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Theoretical and Computational Solid State Physics

Current Students

 

  • Dr Fortunate Elegbeleye (Postdoctoral Fellow)
  • Dr Mwende Mbilo (Postdoctoral Fellow)
  • Owen Alfreds (PhD)
  • Craig Bekeur (PhD)
  • Fwalo Chewe (PhD)
  • Onke Gqiba (PhD)
  • Beauty Masolo (PhD)
  • Cabel Thaba (PhD)
  • Jan Mafifi (MSc)

    David Mahapane (MSc)

     

Recent Group Members

  • Felana Andriambelaza (Postdoctoral Fellow, PhD 2020)
  • Hezekia Mapingire (PhD 2025)
  • Onke Qgiba (MSc 2024)
  • Phodiso Kgalema (MSc 2023)
  • Craig Bekeur (MSc 2023)

     

Research interests

  • Computer Prediction of Novel 2D Materials for Clean Energy Storage: Metal-Ion and Metal-Air Batteries
  • Defect Engineering in Novel 2D Materials to Enhance Electrochemical Performance in batteries.
  • Development of Computational Density Energy functionals and Machine Learning algorithms prection of various properties of Novel 2D Materials
  • Employ 0K Density Functional Theory and Finite Temperature ab initio Molecular Dynamics

Active Collaborations

Internal:

1. Prof Mantsae Diale

2. Prof Walter Meyer

National:

1. Prof Erick Maluta (Univen), Prof Reginah Maphanga (Mintek). Funder: NIThecs

2. Dr Emmanuel Igumbor (UJ),

3. Dr Maje Phasha and Dr Donald Mkhotho (Mintek)

Africa:

1. Prof Robinson Musembi (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Prof Julius Mwabora (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Dr Winfred Mulwa (Egerton University, Kenya) Funder: PASET (RSI)

2. Dr Stanley Mwanga (University of Dodoma, Tanzania). Funder: None

International:

1. Dr Aleksey Kochaev, Ulyanovsk State University: Ulyanovsk, Russia.

2. Prof Tanveer Hussein, University of New England, Australia,

3. Dr Nicholas Salles, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), SISSA, Italy, Funder: Material Irradiation: from basic to applications (MAMBA) Project.

 

Research Projects

  • Defective Metal Dichalcognide/Graphene Heterostructures for Metal Ions Batteries: Computational insights
  • Antisymetric Metal Dichalcognide Janus 2D material for Metal Ions Batteries : Computational insights
  • Light Element Doped Graphene for metal air batteries: Computational insights
  • Borophene, Silicene, Phosphorene, Mxene, Anti-Mexene for metal air Batteries: Computational insignts