Vidhya Chakrapani

Vidhya Chakrapani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her research focuses on semiconductor electrochemistry, particularly the interfacial processes between semiconductors and electrolytes, with applications in energy storage (Li-ion batteries) and photoelectrochemical solar cells. Her work integrates nanomaterials synthesis, ultrafast spectroscopy, and device fabrication to address energy-related challenges.

Education: B.S. in Chemical & Electrochemical Engineering from Central Electrochemical Research Institute (2001), M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (2004, 2007).

Research interests include semiconductor-electrolyte interfacial phenomena, reaction mechanisms in electrochemical systems, and the development of advanced materials for energy conversion. She explores topics like reactive oxygen species formation on metal oxides, electronic properties of transition metal oxides, and surface transfer doping phenomena.

Notable achievements include the 2024 Electronics and Photonics Division Award. Her lab studies are highly interdisciplinary, combining experiments with theoretical insights to advance semiconductor device performance and energy technologies.

Lab activities involve synthesizing nanomaterials and fabricating devices such as smart windows and batteries, with a focus on understanding fundamental processes at the nanoscale.