Faculty Publications

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    Degradation response and bioactivity assessment of antimicrobial copper coatings in simulated hand sweat environment
    (Elsevier B.V., 2022) Bharadishettar, N.; Udaya Bhat, K.
    The antimicrobial copper coatings were deposited on AISI 304 stainless steel (SS) using electrodeposition technique for touch surface applications. Electrodeposition was performed using a non-cyanide electrolyte, with varying copper concentrations. The copper coatings were investigated for their microstructure, in vitro degradation in the simulated hand sweat environment, and antimicrobial activity in an agar medium. It is noted that all the coatings have nanostructures in their microstructure. The microstructure of the coatings along with the contact period with the bacteria affects the antimicrobial activity measured against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The nanostructured morphology has resulted in an increased surface area with enhanced copper toxicity. The degradation behavior of coatings in the simulated hand sweat solution was further probed using potentiodynamic polarization test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
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    Effect of acid pickling treatment of stainless steel substrate on adhesion strength of electrodeposited copper coatings using non-cyanide electrolyte
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Bharadishettar, N.; Udaya Bhat, K.
    In recent years, copper-based antimicrobial coatings have gained popularity in healthcare and public recreation facilities. The morphology, topography, and adhesion strength are decisive properties for copper coatings to have long-term antimicrobial effectiveness in hospital environments. This work explores the effect of multistage acid pickling treatment of AISI 304 stainless steel substrate on the adhesion strength of the copper coating. The copper coating was obtained by electrodeposition using an alkaline non-cyanide electrolyte. After the fourth stage of acid pickling, the copper coating had an excellent adhesion strength, up to 9 MPa. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) examination revealed no oxide scales or other contaminants on the SS surface after the fourth (final) stage of acid pickling. Using a non-contact optical profilometer, it was observed that the roughness of the substrate increased with each stage of the pickling treatment. The surface topography analysis confirms the increased density of the interlocking sites, which favors the adhesion of the coating. On the other hand, the microstructure of the copper coating showed a cauliflower-like morphology with an average nodule size of 28 nm. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the coatings have nano-scaled crystallites with internal twins inside the grains of copper coatings. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
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    Development of adherent antimicrobial copper coatings on stainless steel for healthcare applications
    (Springer, 2023) Bharadishettar, N.; Bhat, K.U.; Bhat, K.S.
    Copper coatings were fabricated using an environmentally sustainable non-cyanide electrodeposition technique. By following four-stage acid pickling treatment of the substrate and optimum parameters during electrodeposition, adhesion strength up to 9 MPa was obtained. Four different copper coatings were fabricated by varying CuSO4. 5H2O concentration in an electrolyte (10, 15, 30, and 45 g/L) to understand nucleation and growth mechanism and surface texture evolution. Nano-nodular morphology of the deposited copper marks a significant feature. It increases the fraction of grain boundaries in it. The grazing incidence X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the preferred orientation along the (111) plane with the presence of residual compressive stresses (in the range of 24.90–273.92 MPa). Surface texture studies indicated that the coating had an abundance of nano-scaled protruding structures with surface roughness’s Sa in the range of 2.507–1.674 µm (Ra in a range of 1.714–1.235 µm). It offers 3D contact with microbes. The developed coating had increased hardness (41.93%), scratch resistance (58.77%), and 9 MPa adhesion strength with the substrate. Initially, copper coatings had hydrophobicity against water (initial contact angle in the range of 134–139°). The extent of hydrophobicity decreased with exposure time. The developed coatings exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial studies using the cell viability technique indicated that the coating exhibits toxicity against Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (MCC2408) microbes. 100% reduction of the survival of microbes is observed after 4 h of exposure. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
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    Synthesis and characterization of N-doped reduced graphene oxide for the supercapacitor application
    (Springer, 2025) Moodakare, R.; Sahoo, B.; Bharadishettar, N.; Rahman, M.R.; Muhiuddin, M.; Udaya Bhat, K.
    In this work, N-rGO is synthesized as a material for the electrode of supercapacitors using a single-stage hydrothermal process. Ammonia functions as a nitrogen source and a reducing agent, significantly enhancing its electrochemical properties. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) were employed for characterization of as-prepared N-rGO electrodes. The XRD plot evidences the successful reduction of as-received GO to as-prepared N-rGO. The FESEM micrograph displays the formation of highly porous and multi-layered N-rGO, showcasing significant structural characteristics. The nitrogen atoms are successfully incorporated into the resulting material (N-rGO) and have been verified through EDS and FT-IR spectroscopy studies. The specific capacitance of N-rGO reaches 107 Fg?1 at 0.5 Ag?1 in a 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte solution. The electrodes showed exceptional cyclic performance, maintaining approximately 130% capacitance after 10,000 cycles and delivering steady Coulombic efficiency. The material's porous structure and nitrogen doping create abundant active sites, facilitating electrolyte ion migration and producing exceptional capacitive performance. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study revealed that the N-rGO exhibited a distinctive capacitive behavior. The synthesized N-rGO offers excellent potential for an efficient energy storage application due to its simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly approach. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.