News & updates

Thermal-safety electrolytes at the 250th ECS Meeting

Veka Sri Ganesan and Dr. Sudhan Nagarajan present “Enhancing thermal safety up to 100 °C in Li-ion full cells using nitrile-based single-solvent–single-salt electrolytes.”

Congratulations, Distinguished Professor Arava!

The Wayne State University Board of Governors approved the promotion of Professor Leela Mohana Reddy Arava to Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, effective August 18, 2026. Distinguished Professor is the highest faculty rank the university awards. Congratulations from the whole Arava Research Group!

Welcome, Vinay Boligarla!

Congratulations and welcome to Vinay Boligarla, who joins the Arava Research Group as a Ph.D. student in Fall 2026. Vinay comes from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, with research on fluorine-free (PFAS-free) electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries, and is first author of a 2025 Energy & Environmental Science review on fluorine-free battery electrolytes.

Jyotimala Jadhav selected for the National Neutron Scattering School at Oak Ridge

Congratulations to Ph.D. student Jyotimala Jadhav, one of 60 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers selected nationwide for the 2nd National Neutron Scattering School at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. During the week she worked hands-on with neutron scattering instruments at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), with lectures, instrument demonstrations and facility tours led by ORNL neutron scientists.

Congratulations, Dr. Sundeep Varma Gottumukkala!

Sundeep Varma Gottumukkala completed the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Wayne State University in August 2026 with the dissertation “Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) for Semiconductor and Electrochemical Applications,” defended on July 23, 2026, with Prof. Ivan Avrutsky as advisor and Prof. Leela Arava as co-advisor. Dr. Sundeep Varma Gottumukkala continues with the group as a Postdoctoral Fellow, working with Prof. Leela Arava and Dean Ali Abolmaali.

US Patent 12,700,644 granted

“Inhibition of lithium dendrite growth using ultra-thin sub-nanometer porous carbon nanomembrane in conventional and solid-state lithium-ion batteries” (Arava, Thangavel, Rajendran, Tang, George, Turchanin).

US Patent 12,525,639 granted

“Stabilizing garnet-type solid-state electrolytes through atomic layer deposition of ultra-thin layered materials and methods of making the same” (Arava, Rajendran, Kelber, Pilli).

MoDee Dahdolan, P.E., joins the group

Welcome to MohdEslam (MoDee) Dahdolan, a licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan, who joins the Arava Research Group as a Ph.D. student. MoDee also teaches as a part-time engineering instructor at Wayne State (since January 2026).

Congratulations, Veka Sri Ganesan: Kummler research award

Wayne State Engineering named Arava group Ph.D. student Veka Sri Ganesan among the recipients of the 2026 Ralph H. Kummler Distinguished Achievement Award for Graduate Student Research. Veka was recognized for dissertation work on advanced electrolytes for high-loading lithium–sulfur batteries under lean-electrolyte conditions, a patent filing on thermally stable electrolytes, and NSF Regional I-Corps participation.

Veka Sri Ganesan co-authors “NGenE 2025: Electrochemistry for Energy Abundance”

A perspective in ACS Energy Letters 11(6), 4190–4196 (2026).

US Patent 12,507,454 granted

“Method for fabricating wafer scale/nano submicron gap electrodes and arrays via photolithography” (Arava, Masurkar).

Today@Wayne features the lab’s lithium–sulfur battery research

“Grand Challenges: Driving the future of smart, sustainable mobility” highlights Prof. Arava’s lithium–sulfur batteries, which can store up to five times the energy of lithium-ion cells. The story was also covered by EV Engineering & Infrastructure (Nov 28, 2025).

Two presentations at the 248th ECS Meeting

Dr. Sudhan Nagarajan and Hari Nivin Kumaresan present “Mechanistic understanding of the interfacial evolution using advanced X-ray techniques in a cylindrical cell,” and Veka Sri Ganesan and Dr. Sudhan Nagarajan present “Electrolyte design using a boron-based anion receptor additive for practical lithium–sulfur batteries.”

Dr. Sudhan Nagarajan becomes a Research Scientist

After completing his Ph.D. and a postdoctoral appointment in the group, Dr. Sudhan Nagarajan continues at Wayne State as a Research Scientist in the Arava Research Group.

Non-flammable Li-ion batteries operating up to 125 °C

Dr. Sudhan Nagarajan’s study of electrode–electrolyte interfaces is published in Cell Reports Physical Science.

Battery interfaces and cobalt-free cathodes at MRS

The 2025 MRS Spring Meeting program includes the group’s work on electrode–electrolyte interfaces for extreme temperatures and nickel- and cobalt-free cathodes.

New electrolyte-additive study in ACS Applied Energy Materials

Veka Sri Ganesan, Sudhan Nagarajan and Leela Mohana Reddy Arava report a boron-based additive for high-loading lithium–sulfur batteries.

Congratulations, Dr. Sudhan Nagarajan!

Sudhan completed his Ph.D. with the dissertation “Fundamental Understanding and Designing of Nickel and Cobalt Free Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries,” with Professor Arava as advisor.

Fast-charging Ni- and Co-free cathodes in Chemistry of Materials

Sudhan Nagarajan and collaborators show how anion redox chemistry enables fast charging in nickel- and cobalt-free cathodes. A companion study on ionic-liquid electrolytes at elevated temperature (Rajendran, Ganesan, Arava) appears in Electrochimica Acta.

US Patent 12,062,799 granted

“Fabrication of micro/millimeter-scale power sources and the process flow therefor” (Arava, Masurkar, Ganguli).

NSF I-Corps award

Professor Arava receives an NSF Innovation Corps award (#2418241) to explore the commercial potential of the group’s battery technology.

Part of a DOE and State of Michigan award with Nel Hydrogen

Professor Arava leads a three-year Wayne State project within the DOE and State of Michigan award for Nel Hydrogen’s electrolyzer factory, bringing advanced-manufacturing education to high-school students and building on the Mobile Energy Lab.

US Patent 11,876,398 granted

“Systems, methods and computer program products for charging autonomous wireless sensors in subsurface environments.”

Jyotimala Jadhav joins the group

Welcome to Jyotimala Jadhav, who joins as a Ph.D. student.

Ultrathin molecular membranes for all-solid-state batteries in Small

Dr. Sathish Rajendran and collaborators regulate Li-ion transport through an ultrathin molecular membrane.

US Patent 11,784,227 granted

“Method for fabricating wafer scale/nano sub micron gap electrodes and arrays via photolithography” (Arava, Masurkar).

Semiconductor Stars: MEDC investment in semiconductor education

A Michigan Economic Development Corporation investment in semiconductor education supports three Wayne State programs, among them Semiconductor Stars, a high-school summer internship with Professor Arava as co-principal investigator.

Sudhan Nagarajan speaks at the ORNL Neutron Scattering & Electrochemistry Workshop

Sudhan presents the group’s work on cathode chemistry in a contributed talk at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s workshop on neutron scattering and electrochemistry.

Hari Nivin Kumaresan joins the group

Welcome to Hari Nivin Kumaresan, who joins as a Ph.D. student working on battery interfaces.

High-temperature cathode interfaces at the 243rd ECS Meeting

Sudhan Nagarajan presents “Evaluating the electrode–electrolyte interfacial properties of Li-ion cathodes for high temperature applications.”

Congratulations, Associate Dean Arava!

Professor Leela Arava is appointed Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the Wayne State College of Engineering, now the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering (effective February 12, 2023). Congratulations from the whole group!

Congratulations, Dr. Sathish Rajendran!

Sathish completed his Ph.D. with the dissertation “Designing Interfaces for All-Solid-State Batteries with Garnet-Type Solid Electrolytes.” He is now a Cell Engineer at Ford.

US Patent 11,469,416 granted

“Binder free silicon electrodes for lithium ion battery operability” (Babu, Ababtain, Arava, Sawas).

Mixed cationic and anionic redox at the 242nd ECS Meeting

Sudhan Nagarajan presents “Investigating mixed cationic and anionic redox chemistry in chalcogen based cathodes for Li-ion batteries.”

1T′-MoSe₂ electrocatalysis for lithium–sulfur batteries in ACS AMI

Dr. Kiran Mahankali, Sundeep Varma Gottumukkala and co-workers unveil the electrocatalytic activity of 1T′-MoSe₂ on lithium-polysulfide conversion.

Sudhan has been awarded ECS F. M. Becket summer fellowship for summer 2022. This summer fellowship is awarded annually to four graduate students around the world. Read more ↗

Invited talk at the 241st ECS Meeting

Prof. Arava presents “Fundamental understanding and challenges in cathode materials for next generation Li-ion batteries.”

Congratulations Kiran Mahankali on completing your dissertation and receiving your Ph. D!

Sudhan’s work on high temperature cathode electrolyte interphase chemistry was accepted for publication in Chemistry of Materials, congratulations!

Sathish Rajendran announced as the winner of 2021-2022 Ralph H Kummler Distinguished Achievement Award in Graduate Student Research.

Congratulations, Dr. Maher Almohammedali!

Maher completed the Ph.D. with the dissertation “Assessment of Small-Scale Mechanical Damage on Safety Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries” (co-advised with Prof. Golam Newaz).

Veka Sri joined Arava Research Group

Professor Arava promoted to Professor

Leela Arava is promoted to full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University.

Sudhan attended 240th ECS digital meeting on Advancing Solid State & Electrochemical Science & Technology

Sudhan’s work on anionic redox chemistry cathodes was accepted for publication in Journal of the American Chemical Society, congratulations!

Prof. Leela Arava received an NSF grant (#2127519) to explore chalcogen redox chemistry for Li-ion cathodes.

Congratulations to Sathish and team for cover letter publicationAdvanced Energy Materials, Vol.11, No.29, 2021.Read more ↗16146840/2021/11/29

Sudhan was awarded Thomas Rumble graduate fellowship by Wayne State University, USA. (August 2021) 07/2021 Sudhan was selected for participating 23rd National School on Neutron and X-ray Scattering, organized by Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA. July 2021

US Patent 11,075,399 granted

“Ionic receptors to regulate the polysulfide shuttle in lithium-sulfur batteries” (Arava, Babu, Sawas, Thangavel).

Stopping lithium dendrites with ultrathin carbon nanomembranes in Advanced Energy Materials

Sathish Rajendran and collaborators from Wayne State, the University of Jena and Boston University regulate cation transport through sub-nanometer porous carbon nanomembranes to inhibit dendrite growth, doubling the lifetime of lithium-metal batteries. Covered by EurekAlert!: “Hybrid membrane doubles the lifetime of rechargeable batteries”.

All-solid-state battery interfaces in Chemistry of Materials

Sathish Rajendran and collaborators tailor the electrode–electrolyte interface of garnet solid-state batteries using surface chemistry and interlayers.

Sathish Rajendran awarded with ECS 2021 H. H. Uhlig Summer Fellowship. This is a prestigious annual fellowship from the Electrochemical Society (ECS) awarded to four recipients from around the world. Read more ↗ Read more ↗

Light-assisted rechargeable lithium batteries in Nano Letters

Organic molecules that harvest sunlight and store energy in the same lithium battery, by Rice and Wayne State collaborators including Dr. Naresh Kumar Thangavel, Kiran Mahankali, Dr. Ganguli Babu and Professor Arava.

Predicting internal short circuits at an ASME conference

Sanket Mundhe and co-workers present impedance spectroscopy for predicting deformation-induced internal short circuits in Li-ion batteries.

Three presentations at PRiME 2020

Dr. Naresh Kumar Thangavel (in situ AFM-SECM-Raman of Li–S redox), Sanket Mundhe (impedance of internal short circuits under mechanical abuse) and Sathish Rajendran (moisture-stable, dendrite-free garnet electrolytes) present at PRiME 2020.

Tri-doped proton conductors for solid oxide electrolysis cells in ACS AMI

Sathish Rajendran, Dr. Naresh Kumar Thangavel and collaborators report a chemically stable, highly proton-conducting BaCeO₃–BaZrO₃ electrolyte for intermediate-temperature electrolysis.

Sathish Rajendran and Prof. Leela Arava awarded with competitive Graduate Research Assistantship by the graduate school for the year 2020-2021.

Engineered 2D catalysts for lithium–sulfur batteries in ACS AMI

Kiran Mahankali and co-workers report atomically engineered transition-metal dichalcogenides for polysulfide adsorption and conversion.

Congratulations, Dr. Deepesh Gopalakrishnan!

Deepesh completed the Ph.D. with a dissertation on advanced electrodes and electrolytes for long-lived, high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries.

Sudhan attended 235th ECS meeting on Advancing Solid State & Electrochemical Science & Technology held in Atlanta, GA.

Sudhan joined Arava Research Group

In situ AFM–SECM mapping of lithium–sulfur interfaces in Nano Letters

Kiran Mahankali, Dr. Naresh Kumar Thangavel and Leela Mohana Reddy Arava map the lithium–sulfur battery interface in situ with combined atomic-force and scanning-electrochemical microscopy.

Congratulations to Leela Arava on his news article posting on Crain's Detroit Business

Honored at Wayne State’s Academic Recognition Ceremony

Professor Arava is among the faculty recognized at the university’s 2019 Academic Recognition Ceremony as a Career Development Chair recipient, the year after his promotion to Associate Professor with tenure.

Sathish Rajendran awarded with Thomas C. Rumble Graduate Fellowship for the years 2019-2020

Congratulations to Leela Arava, associate professor of mechanical engineering, for receiving a Career Development Chair at the Academic Recognition Ceremony

TechTown Detroit: “Micro Buoy: Erie Hack providing platform for Lake Erie solutions”

TechTown Detroit features the Micro Buoy company, founded by Wayne State doctoral students during Erie Hack, after its Erie Hack win and first place at the Internet of H2O competition. “Erie Hack was a huge stepping stone toward our success… Erie Hack provided us with a platform to develop a solution,” says co-founder Sundeep Varma Gottumukkala. The team was also featured on WDIV Local 4 Detroit’s Tech Time.

▶ WDIV Local 4 Tech Time: the MicroBuoy team

Academy of Scholars Junior Faculty Award

Professor Arava receives the Wayne State University Academy of Scholars Junior Faculty Award, presented at the Academy’s 2018 annual banquet.

Congratulations, Bassam Bitar!

Bassam Bitar completes an M.S. thesis in the Arava Research Group (August 2018).

Congratulations, MicroBuoy team!

Congratulations to the MicroBuoy team, Nirul Masurkar, Sundeep Varma Gottumukkala and Uday Praveen, led by Professor Arava. After winning the 2017 Erie Hack grand prize and the Internet of H2O Technology Innovation Award, the team deployed its smart buoy in Lake Erie three times between late September and mid-October. In-house nanosensors in the buoy read and send water-quality data in real time: Nirul worked on the high-resolution sensors, and Uday made the buoy robust and waterproof.

Wayne State research team creating millimeter-scale lithium-ion battery for autonomous applications

Sathish Rajendran awarded with Thomas C. Rumble Graduate Fellowship for the years 2018-2019

Prof. Arava receives the NSF CAREER Award.

Millimeter-scale lithium-ion batteries for high-temperature sensing in Journal of Power Sources

Nirul Masurkar, Dr. Ganguli Babu, Sanjeev Porchelvan and Leela Mohana Reddy Arava report packaging for millimeter-scale lithium-ion batteries that power sensors at high temperature (room temperature to 125 °C). Wayne State Research news: “Wayne State research team creating millimeter-scale lithium-ion battery for autonomous applications”.

Professor Arava promoted to Associate Professor

Leela Arava, who joined Wayne State as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in 2013, is promoted to Associate Professor.

Congratulations to Nirul, Praveen and Sundeep “Micro Buoy” team for winning “Technology Innovation Award” at ‘Internet of H2O’ national level competition organized by Cleveland Water alliance, Digital C and USignite at Sandusky OH, 2017!!!

SHAPE: high-school students do battery research in the Arava lab

Through the new Summer High School Apprentice Program in Engineering (SHAPE), five students from the AGBU Manoogian School, recruited through the Mobile Energy Lab, spent six weeks in the Arava lab synthesizing materials, building coin cells and testing batteries.

International Joint Commission: “Hacking away Lake Erie problems”

The IJC reports the Erie Hack results: the grand prize went to Micro Buoy from Wayne State, for a nano-sensor in a buoy that detects environmental contaminants and helps find pathogens in water, plus support services to commercialize the sensor.

Highlighted in “International Joint Commission/Great Lakes Connection” Newsletter

Congratulations to Nirul, Praveen, Sundeep and Chad “Micro Buoy” team for winning the grand prize at the ErieHack Water Innovation Summit finals today!!!

Wayne State University team wins Erie Hack competition

Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of Priceline.com talks about ErieHack technology challenge winner Micro Buoy

▶ Jeff Hoffman on Erie Hack winner Micro Buoy

Erie Hack grand prize goes to Wayne State team

Wayne State Engineering team takes Grand Prize at Erie Hack

Research team led by Wayne State engineering personnel advances to Erie Hack finals

Today@Wayne: “Arava Research Group working on advanced battery solutions”

Today@Wayne profiles the group’s lithium–sulfur research and its quasi-solid electrolyte that operates above 150 °C.

Andrew, Ann, Justone and Vincent joins the group for undergraduate research, welcome!

We have successfully launched “Mobile Energy Lab” outreach program.

Congratulations to Nirul for receiving ‘Rumble Fellowship’ for the year 2016-2017!

Khalid’s paper on Si anodes for high-temperature battery gets accepted in ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, Congratulations!

Dr. Thangavel joins the group as post-doctoral researcher, welcome!

Rice News: “Battery components can take the heat”

Rice University and Wayne State researchers, including Professor Arava, report battery components that keep working at 150 °C.

Congratulations to Deepesh for receiving ‘Outstanding Teaching Assistant’ award!!!

We have successfully demonstrated Li-ion battery operating up to 150 °C for the first time. Congratulations to entire team for their publication in Advanced Energy Materials journal!

Our collaborative work with Prof. Gedanken’s group at Bar-Ilan University (Israel) on “Utilization of solar energy for continuous bioethanol production for energy applications” gets accepted in RSC advances journal

Congratulations to Hesham for successfully defending his Ph.D. theses!

Congratulations, Daviprasad!

Daviprasad Jayasankar successfully defends his M.S. thesis.

Clay-based electrolyte for high-temperature batteries

A Rice and Wayne State team, with Professor Arava as co-author, reports a clay-based electrolyte that lets lithium batteries operate at high temperature (ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces). It is the group’s first paper on Li-ion batteries that run hot, “Quasi-solid electrolytes for high temperature lithium ion batteries” (read the paper).

Hesham’s lithium–sulfur paper in JACS

Hesham Al Salem’s work on electrocatalytic polysulfide traps that control the redox shuttle of Li–S batteries is accepted in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Solar-driven bioethanol with Bar-Ilan University in ChemSusChem

Collaborative work with Prof. Aharon Gedanken’s group (Bar-Ilan University, Israel) on solar-energy-driven saccharification and fermentation of starch to bioethanol for fuel cells is accepted in ChemSusChem.

Gregory Hunter joins the group

Gregory Hunter joins for undergraduate research on 2D materials and sensors.

Invited talk and tutorial at the XXIV International Materials Research Congress, Cancún

Professor Arava gives an invited talk and a tutorial on nanomaterials for energy applications at the XXIV International Materials Research Congress in Cancún, Mexico.

Invited talk at the IUSSTF workshop, CSIR-CECRI, India

Professor Arava speaks at an Indo-US Science and Technology Forum workshop at CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi.

Dr. Bhuvaneswari joins as a postdoctoral researcher

Dr. Bhuvaneswari Dharamarajan joins the group as a postdoctoral researcher.

Four presentations at the 227th ECS Meeting, Chicago

Khalid Ababtain, Abdualrazzag Sawas, Hesham Al Salem and Dr. Ganguli Babu present their work at the 227th Electrochemical Society meeting.

Luiz Fernando joins the group

Luiz Fernando joins for undergraduate research.

College of Engineering: Arava Research Group works on longer-lasting, more sustainable batteries

The College of Engineering features the group’s Scientific Reports study, led by Dr. Ganguli Babu with Khalid Ababtain and Simon Ng: a carbon-free lithium–sulfur cell in which catalytic current collectors (Ni, Pt, Au) trap and convert polysulfides. Undergraduate Jaron Bentley presented the work at the ECS meeting in Chicago.

Catalytic current collectors for lithium–sulfur batteries in Scientific Reports

Dr. Ganguli Babu’s paper on electrocatalysis of lithium polysulfides, using current collectors as electrodes in a Li/S cell, is accepted in Scientific Reports.

Invited talk at Shandong University, China

Professor Arava speaks at an international workshop at Shandong University.

Deepesh Gopalakrishnan joins the group

Deepesh Gopalakrishnan joins as a Ph.D. student working on flexible energy devices.

Electric-drive vehicle students visit A123 Systems

Professor Arava takes Electric-drive Vehicle Engineering (EVE) students to the battery fabrication facilities of A123 Systems in Romulus, Michigan.

Invited talk at the 8th EMN Fall Meeting, Orlando

Professor Arava gives an invited talk at the Energy Materials Nanotechnology (EMN) Fall Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

EVE students at The Battery Show 2014

Professor Arava takes Electric-drive Vehicle Engineering students to The Battery Show 2014 in Novi, Michigan.

Hesham receives the Rumble Fellowship

Congratulations to Hesham Al Salem on the Thomas C. Rumble University Graduate Fellowship for 2014–2015.

New researchers join the group

Jaron L. Bentley and Sukaina join for undergraduate research, and Abdualrazzag Sawas joins for graduate research.

Dr. Rao receives an OVPR Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Venkateswara Rao Chitturi joins the group as a postdoctoral researcher and receives a Wayne State Office of the Vice President for Research postdoctoral fellowship for 2014–2016.

Seminar at the UCF NanoScience Technology Center and the 225th ECS Meeting

Professor Arava gives a seminar at the University of Central Florida NanoScience Technology Center and presents at the 225th ECS Meeting in Orlando.

Hesham Al Salem joins the group

Hesham Al Salem joins for Ph.D. research.

Dr. Ganguli Babu and Khalid Ababtain join the group

Dr. Ganguli Babu joins as a postdoctoral researcher and Khalid Ababtain joins for Ph.D. research.

Seminar at the Detroit Section of the Electrochemical Society

Professor Arava gives a seminar at the ECS Detroit Section meeting.

Professor Arava joins Wayne State

Wayne State welcomes Leela Mohana Reddy Arava as a new faculty member (Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering) in the College of Engineering (now the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering).