Devraj Singh

Dr. Devraj Singh
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
669, 671-Mantei Center,
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221

Corresponding Address
415-Probasco street, Apt-18, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220

Permanent Address
Address: Village- Ailoaa, Post- Allau, (U.P.), Pin Code-205247
India

Email:
singhdevrajaditya@
singh2dj@

EDUCATION

Education
Indian Institute of Technology Indore, India
PhD in Chemistry
August 2017 – March 2023
Advisor: Prof. Apurba K. Das
Dissertation: Engineering of Benzoselenadiazole Based Organic-Inorganic Nanohybrids for Energy Storage and Energy Conversion Applications

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Electrochemistry, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Chemical Engineering, Materials Chemistry

Scopus Publications

Electrifying Nickel-Catalyzed Coupling of Amines to Imines Under Aqueous Conditions
Lalita Wagh, Devraj Singh, Arati Samal, Anushree Jain, Apurba K. Das
Chemcatchem, 2026
The selective electrocatalytic oxidation of amines to imines represents a significant advancement in organic electrochemistry, offering a green and sustainable approach to access these valuable intermediates. The development of effective and environmentally friendly synthesis techniques is highly desired because imines are used extensively in materials science, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. In this study, we report the fabrication of a robust, binder‐free organic–inorganic nanohybrid electrocatalyst (Bola/Ni), constructed via electrodeposition of a boladipeptide ligand (LF‐AdiA‐FL, composed of adipic acid, L‐phenylalanine, and L‐leucine) with nickel nitrate hexahydrate on a nickel foam substrate. Detailed characterization of the nanohybrid was conducted using FE‐SEM, TEM, and XPS techniques to elucidate its surface morphology and elemental composition. The Bola/Ni catalyst demonstrates excellent activity for the oxidative coupling of amines under mild, aqueous conditions, highlighting its compatibility with a wide range of functional groups and substrates. The system achieves high product yields with minimal side reactions, demonstrating its selectivity and efficiency. Notably, the use of water as the reaction medium enhances the environmental and economic viability of the process. Furthermore, the electrocatalyst maintains its performance over seven consecutive reaction cycles, indicating its strong durability and stability. Overall, this work presents a cost‐effective, energy‐efficient, and environmentally friendly strategy for imine synthesis, contributing to the advancement of sustainable organic transformations.
Efficient Electrosynthesis of Azo Derivatives Using Binder-Free Electrodeposited Organic/Ni-Co Nanohybrid Electrocatalyst
Lalita Wagh, Devraj Singh, Arati Samal, Anushree Jain, Apurba K. Das
Chemcatchem, 2025
In synthetic chemistry and pharmaceuticals, azo aromatics are important building blocks with a wide range of applications. However, their environmentally‐friendly synthesis has not been extensively studied. Herein, we have synthesized the peptide bolaamphiphile‐based organic–inorganic nanohybrid architecture, on a nickel foam (NF) substrate. The electrodeposition method is used to synthesize a Bola/Ni‐Co nanohybrid (Bola = FW‐AdiA‐WF/Ni‐Co, AdiA = adipic acid, W = L‐tryptophan, F = L‐phenylalanine, Ni = nickel nitrate and Co = cobalt nitrate (2:2)) on nickel foam without the need for any additional conductive material or binder. The resulting electrocatalyst is highly effective in selectively facilitating the anodic azo coupling reaction (ACR) of aromatic amines, converting them into azo aromatics at ambient conditions. This reaction takes place in a 1 M KOH electrolyte at a current density of 15 mA in an undivided cell. The electrocatalyst is effective for a broad range of substrates and can tolerate various functional groups. During the electrosynthesis of azo aromatics, the substrate adheres to the surface of electrocatalyst, which prevents the competing oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The use of water as a solvent avoids the need for excessive chemicals, making this electrosynthesis method safe, cost‐effective, and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the electrocatalyst is highly stable and can be reused for up to seven consecutive cycles. This method offers an energy‐efficient route for the synthesis of value‐added products with high yields for future prospectives.
Multifunctional benzoselenadiazole-capped organic molecule-based nanohybrid for efficient asymmetric supercapacitor and oxygen evolution reaction
Devraj Singh, Lalita Wagh, Apurba K. Das
Journal of Energy Storage, 2024
Sonication-Induced Boladipeptide-Based Metallogel as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Lalita Wagh, Devraj Singh, Vikash Kumar, Shrish Nath Upadhyay, Srimanta Pakhira, Apurba K. Das
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2024
Bioinspired, self-assembled hybrid materials show great potential in the field of energy conversion. Here, we have prepared a sonication-induced boladipeptide (HO-YF-AA-FY-OH (PBFY); AA = Adipic acid, F = l-phenylalanine, and Y = l-tyrosine) and an anchored, self-assembled nickel-based coordinated polymeric nanohybrid hydrogel (Ni-PBFY). The morphological studies of hydrogels PBFY and Ni-PBFY exhibit nanofibrillar network structures. XPS analysis has been used to study the self-assembled coordinated polymeric hydrogel Ni-PBFY-3, with the aim of identifying its chemical makeup and electronic state. XANES and EXAFS analyses have been used to examine the local electronic structure and coordination environment of Ni-PBFY-3. The xerogel of Ni-PBFY was used to fabricate the electrodes and is utilized in the OER (oxygen evolution reaction). The native hydrogel (PBFY) contains a gelator boladipeptide of 15.33 mg (20 mmol L-1) in a final volume of 1 mL. The metallo-hydrogel (Ni-PBFY-3) is prepared by combining 15.33 mg (20 mmol L-1) of boladipeptide (PBFY) with 3 mg (13 mmol L-1) of NiCl2·6H2O metal in a final volume of 1 mL. It displays an ultralow Tafel slope of 74 mV dec-1 and a lower overpotential of 164 mV at a 10 mA cm-2 current density in a 1 M KOH electrolyte, compared to other electrocatalysts under the same experimental conditions. Furthermore, the Ni-PBFY-3 electrocatalyst has been witnessed to be highly stable during 100 h of chronopotentiometry performance. To explore the OER mechanism in an alkaline medium, a theoretical calculation was carried out by employing the first-principles-based density functional theory (DFT) method. The computed results obtained by the DFT method further confirm that the Ni-PBFY-3 electrocatalyst has a high intrinsic activity toward the OER, and the value of overpotential obtained from the present experiment agrees well with the computed value of the overpotential. The biomolecule-assisted electrocatalytic results provide a new approach for designing efficient electrocatalysts, which could have significant implications in the field of green energy conversion.
In Situ Fabricated Small Organic Molecule-Anchored Bimetallic Hydroxide-based Nanohybrids for Symmetric Supercapacitor
Devraj Singh, Apurba K. Das
Energy and Fuels, 2022
Bioinspired nanohybrids offer promising electrode materials for energy storage applications. In this study, we have synthesized nanohybrid materials on carbon paper (CP) using the galvanostatic electrodeposition method to achieve the best combination of metal salts with a small organic moiety. The fabricated nanohybrids exhibit better energy storage properties. Among various nanohybrids, BSeYW/NCDH [BSe = benzo[2,1,3]selenadiazole, Y = l-tyrosine, and W = l-tryptophan; NCDH = nickel-cobalt dual hydroxides (2:2)] exhibits a high specific capacitance of 1734 F g–1 at 2 A g–1 and cyclic stability with 86.18% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles at 25 A g–1. Furthermore, the solid-state symmetric supercapacitor (SSC) device has been assembled by exploiting two binder-free BSeYW/NCDH(2:2) hybrid electrodes for practical applications. The SSC device has been electrochemically analyzed by cyclic voltammetry at different scan rates and potential windows. The galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) has been performed to investigate the capacitive behavior and cyclic stability. The fabricated SSCs deliver a maximum energy density of 18.27 W h/kg at a power density of 571.97 W/kg. In addition, the SSC device retains 85.25% at 7 A g–1 even after 5000 GCD cycles. Additionally, two assembled devices connected in series can operate a small fan and illuminate an LED. So, the electrochemical properties of BSeYW/NCDH nanomaterials could be used for the development of high-performance energy storage materials and devices.
Electrodeposition of Binder-Free Peptide/Co(OH)2Nanohybrid Electrodes for Solid-State Symmetric Supercapacitors
Devraj Singh, Rohit G. Jadhav, Apurba K. Das
Energy and Fuels, 2021
Organic–inorganic nanohybrids with diverse nanoarchitectures and intrinsic electronic properties are considered as efficient active materials for electrochemical charge storage applications. Herein, we have successfully electrodeposited peptide-based nanohybrids on carbon fiber paper (CP) substrates as the electrodes for the fabrication of symmetric supercapacitors (SCs). The electrodeposition technique has been used for in situ fabrication of a benzo[2,1,3]selenadiazole-5-carbonyl-protected BSeYY (BSe = benzo[2,1,3]selenadiazole; Y = tyrosine) dipeptide cross-linked with cobalt hydroxide (BSeYY/Co(OH)2) on CP without any additives such as binder and conductive materials. The synthesized nanohybrid BSeYY/Co(OH)2 has been well characterized. The electrochemical characterization of the nanohybrid electrode has been performed in alkaline electrolytes (1 M KOH and 1 M LiOH). The BSeYY/Co(OH)2 nanohybrid shows paramount electrochemical performance in 1 M KOH compared to 1 M LiOH. The electrochemical measurements exhibit an outstanding capacitance of 974.78 F g–1 at 1 A g–1 current density and a capacitance retention of 78.62% after 3000 cycles at 18 A g–1 in 1 M KOH electrolyte. The assembled symmetric SC device exhibits a maximum energy density of 16.35 W h kg–1 at 0.5 A g–1 and the highest power density of 617.37 W kg–1 at 2 A g–1. The symmetric device represents excellent capacitance retention of 81.04% at 2 A g–1 after 5000 cycles. The symmetric energy-storage device has been utilized to light up a red light-emitting diode. The efficient charge storage performance of the nanohybrid could be attributed to the cross-linked nanosheet structure with charge-storage sites and fast charge-transport channels.
Electrodeposited Organic-Inorganic Nanohybrid as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting
Rohit G. Jadhav, Devraj Singh, Pavel V. Krivoshapkin, Apurba K. Das
Inorganic Chemistry, 2020
Rational engineering of novel nanohybrid materials for sustainable and efficient energy conversion has gained extensive research interest. Cross-linked nanosheets of organic-inorganic nanohybrids (BSeF/Ni(OH)2) were fabricated by one-step reductive electrosynthesis and subsequently applied for electrocatalytic water electrolysis. The organic-inorganic nanohybrids consist of benzo[2,1,3]selenadiazole-5-carbonyl phenylalanine (BSeF) cross-linked with nickel ions (Ni-BSeF) and nickel hydroxides (Ni(OH)2), which provide abundant active sites and feasible charge transfer at the electrocatalytic interface. The resulting electrodeposited nanohybrid BSeF/Ni(OH)2 exhibits bifunctional electrocatalytic performance with 240 and 401 mV of overpotential at +100 and -100 mA cm-2 for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively. The BSeF/Ni(OH)2 offers a longer electrocatalytic activity of 20 h for OER and HER at applied high current densities of +400 and -200 mA cm-2. Coupled with the high OER and HER activity, the two-electrode-based system of BSeF/Ni(OH)2 shows a low cell potential of 1.54 V at 10 mA cm-2. The electrocatalytic performance of Ni-BSeF and Ni(OH)2-based organic-inorganic nanohybrids provides an efficient way to develop a nanohybrid-based catalytic system for energy conversion.
Engineering of electrodeposited binder-free organic-nickel hydroxide based nanohybrids for energy storage and electrocatalytic alkaline water splitting
Rohit G. Jadhav, Devraj Singh, Shaikh M. Mobin, Apurba K. Das
Sustainable Energy and Fuels, 2020
A binder-free electrodeposited organic–inorganic multifunctional nanohybrid electrode exhibits high specific capacitance with electrocatalytic water splitting performance.
Electrodeposited Stable Binder-Free Organic Ni(OH)2 Flexible Nanohybrid Electrodes for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Devraj Singh, Rohit G. Jadhav, Apurba K. Das
Energy Technology, 2019
Organic–inorganic hybrid materials with nanoscale morphologies gain significant attention as a potential candidate for energy storage applications. Herein, nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) and benzo[2,1,3]selenadiazole (BSe)‐capped dipeptide amphiphiles are electrodeposited over flexible nickel foam (NF) substrates to fabricate organic–inorganic nanohybrids. The in situ electrochemical deposition of organic–inorganic nanohybrids is investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive‐electron microscopy, and elemental mapping. The nanostructured morphology of the nanohybrid material is investigated by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical performance and supercapacitor properties are examined in 1 m KOH aqueous solution. Aromatic diphenylalanine (FF)‐based nanohybrid BSeFF/Ni(OH)2 deposited on the NF electrode exhibit a specific capacitance of 1250 F g−1, whereas dileucine (LL)‐based nanohybrids BSeLL/Ni(OH)2 show a specific capacitance of 689 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1.

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Electrifying Nickel‐Catalyzed Coupling of Amines to Imines Under Aqueous Conditions
L Wagh, D Singh, A Samal, A Jain, AK Das
ChemCatChem 18 (6), e01638 , 2026
2026
Quantum confined one-dimensional lepidocrocite titanate catalyst for superior electrocatalytic oxygen evolution performance
D Singh, MA Ibrahim, A McMoil, G Schwenk, J Snyder, MW Barsoum
Chemical Engineering Journal, 174482 , 2026
2026
Scalable, Bottom‐Up Synthesis of Transition Metal–Doped Quantum Confined, 1D Titanate‐Based Lepidocrocite Nanofilaments, Their Electronic Structures and Oxygen Evolution Reactivity
MA Ibrahim, D Singh, A McMoil, MQ Hassig, R Janani, JD Snyder, ...
Advanced materials interfaces 13 (3), e00681 , 2026
2026
Citations: 2
Efficient Electrosynthesis of Azo Derivatives Using Binder‐Free Electrodeposited Organic/Ni‐Co Nanohybrid Electrocatalyst
L Wagh, D Singh, A Samal, A Jain, AK Das
ChemCatChem 17 (19), e00608 , 2025
2025
Citations: 2
An anion exchange membrane of layered silicalite nanosheets with surface quaternary ammonium cations
Y Sharma, D Singh, Z Cao, J Gabski, J Dong
Chemical Communications 61 (23), 4503-4506 , 2025
2025
Citations: 4
Multifunctional benzoselenadiazole-capped organic molecule-based nanohybrid for efficient asymmetric supercapacitor and oxygen evolution reaction
D Singh, L Wagh, AK Das
Journal of Energy Storage 104, 114604 , 2024
2024
Citations: 5
Effects of Counter-Anions for the Engineering of Metallo-Hydrogels for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions
L Wagh, D Singh, AK Das
ACS Applied Engineering Materials 2 (9), 2313-2323 , 2024
2024
Citations: 2
Sonication-Induced Boladipeptide-Based Metallogel as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
L Wagh, D Singh, V Kumar, SN Upadhyay, S Pakhira, AK Das
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 16 (22), 28307-28318 , 2024
2024
Citations: 10
In Situ Fabricated Small Organic Molecule-Anchored Bimetallic Hydroxide-based Nanohybrids for Symmetric Supercapacitor
D Singh, AK Das
Energy & Fuels 36 (21), 13317-13326 , 2022
2022
Citations: 8
Electrodeposition of Binder-Free Peptide/Co(OH) 2 Nanohybrid Electrodes for Solid-State Symmetric Supercapacitors
D Singh, RG Jadhav, AK Das
Energy & Fuels 35 (19), 16152-16161 , 2021
2021
Citations: 19
Electrodeposited Organic–Inorganic Nanohybrid as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting
RG Jadhav, D Singh, PV Krivoshapkin, AK Das
Inorganic Chemistry 59 (11), 7469-7478 , 2020
2020
Citations: 23
Engineering of electrodeposited binder-free organic-nickel hydroxide based nanohybrids for energy storage and electrocatalytic alkaline water splitting
RG Jadhav, D Singh, SM Mobin, AK Das
Sustainable Energy & Fuels 4 (3), 1320-1331 , 2020
2020
Citations: 20
Electrodeposited Stable Binder‐Free Organic Ni(OH) 2 Flexible Nanohybrid Electrodes for High‐Performance Supercapacitors
D Singh, RG Jadhav, AK Das
Energy Technology 7 (10), 1900546 , 2019
2019
Citations: 4

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Electrodeposited Organic–Inorganic Nanohybrid as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting
RG Jadhav, D Singh, PV Krivoshapkin, AK Das
Inorganic Chemistry 59 (11), 7469-7478 , 2020
2020
Citations: 23
Engineering of electrodeposited binder-free organic-nickel hydroxide based nanohybrids for energy storage and electrocatalytic alkaline water splitting
RG Jadhav, D Singh, SM Mobin, AK Das
Sustainable Energy & Fuels 4 (3), 1320-1331 , 2020
2020
Citations: 20
Electrodeposition of Binder-Free Peptide/Co(OH) 2 Nanohybrid Electrodes for Solid-State Symmetric Supercapacitors
D Singh, RG Jadhav, AK Das
Energy & Fuels 35 (19), 16152-16161 , 2021
2021
Citations: 19
Sonication-Induced Boladipeptide-Based Metallogel as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
L Wagh, D Singh, V Kumar, SN Upadhyay, S Pakhira, AK Das
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 16 (22), 28307-28318 , 2024
2024
Citations: 10
In Situ Fabricated Small Organic Molecule-Anchored Bimetallic Hydroxide-based Nanohybrids for Symmetric Supercapacitor
D Singh, AK Das
Energy & Fuels 36 (21), 13317-13326 , 2022
2022
Citations: 8
Multifunctional benzoselenadiazole-capped organic molecule-based nanohybrid for efficient asymmetric supercapacitor and oxygen evolution reaction
D Singh, L Wagh, AK Das
Journal of Energy Storage 104, 114604 , 2024
2024
Citations: 5
An anion exchange membrane of layered silicalite nanosheets with surface quaternary ammonium cations
Y Sharma, D Singh, Z Cao, J Gabski, J Dong
Chemical Communications 61 (23), 4503-4506 , 2025
2025
Citations: 4
Electrodeposited Stable Binder‐Free Organic Ni(OH) 2 Flexible Nanohybrid Electrodes for High‐Performance Supercapacitors
D Singh, RG Jadhav, AK Das
Energy Technology 7 (10), 1900546 , 2019
2019
Citations: 4
Scalable, Bottom‐Up Synthesis of Transition Metal–Doped Quantum Confined, 1D Titanate‐Based Lepidocrocite Nanofilaments, Their Electronic Structures and Oxygen Evolution Reactivity
MA Ibrahim, D Singh, A McMoil, MQ Hassig, R Janani, JD Snyder, ...
Advanced materials interfaces 13 (3), e00681 , 2026
2026
Citations: 2
Efficient Electrosynthesis of Azo Derivatives Using Binder‐Free Electrodeposited Organic/Ni‐Co Nanohybrid Electrocatalyst
L Wagh, D Singh, A Samal, A Jain, AK Das
ChemCatChem 17 (19), e00608 , 2025
2025
Citations: 2
Effects of Counter-Anions for the Engineering of Metallo-Hydrogels for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions
L Wagh, D Singh, AK Das
ACS Applied Engineering Materials 2 (9), 2313-2323 , 2024
2024
Citations: 2
Electrifying Nickel‐Catalyzed Coupling of Amines to Imines Under Aqueous Conditions
L Wagh, D Singh, A Samal, A Jain, AK Das
ChemCatChem 18 (6), e01638 , 2026
2026
Quantum confined one-dimensional lepidocrocite titanate catalyst for superior electrocatalytic oxygen evolution performance
D Singh, MA Ibrahim, A McMoil, G Schwenk, J Snyder, MW Barsoum
Chemical Engineering Journal, 174482 , 2026
2026

Publications

• D. Singh, R. G. Jadhav, A. K. Das, Electrodeposited stable binder-free organic-Ni(OH)2 flexible nanohybrid electrodes for high performance supercapacitors. Energy Technol. 2019, 7, 1900546. (Impact factor- 4.149)
• R. G. Jadhav, D. Singh, S. M. Mobin, A. K. Das, Engineering of electrodeposited binder free organic-nickel hydroxide based nanohybrids for energy strorage and electrocatalytic alkaline water splitting. Sustainable Energy and Fuels. 2020, 4, 1320-1331. . (Impact factor- 6.813)
• R. G. Jadhav, D. Singh, P. V. Krivoshapkin, A. K. Das, Electrodeposited Organic-Inorganic Nanohybrid as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting. Inorg. Chem. 2020, 59, 7469. . (Impact .
• D. Singh, R. G. Jadhav, A. K. Das, Electrodeposition of Binder-Free Peptide/Co(OH)2 Nanohybrid Electrodes for Solid-State Symmetric Supercapacitors. Energy and Fuels 2021, 35, 16152-16161. . (Impact factor- 5.3).
• D. Singh, A. K. Das, In Situ Fabricated Small Organic Molecule-Anchored Bimetallic Hydroxide-based Nanohybrids for Symmetric Supercapacitor. Energy and Fuels 2022, 36, 13317-13326. (Impact factor- 5.3).
• D. Singh, L. Wagh, A. K. Das, Multifunctional Benzoselenadiazole-capped Organic Molecule-based Nanohybrid for Efficient Asymmetric