Eranda Nikolla
B.S. Engineering Chemistry, Oakland University (2003)
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan (2004)
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan (2009)
Postdoctoral Scholar in Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2009-2011)
Electrochemical Systems (fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, etc), photochemical systems, CO2 sequestration, design of multifunctional, selective catalysts for biomass conversion.
The Nikolla Research Group focuses on studying various issues related to electrochemical systems (i.e. fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries) and cooperative/selective catalysis (i.e. design of multifunctional, selective heterogeneous catalysts) for biomass conversion. We aim to address these issues by combining state-of-the-art synthesis techniques, a number of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, and quantum density functional theory (DFT) chemical calculations.
- Electrolysis using solid oxide electrolyzers.
- Chemical and Electrochemical routes for conversion of biomass.
- Selective photocatalysis: Harvesting sun's energy to activate chemical bonds.
- Development of robust cathode materials for Li-air batteries.
Open Positions
Positions are avaliable for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral reseachers. Please contact Dr. Nikolla directly at erandan@wayne.edu.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Nikolla's research, please look at her group website at http://nikollalab.eng.wayne.edu
Nikolla E., Román-Leshkov Y., Moliner M., Davis M.E., “One-Pot Synthesis of HMF from Carbohydrates using Tin-Beta Zeolite”, ACS Catal.,1 (4), 2011.
Xin H., Schweitzer N., Nikolla E., Linic S., "Developing Relationships between the local chemical activity of alloy catalysts and physical characteristics of consistuent metal elements”, J. Chem. Phys., 132, 111101, 2010.
Schweitzer N., Xin H., Nikolla E., Linic S., “Establishing relationships between the geometric structure and chemical reactivity of alloy catalysts based on their measured electronic structure”, Topics in Catalysis, 53, 483, 2010.
Nikolla E., Schwank J., Linic S., “Direct Electrochemical Oxidation of Hydrocarbon Fuels on SOFCs: Improved Carbon Tolerance of Ni Alloy Anodes ”, J. Electrochem. Soc., 156, B1312, 2009.
Nikolla E., Schwank J., Linic S., “Comparative study of the kinetics of methane steam reforming on supported Ni and Sn/Ni alloy catalysts: The impact of the formation of Ni alloy on chemistry”, J. Catal., 263 (2), 220-227, 2009.
Nikolla E., Schwank J., Linic S., “Measuring and relating the electronic structure of nonmodel supported catalytic materials to their performance”, J. Amer. Chem. Soc, 31 (7), 2747-2754, 2009.
Nikolla E., Holewinski A., Schwank J., Linic S., “Hydrocarbon Steam Reforming on Ni Alloys at Solid Oxide Fuel Cell conditions”, Catal. Today, 136 (3-4), 243-248, 2008.
Nikolla E., Schwank J., Linic S., “Promotion of the long-term stability of reforming catalysts by surface alloying”, J. Catal., 250 (1), 85-93, 2007.
Nikolla E., Holewinski A., Schwank J., Linic S., “Controlling Carbon Chemistry by Alloying: Carbon Tolerant Reforming Catalyst”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128 (35), 11354-11355, 2006.
Distinguished Dissertation Award, 2009, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Walter J. Weber Jr. Award in Environmental and Energy Sustainability, 2007, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, U of M.
ACS Achievement Award, 2003, Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI
Achievement of Excellence in Engineering and Computer Science, 2003, Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI
- May 14, 2013
Eranda Nikolla, will present a seminar at the Detroit Electrochemical Society meeting on May 30. The seminar is titled "Electrochemical energy conversion: Molecular approaches toward the development of efficient electrocatalysts for solid oxide electrochemical cells." - May 14, 2013
Eranda Nikolla, will present a talk at the National Science Foundation Partnership for International Research and Education (PIRE) summer school in Turku, Finland on June 20. The talk is titled "Biomass conversion processes: Heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of carbohydrates in aqueous media." - May 14, 2013
Eranda Nikolla, was elected vice president of the Michigan Catalysis Society.
- Eranda Nikolla was featured in a CBS Detroit article that announced her role as seminar presenter at the Detroit Electrochemical Society meeting on May 30. The seminar is titled "Electrochemical energy conversion: Molecular approaches toward the development of efficient electrocatalysts for solid oxide electrochemical cells."
Read Article - Eranda Nikolla was featured on WWJ-TV's website for hosting former participants in the Gaining Options - Girls Investigate Real Life (GO-GIRL) program at the College of Engineering. At the event, called GO-GIRL Material Girls, Nikolla and Professor Guangzhao Mao gave tours of the chemical engineering nanomaterials laboratory and the energy materials laboratory.
Read Article