Department of
Chemistry

Dr. Muhammed Musthafa obtained his PhD degree from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (India) where he explored bi-functional mechanism and metal-support interactions in fuel cell electrocatalysis by electrochemical FTIR. Then he moved to the University of St: Andrews, Scotland (United Kingdom) where he mainly investigated the stability of cathode materials in aprotic Li-air batteries by differential electrochemical mass spectrometric (DEMS) techniques. He joined the department of chemistry of IISER Pune in August 2014 as an Assistant Professor.

Research

Interfacial Electrochemistry, Energy Storage and Conversion Devices, Molecular Electrocatalysis, Electrochemical Valorization, Water Splitting, Electrochemical Sensors

We are a group of people at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) - Pune, India, who are actively involved in probing the complex phenomena at the electrode/electrolyte interface by a range of electrochemical, microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. We as electrochemists honestly realize that 'electrochemistry' pervades our life far more than most of us experience and these experiences are themselves complex manifestations of electrochemistry. We can think, feel, muse and wonder because of electric charges transferring between unaccountably large numbers of cells in our brain. This 'science of electricity' is at the root of breathing, because electric impulses generated by nerve cells cause our chest muscles to contract and relax in a complex symphony of movements. Science of vision is electrochemistry because the rod and cone cells in our retina pick up the black, white and the colour from an object, get stimulated and shoot off electrical signals through the optic nerves to our brain. This science is so immense and immeasurable and there is really nothing we can imagine without electrochemistry. Since 'electrochemistry' is our passion, we strive to integrate the molecular level understanding gathered from the electrode/electrolyte interface to design cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy storage and conversion devices and novel interfaces for selective sensors/biosensors and electro-organic synthesis.

Selected Publications

Manu G., Zahid M. B., Abdul R., Steven L. V., Mruthunjayachari C. D., Alagar R. K., Neethu C. D., Ravikumar T., Olivier F., and Musthafa O. T. (2021). Coulombic Force Gated Molecular Transport in Redox Flow Batteries. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 12, 5, 1374–1383.

Zahid M. B., Deepraj P., Shane A., Ravikumar T., Alagar R. K., Neethu C. D., Mruthunjayachari C. D., and Musthafa O. T. (2020). An Electrochemical Neutralization Cell for Spontaneous Water Desalination. Joule (Cell Press). VOLUME 4, 1730-1742.

Alagar R. K., Shabbah B., Mohammed A. N., Neethu C. D., Mruthyunjayachari C. D., Zahid M. B., Ravikumar T., Harish M. N. K., Chathakudath P. V., and Musthafa O. T. (2020). Unprecedented Isomerism–Activity Relation in Molecular Electrocatalysis. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 11, 1, 263–271.

Alagar R. K., Shabbah B., Mruthyunjayachari C. D., Zahid M. B., Ravikumar T., Harish M. N. K., Chathakudath P. V., and Musthafa O. T. (2020). Geometrical Isomerism Directed Electrochemical Sensing. Analytical Chemistry, 92, 6, 4541–4547.

Neethu C. D., Ravikumar T., Zahid M. B., Mruthunjayachari C. D., Alagar R. K., Manu G., Shahid P. S., and Musthafa O. T. (2018). A Rechargeable Hydrogen Battery. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 9, 10, 2492–2497