Dr Anurag Roy

Research Profile 

‬Anurag Roy Google Scholar Page

Anurag Roy_LinkedIn Profile

Latest Discussion about my research, check this YouTube video: Anurag Roy Research Vision, Approach and Implementation

About Sustainable Development Goal (Future17) Lecture: Navigating the SDGs - Introduction

Research Blogs: 

1. Transforming Energy Efficiency: Power-Generating Semi-Transparent Windows
2. RSC Advances Science Communications – Hydrogels: The Smart Solution for Energy-Efficient Windows in Sustainable Buildings – RSC Advances Blog
3.  Smart windows create energy-positive buildings that improve human comfort while tackling climate change - Breakthrough (neliti.com)
4.  Exeter Blog Smart Nanocomposites Revolution for Energy-Savings Windows (researchandinnovation.co.uk)

• Expertise in the material design, synthesis, and characterisations underpinning developments of solar energy research. A strong materials chemistry background combined with materials engineering has enabled me to produce bespoke nano-scale designer materials.
• Expertise studies on the synthesis-property-performance correlation control of the nanostructure materials in net zero applications (photovoltaics, solar, hydrogen and heating).
• Passionate Renewable Energy researcher with over 6 years of research experience in solar energy technologies including photovoltaics, photothermal, photocatalytic passive cooling and building integrated photovoltaics.
• Working on Biomimicry innovation for energy harvesting materials and innovative hackathon for public engagement.
• 5 years of research experience with various industries and SMEs in the combined heat and power industry in developing projects from concept stage to delivery to performance monitoring, from project development to performance monitoring at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-5.

My Background 

I commenced my tenure at the University of Exeter (UoE) in February 2019, following the successful defence of my doctoral research at Jadavpur University, India, in January 2019. I was awarded a five-year Ph.D. fellowship under the DST INSPIRE fellowship from the Government of India. My Ph.D. research focused on establishing the structure-property-performance relationship for non-TiO2-based materials for dye-sensitized solar cells. 

As a Material Chemist, I subsequently joined the Industrial Research Impact Fellow role, in the Agri-Tech Cornwall project funded by ERDF and Duchy College within the Solar Energy Research Group at the UoE. Within this role, I was instrumental in advancing passive cooling technology, aiming to ameliorate living conditions for cows to mitigate heat stress and enhance the quality of their milk yield (Roy et al., Sci Rep 10, 15578, 2020).

Following this, I joined the EUED-Tech project under the guidance of Professor Tapas Mallick. Here, I made significant contributions to the field of perovskite solar cells (PSC) culminating in the delivery of a certified model featuring concentrated PSC (Roy et al., iScience 26, 106079, March 17, 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted my experimental research, leading to a halt in lab work and affecting the project's deliverables. 

Nevertheless, I transitioned to another project, focusing on developing innovative smart composite materials tailored for building fenestration (Roy et al., ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2022, 10 (20), 6609-6621; Construction and Building Materials 2022, 331, 127319; J. Phys. Chem. C 2021, 125 (32), 18058-18070). I joined this project as a postdoctoral researcher in 2022 and was subsequently promoted to Research Fellow in 2023. During this period, I have demonstrated my ambition as an independent researcher and commitment to career growth by securing several small research grants from the British Council, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Supergen Solar, and GW4. Additionally, I have co-supervised one Ph.D. student and eight postgraduate students during their dissertations at the UoE.

With an enriched experience spanning seven years in research and four intensive years as a postdoctoral researcher, this fellowship opportunity will catalyze my trajectory toward establishing myself as an independent researcher and taking a significant step toward becoming a permanent academician. My research has contributed to the UK’s Research Excellence Framework, notably contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7_affordable and clean energy. My scholarly contributions to materials science are well-documented, with 85 SCI-indexed journal articles that have garnered 2000+ citations, contributing to an h-index of 21. I am a registered scientist (RSci) by the UK Science Council and a continuous member of the RSC, American Chemical Society, IUPAC, and Solar Chemical Network. I have augmented my pedagogical skills through the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Programme (LTHE) by Advanced HE. 

I have gained invaluable industry exposure (2013-2014) through my work as a research assistant at Tata Steel's Research and Development department at their Jamshedpur Headquarters, India. I work with individuals of diverse nationalities, genders, and ethnic backgrounds, reflecting a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in my work culture.

Present Research Summary 

I am an experimental materials chemist with expertise in designing, synthesizing, and characterizing materials for solar energy research, including photovoltaics, photothermal, photocatalytic, and passive cooling technologies. My strong background in inorganic chemistry and materials science has enabled me to create custom nano-scale materials for solar energy applications. My current research focuses on developing new technologies to significantly reduce energy demand in the built environment at an acceptable cost. The goal is to reduce heat loss and control incoming solar radiation to maximize solar gain in winter, minimize heat loss, and reverse these effects in summer, all while ensuring optimal natural lighting without glare. I am developing innovative, multifunctional nanocomposite materials that blend Phase Change Materials (PCM), Transparent Insulating Materials (TIM), Transparent Infrared Absorbers (TIA), and Thermochromic Materials (TCM) to create smart coatings for glass panes. Targeting the UK’s colder weather, this multifold nanocomposite coating maximizes solar gain and minimizes heat loss, ensuring optimal natural lighting and indoor thermal comfort. Additionally, the infrared shielding properties of the composite, along with the PCM, control the heat produced by sunlight, providing better thermal comfort.

Career History

• Visiting Researcher |King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia (Under British Council's UK-Challenge Fund Programme) October 2022- November 2022
• Research Fellow | University of Exeter, UK April 2022- Running 
• Post-Doctoral Research Associate | University of Exeter, UK June 2021-March 2022
• Industrial Impact Fellow | University of Exeter, UK February 2019 - May 2021
• Visiting Researcher | University of Exeter, UK (Under British Council's Newton-Bhaba PhD Programme) June 2017 - October 2017
• PhD (Science) | Jadavpur University, India April 2014 - January 2019
• Master of Science (Chemistry) | Indian School of Mines Dhanbad, India July 2011 - June 2013
• Bachelor of Science (Chemistry Honours) | University of Calcutta, India August 2008 - May 2011

Visiting Researcher 

• Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom (Jul-Aug 2023)
• Indian Institute of Science, India (Mar-Apr 2023)
• Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia (Nov-Dec 2022)
• King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia (Oct -Nov 2022)
• University of Exeter, United Kingdom (June-Oct 2017)

Professional Membership 

• Registered Scientist (RSci), Science Council, UK
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK (MRSC, ID: 716643)
• Associate Member of Supergen Super Solar Hub UK
• Member of the UK Metamaterial Network
• Member of Solar Chemicals Network, UK
• Member of the Society of Chemical Industry, UK
• Member of Network of Researchers for Citizen Science, UK.
• Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS Member Number – 31382454)
• Member of the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM), Sweden
• Member of The Institute of Science and Technology, UK (MIScT, Reg. No. T16494)
• Fellow of the Indian Chemical Society (LM F/8199 2019)
• Early carer researcher representative of the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus

• Representative of Black and Minority Ethnic Staff, Students and Allies Network (B&ME), University of Exeter. Penryn Campus and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Network