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Welcome to the Ryan Research Group
The Ryan Research Group at the Bernal Institute is led by Professor Kevin M. Ryan who holds a Personal Chair in Chemical Nanotechnology at the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Limerick. He is coordinator of the H2020 EU projects Si-Drive and NEILLSBAT in the area of Li-ion and Lithium-Sulfur batteries respectively, Co-Principal Investigator on SFI Centres MaREI and AMBER and funded Investigator on SSPC. He is holder of SFI IVP and IRC Laureate awards. Previous affiliations included Marie Curie Fellowship positions at the University of California, Berkeley, USA and Merck Chemicals Southampton, UK following BSc and PhD degrees at University College Cork. The group research Interests are in Nanocrystals and Nanowires with emphasis on Synthesis, Assembly and Device Applications in ICT, Energy Storage (Batteries) and Energy Conversion Applications. The group also studies nucleation and growth in both hard (metal, semiconductor) and soft (pharmaceutical) nanocrystal materials with emphasis on size, shape and crystal phase control.
Address: MS1021, University of Limerick, Limerick Ireland. Phone: + 353 (61) 213167, Email: kevin.m.ryan(at)ul.ie.
Research and Affiliation Links
Current Research Team
Dr. Ibrahim AminuResearch FellowResearch Interests: Novel Nanomaterial Synthesis, Li-ion Batteries, and Al-ion Batteries
Dr Cathal O’DonnellPost-Doctoral ResearcherBrief Bio (CV): Received BE in Electronic & Computer Engineering specialising in Electrical Engineering from University of Limerick (2017).
Completed PhD titled: Analysis and Accommodation of Effects of Wind Gusts for Offshore Directly Interconnected Wind Generation Systems supervised by Prof Daniel Toal in the University of Limerick (2022). During his PhD, Cathal investigated a novel power interconnection technique for offshore wind generation in order to minimize requirements for high rate of failure components to be located offshore, instead relocating and sharing this infrastructure to centralized platforms or entirely onshore. Cathal’s current project funded through SEAI focuses on second life use of EV battery packs for smart grid applications.
Rebecca FordePhD Student Amber (Joint with Dr H Geaney)Aluminum-Sulfur batteries,
Lithium-Sulfur batteries,
nanomaterials
Sumair ImtiazPhD Student (SFI MaREI) Jointly supervised with Dr T Kennedy Date of PhD start: December, 2018
Research Interests: Nanomaterials Synthesis and Characterisation for Li-ion and Beyond Li-ion Batteries
Nilotpal Kapuria PhD Student (IRC Laureate) Jointly supervised with Dr S SinghDate of PhD start: 23rd Oct’ 18
Research Interests: Synthesis of anisotropic colloidal nanocrystals, characterization, and assembly
Nandita Biswas Research Assistant (Joint with Dr Ning Liu)Date of start: 17th September, 2018
Research Interests: Synthesizing and Aligning nanorods for LED application
Esther AdegokePhD Student (SFI Joint with Prof U Bangert)Date of PhD start: Jan, 2019
Research Interests: High resolution and in-situ electron microscopy techniques
Maria Zubair PhD Student (SFI) Jointly supervised with Dr S SinghResearch interest: Material Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Colloidal Synthesis
Abinaya Sankaran PhD Student (Si-Drive H2020) Joint with Dr H GeaneyPhD Student March 2019 Start
Research Interests: Nanomaterials, Electrochemical Energy devices-Fuel cell and Batteries.
Mohini Mishra Phd Student Joint with Dr S SinghPhD Student Feb 2019 Start
Research Interests: Synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals, characterization, and assembly.
Dr Michela OttavianiPostdoctoral Researcher Si-Drive Project Research Interests: Silicon nanowires as anodes for Lithium-ion batteries
Dr Kwadwo Asare IRC Postdoctoral Fellow Research Interests: Developing new nanomaterials and chemistries for energy conversion and storage devices
Manh Xuan PhamPhD Researcher ( Supervisors K Ryan S Singh)Research Interests: Synthesis of anisotropic colloidal nanocrystals, characterisation and assembly
Adrian Hannon PhD Student Primary supervisor Dr T Kennedy Research Interests: Nanodevice Fabrication, Nanowire Synthesis, Charge Carrier Mechanisms & Behaviour, Materials Characterisation, Nano Deposition Techniques
Luigi Jacopo Santa MariaPhD Candidate Research interests: Ionic liquids electrolytes, Li-ion batteries, Silicon NW as anodes in Li-ion batteries
Mei LiPhD Student (Cosupervised K Ryan, H Geaney, T Kennedy)Nanomaterial synthesis, Lithium ion batteries, electrochemistry energy conversion
Dylan Storan Former PhD Student (SFI) Jointly Supervised with Dr H GeaneyPhD Student: Graduated September 2022
Research Interests: Semiconductor nanowire synthesis, doping and device fabrication
Seamus KilianFormer PhD Student (SFI/M-ERA)PhD Start Date Oct 2017; Graduated in December 2021
Research Interests: Nanomaterials for Li-ion Batteries, Si Nanowire Synthesis, Battery Testing, Nanomaterial Characterization.
Kieran McCarthyFormer PhD Student (IRC/Analog) joint with Dr T KennedyPhD Student since Jan 2018
Research Interests: Nanomaterial synthesis & SMART estimation of Li-ion battery state parameters
Dr. Vivek Verma Former Postdoctoral Researcher (SFI/EI) Joint with Dr L PadrelaCompleted 2021, now at Imperial College London for Marie Curie Fellowship
Research Interests: Continuous manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, their isolation and formulation
Fiona McGrathFormer Phd Student (IRC/Intel) PhD Student Graduated 2021
Research interests: Nanoparticle Synthesis, Materials for Sustainable Energy, Perovskites
Gearoid Collins Former PhD Student (IRC/Intel)PhD Start Jan 2018; Graduated in December 2021
Research Interests: Renewable energy, energy storage, lithium-ion batteries, bottom-up synthesis, synthesis and applications of silicon and germanium nanostructures for use in LiB and FETs
Dr. Killian StokesFormer Postdoctoral Researcher (H2020)Research Interests: Nanomaterial synthesis and characterisation, Li-ion battery testing
Dr. Sheida IshkliFormer Marie Curie Career Fit Fellow Research interests: Electrochemical energy storage, lithium ion batteries, polymer electrolytes
Dr Uma Ghorpade Former Postdoctoral Researcher (SFI)Completed in 2021
Research Interests: Nanomaterial synthesis, thin film solar cell, LED
Barry Long Former PhD Student (SFI/SSPC) joint with Dr L PadrelaPhD Student Graduated 2021
Current Role: PhD Researcher
Research Interests: Supercritical Fluid Technology, Polymorphic Control, Nanocrystal Synthesis
Huan Ren Former PhD Student (SFI) Joint with Prof C. McCarthyPhD student Graduated 2020
Research Interests: Morphology control and polytypic studies in colloidal nanocrystals
Research Interests: Novel Nanomaterial Synthesis, Li-ion Batteries, and Al-ion Batteries
Brief Bio (CV): Received BE in Electronic & Computer Engineering specialising in Electrical Engineering from University of Limerick (2017).
Completed PhD titled: Analysis and Accommodation of Effects of Wind Gusts for Offshore Directly Interconnected Wind Generation Systems supervised by Prof Daniel Toal in the University of Limerick (2022). During his PhD, Cathal investigated a novel power interconnection technique for offshore wind generation in order to minimize requirements for high rate of failure components to be located offshore, instead relocating and sharing this infrastructure to centralized platforms or entirely onshore. Cathal’s current project funded through SEAI focuses on second life use of EV battery packs for smart grid applications.
Aluminum-Sulfur batteries,
Lithium-Sulfur batteries,
nanomaterials
Date of PhD start: December, 2018
Research Interests: Nanomaterials Synthesis and Characterisation for Li-ion and Beyond Li-ion Batteries
Date of PhD start: 23rd Oct’ 18
Research Interests: Synthesis of anisotropic colloidal nanocrystals, characterization, and assembly
Date of start: 17th September, 2018
Research Interests: Synthesizing and Aligning nanorods for LED application
Date of PhD start: Jan, 2019
Research Interests: High resolution and in-situ electron microscopy techniques
Research interest: Material Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Colloidal Synthesis
PhD Student March 2019 Start
Research Interests: Nanomaterials, Electrochemical Energy devices-Fuel cell and Batteries.
PhD Student Feb 2019 Start
Research Interests: Synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals, characterization, and assembly.
Research Interests: Silicon nanowires as anodes for Lithium-ion batteries
Research Interests: Developing new nanomaterials and chemistries for energy conversion and storage devices
Research Interests: Synthesis of anisotropic colloidal nanocrystals, characterisation and assembly
Research Interests: Nanodevice Fabrication, Nanowire Synthesis, Charge Carrier Mechanisms & Behaviour, Materials Characterisation, Nano Deposition Techniques
Research interests: Ionic liquids electrolytes, Li-ion batteries, Silicon NW as anodes in Li-ion batteries
Nanomaterial synthesis, Lithium ion batteries, electrochemistry energy conversion
PhD Student: Graduated September 2022
Research Interests: Semiconductor nanowire synthesis, doping and device fabrication
PhD Start Date Oct 2017; Graduated in December 2021
Research Interests: Nanomaterials for Li-ion Batteries, Si Nanowire Synthesis, Battery Testing, Nanomaterial Characterization.
PhD Student since Jan 2018
Research Interests: Nanomaterial synthesis & SMART estimation of Li-ion battery state parameters
Completed 2021, now at Imperial College London for Marie Curie Fellowship
Research Interests: Continuous manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, their isolation and formulation
PhD Student Graduated 2021
Research interests: Nanoparticle Synthesis, Materials for Sustainable Energy, Perovskites
PhD Start Jan 2018; Graduated in December 2021
Research Interests: Renewable energy, energy storage, lithium-ion batteries, bottom-up synthesis, synthesis and applications of silicon and germanium nanostructures for use in LiB and FETs
Research Interests: Nanomaterial synthesis and characterisation, Li-ion battery testing
Research interests: Electrochemical energy storage, lithium ion batteries, polymer electrolytes
Completed in 2021
Research Interests: Nanomaterial synthesis, thin film solar cell, LED
PhD Student Graduated 2021
Current Role: PhD Researcher
Research Interests: Supercritical Fluid Technology, Polymorphic Control, Nanocrystal Synthesis
PhD student Graduated 2020
Research Interests: Morphology control and polytypic studies in colloidal nanocrystals
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