{{Short description|Indian-born American physicist and nanomaterials researcher}} '''Ramakrishna Podila''' is an Indian-born American physicist and nanomaterials researcher. He is currently an associate professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University and is the director of the Clemson Nano-bio lab.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ramakrishna Podila, Ph.D.|url=https://www.clemson.edu/health-research/faculty/podila.html|website=Clemson University}}</ref> He is known for his interdisciplinary research at the interface of physics, biology, and nanoscience. His lab integrates the principles of condensed matter physics, optical spectroscopy, and physiological chemistry to understand physics at the nanoscale and nano-bio interfaces. He became a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in July 2024 and a fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP) in May 2025. He currently serves as the chair of the topical group on energy research and applications (GERA) at the American Physical Society.
His work led to new discoveries at the nanoscale such as: 1) time-reversal symmetry breaking with non-linear optical diodes,<ref>{{Cite web|title=An all-carbon optical diode for photonic computing|url=https://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=37157.php|website=Nanowerk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Anand|first1=Benoy|last2=Podila|first2=Ramakrishna|last3=Lingam|first3=Kiran|last4=Krishnan|first4=S. R.|last5=Siva Sankara Sai|first5=S.|last6=Philip|first6=Reji|last7=Rao|first7=Apparao M.|date=2013-12-11|title=Optical Diode Action from Axially Asymmetric Nonlinearity in an All-Carbon Solid-State Device|journal=Nano Letters|volume=13|issue=12|pages=5771–5776|doi=10.1021/nl403366d|pmid=24224861|bibcode=2013NanoL..13.5771A|issn=1530-6984}}</ref> 2) a novel "wireless" tribo-electric generator that is capable of converting waste mechanical energy into electricity and transmit it wirelessly for storage<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pacha|first=Aswathi|date=2017-12-30|title=Nanogenerators go wireless|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/nanogenerators-go-wireless/article22332379.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> 3) alleviating quantum capacitance effects in graphene<ref>{{Cite web|title=Improving the energy storage in graphene with defects|url=https://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=39959.php|website=Nanowerk}}</ref> 4) smartphone based rapid inexpensive biosensors for resource-limited settings,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Novel 2D spacer materials for surface plasmon coupled emission sensing|url=https://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=43097.php|website=Nanowerk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Smartphone-based nano-biosensors for early detection of tuberculosis|url=https://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=41286.php|website=Nanowerk}}</ref> and 4) elucidating the origin of nano-toxicity from a fundamental quantum electronic energy levels standpoint.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Persaud|first1=Indushekhar|last2=Raghavendra|first2=Achyut J.|last3=Paruthi|first3=Archini|last4=Alsaleh|first4=Nasser B.|last5=Minarchick|first5=Valerie C.|last6=Roede|first6=James R.|last7=Podila|first7=Ramakrishna|last8=Brown|first8=Jared M.|date=March 2020|title=Defect-induced electronic states amplify the cellular toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles|journal=Nanotoxicology|volume=14|issue=2|pages=145–161|doi=10.1080/17435390.2019.1668067|issn=1743-5404|pmc=7036006|pmid=31553248}}</ref>
== Research work == Podila's research made many strides in fundamental understanding and applications of nanomaterials in energy, health, and photonics.
=== Energy conversion and storage === Podila's group has been attempting to develop highly efficient triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for converting waste mechanical energy into useful electric power; in addition, his group focuses on engineering defects and dopants in nanomaterials to achieve batteries (Li-ion, Li-sulfur, and Al-ion) and supercapacitors (based on nanocarbons and their hybrids with electrochemically active polymers) with high-energy and high-power densities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Batteries created by Clemson scientists could eventually help astronauts on Mars |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/batteries-created-by-clemson-scientists-could-eventually-help-astronauts-on-mars |website=A. B. C. News 4 |date=31 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CU scientists create multipurpose batteries that could make it easier to get around on Mars |url=https://news.clemson.edu/cu-scientists-create-multipurpose-batteries-that-could-make-it-easier-to-get-around-on-mars/ |website=Clemson University |date=31 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Indian-origin Scientists Develop Lighter, Fast-charging Batteries that Can Power Mars Rover |url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/indian-origin-scientists-develop-lighter-fast-charging-batteries-that-can-power-mars-rover-2845719.html |work=News18 |date=3 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> His work in this area led to many discoveries such as alleviation of quantum capacitance in graphene, wireless tribo-electric nanogenerators,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Clemson researchers blaze new ground in wireless energy generation for future electronic gadgets|url=https://newsstand.clemson.edu/mediarelations/clemson-researchers-blaze-new-ground-in-wireless-energy-generation-for-future-electronic-gadgets/|website=Clemson University|language=en}}</ref> inexpensive TENGs,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mallineni|first1=Sai Sunil Kumar|last2=Behlow|first2=Herbert|last3=Dong|first3=Yongchang|last4=Bhattacharya|first4=Sriparna|last5=Rao|first5=Apparao M.|last6=Podila|first6=Ramakrishna|date=2017-05-01|title=Facile and robust triboelectric nanogenerators assembled using off-the-shelf materials|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211285517301829|journal=Nano Energy|language=en|volume=35|pages=263–270|doi=10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.03.043|bibcode=2017NEne...35..263M |issn=2211-2855|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and novel silicon electrodes for Li-ion batteries<ref>{{Cite web|title=A new breakthrough in lithium-silicon batteries|url=https://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=55716.php|website=Nanowerk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pacha|first=Aswathi|date=2018-05-07|title=Carbon nanotubes could revolutionise Li-ion batteries, say researchers|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/carbon-nanotubes-could-revolutionise-li-ion-batteries-say-researchers/article23799983.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> among other things. Through their research at the nanoscale, Podila's group has demonstrated the use of defects (including interfaces) for achieving novel functionalities. More importantly, his group successfully translated their research into scalable devices.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lower Cost, Roll-to-Roll Production of Carbon Nanotube Based Supercapacitors|url=http://www.internano.org/node/4022|website=InterNano|language=en}}</ref>
=== Nanotoxicity and nanomedicine === Podila's group is presently identifying mechanisms of nanotoxicity with an emphasis on nanoparticle-protein interactions and their influence on physiological responses to ultimately develop benign nanoparticles for medical applications. Podila's collaborative work previously developed an atom-thick coating for preventing blood clots on stents, use carbon nanotubes as drug delivery vehicles for cancer etc. Recently, Podila's work (in collaboration with J. M. Brown group at UC Denver) showed how atomic defects in materials could elicit varying physiological responses by linking nanomaterials, quantum mechanics, and toxicity studies. His work also revealed the fundamental mechanisms by which plaque formation in many diseases such as diabetes etc. can be stopped using nanomaterials.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Clemson research could lead to therapeutic strategies to combat Alzheimer's, Type 2 diabetes and other diseases|url=https://newsstand.clemson.edu/mediarelations/clemson-research-could-lead-to-therapeutic-strategies-to-combat-alzheimers-type-2-diabetes-and-other-diseases/|website=Clemson University News and Stories, South Carolina|date=29 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Biosensing and imaging === Podila's group developed novel surface plasmon coupled emission platforms (some of this work done in collaboration with Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning) with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing low abundance biomarkers. Most importantly, this work led to cheap and inexpensive smartphone sensors for rapidly detecting TB without the need to wait for bacterial cultures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Triboelectric device bypasses injured nerves to restore sense of touch |url=https://cen.acs.org/materials/nanomaterials/Triboelectric-device-bypasses-injured-nerves/99/web/2021/07 |website=American Chemical Society}}</ref> His group invented a new printer paper-based analyte-induced disruption assay that is useful for rapidly detecting antibodies, cancer markers etc. Podila also developed novel fluorescent nanoparticles (doped ZnO, nanocarbons) through three-photon absorption (3PA) for bioimaging of cancer and image-guided surgery.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Raghavendra|first1=Achyut J|last2=Gregory|first2=Wren E|last3=Slonecki|first3=Tyler J|last4=Dong|first4=Yongchang|last5=Persaud|first5=Indushekhar|last6=Brown|first6=Jared M|last7=Bruce|first7=Terri F|last8=Podila|first8=Ramakrishna|date=2018-07-23|title=Three-photon imaging using defect-induced photoluminescence in biocompatible ZnO nanoparticles|journal=International Journal of Nanomedicine|volume=13|pages=4283–4290|doi=10.2147/IJN.S165201|issn=1176-9114|pmc=6061205|pmid=30087560 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
== Selected publications == *Podila, R., Queen, W., Nath, A., Arantes, J. T., Schoenhalz, A. L., Fazzio, A., ... & Rao, A. M. (2010). Origin of FM ordering in pristine micro-and nanostructured ZnO. ''Nano letters'', ''10''(4), 1383–1386. *Podila, R., Moore, T., Alexis, F., & Rao, A. M. (2013). Graphene coatings for enhanced hemo-compatibility of nitinol stents. ''RSC advances'', ''3''(6), 1660–1665. *Podila, R., Brown, J. M., Kahru, A., & Rao, A. M. (2014). Illuminating nano-bio interactions: A spectroscopic perspective. ''Mrs Bulletin'', ''39''(11), 990–995. *Zhu, J., Childress, A. S., Karakaya, M., Dandeliya, S., Srivastava, A., Lin, Y., ... & Podila, R. (2016). Defect‐engineered graphene for high‐energy‐and high‐power‐density supercapacitor devices. ''Advanced Materials'', ''28''(33), 7185–7192. *Wei, P. C., Bhattacharya, S., He, J., Neeleshwar, S., Podila, R., Chen, Y. Y., & Rao, A. M. (2016). The intrinsic thermal conductivity of SnSe. ''Nature'', ''539''(7627), E1-E2. *Dong, Y., Chertopalov, S., Maleski, K., Anasori, B., Hu, L., Bhattacharya, S., ... & Podila, R. (2018). Saturable absorption in 2D Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene thin films for passive photonic diodes. ''Advanced Materials'', ''30''(10), 1705714. *Dong, Y., Mallineni, S. S. K., Maleski, K., Behlow, H., Mochalin, V. N., Rao, A. M., ... & Podila, R. (2018). Metallic MXenes: A new family of materials for flexible triboelectric nanogenerators. ''Nano Energy'', ''44'', 103–110. *Mallineni, S. S. K., Dong, Y., Behlow, H., Rao, A. M., & Podila, R. (2018). A wireless triboelectric nanogenerator. ''Advanced Energy Materials'', ''8''(10), 1702736.
== Honors == Podila was named as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in July 2024. Podila became a certified fellow of the Institute for Advanced Physics in 2020. He is actively involved in education and outreach through science workshops for K-12.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Clemson Nanomaterials Center reaches out to community|url=https://newsstand.clemson.edu/clemson-nanomaterials-center-reaches-out-to-community/|website=Clemson University|date=2 April 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Google Scholar id|id=TmhGgdMAAAAJ}}
{{Authority control}} Category:Clemson University faculty Category:Scientists from South Carolina Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American people of Indian descent Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry Category:Nanophysicists Category:21st-century American physicists Category:21st-century Indian physicists Category:Fellows of the Institute of Physics Category:21st-century people from South Carolina