Dr. Rohit Kumar Pant | Thin Film Technologies | Material Scientist Award

Dr. Rohit Kumar Pant | Thin Film Technologies | Material Scientist Award

University of Maryland | United States

Dr. Rohit Kumar Pant is a highly accomplished materials scientist whose work spans epitaxial thin films, quantum materials, superconductors, combinatorial materials science, and advanced device fabrication. He is recognized for his strong technical command of Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Pulsed Laser Deposition, Magnetron Sputtering, and a wide range of structural, electrical, and spectroscopic characterization tools, positioning him as a key contributor to both fundamental and applied research in electronic and quantum materials. His research output includes 31 scientific documents, collectively cited 559 times by 400 documents, reflecting a significant scholarly impact supported by an h-index of 15. Dr. Pant has played leading roles in developing complex quantum heterostructures, superconducting thin-film libraries, epitaxial oxide and nitride systems, and high-throughput materials platforms that accelerate discovery across thermoelectric, ferroelectric, optoelectronic, and quantum device technologies. His work includes the design and fabrication of photodetectors, Josephson junctions, resonators, and advanced prototype devices, along with major contributions to cleanroom operations, tool maintenance, and training of research personnel. He has collaborated with major academic, national laboratory, and industry partners on multidimensional projects involving machine learning–guided materials optimization, nanoscale device engineering, and the exploration of emergent electronic phases. Dr. Pant is also an active reviewer for high-impact scientific journals and has contributed to numerous invited talks, conference presentations, and mentorship initiatives. Known for his analytical rigor, problem-solving ability, and innovative approach to materials design, he continues to advance scientific understanding and technological applications within quantum information science, thin-film engineering, and next-generation electronic devices.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Liu, Y., Slautin, B., Bemis, J., Proksch, R., Pant, R., Takeuchi, I., Udovenko, S., Trolier-McKinstry, S., & Kalinin, S. V. (2025). Reward based optimization of resonance-enhanced piezoresponse spectroscopy. Applied Physics Letters, 126(4).

Oh, J. H., Nam, K., Kim, D., Lee, D., Park, J., Pant, R., Kang, M., Takeuchi, I., & Lee, S. (2025). Stoichiometry effect on the structure and phase of antiperovskite Sr₃SnO thin films prepared using combinatorial co-sputtering. Applied Physics Letters, 126(3).

Biswas, A., Vasudevan, R., Pant, R., Takeuchi, I., Funakubo, H., & Liu, Y. (2025). SANE: Strategic autonomous non-smooth exploration for multiple optima discovery in multi-modal and non-differentiable black-box functions. Digital Discovery, 4(3), 853-867.

Zheng, D. J., Iriawan, H., Pant, R., Eom, C. J., Xu, H., Peng, J., Arase, C., Takeuchi, I., & others. (2025). In situ fluorescence imaging of oxygen evolution on epitaxial perovskite films with composition gradients. ACS Catalysis, 15(11), 8776-8787.

Yoon, H., Wong, T., Pant, R., Baek, S., Saha, S. R., Zhang, X., Paglione, J., Lee, S., & others. (2025). Topological YB₆/SmB₆/YB₆ trilayer Josephson junctions. SMT.

Dr. Rodolpho Vaz | Thin Film Technologies | Editorial Board Member

Dr. Rodolpho Vaz | Thin Film Technologies | Editorial Board Member

Stony Brook University | United States

Dr. Rodolpho Fernando Vaz is a highly accomplished materials scientist and mechanical engineer recognized for his impactful research in advanced coatings, thermal spray technologies, cold spray additive manufacturing, and surface engineering solutions that address industrial challenges across energy, aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, and manufacturing sectors. With a strong foundation in metallurgy, materials performance evaluation, mechanical characterization, and wear and corrosion behavior analysis, he has established himself as a leading expert in high-performance coating technologies and the enhancement of material durability in extreme service environments. Dr. Vaz has demonstrated significant scholarly influence within the global research community, evidenced by 539 citations generated by 400 documents, with an h-index of 14 and a publication record consisting of 42 documents indexed in major scientific databases. His body of work includes high-impact publications, award-winning articles, and collaborative research outputs developed with international academic laboratories and industrial partners. He has contributed pioneering advancements in cold spray additive manufacturing, including geometric control of metallic components, novel deposition strategies, mechanical property optimization, and integration of graphene and nanomaterials into titanium and steel coatings, contributing to major technological improvements in surface protection, structural repair, and thermal barrier performance. In addition to his research achievements, Dr. Vaz has served in university teaching roles, contributed more than two thousand instructional lecture hours, supervised academic projects, and delivered keynote presentations and invited lectures in scientific congresses. He is an active member of scientific journal peer-review communities, completing more than two hundred and fifty manuscript reviews, and has served on academic evaluation committees at multiple educational levels. His professional mission emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and the development of advanced materials engineering technologies that reduce industrial costs, improve reliability, and support global transitions toward cleaner, safer, and more efficient infrastructure. Driven by scientific excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, he continues to expand the boundaries of coating science, material performance, and engineering applications.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Effect of Additive Manufacturing Parameters on PLA, ABS, and PETG Strength. (2025). Processes. Open access.

Influence of the fuel and high-velocity spray technique on corrosion and antifouling properties of Cu coating. (2025). Journal of Thermal Spray Technology.

Cold-sprayed Ti-carbon nanofibers: Study of conductive and electrochemical properties. (2025). Journal of Thermal Spray Technology.

The critical role of liquid surface tension in determining cavitation erosion and dry wear performance of WC-17Co coatings produced by cold spray technology. (2025). Tribology International.

Dr Yonghua Wang | Thin Film Technologies | Best Researcher Award

Dr Yonghua Wang | Thin Film Technologies | Best Researcher Award

Dr Yonghua Wang, Sichuan University, China

Dr. Yonghua Wang, a Ph.D. candidate at Sichuan University under Prof. Ruilin Wang, specializes in CdTe thin-film solar cells. His research focuses on enhancing efficiency and reducing costs by introducing the concepts of “beneficial elements” and “harmful elements” in CdTe materials. With six high-impact journal publications in Journal of Power Sources, Nano Energy, and others, he has completed four major research projects. Dr. Wang collaborates with prominent institutions like CNBM, contributing to sustainable energy solutions. His groundbreaking work is driving innovations in renewable energy and sustainable technologies. 🏆⚡📚

Publication Profile

SCOPUS

Academic and Professional Background 🌞🔬

Dr. Yonghua Wang is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Sichuan University, under the guidance of Prof. Ruilin Wang. His research focuses on CdTe thin-film solar cells, where he introduced the concepts of “beneficial elements” and “harmful elements” as key impurity factors. He also developed an innovative material selection strategy known as “beneficial element +” precursor. His work has significantly contributed to the large-scale, high-efficiency, and cost-effective production of CdTe thin-film solar cells, advancing sustainable and affordable solar energy solutions. 🌍⚡✨

Research Contributions📚✨

Dr. Yonghua Wang has made significant contributions to the field of thin-film solar cells, completing four major research projects. 🌞 His primary focus is on large-area, low-cost CdTe solar cells, where he has developed innovative methods to optimize precursor materials and address key impurity elements, enhancing device performance. 🔬 Dr. Wang’s work has been widely recognized, with his publications featured in journals indexed by SCI and Scopus. 📚 His research plays a critical role in advancing sustainable energy technologies, contributing to the development of more efficient and affordable solar energy solutions. 🌍 His contributions are paving the way for a greener future. 🌱

Research Focus ⚡🔬

Dr. Yonghua Wang’s research primarily focuses on CdTe thin-film solar cells and the development of advanced materials to enhance their performance. 🌞 His work includes preparation of CuSe nanoparticles by the antisolvent process for doping and passivation of the absorber layer, which improves the efficiency of CdTe solar cells. 🔬 Dr. Wang has contributed to research on back-surface electric field passivation using sputter-deposited CdSe, a technique that further optimizes solar cell performance. 🏅 His extensive research on doped absorber layers in CdTe solar cells plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable energy solutions. 🌍

Publication Top Notes

Research progress in doped absorber layer of CdTe solar cells

Back-surface electric field passivation of CdTe solar cells using sputter-deposited CdSe

Preparation of CuSe nanoparticles by antisolvent process for doping and passivation of absorber layer in CdTe solar cells