Summary
Haroon Bukhari graduated from UC Berkeley in May 2020 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. His broad interest in the fields of semiconductors, solar fuel catalysis, and device engineering began at LBNL in August 2018. As a research fellow under Zemin Zhang, he honed thin film synthesis and characterization techniques to investigate an array of photoactive materials such as copper bismuth oxide. From Spring 2019, Haroon spearheaded the yearlong assessment of catalysts for dimethyl ether (biofuel) synthesis in close collaboration with Jason Cooper and Matt Kuchta. These interests will guide his ChemE MS program at Northeastern University fall 2020, and he intends to tackle industry clean energy challenges in the years to come.
Projects and Experiences
Undergraduate Research Fellow – Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(2019 – 2020)
Project: Investigation of heterogeneous catalysts, solvents, and reaction conditions for the reduction of esters. Early stages of this inquiry involved a gas diffusion electrode system. Responsible for establishing a suitable membrane, synthesizing catalysts through a variety of deposition techniques, and troubleshooting complications within the cell and its coupled GC-MS for detecting gaseous ethers. Modelled MEA cell components in SolidWorks and machined/ordered parts currently in use by JCAP. Project transitioned to a non-aqueous cell system which required testing of numerous solvents and electrolytes for resistance to decomposition at high potentials and UV exposure. Collaborated with Matt Kuchta to test gas products of cell under various catalysts and potentials. Ultimate mission of project is to produce ethers or other useful industrial compounds using CO2 as a feedstock.
Undergraduate Research Fellow – Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(2018 – 2020)
Project: Assisted Zemin Zhang in research on photoactive materials for CO2 reduction. Prepared Copper Bismuth Oxide thin film samples by spin coating and sputtering, analyzed morphology using SEM and XRD with Mohamed Ebaid, and tested catalyst performance using photoelectrochemical tests and IPCE measurements. Synthesized and assessed other catalyst candidates for CO2 reduction like nickel phosphide and zinc oxide nanotubes. Offered additional support to Zemin to publish “Simple and Efficient Pressure Sensor Based on PDMS Wrapped CNT Arrays” [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2019.08.018]
Education
Northeastern University – Boston, MA
MS Chemical Engineering – Expected Graduation 2020
University of California Berkeley – Berkeley, CA
BS Chemical Engineering – 2020
Cooper Lab 