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Placidus B. Amama, Ph.D.

Amama Placidus 217.jpg

Professor & Director of Graduate Program

Tim Taylor Chair in Chemical Engineering

Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering

Kansas State University

1005 Durland Hall | Manhattan, KS 66506

Phone: (785) 532-4318 | Fax: (785) 532-7372

E-mail: pamama@ksu.edu

Academic Training

Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Yokohama National University, Japan, 2002

M. Eng., Environmental Engineering, Yokohama National University, Japan, 1999

B.Sc., Chemistry, University of Calabar, Nigeria, 1992

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NASA-INaC Postdoctoral Fellow, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, 2004-2006

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering, Yale University, 2002-2004

Professional Experience

  • Professor, Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, 2022 – present

  • Director of Graduate Program, Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering  2022 – present

  • Tim Taylor Chair in Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, 2017 – present 

  • Associate Professor, Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, 2018 – 2022

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, 2013 – 2018

  • Research Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 2007 – 2013

  • Research Engineer and Consultant, Nanoconduction, Inc., Silicon Valley, 2006

Honors and Awards

  • Ervin W. Segebrecht Award, 2021

  • Alumni Award for Faculty Excellence in Chemical Engineering (Undergraduate Teaching), 2020

  • Tim Taylor Chair in Chemical Engineering, 2017

  • NSF CAREER Award, 2017

  • FACULTY ENGAGEMENT Award (The Multicultural Engineering Program, KSU), 2017

  • Outstanding Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Award (KSU College of Engineering), 2016

  • NSF EPSCoR First Award, 2016

  • Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) Award, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2022

  • Invited Colloquia, Summer 2015, University of Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan

  • Developing Scholars Program (DSP) Faculty Award for Quality Mentoring of Students from Underrepresented Groups in Research, 2015

  • “The Most Approachable Professor” Award from ChE Undergraduate Students, May 2014 (in appreciation of faculty teaching)

  • KSU Presidential Mentoring Fellowship, 2013

  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship, The University of Tokyo, November 2012 – January 2013

  • NASA-INaC Postdoctoral Fellow, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, 2004 – 2006

  • Japanese Government Scholarship (MONBUSHO) for Graduate Studies, October 1996 – March 2002

Invited Talks

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  1. P.B. Amama, "Exploring the Best CVD Conditions for Growth of Small-Diameter Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using an Autonomous Research System," Area Plenary: Carbon Nanomaterials, 2023 AIChE Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, November 7, 2023.

  2. P.B. Amama, "Enhancing Photocatalytic Oxidation of NOx Via Modification of TiO2," Keynote Lecture, 2023 Great Plains Catalysis Society Fall Symposium, Lawrence, KS, September 11, 2023

  3. P.B. Amama, "Design of Catalysts and Feedstocks for Carbon Nanotube Growth via Chemical Vapor Deposition," Carbice, Atlanta, GA, November 9, 2022.

  4. P.B. Amama, "Exploring the Best CVD Conditions for Growth of Small-Diameter Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using an Autonomous Research System," Guadalupe X Workshop (Theme: "Workshop on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Related Materials"), Texas Hill Country, TX, May 16, 2022.

  5. P.B. Amama, "Efficient and Controlled Production of Carbon Nanotubes for Catalytic Applications," Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, August 24, 2021.

  6. P.B. Amama, "Exploring the Best CVD Conditions for Growth of Small-Diameter Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using an Autonomous Research System," Guadalupe X Workshop (Theme: "Workshop on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Related Materials"), Texas Hill Country, TX, May 16, 2022.

  7. P.B. Amama, "Carbon Nanotubes: From Controlled Synthesis, Scale Up to Applications in Catalysis," Great Plains Catalysis Society (GPCS) Spring 2021 Webinar Series, May 21, 2021.

  8. P.B. Amama, "Properties of Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts Derived from Different Cobalt Precursors," Symposium on Scale Up and Multiscale Modeling: Fossil, Biomass, and Other Feedstock, 260th ACS Meeting, August 17-20, 2020.

  9. P.B. Amama, "Scalable Growth of Carbon Nanotubes using an Industrial Waste," Graduate Seminar, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, October 22, 2020

  10. P.B. Amama, "Exploiting the Limitations of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis for Efficient Production of Carbon Nanotubes," Graduate Seminar Series, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, February 27, 2020.

  11. P.B. Amama, "CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets on Non-Alumina Supporting Layers using an Industrial Waste Gas as a Feedstock," Guadalupe IX Workshop (Theme: "Workshop on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Related Materials"), Texas Hill Country, TX, April 16, 2019.

  12. P.B. Amama, "Lessons Learned during the Tenure-Track Process," 2018 AIChE National Meeting, Young Faculty Forum; Pittsburgh, PA, October 31, 2018.

  13. P.B. Amama, "Scalable Production of Carbon Nanotube Arrays Using Industrial Gaseous Waste as a Feedstock," College of Engineering Advisory Council – Faculty Research Spotlight, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, October 12, 2018.

  14. P.B. Amama, B. Everhart, P. Nikolaev, R. Rao, B. Maruyama, "Industrial Waste Gas Mixture as a Feedstock in Efficient Carbon Nanotube Growth—Using an Autonomous Research System to Probe Growth Kinetics and Mechanisms," 2018 MRS Fall Meeting; Boston, MA, November 30, 2018.

  15. P.B. Amama, "Understanding Role of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Gaseous Product (FTSGP) in Growth of Carbon Nanotubes," Carbon Nanotube Collaborative Workshop, Yellow Springs, OH, October 19, 2018.

  16. P.B. Amama, "Scalable Production of Carbon Nanotube Arrays Using Industrial Gaseous Waste as a Feedstock," Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, New York, July 3, 2018.

  17. P.B. Amama, "Carbon Nanotube-Supported Catalysts Prepared by a Modified Photo-Fenton Process for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis," 255th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 21, 2018.

  18. P.B. Amama, "Nanomanufacturing of Carbon Nanotubes via CVD Using Industrial Gaseous Waste as a Feedstock," CBE Shell Seminar Series, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering – Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, November 10, 2017.

  19. P.B. Amama, "Efficient and Scalable CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotube Arrays from Industrial Waste Gas Mixture," 2017 Carbon Nanotube Collaborative Workshop, Glen Helen Nature Reserve, Yellow Springs, OH, November 2017.

  20. P.B. Amama, "Carbon Nanotube-Supported Catalysts Prepared by a Modified Photo-Fenton Process for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis," 2017 Midwest Regional Meeting (MWRM), Lawrence, KS, October 19, 2017.

  21. P.B. Amama, “Gaseous Product Mixture from Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis as an Efficient Carbon Source for CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotubes,” Guadalupe Workshop on Nucleation and Growth Mechanisms of Atomically-Thin Nanomaterials: From SWCNTs to 2D Crystals, Bandera, TX, April 22, 2017.

  22. P.B. Amama, “Carbon Nanotube-Supported Catalysts for Improved Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis,” 2016 ACS – Midwest Regional Meeting, Manhattan, KS, August 17, 2016.

  23. P.B. Amama, "Understanding Catalyst-Substrate Interactions in CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotubes,” BAE 815 Graduate Seminar, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, September 16, 2015.

  24. P.B. Amama, “Facile Screening of the Acid-Base Properties of Catalyst Supports and Implications for CNT Growth,” Graduate School of Engineering Colloquium, University of Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan, July 7, 2015.

  25. P.B. Amama, “Facile Screening of the Acid-Base Properties of Catalyst Supports and Implications for CNT Growth,” Graduate Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Seminar, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, November 11, 2014.

  26. P.B. Amama, “Facile Screening of the Acid-Base Properties of Catalyst Supports and Implications for CNT Growth,” Carbon Nanotube Collaborative Workshop, Dayton, OH, October 16, 2014.

  27. P.B. Amama, “Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets via Rational Catalyst Design,” Department of Chemistry Graduate Seminar, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, May 8, 2014.

  28. P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Controlled Growth of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Carpets,” Graduate Mechanical Engineering Seminar, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, March 11, 2014.

  29. P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Enhanced and Controlled Growth of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Carpets,” Graduate Materials Engineering Seminar, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, March 7, 2013.

  30. P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Enhanced and Controlled Growth of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Carpets,” Department of Chemical Engineering Seminar Series, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, January 29, 2013.

  31. P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Controlled CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets,” Research Seminar, Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, December 17, 2012.

  32. P.B. Amama, “Advances in Rational Catalyst Design for Controlled CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets,” Nanocarbon Seminar, Tokyo University of Science, Japan, December 12, 2012.

  33. P.B. Amama, “Advances in Rational Catalyst Design for Controlled CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets,” Applied Chemistry Seminar, Waseda University, Japan, December 4, 2012.

  34. P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Enhanced and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets via Chemical Vapor Deposition,” 124th GMSI Seminar, The University of Tokyo, Japan, November 22, 2012.

  35. P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Enhanced and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes,” Theoretical Chemistry Colloquium, Nagoya University, Japan, December 18, 2012.

  36. P.B. Amama, “Advances in Rational Catalyst Design for Controlled CVD Growth of Carbon Nanotubes,” The 18th Nanotechnology Seminar, Institute of Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan, December 20, 2012

  37.  P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Enhanced and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets via Water-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition,” Department of Physics Seminar, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, May 4, 2012.

  38. P.B. Amama, “Rational Catalyst Design for Enhanced and Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotube Carpets via Water-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition,” Department of Chemical Engineering Seminar, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, April 11, 2012.

  39. P.B. Amama, “Advances in Catalytic Growth of Carbon Nanotubes,” Graduate Materials Engineering Seminar, University of Dayton, October 29, 2009.

  40. P.B. Amama, “Ostwald Ripening-Induced Termination of Carbon Nanotube Growth,” 2009 Nanotechnology Materials and Devices Workshop, organized by University of Cincinnati and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), June 11, 2009.

  41. P.B. Amama, “Advances in Catalytic Growth of Carbon Nanotubes,” Materials Engineering Seminar, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, April 24, 2009.

  42. P.B. Amama, “Dendrimer-Templated Catalyst for Controlled Growth of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes by PECVD,” University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, June 2007.

  43. P.B. Amama, “Controlled Plasma-Enhanced CVD Growth of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes using Fe Catalyst,” Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Palo Alto, CA, May 2006.

  44. P.B. Amama, “Controlled Growth of Carbon Nanotubes by Plasma-Enhanced CVD,” Nanoconduction, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, February 2006.

  45. J. Xu, T.S. Fisher, “Thermal Interface Properties of Carbon Nanotube Arrays,” 2005 AIChE Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, November 2005. (Presented on behalf of Prof. T.S. Fisher)

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