Apparao M Rao is the Robert A. Bowen Endowed

Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

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in the department of physics and

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

, the founding director of the Clemson Nanomaterials Institute, and a former associate dean for discovery in the college of science at

Clemson University Clemson University () is a public land-grant research university in Clemson, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Clemson is the second-largest university in the student population in South Carolina. For the fall 2019 semester, the university enro ...

. His research in nanoscience and

nanotechnology Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...

has been cited over 52,000 times in open literature and his

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is 95. He was elected as a

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of the

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of k ...

in 2008, the

American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an American international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific respons ...

in 2011, the

National Academy of Inventors The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) is a US non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging inventors in academia, following the model of the National Academies of the United States. It was founded at the University of South Florida in 2010. ...

in 2018, and the

Materials Research Society The Materials Research Society (MRS) is a non-profit, professional organization for materials researchers, scientists and engineers. Established in 1973, MRS is a member-driven organization of approximately 14,000 materials researchers from academi ...

in 2020. In 2012, he received the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievements in Research, and has served on the Advisory Panel for the

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and the

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of Research, Clemson University. His research and development efforts led to the establishment of Clemson Nanomaterials Institute, which supports sustainable research and development capacity and competitiveness in the U.S. and the State of

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. The State of South Carolina conferred on him its highest honor - the 2014 Governor’s award for excellence in scientific research. Rao is also an adjunct professor at the

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning is a ''deemed-to-be-University'' located in Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was founded by Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 22 November 1981. There are four campuses of the university, three ...

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where he initiated a nanomaterials program, and directs research projects of

M.S. A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast to ...

and

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. students.

Accomplishments

Rao has developed a number of technologies for

spectroscopic Spectroscopy is the field of study that measures and interprets the electromagnetic spectra that result from the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter as a function of the wavelength or frequency of the radiation. Matter wa ...

characterization of nanocarbon

allotropes Allotropy or allotropism () is the property of some chemical elements to exist in two or more different forms, in the same physical state, known as allotropes of the elements. Allotropes are different structural modifications of an element: th ...

, synthesis methods for controlling the morphologies of

carbon nanotubes A scanning tunneling microscopy image of a single-walled carbon nanotube Rotating single-walled zigzag carbon nanotube A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a tube made of carbon with diameters typically measured in nanometers. ''Single-wall carbon nan ...

or CNTs, and scalable nano-manufacturing of CNT-based devices. Rao's research also includes the discovery of novel phenomena in nanocarbon systems, device development for electronics, photonics, and drug delivery. Rao's research includes the following topics: *The photo-induced polymerization of solid C60, photo-enhanced oxidation of solid C60 diameter selective Raman scattering from single walled CNTs, and the demonstration that CNTs can be subjected to redox doping for tunable electronic properties, similar to graphite. *Fullerenes and conducting polymers, synthesis and demonstration of logic functions in branched CNTs. *Raman evidence for renormalized electron and phonon energies near a charged defect in doped CNTs. *Raman evidence for phonon bottle necks in single walled CNTs. *Observation of superconductivity in boron doped CNTs. Rao's Raman spectroscopic studies of fullerenes and CNTs helped make Raman spectroscopy an important tool of nanocarbon research. Rao’s other research includes the synthesis and measurement of electrical and mechanical properties of nonlinear CNT morphologies, such as branched and helical CNT forms which exploit unique functionality at the nanoscale. His group demonstrated double decoupling of

thermoelectric The thermoelectric effect is the direct conversion of temperature differences to electric voltage and vice versa via a thermocouple. A thermoelectric device creates a voltage when there is a different temperature on each side. Conversely, when ...

devices with a high

figure of merit A figure of merit is a quantity used to characterize the performance of a device, system or method, relative to its alternatives. Examples *Clock rate of a CPU * Calories per serving *Contrast ratio of an LCD *Frequency response of a speaker * ...

and compatibility factor.

Honors & awards

*2020 Fellow, Materials Research Society. *2018 Fellow, National Academy of Inventors. *2016 Recognized by the Board of Trustees as one of the top three faculty members in the College of Engineering and Science, Clemson University. *2014 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, South Carolina. *2012 Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, Clemson University. *2011 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science. *2010 R. A. Bowen Professor of Physics, Clemson University. *2008 Fellow, American Physical Society. *2007 Panel member for the World Technology Evaluation Center to evaluate carbon nanotube manufacturing capabilities in Europe and Asia. *2006 Faculty Achievement Award, Clemson University, for exemplary leadership in the sciences.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Apparao M American physicists Clemson University faculty Fellows of the American Physical Society Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science