Dr. Bejan Hamawandi is a distinguished researcher in the field of materials and nanophysics, with profound expertise in the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured thermoelectric materials. His work includes various methodologies to develop advanced materials for energy conversion applications, including solution chemical synthesis and microwave-assisted heating. Dr. Hamawandi’s research has significantly contributed to the understanding of organic-inorganic composites and their potential in thermoelectric systems. His innovative approach to green chemistry and sustainable material production is evident in his projects, such as the UncorrelaTEd project funded by the European Commission. His doctoral thesis and supervised master projects reflect his commitment to advancing the thermoelectrics field by developing novel materials and processes.
EDUCATION
PhD in Materials and Nanophysics.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Materials Science, Surfaces and Interfaces, Inorganic Chemistry
Enhanced Stability of Water-Processed Sb2Te3: PEO Thermoelectric Hybrids via Thiol-Based Surface Functionalization Oskars Bitmets, Bejan Hamawandi, Raitis Grzibovskis, Jose Francisco Serrano Claumarchirant, Muhammet S. Toprak, Kaspars Pudzs Sustainable Chemistry, 2025 This study explores the development of a water-based hybrid thermoelectric (TE) material composed of Sb2Te3 nanoparticles (NPs) and polyethylene oxide (PEO). Sb2Te3 NPs were synthesized via the microwave-assisted colloidal route, where X-ray diffraction confirmed the purity and quality of the Sb2Te3 NPs. Key properties, including the Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical conductivity (σ), power factor (PF), and long-term stability, were studied. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that exposure to water and oxygen leads to NP oxidation, which can be partially mitigated by hydrochloric acid (HCl) treatment, though this does not halt ongoing oxidation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images displayed a percolation network of NPs within the PEO matrix. While the initial σ was high, a decline occurred over eight weeks, resulting in similar conductivity among all samples. The effect of surface treatments, such as 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT), was demonstrated to enhance long-term stability. The results highlight both the challenges and potential of Sb2Te3/PEO hybrids for TE applications, especially regarding oxidation and durability, and underscore the need for improved synthesis and processing techniques to optimize their performance. This study provides valuable insights for the design of next-generation hybrid TE materials and emphasizes the importance of surface chemistry control in polymer–inorganic nanocomposites.
OPTIMISING PHOTOTHERMAL SILVER NANOPARTICLES FOR EFFICIENT LIGHT-ACTIVATED SHAPE MEMORY RESPONSE IN AgNP-POLYMER COMPOSITES K. Krizmane, M. Dile, E. Einbergs, V. Vitola, A. Knoks, B. Hamawandi, A. Zolotarjovs Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences, 2025 The study presents the synthesis and integration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into a polyurethane (PU) matrix to create a light-activated shape memory polymer (SMP). AgNPs were synthesized using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer, where varying the molecular weight of PVP and the AgNO₃/PVP ratio influenced nanoparticle size and distribution. Characterisation via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirmed the irregular morphology and size consistency of AgNPs, with smaller particles exhibiting narrow size distributions and enhanced photothermal response. Among the samples, PVP with an average molecular weight (M n ) of 10,000 and an AgNO₃/PVP mole ratio of 14.7 demonstrated optimal UV-blue light absorption, which facilitated efficient local heating under irradiation. The AgNP-PU composite exhibited a reliable shape memory effect when exposed to UV-blue light.
Nanodiamonds Interact with Primary Human Macrophages and Dendritic Cells Evoking a Vigorous Interferon Response Tomas Malina, Jasreen Kaur, Sebastin Martin, Audrey Gallud, Shintaro Katayama, Arianna Gazzi, Marco Orecchioni, Martin Petr, Martin Šrejber, Lars Haag, Bejan Hamawandi, Muhammet S. Toprak, Juha Kere, Lucia Gemma Delogu, Bengt Fadeel ACS Nano, 2025 Nanodiamonds (NDs) display several attractive features rendering them useful for medical applications such as drug delivery. However, the interactions between NDs and the immune system remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated amino-, carboxyl-, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-terminated NDs with respect to primary human immune cells. We applied cytometry by time-of-flight (CyToF) to assess the impact on peripheral blood mononuclear cells at the single-cell level, and observed an expansion of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) which are critically involved in antiviral responses. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the NDs were actively internalized, leading to a vigorous type I interferon response involving endosomal Toll-like receptors. ND-NH2 and ND-COOH were more potent than ND-PEG, as evidenced by using TLR reporter cell lines. Computational studies demonstrated that NDs interacted with the ligand-binding domains of TLR7 and TLR9 with high affinity though this was less pronounced for ND-PEG. NDs with varying surface functionalities were also readily taken up by macrophages. To gain further insight, we performed RNA sequencing of a monocyte-like cell line exposed to NDs, and found that the phagosome maturation pathway was significantly affected. Indeed, evidence for lysosomal hyperacidification was obtained in dendritic cells and macrophages exposed to NDs. Moreover, using a reporter cell line, NDs were found to impinge on autophagic flux. However, NDs did not affect viability of any of the cell types studied. This study has shown that NDs subvert dendritic cells leading to an antiviral-like immune response. This has implications not only for drug delivery but also for anticancer vaccines using NDs.
Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of Gray Hydrogen Production Costs: A Case Study Azam Beigi Kheradmand, Mahdi Heidari Soureshjani, Mehdi Jahangiri, Bejan Hamawandi Sustainability Switzerland, 2025 Despite Iran’s considerable renewable energy (RE) potential and excellent wind capacity and high solar radiation levels, these sources contribute only a small fraction of the country’s total energy production. This paper addresses the techno-economic viability of gray hydrogen production by these renewables, with a particular focus on solar energy. Given the considerable potential of solar energy and the strategic location of Shahrekord, it would be an optimal site for a hydrogen generation plant integrated with a solar field. HOMER Pro 3.18.3 software was utilized to model and optimize the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of steam reforming using different hydrocarbons in various scenarios. The results of this study indicate that natural gas (NG) reforming represents the most cost-effective method of gray hydrogen production in this city, with an LCOH of −0.423 USD/kg. Other hydrocarbons such as diesel, gasoline, propane, methanol, and ethanol have a price per kilogram of produced hydrogen as follows: USD −0.4, USD −0.293, USD 1.17, USD 1.48, and USD 2.15. In addition, integrating RE sources into hydrogen production was found to be viable. Moreover, by implementing RE technologies, CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced, and energy security can be achieved.
A comparative study on the surface chemistry and electronic transport properties of Bi2Te3 synthesized through hydrothermal and thermolysis routes Hazal Batili, Bejan Hamawandi, Adem Björn Ergül, Rafal Szukiewicz, Maciej Kuchowicz, Muhammet S. Toprak Colloids and Surfaces A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2024 Bismuth telluride-Bi2Te3 is the most promising material for harvesting thermal energy near room temperature. There are numerous works on Bi2Te3 report- ing significantly different transport properties, with no clear connection to the synthetic routes used and the resultant surface chemistry of the synthesized materials. It is of utmost importance to characterize the constituent parti- cles’ surface and interfaces to get a better understanding of their influence on the transport properties, that will significantly improve the material design - starting from the synthesis step. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a promis- ing technique, enabling the formation of thick films using colloidally stabilized suspensions of pre-made nanoparticles, which can enable the study of the ef- fect of surface chemistry, in connection to the synthetic route, on the material’s transport properties. In order to explore the differences in surface chemistry and the resultant transport properties in relation to the synthetic scheme used, here we report on Bi2Te3 synthesised through two wet-chemical routes in water (Hydro-) and oil (Thermo-) as the solvents. XRD analysis showed a high phase purity of the synthesized materials. SEM analysis revealed hexagonal platelet morphology of the synthesized materials, which were then used to fabricated EPD. Characterization of the EPD films reveal significant differences between the Hydro- and Thermo-Bi2Te3 samples, leading to about 8 times better electri- cal conductivity values in the Thermo-Bi2Te3. XPS analysis revealed a higher metal oxides content in the Hydro- Bi2Te3 sample, contributing to the formation of a resistive layer, thus lowering the electrical conductivity. Arrhenius plots of electrical conductivity vs inverse temperature was used for the estimation of the activation energy for conduction, revealing a higher activation energy need for the Hydro- Bi2Te3 film, in agreement with the resistive barrier oxide content. Both the samples exhibited negative Seebeck coefficient (S) in the order of 160 - 170 mV/K. The small difference in S of Hydro- and Themo-Bi2Te3 films was explained by the effective medium theory, revealing that the magnitude of S is linearly correlated with the surface oxide content. Based on the findings, TE materials synthesized through thermolysis route is recommended for further studies using soft treatment/processing of pre-made TE materials. EPD plat- form presented here is shown to clearly expose the differences in the electronic transport in connection to nanoparticle surface chemistry, proving a promis- ing methodology for the evaluation of morphology, size and surface chemistry dependence of electronic transport for a wide range of materials.
Tuning the transformation and cellular signaling of 2D titanium carbide MXenes using a natural antioxidant Tomas Malina, Bejan Hamawandi, Muhammet S. Toprak, Lin Chen, Jonas Björk, Jie Zhou, Johanna Rosen, Bengt Fadeel Matter, 2024 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXenes have emerged as promising candidates for biomedical applications. However, the biological properties of these materials are poorly understood. Moreover, MXenes are prone to oxidation under ambient conditions. Here, we show that glutathione (GSH), a natural antioxidant present in millimolar concentrations in the cytosol of most cells, protects MXenes from oxidation in aqueous suspensions while preserving the biocompatibility of the material. Reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) simulations confirm that GSH protects MXenes. Moreover, we provide evidence of the intracellular biotransformation of Ti3C2 MXenes to the rutile form of TiO2, and we show that GSH tunes the transformation process, resulting in the secretion of pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-1β through a non-canonical, elastase-dependent pathway. These results are important because they shed new light on the biotransformation of Ti3C2 MXenes and its ramifications for cellular signaling.
Electrophoretic assembly and electronic transport properties of rapidly synthesized Sb2Te3 nanoparticles Hazal Batili, Bejan Hamawandi, Parva Parsa, Adem Björn Ergül, Rafal Szukiewicz, Maciej Kuchowicz, Muhammet Sadaka Toprak Applied Surface Science, 2023 With the recent advances in thermoelectric (TE) technology, there is an increasing demand to develop thick films that would enable large-scale TE devices. Assembly of TE-films from size and morphology-controlled nanoparticles has been a challenging issue that can be addressed by the use of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. In this work, morphology-controlled Sb2Te3 nanoparticles were synthesized through microwave-assisted thermolysis, which were subsequently used for EPD of TE films on specially developed glass-substrates. The electronic transport properties were measured in the temp-range of 22-45 °C. The as-made EPD films showed a high initial resistance, ascribed to high porosity and the presence of surface oxide/passivating layers. The impact of two types of small organic molecules -as hexanedithiol and dodecanethiol, on the electronic transport was investigated, resulting in a significant improvement in the conductivity of the films. The XPS analysis suggests that the thiols bind to the surface of nanoparticles through formation of sulfides. Seebeck coefficient in the range of +160 to +190 µV/K was measured, revealing the p-type transport through the deposited films. Finally, a power factor of about 2.5 µW/K2.m was estimated the first time for p-type EPD films, revealing the potential of the developed nanoparticles and substrate, the small molecule additives and the EPD process presented in this work.
Eco design for Ag-based solutions against SARS-CoV-2 and E. coli Anna Luisa Costa, Magda Blosi, Andrea Brigliadori, Ilaria Zanoni, Simona Ortelli, Felice Carlo Simeone, Serena Delbue, Sarah D'Alessandro, Silvia Parapini, Claudia Vineis, Alessio Varesano, Muhammet S. Toprak, Bejan Hamawandi, Davide Gardini Environmental Science Nano, 2022
Functional Coatings for X-ray Fluorescent Nanoparticles G. M. Saladino, N. I. Kilic, K. Shaker, Y. Li, B. Hamawandi, C. Vogt, B. Brodin, M. Svenda, I. Yazgan, H. M. Hertz, M. S. Toprak Proceedings of the International Conference of Theoretical and Applied Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2022
Unprecedented thermoelectric power factor in SiGe nanowires field-effect transistors Mohammad Noroozi, Ganesh Jayakumar, Katayoun Zahmatkesh, Jun Lu, Lars Hultman, Mounir Mensi, Saulius Marcinkevicius, Bejan Hamawandi, Mohsen Y. Tafti, Adem B. Ergül, Zoran Ikonic, Muhammet S. Toprak, Henry H. Radamson Ecs Journal of Solid State Science and Technology, 2017
Synergistic Enhancement of Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3–PMMA Thermoelectric Generators via Dithiol-Assisted Conductivity and FEM-Based Geometry Optimization B Hamawandi, JF Serrano-Claumarchirant, AB Ergül, K Pudzs, I Pudza, ... Results in Engineering, 110785 , 2026 2026
Enhanced Stability of Water-Processed Sb 2 Te 3 : PEO Thermoelectric Hybrids via Thiol-Based Surface Functionalization O Bitmets, B Hamawandi, R Grzibovskis, JF Serrano Claumarchirant, ... Sustainable Chemistry 6 (4), 37 , 2025 2025
Investigating the effect of electrolyte incorporation on the thermoelectric power factor of bismuth and antimony telluride alloys MM Rahman, B Hamawandi, L Márquez-García, M Solis-de la Fuente, ... Open Research Europe 5, 282 , 2025 2025
Optimising Photothermal Silver Nanoparticles for Efficient Light-Activated Shape Memory Response in AgNP-Polymer Composites K Krizmane, M Dile, E Einbergs, V Vitola, A Knoks, B Hamawandi, ... Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences 62 (3) , 2025 2025
Nanodiamonds interact with primary human macrophages and dendritic cells evoking a vigorous interferon response T Malina, J Kaur, S Martin, A Gallud, S Katayama, A Gazzi, M Orecchioni, ... ACS nano 19 (20), 19057-19079 , 2025 2025 Citations: 11
Scalable solution chemical synthesis and comprehensive analysis of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 B Hamawandi, P Parsa, I Pudza, K Pudzs, A Kuzmin, S Ballikaya, ... Energy Materials 5 (500065) , 2025 2025 Citations: 11
Comparative techno-economic analysis of gray hydrogen production costs: a case study A Beigi Kheradmand, M Heidari Soureshjani, M Jahangiri, B Hamawandi Sustainability 17 (2), 547 , 2025 2025 Citations: 12
A rapid synthesis of magnetic-core mesoporous silica-shell nanostructures–as potential theranostic agents–by means of microwave irradiation and the atrane method MD Garrido, B Hamawandi, JF Serrano-Claumarchirant, GM Saladino, ... Nanoscale 17 (11), 6539-6549 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
A comparative study on the surface chemistry and electronic transport properties of Bi2Te3 synthesized through hydrothermal and thermolysis routes H Batili, B Hamawandi, AB Ergül, R Szukiewicz, M Kuchowicz, MS Toprak Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 682, 132898 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Tuning the transformation and cellular signaling of 2D titanium carbide MXenes using a natural antioxidant T Malina, B Hamawandi, MS Toprak, L Chen, J Björk, J Zhou, J Rosen, ... Matter 7 (Issue 1), Pages 191-215 , 2024 2024 Citations: 21
Electrophoretic assembly and electronic transport properties of rapidly synthesized Sb2Te3 nanoparticles H Batili, B Hamawandi, P Parsa, AB Ergül, R Szukiewicz, M Kuchowicz, ... Applied Surface Science 637, 157930 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Characterization and photocatalytic activity of CoCr 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite for water treatment W Ning, Y Li, Y Fang, F Li, R Pournajaf, B Hamawandi Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30 (31), 76515-76527 , 2023 2023 Citations: 12
Synthesis and characterization of hydrogel droplets containing magnetic nano particles, in a microfluidic flow-focusing chip F Moharramzadeh, SA Seyyed Ebrahimi, V Zarghami, Z Lalegani, ... Gels 9 (6), 501 , 2023 2023 Citations: 10
Investigation of Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of CH 4 Heat Treated Sr-Hexaferrite Powders during Re-Calcination Process R Dehghan, SA Seyyed Ebrahimi, Z Lalegani, B Hamawandi Magnetochemistry 9 (4), 103 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Evaluation of mechanical properties of glass ionomer cements reinforced with synthesized diopside produced via sol–gel method AM Nojehdehi, F Moghaddam, B Hamawandi Materials 16 (5), 2107 , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties of Al/Cu/SiC laminated composites, fabricated by the ARB and CARB processes J Luo, R Khattinejad, A Assari, M Tayyebi, B Hamawandi Crystals 13 (2), 354 , 2023 2023 Citations: 34
The effect of adding V and Nb microalloy elements on the bake hardening properties of ULC steel before and after annealing A Ghanaei, H Edris, H Monajati, B Hamawandi Materials 16 (4), 1716 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Silver nanoparticles with excellent biocompatibility block pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of lung surfactant G Gupta, B Hamawandi, DJ Sheward, B Murrell, L Hanke, G McInerney, ... Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 10, 1083232 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Covalently-bonded coating of L-arginine modified magnetic nanoparticles with dextran using co-precipitation method B Azadpour, F Kashanian, M Habibi-Rezaei, SA Seyyed Ebrahimi, ... Materials 15 (24), 8762 , 2022 2022 Citations: 16
Microstructure, fractography, and mechanical properties of Hardox 500 steel TIG-welded joints by using different filler weld wires Z Zuo, M Haowei, M Yarigarravesh, AH Assari, M Tayyebi, M Tayebi, ... Materials 15 (22), 8196 , 2022 2022 Citations: 19
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and enhanced mechanical properties of PAN/CNTs composite nanofibers A Mohamed, S Yousef, MA Abdelnaby, TA Osman, B Hamawandi, ... Separation and Purification Technology 182, 219-223 , 2017 2017 Citations: 110
Heat transfer study of enhanced additively manufactured minichannel heat exchangers H Rastan, A Abdi, B Hamawandi, M Ignatowicz, JP Meyer, B Palm International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 161, 120271 , 2020 2020 Citations: 94
Multi-objective optimization of concentrated Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric hybrid system via non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA II) A Yusuf, N Bayhan, H Tiryaki, B Hamawandi, MS Toprak, S Ballikaya Energy Conversion and Management 236, 114065 , 2021 2021 Citations: 93
Targeted dielectric coating of silver nanoparticles with silica to manipulate optical properties for metasurface applications Z Lalegani, SAS Ebrahimi, B Hamawandi, L La Spada, H Batili, ... Materials Chemistry and Physics 287, 126250 , 2022 2022 Citations: 69
Facile solution synthesis, processing and characterization of n-and p-type binary and ternary Bi–Sb tellurides B Hamawandi, S Ballikaya, H Batili, V Roosmark, M Orlovska, A Yusuf, ... Applied Sciences 10 (3), 1178 , 2020 2020 Citations: 53
Unprecedented thermoelectric power factor in SiGe nanowires field-effect transistors M Noroozi, G Jayakumar, K Zahmatkesh, J Lu, L Hultman, M Mensi, ... ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 6 (9), Q114-Q119 , 2017 2017 Citations: 50
Thermal cycles behavior and microstructure of AZ31/SiC composite prepared by stir casting SF Mousavi, H Sharifi, M Tayebi, B Hamawandi, Y Behnamian Scientific reports 12 (1), 15191 , 2022 2022 Citations: 42
Minute-Made, High-Efficiency Nanostructured Bi 2 Te 3 via High-Throughput Green Solution Chemical Synthesis B Hamawandi, H Batili, M Paul, S Ballikaya, NI Kilic, R Szukiewicz, ... Nanomaterials 11 (8), 2053 , 2021 2021 Citations: 39
Thermoelectric performance of Cu2Se doped with rapidly synthesized gel-like carbon dots CY Oztan, B Hamawandi, Y Zhou, S Ballikaya, MS Toprak, RM Leblanc, ... Journal of alloys and compounds 864, 157916 , 2021 2021 Citations: 38
Modeling, design, and synthesis of gram-scale monodispersed silver nanoparticles using microwave-assisted polyol process for metamaterial applications Z Lalegani, SAS Ebrahimi, B Hamawandi, L La Spada, MS Toprak Optical Materials 108, 110381 , 2020 2020 Citations: 38
Microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties of Al/Cu/SiC laminated composites, fabricated by the ARB and CARB processes J Luo, R Khattinejad, A Assari, M Tayyebi, B Hamawandi Crystals 13 (2), 354 , 2023 2023 Citations: 34
A comparative study on the thermoelectric properties of bismuth chalcogenide alloys synthesized through mechanochemical alloying and microwave-assisted solution synthesis routes B Hamawandi, H Mansouri, S Ballikaya, Y Demirci, M Orlovska, ... Frontiers in Materials 7, 569723 , 2020 2020 Citations: 34
A versatile strategy to synthesize sugar ligand coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and investigation of their antibacterial activity GM Saladino, B Hamawandi, MA Demir, I Yazgan, MS Toprak Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 613, 126086 , 2021 2021 Citations: 27
Composition tuning of nanostructured binary copper selenides through rapid chemical synthesis and their thermoelectric property evaluation B Hamawandi, S Ballikaya, M Råsander, J Halim, L Vinciguerra, J Rosen, ... Nanomaterials 10 (5), 854 , 2020 2020 Citations: 27
Carbon quantum dots conjugated rhodium nanoparticles as hybrid multimodal contrast agents GM Saladino, NI Kilic, B Brodin, B Hamawandi, I Yazgan, HM Hertz, ... Nanomaterials 11 (9), 2165 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26
Fabrication and thermoelectric characterization of GeSn nanowires M Noroozi, B Hamawandi, MS Toprak, HH Radamson 2014 15th international conference on ultimate integration on silicon (ULIS … , 2014 2014 Citations: 26
Performance analysis of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells: a machine learning approach MH Golbabaei, M Saeidi Varnoosfaderani, A Zare, H Salari, F Hemmati, ... Materials 15 (21), 7760 , 2022 2022 Citations: 25
Tuning the transformation and cellular signaling of 2D titanium carbide MXenes using a natural antioxidant T Malina, B Hamawandi, MS Toprak, L Chen, J Björk, J Zhou, J Rosen, ... Matter 7 (Issue 1), Pages 191-215 , 2024 2024 Citations: 21
A comparison of power factor in n and p-type SiGe nanowires for thermoelectric applications M Noroozi, B Hamawandi, G Jayakumar, K Zahmatkesh, HH Radamson, ... Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 17 (3), 1622-1626 , 2017 2017 Citations: 21
Microstructure, fractography, and mechanical properties of Hardox 500 steel TIG-welded joints by using different filler weld wires Z Zuo, M Haowei, M Yarigarravesh, AH Assari, M Tayyebi, M Tayebi, ... Materials 15 (22), 8196 , 2022 2022 Citations: 19