Dr. Muhammad Imran Rafique
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Area of Interest: Energy storage devices based on functionalized carbon materials, Hybrid Super-capacitors,Super-batteries, Redox-Active Electrolytes, Solid-State Electrolytes and Nano-Materials
Tel # (Off): 111-001-007   (192)
HEC approved PhD Supervisor

Dr. Muhammad Imran Rafiq is an HEC-approved Ph.D. supervisor and Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He possesses over fifteen years of extensive academic and industrial experience in energy storage systems, advanced materials development, process optimization, and technology innovation.

Dr. Rafiq’s research lies at the intersection of materials science, electrochemistry, and sustainable energy technologies. His work focuses on the development of 3D free-standing electrodes for hybrid supercapacitors and advanced batteries, utilizing green and nature-derived templates. By integrating functionalized carbon and polymer composites, his research aims to achieve high energy and power densities, enhanced charge–discharge performance, and long-term stability for next-generation energy storage devices.

His research group emphasizes eco-friendly and scalable material synthesis for hybrid energy systems, combining experimental innovation with industrial feasibility. Dr. Rafiq has demonstrated outstanding results in optimizing carbon-based electrodes and redox-active electrolytes, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and efficient electrochemical devices.

As an active supervisor of Ph.D. and M.S. students, Dr. Rafiq mentors researchers working on hybrid supercapacitors, graphene-polymer composites, functional carbon materials, and electrode–electrolyte interface engineering. His supervision approach encourages creativity, problem-solving, and independent scientific thinking. Students in his group gain hands-on experience in materials fabrication, electrochemical testing, and prototype development, preparing them for leadership roles in academia and industry.

In addition to his academic responsibilities, Dr. Rafiq serves as a Research and Development Scientist and Team Leader at National Battery Private Limited, where he leads a multidisciplinary team developing innovative hybrid battery technologies. In 2025, his team embarked on a landmark project to design and develop an indigenous Graphene Polymer Ultra Battery for Electric Vehicles (EVs) — a major step toward Pakistan’s technological independence and clean energy future.

Dr. Rafiq’s research vision is to bridge the gap between fundamental science and practical energy solutions. He welcomes highly motivated Ph.D. and M.S. students who are passionate about energy storage, nanomaterials, and sustainable technologies to join his research group and contribute to building the next generation of green energy systems.

 

International Exposure

      • Dr. Muhammad Imran Rafiq has actively engaged in several high-impact industrial collaborations during his research tenure in China. He participated in the Research and Development Division of Golden Dragon Electric Vehicles Company (SkyWell) in Nanjing, where he contributed to projects focused on electric mobility and advanced battery integration. His work resulted in a comprehensive technical report submitted to the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC), highlighting performance optimization strategies for EV power systems.

        He also collaborated with the R&D Division of JAC Motors, Nanjing, where he gained valuable experience in automotive energy solutions and sustainable propulsion technologies, culminating in a CSC-endorsed technical report on improving the efficiency and reliability of EV energy systems.

        Additionally, Dr. Rafiq contributed to research collaborations with Fasten Group, Envision Energy (Wind Turbines), and Shuangliang Group, where he explored renewable energy integration, materials innovation, and advanced manufacturing processes. His involvement in these projects led to the preparation of several technical reports for the Chinese Scholarship Council, reflecting his strong commitment to bridging academic research and industrial applications in the global energy sector.

Certifications and Extracurricular Experience

  • Certified in 2D and 3D Drafting (AutoCAD) – National Institute of Design & Analysis, Lahore, Pakistan

  • Certified in Process Simulation (HYSYS) – National Institute of Design & Analysis, Lahore, Pakistan

  • Hosted programs at FM 104.6, the radio station of Punjab University Lahore, showca

Funded Projects:

Current Projects:
1. Sustainable EV Batteries: Advanced Composite Electrodes for Pakistan (2026 - 2027) PIs: Dr. Muhammad Imran Rafique , Other Team: National Battery Private Limited, Budget: PKR 0.30 Millions, Funded By: COMSATS Uniersity .

Publications:

Journal Papers:
1. Rashid Khan, Yasir A Haleem, Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Nadeem Abbas, Akif Zeb, Shafaq Sahar, Mohamed A Habila, Sajid Farooq, Amna Mir, Muhammad Farooq Saleem, Muhammad Habib (2025), "Synthesis of HfSe2 and CuHfSe2 crystalline materials using the chemical vapor transport method and their applications in supercapacitor energy storage devices", Nanotechnology Reviews, pp: 20250198, Vol: 14, Issue: 1   
2. Umair Bin Nisar, Siddique Akhtar Ehsan, Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Muhammad Rizwan Mughal (2024), "Integrated study for assessing groundwater dynamics of the Dehdan village, Haripur Basin, Pakistan", Journal of Applied Geophysics   
3. Rabia Siddiqui, Malika Rani, Aqeel Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Syed Nizam Uddin Shah Bukhari, Muhammad Ajmal Khan (2024), "Synergistic electrochemical and optical properties of a UVC class quaternary nanocomposite incorporating graphene oxide and samarium chromium oxide perovskite", Diamond and Related Materials, Vol: 147, Impact Factor: 5.1   
4. Muhammad Habib, Sami Ullah, Firoz Khan, Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Awatef Salem Balobaid, Thamraa Alshahrani, Zahir Muhammad (2023), "Supercapacitor electrodes based on single crystal layered ZrX2 (X= S, Se) using chemical vapor transport method", Materials Science and Engineering: B, Vol: 298, Impact Factor: 4.6   
5. T Farid, MI Rafiq, A Ali, W Tang (2022), "Transforming wood as next-generation structural and functional materials for a sustainable future", EcoMat, pp: 12154, Vol: 4, Issue: 1, Impact Factor: 12.6   
6. Zahid Ullah, Fatima Kainat, Sadaf Manzoor, Hamza Liaquat, Arslan Waheed, Sultan Akhtar, Imran Rafiq, S. Hassan M. Jafri, Hu Li, Aamir Razaq (2022), "Natural fibers and zinc hydroxystannate 3D microspheres-based composite paper sheets for modern bendable energy storage applications.", Journal of Applied Science   
7. Ali A, Rafiq MI, Zhou B, Tang W (2022), "Evaluating the Impact of Hartree-Fock Exact Exchange on the Performance of Global Hybrid Functionals for the Vertical Excited-State Energies of Fused-Ring Electron Acceptors using TD-DFT.", Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, pp: 21270-21282, Vol: 24, Issue: 35, ISSN: 1463-9084, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP02228A, Impact Factor: 3.945    (External URL)
8. Farid T, Wang Y, Rafiq MI, Ali A, Tang W (2022), "Porous Flexible Wood Scaffolds Designed for High-Performance Electrochemical Energy Storage", ACS Sustainable Chemistry &Engineering, pp: 7078–7090, Vol: 10, Issue: 21, ISSN: 1463-9084, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c01108, Impact Factor: 8.198    (External URL)
9. Tanveer Farid,Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Amjad Ali, Weihua Tang (2021), "Transforming wood as next-generation structural and functional materials for a sustainable future", EcoMat, pp: e12154, Vol: 4, Issue: 1, ISSN: 2567-3173, DOI: 10.1002/eom2.12154   
10. Amjad Ali, Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Baojing Zhoua and Weihua Tang (2021), "Evaluating the Nature of Vertical Excited-States of FusedRing Electron Acceptors Using TD-DFT and Density-Based Charge Transfer ", Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, pp: 15282-15291, Vol: 23, DOI: 10.1039/D1CP01917A, Impact Factor: 3.676   
11. Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Xinlei Wang, Tanveer Farid, Jie Zhou, Jian Tanga and Weihua Tang (2021), "Carbonyl-enriched hierarchical carbon synergizes redox electrolyte for highly-efficient and stable supercapacitors", Chemical Communication, pp: 3716-3719, Vol: 57, Issue: 30, DOI: 10.1039/D0CC08432H, Impact Factor: 6.22   
12. Amjad Ali, Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Zhuohan Zhang, Jinru Cao, Renyong Geng, Baojing Zhou and Weihua Tang (2020), "TD-DFT benchmark for UV-visible spectra of fused-ring electron acceptors using global and range-separated hybrids", Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, pp: 7864-7874, Vol: 22, Issue: 15, DOI: 10.1039/D0CP00060D, Impact Factor: 3.676   
13. Muhammad ImranRafiq, Tanveer Farida, Jie Zhoua, Amjad Ali, JianTang and WeihuaTang (2019), "Carbonized wood-supported hollow NiCo2S4 eccentric spheres for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors", Journal of Alloys and Compounds, pp: 151858, Issue: 811, ISSN: 0925-8388, DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.151858, Impact Factor: 5.316   
14. Yan Yuan,Jie Zhou, Muhammad Imran Rafiq, Si meng, DaiJian Tang. Weihua Tang (2019), "Growth of Ni–Mn layered double hydroxide and polypyrrole on bacterial cellulose nanofibers for efficient supercapacitors", Electrochem Acta, pp: 82-91, Vol: 295, DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.10.090, Impact Factor: 6.9   

Qualification

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering (Energy Storage and Nano-materials)
Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China
Sep 2016 to Jan 2022
   
M.Sc Chemical Engineering
Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology Punjab University Lahore, Pakistan
Sep 2010 to Oct 2012
   
B.Sc Chemical Engineering
Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Punjab University Lahore., Pakistan
Jan 2006 to Jul 2010
   

Experience

Assistant Professor
COMSATS University Islamabad Lahore Campus
Jan 2023 to Date
   
Lecturer
COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus
Nov 2020 to Jan 2023
   
Researcher
Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Jiangsu China
Sep 2016 to Jan 2020
   
Lecturer/Researcher
COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus.
Sep 2010 to Sep 2016
   
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