Rajesh Patra

A Ph.D.-trained experimental chemist with experience in inorganic, organic, and materials chemistry, including postdoctoral research in rechargeable batteries. Seeking to apply strong experimental, analytical, and problem-solving abilities to battery research, materials development, and technology-driven industrial R&D.

Postdoctoral Researcher–Functional Materials & Rechargeable Batteries at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) (2025-09 – Present)

Project: Functional materials for sustainable energy storage applications

• Designed and evaluated electrode materials for Li-ion, Na-ion & Zn-ion battery systems.
• Fabricated electrodes through slurry formulation, doctor blade coating, drying, and assembled CR2032 coin cells under system-specific controlled conditions.
• Evaluated electrochemical performance using CV, GCD, and EIS, including rate capability, cyclic stability, and coulombic efficiency.
• Correlated structure and electrochemical performance of redox-active MOF-based electrode materials through electrochemical and advanced physicochemical characterization.
• Optimized electrode composition, electrolyte systems and testing protocols to improve electrochemical performance.
• Interpreted electrochemical datasets and prepared technical reports, research manuscripts and scientific presentations.

Doctoral Researcher–Functional Materials & Catalysis at Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna) (2019-07 – 2025-06)

Thesis title: Thiol-based Metal-Organic Frameworks and Adenine-based Coordination Polymers: Syntheses, Induced and Intrinsic Heterogeneous Catalysis

• Designed and synthesized MOFs, coordination polymers, and metal nanoparticle-supported materials using solvothermal and solution-phase methods.
• Optimized reaction conditions to improve crystallinity, phase purity and yield of the materials.
• Characterized materials using PXRD, SCXRD, FTIR, Raman, NMR, TGA, SEM, TEM, XPS, BET and elemental analysis.
• Evaluated heterogeneous catalysts for organic transformations, including activity, recyclability, stability and leaching.
• Analyzed experimental data and prepared research manuscripts, presentations and thesis documentation.

Ph.D. in Chemistry – Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna) (2019-07 – 2025-06)

Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in Synthesis of Biphenyl-based Chiral Catalysts – Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) (2019 – 2019)

M.Sc. in Chemical Science – Pondicherry University (2017 – 2017)

B.Sc. in Chemistry – Saldiha College, University of Burdwan (2014 – 2014)