Ph.D. Students
Ph.D. Student in Heeney Group
Building 5, Level 3, Office 3287-WS06
I work in the synthesis and characterization of conjugated polymers for solar cell application under the supervision of professor Martin J. Heeney at KAUST Solar Center.
Before I worked in heterogeneous catalysis research for seven years. I worked in the CO2 valorization through Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or methanol-to-hydrocarbons applications through methanol intermediate. Also, I have some experience in gas-phase aldol condensation catalytic reactions for the production of high-octane additives. I really enjoy catalytic testing and the reactor engineering part of it.
Organic Synthesis · Heterogeneous Catalysis · CO2 valorization · Polymers · Organic Semiconductors · Chemistry · Characterization · Gas Chromatography
A. Russkikh, G. Shterk, B. H. Al‐Solami, B. A. Fadhel, A. Ramirez, J. Gascon. (2020) Turning Waste into Value: Potassium‐Promoted Red Mud as an Effective Catalyst for the Hydrogenation of CO2. ChemSusChem (11) 13: 2981-2987.
A. Dokania, S. Ould-Chikh, A. Ramirez, J. L. Cerrillo, A. Aguilar, A. Russkikh, A. Alkhalaf, I. Hita, A. Bavykina, G. Shterk, N. Wehbe, A. Prat, E. Lahera, P. Castaño, E. Fonda, J. L. Hazemann, J. Gascon. (2021) Designing a Multifunctional Catalyst for the Direct Production of Gasoline-Range Isoparaffins from CO2. JACS Au, (1) 11: 1961.
A. M. Egizaryan, A. S. Noskov, L. V. Piryutko, A. V. Russkikh, V. S. Chernyavskij, A. S. Kharitonov. (2016) Method of Producing α-methylsubstituted Carbonyl Compounds. RU 2594483 C1. Assignee: Joint-Stock Company “Gazpromneft-MNPZ”.
KAUST SOLAR CENTER, 2023
Performed several organic syntheses of monomer precursors via aromatic substitution reactions and conjugated polymers. Characterized them with GPC, NMR, GC-MS, and TLC methods.
KAUST CATALYSIS CENTER 2018 – 2022
Synthesized various catalysts for CO2 valorization and characterized them with different methods (SEM, EDS-SEM, TGA, XRD, TPR, TPD, XRF, TEM, N2 physisorption). Designed and tailored study protocols for catalytic activity measurements on a broad class of catalysts. Provided technical maintenance and minor repairs for catalytic testing setup (Microactivity Effi PID Eng & Tech + Varian 460-GC). Wrote and acquired safety operation protocols for the safety department for experiments, such as TGA in CO flow and catalytic testing at elevated pressures and temperatures.
● Redesigned, repaired and calibrated catalytic activity set up for the dual-reactor study of the CO
● Identified the feasibility of the process of the CO2 via methanol route to hydrocarbons by self-learning Aspen Plus V10 modeling.
● Conducted experiments for the project with Carbon Management Division from Saudi Aramco. Proved that reaction could not be implemented industrially by performing catalytic activity measurements coupled with thermodynamic calculations.
LABORATORY OF OXIDATION CATALYSIS ON ZEOLITES, Boreskov Institute of Catalysis Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia 2015 – 2018 Undergraduate Researcher
● Designed an in situ reduction study of the catalytic samples in the X-Ray Diffraction spectroscopy and identified which active phase forms during the pretreatment.
LABORATORY OF RARE PLATINUM METALS Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia 2013 – 2014 Undergraduate Researcher
● Worked with the inorganic synthesis of copper iridate complexes and their thermal decomposition
● Conducted experiments for the Gazpromenft (oil refining branch of the Gazprom company) commercial project related to increasing of octane number of the diesel fraction. Published two patents
● Third Degree Diploma | 56th International Scientific Student Conference | 2018 Novosibirsk State University | Novosibirsk, Russia
Title: “Synthesis and Study of Copper-Containing Catalysts in the Condensation Reaction of Methanol and Acetone”
● Third Degree Diploma | 54th International Scientific Student Conference | 2016 Novosibirsk State University | Novosibirsk, Russia
Title: “Study of the Factors Determining the Deactivation of Copper-Magnesium Catalysts in the Condensation Reaction of Methanol with Acetone”
● Best Poster Presentation by Commercial Catalyst Factory “SKTB Katalizator” | 2016
5th All-Russian Scientific Youth School Conference “Chemistry under the sign of SIGMA” | Omsk, Russia Title: “Obtaining Methylethylketone from Acetone”