Welcome to Message¯ Lab
Materials Engineering for Sustainable Systems And Green Energy
Dr. Sai Kishore RAVI
About the PI
Dr. Sai Kishore Ravi’s research aims to bridge materials science and bioscience in designing functional devices for clean energy and clean water technologies using biogenic, biohybrid, and bioinspired materials, blurring the line between “natural” and “artificial”.
Dr. Ravi earned his PhD from the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), working on biohybrid energy conversion/storage devices. His doctoral research involved studying natural biological complexes in plants and bacteria from a materials science perspective and exploiting the light-harvesting and charge transport mechanisms in the natural systems for energy and optoelectronic applications. After graduation, he continued at NUS as a post-doctoral researcher, working on semi-artificial photosynthesis. As part of his PhD and post-doctoral research at NUS, Dr. Ravi designed semi-artificial device architectures for photovoltaics, photocapacitors, and tactile sensors. His works have been published in prestigious journals like Advanced Materials, Advanced Energy Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Energy & Environmental Science, Nature Communications, and Science Advances, and also won NUS’s Annual Best Publication Awards in Material Science for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Dr. Ravi’s research experience extends to developing functional materials for air filtration, solar desalination, and atmospheric water harvesting. His work on the Nanofibrous Air Filter won the ‘Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2018’ awarded by the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES). The air filter has been patented (US 10,682,602 B2) and licensed to an Indian multinational company.
Dr. Ravi has also served as an Associate Editor for renowned journals like Advanced Materials, Advanced Energy Materials, Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research, and Advanced Materials Technologies, and he is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Energy Technology.
Research Directions
Current Areas of Study
Semi-Artificial Photosynthesis
Our group is dedicated to exploring and advancing the cutting-edge field of semi-artificial photosynthesis, where we strive to replicate some of the key features of natural photosynthesis using artificial material systems. We believe that this exciting area of research holds the key to unlocking a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of energy and chemical feedstocks.
Photocatalysis and Photo(Bio)Catalysis
Our research focuses on harnessing the power of sunlight to drive catalytic reactions and enhance the efficiency of chemical processes. By combining traditional photocatalysis with the principles of bioelectrochemistry and biocatalysis, we are developing novel and innovative approaches to address some of the world's biggest energy challenges.
Green Hydrogen Production
One of our key research interests is green hydrogen production using novel earth-abundant catalysts. We believe that hydrogen has the potential to be a game-changer in the energy sector, and our goal is to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for its production using materials that are readily available on our planet.
Solar Absorber Materials & Aerogels for Photothermal Desalination
Our research group combines expertise in materials science, design, and engineering to tackle the challenges in solar desalination and provide innovative solutions. Our interdisciplinary approach allows us to address key issues such as enhancing solar absorption, water transport, cost-effectiveness, scalability, durability, and minimizing environmental impact. Join us in our mission to make clean drinking water accessible through sustainable and cutting-edge solutions.
Advanced Materials for Water-Energy Nexus
Our research group is committed to advancing the field of materials for the water-energy nexus. Along with our work on solar desalination, green solar hydrogen production, photocatalysis and photo-biocatalysis, we are dedicated to developing innovative materials technologies for applications involving the complex interplay between water and energy. Join us in our quest to address the pressing issues of water scarcity and energy security through cutting-edge materials research.
Biohybrid and Bioelectronic Materials
Our research group is at the forefront of developing novel biohybrid materials and devices. We work on combining nanomaterials not only with isolated biomolecules, but also integrating nanomaterials within living microbial cells to create next-generation biohybrid systems. Our focus extends from nanoscale biohybrids for energy applications, to macroscale biohybrids for human-machine interfaces, bioelectronics and self-powered sensors. Join us in exploring the limitless potential of biohybrids for solving some of the biggest challenges in energy and electronics