bismuth–Manganese Bimetallic Oxide for Energy Storage Application” ACS Omega, 2020, 30, 18693–18699.
Samarjeet Singh Siwal, Qibo Zhang, Nishu Devi, Vijay Kumar Thakur, “CarbonBased Polymer Nanocomposite for High-Performance Energy Storage Applications” Polymers, 2020, 12, 505.
Nishu Devi, S. Ghosh, V.K. Perla, T. Pal, and K. Mallick, “Laboratory-based synthesis of the pure form of gananite (BiF3) nanoparticles: a potential material for electrochemical supercapacitor application” New J. Chem. 2019, 43, 18369- 18376.
Nishu Devi, S. Ghosh, and K. Mallick, “Supercapacitive performance of highly dispersed bismuth sulfide nanoparticles in organic matrix: The role of sulphur source” Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2019, 103, 93-99.
R. Barik, Nishu Devi, V.K. Perla, S.K. Ghosh and K. Mallick, “Stannous sulfide nanoparticles for supercapacitor application”, App. Surf. Sci., 2019, 472, 112- 117.
S. Siwal, Nishu Devi, V.K. Perla, S.K. Ghosh and K. Mallick, "Promotional role of gold in electrochemical methanol oxidation". Catalysis, Structure & Reactivity, 2019, 5, 1-9.
Nishu Devi, S. Ghosh, S.C. Ray and K. Mallick, “Organic Matrix Stabilized UltraFine Bismuth Oxide Particles for Electrochemical Energy Storage Application” ChemistrySelect, 2018, 3, 12057-12064.
S. Siwal, Nishu Devi, V. Perla, R. Barik, S. Ghosh and K. Mallick, “The influencing role of oxophilicity and surface area of the catalyst for electrochemical methanol oxidation reaction: a case study” Mater. Res. Innovations, 2018, 23, 440-447.
D. Nandi, R.U. Islam, Nishu Devi, S. Siwal and K. Mallick “Palladium nanoparticlecatalyzed aryl–amine coupling reaction: high performance of aryl and pyridyl chlorides as the coupling partner” New J. Chem., 2018, 42, 812-816.
R. Barik, Nishu Devi, D. Nandi, S. Siwal, S.K. Ghosh and K. Mallick, “Multifunctional performance of nanocrystalline tin oxide”, J. alloys Compd., 2017, 723, 201-207.
S. Siwal, S. Ghosh, D. Nandi, Nishu Devi, V.K. Perla, R. Barik and K. Mallick, “Synergistic effect of graphene oxide on the methanol oxidation for fuel cell application”, Mater. Res. Express, 2017, 4, 095306.