Column chromatography-assisted separation of Petunia pigments for dye-sensitized solar cell applications: a systematic way for natural dye incorporation in DSSC
Communicated (2026)Manuscript No. ae-2026-01085h, Communicated
PMRF Fellow
★ PMRF Fellow (Cycle-11)
GATE-2023 (AIR-647)
GATE-2021 • IIT-JAM 2018
5th Year Ph.D. Candidate
Nikhil Srivastav
Research Scholar & PMRF Fellow
•
Department of Chemistry
Lab-40, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India - 221005
Specializing in 3rd Generation Solar Cells (DSSCs), advanced functional nanomaterials, and thin-film interface engineering under the supervision of Prof. Pankaj Srivastava. Seeking postdoctoral and research fellowship opportunities.
Research Profile
Current Role & Research Vision
Advancing sustainable photovoltaic technologies through nanomaterials synthesis, interface engineering, and electrochemical dynamics.
Ph.D. Research Focus
“Studies on materials development for solar energy harvesting through DSSC”
Under the supervision of Prof. Pankaj Srivastava at BHU (March 2022 Term). The primary research goal is to design cost-effective, sustainable, durable, and remote area deployable third-generation solar cells (such as DSSCs) using ultrathin thin-film and multilayer junction strategies.
Key Research Areas & Keywords
3rd Gen Solar Cells
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)
Thin-Film Deposition
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
Cyclic Voltammetry (CV)
Mott–Schottky Analysis
Nanomaterials Synthesis
Solar Modules
Renewable Energy
Interface Engineering
Future Career & Research Objective
Current Status: 5th Year Ph.D. Candidate at Banaras Hindu University.
Seeking: Research Fellowship, Postdoctoral Opportunity, or Collaborative Internship to broaden expertise in electrochemistry, advanced functional nanomaterials, thin-film interfaces, and optoelectronic energy devices.
Passionate about extending research into adjacent domains of modern energy conversion and storage:
- Photovoltaic technologies: DSSCs, Perovskite solar cells, Tandem & Multi-junction cells
- Device fabrication, optoelectronic characterization, and module scaling
- Electrochemical energy storage: Battery research & supercapacitor materials
Academic Background
Academic Credentials & Education
Formal education, graduate research training, and academic achievements.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemistry
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India
Thesis Topic: “Studies on materials development for solar energy harvesting through DSSC.”
Supervisor: Prof. Pankaj Srivastava, Department of Chemistry, BHU
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Chemistry
National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal, Telangana, India
Specialization: Analytical Chemistry • Dissertation: “Ambimodal Reaction in Cross-Conjugated organic molecules: A Density Functional Theory Calculations” under Dr. Ravinder Pawar.
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Hons.) in Chemistry
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Core Subjects: Chemistry (Honours), Physics, Mathematics.
Senior Secondary School (Intermediate, Class XII)
St. Patrick's Sr. Sec. School • CBSE, New Delhi
Subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English, Hindi.
Secondary School (High School, Class X)
Radhika Bal Vidya Mandir • CBSE, New Delhi
Subjects: Science, Mathematics, Social Science, English, Hindi.
Scholarly Output
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Published research papers, preprints, and manuscripts in international peer-reviewed journals.
Improved DSSC performance with acidic extract of Euphorbia milii red flower, the effect of pH variation and DFT analysis of phytoconstituents
Published (2025)Next Materials, Vol. 8, p. 100793.
Carica Papaya Seed Extract (PSE)-capped TiO2 NPs: Synergistic applications in DSSCs with charge transport dynamics explored via EIS and antibacterial activity
Under Revision (2025)Manuscript No. OM-D-25-02465R1, Optical Materials (Under Revision)
Green synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) using Vitex Negundo (Nirgundi) leaf extract potentially leading to improved efficiency in DSSC
Published (2025)Ionics, pp. 1–16.
Tagetes erecta (marigold) flower extract in the different solvents used as a capping agent and sensitizer for TiO2 photoanode based DSSC
Published (2025)Next Materials, Vol. 8, p. 100875.
Bio-capped synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticle using Murraya koenigii leaf extract via ultrasonication assisted sol-gel method and its advanced DSSC performance
Published (2025)Next Materials, Vol. 8, p. 100680.
Comparative study of natural dyes extracted from dark red and yellow Frangipani flowers (Plumeria rubra L.) as DSSC sensitizer
Published (2024)Optik, Vol. 317, p. 172055.
Utilization of natural dyes extracted from mustard flower (Genus: Brassica, Species: Napus) as photosensitizer for DSSC: Experimental and computational studies
Published (2024)Results in Optics, Vol. 15, p. 100631.
Azaboratrane as an exceptionally potential organocatalyst for the activation of CO2 and coupling with epoxide
Published (2022)Molecular Catalysis, Vol. 521, p. 112201.
Hands-on Expertise
Laboratory & Computational Skills
Comprehensive hands-on instrumentation, material characterization, and quantum chemical modeling experience.
Instruments & Electrochemistry
Deposition & Testing Hardware
Potentiostats & Galvanostats
Metrohm Autolab AUT 302N, BioLogic SP-150e, AFRDE 4E (Pine Instruments, USA), e-corder 201 (Australia)
Photovoltaic Simulator
Keithley PET (Photo Emission Tech Solar Simulator for I-V curves)
Thin-Film Deposition
Delta Scientific Spin Coater, Nima Dip-Coater
Thermal Processing
Muffle Furnaces, Tubular Furnaces, Labman pH LMPH10
Material Characterization
Spectroscopy & Microscopy
Electron Microscopy
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Structural & Surface Analysis
Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD), BET Surface Area, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
Optical Spectroscopy
UV-Visible, Photoluminescence (PL), Time-Resolved Photoluminescence (TR-PL), FTIR
Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis for organic & dye phytoconstituents
Software & Simulation
DFT & Electrochemical Analysis
Electrochemical Software
Nova 2.1, EC-Lab, E-chem (CV, LSV, EIS, FRA potential scan)
Quantum Chemical & DFT Modeling
Gaussian 09, GaussView 5.0 (Density Functional Theory calculations)
Scientific Data & Drawing
OriginLab, ChemDraw Professional, FreeCAD (3D design)
Operating Systems & Productivity
Linux (CLI/Bash), MS Office suite
Academic Engagements
Conferences, Presentations & Workshops
Invited presentations, poster sessions, international conferences, and technical workshops.
Jul 2026
International Conference on Energy Conversion and Storage (IECS-2026)
Participated in technical sessions on advanced materials for solar energy and electrochemical storage.
Organized by IIT Madras (July 13–17, 2026)
Jun 2026
International Conference on Fundamental and Advanced Research in Chemistry (FARC-2026)
Participated in deliberations on novel materials and energy interfaces.
Organized by IIT Mandi (June 8–10, 2026)
Jan 2026
Harnessing the Sun for 50 Years - Golden Jubilee of Solar Photovoltaics in India
National symposium celebrating 50 years of photovoltaic advancements in India.
Organized by NCPRE - PoTIC, Victor Menezes Convention Centre, IIT Bombay (Jan 28, 2026)
Jan 2026
RSC Meet The Editors at Banaras Hindu University – 2026
Participated and hosted the prestigious international editorial event at BHU.
Organized by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) at BHU (Jan 16, 2026)
Oct 2025
Two Days Workshop on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
Advanced hands-on workshop covering equivalent circuit fitting, Mott-Schottky plots, and interfacial charge dynamics.
Organized by Metachem Academy (October 16–17, 2025)
Oct 2024
Poster: Computational studies of natural pigments from Euphorbia Milii Red Flower and Experimental correlation for DSSC application
Presented at Physical Chemistry Symposium SoPhyC 2024, Society of Physical Chemistry.
Victor Menezes Convention Centre, IIT Bombay (October 22–25, 2024)
Feb 2024
Poster: Synthesis of TiO2 nanocrystalline using EDTA as a capping agent its application in DSSC
Presented at conference on “The role of Science and Humanities in Environmental Safety”.
Department of Chemistry, Janta Mahavidyalaya / C.S.J.M. University Kanpur (Feb 24–25, 2024)
Dec 2023
Poster: Green Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and its Integration into Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells for Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance
National Symposium on Emerging Trends in Chemical Sciences (ETCS-2023), BHU (Dec 15–16, 2023)
Jul 2023
Poster: Experimental and theoretical studies of natural dyes extracted from dark red and yellow Frangipani flowers (Plumeria Rubra L.) as photosensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells
Emerging Materials 2023, Department of Chemistry, IISER-Pune (July 13–15, 2023)
Mar 2023
Five Days Workshop on Molecular Materials and Engineering
Sponsored by SPARC, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Department of Chemistry, NIT Warangal (March 27–31, 2023)
Dec 2022
Posters at National Symposium on Brainstorming Meeting on Chemistry at the Interface (BSCI-2022)
- Experimental and theoretical investigations of Nyctanthes arbour-tristis flower extract as a sensitizer dye for TiO2 based DSSC (Shubham Sharma, Nikhil Srivastav)
- Synthesis of TiO2 assisted with black grape juice extract and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells (Abhilasha Tiwari, Sakshi Singh, Nikhil Srivastav)
2017 – 2020
Earlier Research Seminars & Conference Participations
- Presented Seminar Report on Radialene a New Class of Organic Molecules at NIT Warangal (2020)
- Attended International Conference on ACST (Advances in Chemical Sciences and Technologies) at NIT Warangal (Sept 2019)
- Attended National Conference on ETIMCA (Emerging Trends in Instrumental Methods in Chemical Analysis) at NIT Warangal (Jan 2019)
- Presented Seminar Report on Surface Modification of Nanoparticles in INTERNADO (DMSRDE) organized by IIT BHU under ANVESHAN’17 program (2017)
Recognition
Awards, Honors & Leadership
National fellowships, competitive examinations, academic distinctions, and leadership roles.
2023 – Ongoing
Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF Cycle-11)
Awarded prestigious national PMRF fellowship by the Ministry of Education, Government of India for Ph.D. research excellence.
2018, 2021, 2023
National Level Examinations
GATE-2023: All India Rank AIR-647
GATE-2021: Qualified
IIT-JAM 2018: Qualified
2019
Best Summer Intern Award
Conferred by Malviya Children Welfare Foundation (MCWF-2019), Varanasi for dedicated summer internship contribution.
2018 – 2020
Placement Co-ordinator & Class Representative
M.Sc. Chemistry batch, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal.
2019
Chekumuki Program Volunteering
Volunteered and organized children's science festival under Jan Vignana Vedika 2019.
2010 – 2011
INSPIRE Award & Science Exhibition Honors
• Inspire Award 2010: Funded project at District & State Level, organized by IIIT Allahabad.
• 1st Position: Science & Art Exhibition-2011 (St. Patrick's Sr. Sec. School, Jaunpur).
Academic References
Academic Referees
Distinguished professors and research supervisors available for reference.
Prof. Pankaj Srivastava
Ph.D. Supervisor • ProfessorDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India (Pin: 221005)
Dr. Ravinder Pawar
M.Sc. Supervisor • Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal, Telangana, India (Pin: 506004)
Prof. Satyen Saha
ProfessorDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India (Pin: 221005)
Prof. A. Ramachandraiah
Professor (Former)Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal, Telangana, India (Pin: 506004)
Dr. Raghu Chitta
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal, Telangana, India (Pin: 506004)
Get In Touch
Contact & Research Lab
Feel free to reach out for postdoctoral opportunities, scientific collaborations, or academic inquiries.
Direct Contact Information
Laboratory & Department
Lab-40, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India - 221005