Condensed Matter Physics, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Instrumentation, Materials Science
33
Scopus Publications
749
Scholar Citations
15
Scholar h-index
18
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Construction of a floating thermoelectric generator using thin films Rafiq Mulla Smart Materials and Structures, 2025 In this paper, a simple floating thermoelectric generator is presented that can utilize environmental heat and solar energy to generate electric power. A novel boat-like floating thermoelectric generator has been designed and fabricated using bismuth thin films. Electric potential is generated by directing solar radiation onto the top side of the generator, while the bottom of the thermoelectric boat is cooled by the surrounding water or heated by hot water on which it floats. Experimental observations demonstrate that the proposed generator, with 18 pairs of thermoelectric films, is capable of producing a voltage of 19.1 mV and a power output of 21.5 nW at a heating temperature of 50 °C.
What's new in PEDOT:PSS thermoelectrics? Rafiq Mulla Chemical Communications, 2025 PEDOT:PSS is one of the most researched polymers for thermoelectrics due to its solution-processability, flexibility, and high electrical conductivity. This highlight discusses recent strategies reported on PEDOT:PSS based thermoelectric materials.
Progress in transparent thermoelectrics Rafiq Mulla Smart Materials and Structures, 2024 Transparent thermoelectric materials are a special kind of material that converts thermal energy into electrical power and possess unique properties for transparent electronics and future energy applications. These materials are being studied for specific applications such as windowpanes, photovoltaic panels, sensor displays, smart electronic devices, and more. For such applications, it is desirable that the thermoelectric materials be in the form of thin films or coatings, be optically transparent, and exhibit excellent thermoelectric performance. Understanding the electrical, thermal, and optical properties of materials is crucial for the development of transparent thermoelectric devices. This paper discusses the current progress in the development of transparent thermoelectric materials.
Recent advances in enhancing thermoelectric performance of polymeric materials Rafiq Mulla, Sharanappa Chapi Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2024 The inherent low thermal conductivity, low cost, and flexibility of polymeric materials make them potential candidates for thermoelectric applications. Their eco-friendliness and mechanical flexibility are useful for the design of portable and flexible self-powered electronics. However, the heat-to-electrical power conversion efficiency, also known as the figure-of-merit (ZT), of polymer TE materials is low. Research efforts are in progress to enhance the thermoelectric performance of polymers and to find new kinds of polymer composites. Recent research innovations, such as chemical doping of polymers, development of nanocomposites and hybrid composites, and nanostructuring have significantly changed the thermoelectric properties of the polymeric materials. In this article, we summarize the recent developments and achievements in polymer materials for thermoelectric applications.
A simple DIY electrical resistivity apparatus for students Rafiq Mulla Physics Education, 2024 A simple do-it-yourself (DIY) apparatus is designed and built for the measurement of the electrical resistivity of materials. The tool is portable and easy to operate, and students/new researchers can build their own apparatus with a minimum amount of time and raw materials. The apparatus’ spring-loaded four-point probes help provide a good electrical contact between the sample surface and the probes. It has been checked for its reliability by comparing the resistivity data with literature values and the measurements match well with the previous data. The apparatus is suitable for measurements from room temperature to ∼100 °C.
High performance thermoelectrics from low-cost and abundant CuS/CuI composites Rafiq Mulla, Aleksandar Živković, Michael E. A. Warwick, Nora H. de Leeuw, Charles W. Dunnill, Andrew R. Barron Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2023 Electrically highly conducting CuS particles were encapsulated within a compound with a high Seebeck coefficient, i.e. CuI, to form core–shell type composites. As a result, an improved zT of 0.46 at room temperature has been achieved.
Enhanced thermoelectricity in Bi-sprayed bismuth sulphide particles Rafiq Mulla, Sajad Kiani, Alvin Orbaek White, Charles W. Dunnill, Andrew R. Barron Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 2023 Bismuth sulphide (Bi2S3), an n-type semiconductor that critically demonstrates the Seebeck effect with Seebeck coefficients of about 300 μVK−1. However, its poor electrical conductivity makes it unsuitable for thermoelectric applications. In this study, we present a facile preparation method for fabricating Bi-sprayed Bi2S3 particles that alters their thermoelectric properties. Samples were created with differing Bi concentrations into the Bi2S3 compound to test for enhanced thermoelectric properties of the resulting Bi/Bi2S3 composites. The incorporation of excess Bi into Bi2S3 significantly improves the compound's electrical conductivity and optimises overall thermoelectric performance. The electrical conductivity of the Bi/Bi2S3 composites improved from 6.5 Scm−1 (for pristine Bi2S3) to 154 Scm−1 (for highest Bi added Bi2S3). Although the Seebeck coefficient of samples decreased with Bi incorporation, a high power factor (∼390 μWm−1K−2) has been achieved for an optimised composition of the composite. Incorporation of metallic Bi has led to an increase in the thermal conductivity of the samples, but the increase is not significant for the optimised composition of the composites where a high thermoelectric performance has been observed. Therefore, enhanced power factor and moderate thermal conductivity have resulted in a peak ZT value of 0.11 at room temperature. The strategy proposed here improves the thermoelectricity in Bi2S3 and shows excellent potential for developing better-performing thermoelectric compounds with excess elemental contents.
The role of graphene in new thermoelectric materials Rafiq Mulla, Alvin Orbaek White, Charles W. Dunnill, Andrew R. Barron Energy Advances, 2023 This article highlights new and interesting research ideas that explored graphene's potential for thermoelectrics.
Insights into structural features and thermoelectric properties of layered oxychalcogenides, BiCuOCh (Ch = S, Se, Te): promising green materials for energy conversion Manjunatha C, Rafiq Mulla, Hari Krishna R, Sachith Nayak, Yashaswini N, Suraj L, Manickam Selvaraj, Vishal Chaudhary, Ajit Khosla Materials Research Innovations, 2023 Thermoelectric (TE) technology is considered as one of the promising, eco-friendly, simple and sustainable technologies to generate electricity directly from waste heat and concentrated solar heat. The present TE generators/devices are operating with very low conversion efficiency . Therefore, understanding the electronic and thermal properties of TE materials plays a vital role in enhancing device efficiency. In addition, non-toxic and abundant materials are also important to implement TE technology for large-scale applications. In the past few decades, a lot of research has been done on finding various oxide-based thermoelectric materials. Among many oxide-based materials, oxychalcogenides have received a lot of attention due to their useful thermoelectric properties. This review provides insights into thermoelectrics of selected inorganic oxychalcogenides. A comprehensive discussion has also been made on recent advances in preparation methods and various approaches such as doping, alloying, co-doping techniques adopted for design and optimisation of the TE materials.
Quantum Dot Interfaces for Memristor Sajeeda Shaikh, Rafiq Mulla, M. N. Kalasad, Mohammad Hussain K. Rabinal Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology, 2020
Construction of a floating thermoelectric generator using thin films R Mulla Smart Materials and Structures 34 (9), 095011 , 2025 2025
What's new in PEDOT: PSS thermoelectrics? R Mulla Chemical Communications 61 (59), 10878-10897 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
Progress in transparent thermoelectrics R Mulla Smart Materials and Structures 33 (10), 103002 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Recent advances in enhancing thermoelectric performance of polymeric materials R Mulla, S Chapi Polymers from Renewable Resources 15 (3), 344-357 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
A simple DIY electrical resistivity apparatus for students R Mulla Physics Education 59 (4), 043004 , 2024 2024
Chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals—optoelectronic applications VS Patil, SC Sharath, NI Sattigeri, RM Hodlur, IM Ikram, R Mulla, ... Handbook of Emerging Materials for Sustainable Energy, 779-823 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
High performance thermoelectrics from low-cost and abundant CuS/CuI composites R Mulla, A Živković, MEA Warwick, NH de Leeuw, CW Dunnill, AR Barron Journal of Materials Chemistry A 12 (5), 2974-2985 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Enhanced thermoelectricity in Bi-sprayed bismuth sulphide particles R Mulla, S Kiani, AO White, CW Dunnill, AR Barron Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing 162, 107528 , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Insights into structural features and thermoelectric properties of layered oxychalcogenides, BiCuOCh (Ch= S, Se, Te): promising green materials for energy conversion M C, R Mulla, S Nayak, M Selvaraj, V Chaudhary, A Khosla Materials Research Innovations 27 (4), 267-280 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
The role of graphene in new thermoelectric materials R Mulla, AO White, CW Dunnill, AR Barron Energy Advances 2 (5), 606-614 , 2023 2023 Citations: 49
Fabrication of wooden thermoelectric legs to construct a generator R Mulla, CW Dunnill Green Materials 10 (3), 119-126 , 2022 2022 Citations: 2
Comprehensive insights into synthesis, structural features, and thermoelectric properties of high-performance inorganic chalcogenide nanomaterials for conversion of waste heat … M Channegowda, R Mulla, Y Nagaraj, S Lokesh, S Nayak, S Mudhulu, ... ACS Applied Energy Materials 5 (7), 7913-7943 , 2022 2022 Citations: 51
Sensors-on-paper: Fabrication of graphite thermal sensor arrays on cellulose paper for large area temperature mapping R Mulla, CW Dunnill HardwareX 11, e00252 , 2022 2022 Citations: 13
Core-Shell Nanostructures for Better Thermoelectrics R Mulla, CW Dunnill Materials Advances , 2022 2022 Citations: 38
Thin-films on cellulose paper to construct thermoelectric generator of promising power outputs suitable for low-grade heat recovery R Mulla, DR Jones, CW Dunnill Materials Today Communications 29, 102738 , 2021 2021 Citations: 34
Enhanced thermal sensitivity in single metal thermocouple: significance of thickness-engineering of the metal layers R Mulla, CW Dunnill Engineering Research Express 3 (3), 035015 , 2021 2021 Citations: 2
Single material thermocouples from graphite traces: Fabricating extremely simple and low cost thermal sensors R Mulla, CW Dunnill Carbon Trends 4, 100077 , 2021 2021 Citations: 34
CuO/Cu x S composites fabrication and their thermoelectric properties R Mulla, MK Rabinal Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy 10 (1), 3 , 2021 2021 Citations: 24
A low-cost apparatus to measure the Seebeck coefficient R Mulla, MK Rabinal Physics Education 56 (1), 015006 , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
An easily constructed and inexpensive tool to evaluate the Seebeck coefficient R Mulla, K Glover, CW Dunnill IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement 70, 1-7 , 2020 2020 Citations: 15
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Copper Sulfides: Earth‐Abundant and Low‐Cost Thermoelectric Materials R Mulla, MHK Rabinal Energy Technology 7 (7), 1800850 , 2019 2019 Citations: 86
Thermoelectric Paper: Graphite Pencil Traces on Paper to Fabricate a Thermoelectric Generator R Mulla, DR Jones, CW Dunnill Advanced Materials Technologies, 2000227 , 2020 2020 Citations: 70
Defect‐Controlled Copper Iodide: A Promising and Ecofriendly Thermoelectric Material R Mulla, MK Rabinal Energy Technology 6 (6), 1178-1185 , 2018 2018 Citations: 68
Powering the Hydrogen Economy from Waste Heat: A Review of Heat‐to‐Hydrogen Concepts R Mulla, CW Dunnill ChemSusChem , 2019 2019 Citations: 62
Comprehensive insights into synthesis, structural features, and thermoelectric properties of high-performance inorganic chalcogenide nanomaterials for conversion of waste heat … M Channegowda, R Mulla, Y Nagaraj, S Lokesh, S Nayak, S Mudhulu, ... ACS Applied Energy Materials 5 (7), 7913-7943 , 2022 2022 Citations: 51
The role of graphene in new thermoelectric materials R Mulla, AO White, CW Dunnill, AR Barron Energy Advances 2 (5), 606-614 , 2023 2023 Citations: 49
Core-Shell Nanostructures for Better Thermoelectrics R Mulla, CW Dunnill Materials Advances , 2022 2022 Citations: 38
Thin-films on cellulose paper to construct thermoelectric generator of promising power outputs suitable for low-grade heat recovery R Mulla, DR Jones, CW Dunnill Materials Today Communications 29, 102738 , 2021 2021 Citations: 34
Single material thermocouples from graphite traces: Fabricating extremely simple and low cost thermal sensors R Mulla, CW Dunnill Carbon Trends 4, 100077 , 2021 2021 Citations: 34
Economical and facile route to produce gram-scale and phase-selective copper sulfides for thermoelectric applications R Mulla, DR Jones, CW Dunnill ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 8 (37), 14234-14242 , 2020 2020 Citations: 34
Graphite-loaded cotton wool: A green route to highly-porous and solid graphite pellets for thermoelectric devices R Mulla, CW Dunnill Composites Communications 20, 100345 , 2020 2020 Citations: 29
Large-scale Synthesis of Copper Sulfide by using Elemental Sources via Simple Chemical Route R Mulla, MK Rabinal Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 39, 528-533 , 2017 2017 Citations: 27
Ambient growth of highly oriented Cu2S dendrites of superior thermoelectric behaviour R Mulla, MK Rabinal Applied Surface Science 397, 70-76 , 2017 2017 Citations: 25
CuO/Cu x S composites fabrication and their thermoelectric properties R Mulla, MK Rabinal Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy 10 (1), 3 , 2021 2021 Citations: 24
A simple and portable setup for thermopower measurements R Mulla, MK Rabinal ACS Combinatorial Science 18 (4), 177-181 , 2016 2016 Citations: 24
An easily constructed and inexpensive tool to evaluate the Seebeck coefficient R Mulla, K Glover, CW Dunnill IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement 70, 1-7 , 2020 2020 Citations: 15
Sensors-on-paper: Fabrication of graphite thermal sensor arrays on cellulose paper for large area temperature mapping R Mulla, CW Dunnill HardwareX 11, e00252 , 2022 2022 Citations: 13
A tweezer as a thermoelectric tester R Mulla, MK Rabinal Physics Education 54 (5), 055032 , 2019 2019 Citations: 10
A rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticle foam by ultrasonication BK Murgunde, R Mulla, MK Rabinal Journal of Porous Materials 27 (6), 1727-1733 , 2020 2020 Citations: 9
What's new in PEDOT: PSS thermoelectrics? R Mulla Chemical Communications 61 (59), 10878-10897 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
