Team

Prof. Dr. habil.  Erwan RAUWEL

Professor at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (EMÜ)

Board member of PRO-1 NANOSolutions

Nationality: French

Status: Married, 2 children

Estonian University of Life Sciences

Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Chair of veterinary biomedicine and food hygiene

Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51006, ESTONIA

Tel. : + 372 7313329

erwan.rauwel@emu.ee

ORCID: 0000-0001-8950-1415

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

EDUCATION

  • Habilitation (DSc) in Materials Science (2012, University of Caen, France)
  • Ph.D in Chemistry of Materials (2003, University of Caen, France)
  • M. S. in Materials Science (1999, University of Caen)

Present fields of research

Experience

Since 09/2016 Board member & chief scientist, Start-up company “PRO-1 NANOSolutions” Metal nanoparticle synthesis and development of solutions for nanotechnologies

Since 09/2018 Professor, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia

2017 – 2018 : Professor, Tallinn Univ. of Tech., Tartu College, Estonia, and Head of the group “Nanotechnologies and Materials Science” (01/2014 – 08-2018).

2014 – 2016: Professor, chair of Sustainable Energy. Tallinn Univ. of Tech., Tartu College, Estonia, Teaching of “Materials Science & Nanotechnology”

2013 – 2014: Extraordinary Professor Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu College, Estonia

2013: Extraordinary Assoc. Professor Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu College, Estonia

2009 – 2012: Researcher, University of Oslo, Dpt. of Chemistry, Norway

2008 – 2009: Investigator Fellowship, University of Aveiro, CICECO, Portugal

2006 – 2008: IEF Marie Curie fellow, University of Aveiro, CICECO, Portugal

2004 – 2006: Postdoctoral position, Grenoble, Minatec, collaboration with STMicroelectronics, France

2000 – 2003: PhD Student (MENRT), University of Caen, CRISMAT, France.

Present Projects

 Former Projects

  • 2023-2024“Nanocomposites based on metallic nanoparticles or metal oxides: electrooptical characterizations and potentialities in a context of sustainability” International Research Booster (IRB), Research partner [IRB]
  • 2015-2023 “Emerging orders in quantum and nanomaterial” (TK134), Leader of a research team, Estonian Centre of Excellence 2015 (2015-2018: TAR16019 / 2018-2023: F180175TIBT)
  • 2021-2022 “Study of metal nanoparticles for Biomedical applications and application in nanomedicine”, PARROT program, Principal investigator (T210013TIBT)
  • 2021-2022 “Nano-nutraceutics approach for in-depth study against existing issue of antimicrobial resistance, biofilms and fungal infections“, Supervisor (MOBJD1021)
  • 2020-2021 “Use of polymeric nanocomposites in anti-viral additives and coatings” Targeted funding, Principal investigator (COVSG9)
  • 2014 – 2019 “Multi-scale structured ceramic-based composites for extreme applications”, Teaching staff, Estonian Institutional Funding 2015 (IUT19-29)
  • 2014 – 2018 “Ultrastable metal nanoparticle synthesis aimed at applications in nanomedicine”, Principal investigator, Estonian Personal Research Funding (PUT431)
  • 2015 – 2016 “Studies of perspective Earth abundant materials for solar cells and development of solar cell structures based on them”, Subtopic leader, PARROT program (33787YJ)

Honor and Awards

Supervisions

Postdoctoral researcher:

Dr. Priyanka Panchal (2023-): “Medicinal Plant Extract Mediated g-C3N4 Based Photo-catalysts for Environmental Applications” MOBJD1204

PhD students:

– Mr. Patricio Paredes (2021-): Synthesis of narrow band gap copper nitride nanoparticles for optoelectronic and energy applications

Master student:

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Defended PhD student:

– Dr. Keshav Nagpal (2020-24): Polymer encapsulation of zinc oxide nanostructures for photodiode for LED applications.

– Dr. Siim Küünal  (2014-22): Metal nanoparticles synthesis applied to green housing

Defended Master students:

– Mr. Richard Erelt (2022 – 24): Assessment of nanoparticles-based additives in jet-fuels combustion

– Mr. Henno Kaeval (2021-23): Photoelectric Properties of ZnO Nanorods

– Ms. Heidi Enneli Granholm (2020-22): Effect of cobalt nanoparticles on Microsporum canis growth in vitro.

– Mr. Sven Petratškov (2020-21): Testing the efficiency of new fuels composed of diesel and nanoparticles.

– Mr. Martin Malm (2018-20): Research on filter materials for the removal of iron and manganese from groundwater.

– Mr. Toivo Viidalepp (2019-20): Development of a device for photocurrent measurement.

– Mr. Arnaud Behr (École Centrale de Lille) (2017): “Study of water purification using metal nanoparticles” (3 months).

– Mr. Andres Aasna (2015-16): Carbon hybrid nanomaterials for photovoltaic applications.

– Mr. Martin Salumaa (2014-15): Hybrid nanomaterials for photovoltaic applications.

– Mr. Siim Küünal (2013-14): Metal nanoparticles synthesis applied to green housing.

Master M1:

– Mr. Alexandre Mckenzie (2024): Electrical characterization of HfO2 and ZrO2 nanoparticles.

Former postdoctoral researcher:

– Dr. Geeta Arya (2021-22): Nano-nutraceutics approach for in-depth study against existing issue of antimicrobial resistance, biofilms and fungal infections

Former project students:

– Mr. Reynald Ponté (2022-24): Tin based nanomaterials as electrodes materials for lithium-ion batteries

– Mr. Rohit Kumar (2020-22): Study of metallic pollutants extraction and organics degradation in contaminated water using sand and glass based nanocomposites

– Ms. Harleen Kaur (2020-21): Study of biocidal properties of nanomaterials for the development of antifungal skin cream to treat pets and cattle

PUBLICATIONS

1. Papers published by the group:

Biomedical applications and nanomedicine

  • « Use of Aloe Vera Gel as Media to Assess Antimicrobial Activity and Development of Antimicrobial Nanocomposites » E. Rauwel; G. Arya; K. Praakle; P. Rauwel, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 25(11),  5599 (2024) [REF]
  • « Investigation of the optical and antibacterial properties of biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles using Thuja tincture » K. Nagpal, M. S. Rosario, K. Praakle, E. Rauwel, P. Rauwel Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2315, 012016 (2022) [REF]
  • « Artemisia vulgaris tincture-assisted synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antimicrobial activity » Harleen Kaur, Kristi Praakle, M. Soares Rosario, Protima Rauwel, Erwan Rauwel Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2315, 012027 (2022) [REF]
  • « Assessing Cobalt Metal Nanoparticles uptake by Cancer Cells using Live Raman Spectroscopy » E. Rauwel, S. Al-Arag, H. Salehi, C. O. Amorim, F. Cuisinier, M. Guha, M. S. Rosario, P. Rauwel International Journal of Nanomedicine 15, 7051-7062 (2020) [REF]
  • « Optimisation of plant mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles by common weed Plantago major and their antimicrobial properties » S. Küünal, M. Visnapuu, O. Volubujeva, M. Soares Rosario, P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel IOP conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 613, 012003 (8 pages) (2019) [REF]
  • « Emerging Trends in Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Plant Extracts for Biomedical Applications » P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel, Global journal of nanomedicine 1(3), 555562 (2017) [REF]
  • « Silver metal nanoparticles study for biomedical and green house applications » E. Rauwel, L. Simón-Gracia, M. Guha, P. Rauwel, S. Kuunal, D. Wragg IOP conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 175, 012011 (5 pages) (2017) [REF]
  • « Biocidal properties study of Silver Nanoparticles used for Application in Green Housing » S. Küünal, S. Kutti, P. Rauwel, D. Wragg and E. Rauwel International Nano-Letters 6(3), 191-197 (2016) [REF].
  • « New methodology for the antifungal testing of surfactant-free silver metal nanoparticles for applications in green housing » S. Küünal, S. Kutti, P. Rauwel, D. Wragg, I. Hussainova and E. Rauwel Key Engineering Materials 674, 133-138 (2016) [REF].
  • « Special Issue on Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Properties and Applications » P. Rauwel, E. Rauwel, S. Ferdov, M. Singh Advances in Materials Science and Engineering_Hindawi Volume 2015, Article ID 624394, 1-2 (2015) [REF].
  • « A Review on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their morphologies studied via TEM» P. Rauwel, S. Küünal, S. Ferdov and E. Rauwel, Advances in Materials Science and Engineering_Hindawi, Volume 2015, Article ID 682749, 1-9 (2015) [REF].
  • « Silver Nanoparticles Study for Application in Green Housing » S. Küünal, S. Kutti, , M. Guha, P. Rauwel, D. Wragg, G. Nurk and E. Rauwel ECS Trans. 64, (47) 15-24 (2015) [REF]

Photoluminescence, photocurrent generation and energy storage

  • « Fabrication and evaluation of figures of merit of ZnO polymer-based hybrid UV photodiodes » K. Nagpal, E. Rauwel, F. Ducroquet, I. Gelard and P. Rauwel, Applied Physics Letters Materials  12, 061109 (2024) [REF]
  • « Surface-defect tailoring in SnO2 (CNT) nanomaterials via sol-gel routes and its influence on the cycling stability » R. Ponte, E. Rauwel and P. Rauwel, Journal of Materials Science 59, 17811–17830, (2024) [REF]
  • « Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis (Editorial) » P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel, Nanomaterials MDPI 13(19), 2694 (2023) [REF]
  • « Relevance of alcoholic solvents in the growth of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO hierarchical nanorod structures on their optical and opto-electrical properties » K. Nagpal, E. Rauwel, F. Ducroquet, I. Gelard and P. Rauwel, Nanotechnology 34, 485602 (2023) [REF]
  • «Revealing the Dependency of Dye Adsorption and Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles on Their Morphology and Defect States » Y. Hendrix, E. Rauwel, K. Nagpal, R. Haddad, E. Estephan, C. Boissière, P. Rauwel, Nanomaterials  13(13), 1998 (2023) [REF]
  • « Tailoring SnO2 Defect States and Structure: Reviewing Bottom-Up Approaches to Control Size, Morphology, Electronic and Electrochemical Properties for Application in Batteries » R. Ponte, E. Rauwel, P. Rauwel, Materials  16(12), 4339 (2023) [REF]
  • « Significance of Hydroxyl Groups on the Optical Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Combined with CNT and PEDOT:PSS » K. Nagpal, E. Rauwel, E. Estephan, M. R. Soares, P. Rauwel, Nanomaterials  12, 3546 (2022) [REF]
  • « The role of CNT in surface defect passivation and UV emission intensification of ZnO nanoparticles » K. Nagpal, L. Rapenne, D. S. Wragg, E. Rauwel, P. Rauwel, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, Vol. 12, 1–10 (2022) [REF]
  • « Assessment of the optical and electrical properties of light emitting diodes containing carbon-based nanostructures and plasmonic nanoparticles: a review » K. Nagpal, E. Rauwel, F. Ducroquet and Protima Rauwel, Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 12, 1078–1092 (2021) [REF]
  • « Enhancing the UV emission in ZnO-CNT hybrid nanostructures via the surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles » Rauwel, A. Galeckas and E. Rauwel, Nanomaterials MDPI 11(2), 452 (2021) [REF]
  • « Selective photocurrent generation in HfO2-CNT hybrid nanocomposites under UV and visible photoexcitations » P. Rauwel, F. Ducroquet, A. Galeckas and E. Rauwel Materials Letters 246, 45–48 (2019) [REF]
  • « Time evolution of ZnO-CNT photoluminescence under variable ambient and temperature conditions. » P. Rauwel, A. Galeckas and E. Rauwel IOP conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 613, 012031 (6 pages) (2019) [REF]
  • « Influence of the interface on the photoluminescence properties in ZnO carbon based nanohybrids » E. Rauwel, A. Galeckas, M. Rosário Soares and P. Rauwel J. Phys. Chem. C 121, 14879-14887 (2017) [REF].
  • « Investigations on new carbon-based nanohybrids combining carbon nanotubes, HfO2 and ZnO nanoparticles » P. Rauwel, A. Galeckas, M. Salumaa, A. Aasna, F. Ducroquet and E. Rauwel IOP conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 175, 012064 (5 pages) (2017) [REF]
  • « A review of the synthesis and photoluminescence properties of hybrid ZnO and carbon nanomaterials » P. Rauwel, M. Salumaa, A. Aasna, A. Galeckas, E. Rauwel Journal of Nanomaterials_Hindawi Volume 2016, Article ID 5320625, 1-12 (2016) [REF].
  • « Photocurrent generation and structural study of hybrid nanocomposite combining carbon nanotubes and cubic HfO2 nanoparticles » P. Rauwel, A. Galeckas, M. Salumaa, F. Ducroquet and E. Rauwel Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology 7, 1075–1085 (2016) [REF].
  • « Metal oxide nanoparticles embedded in rare-earth matrix aimed to low temperature thermal imaging applications » E. Rauwel, A. Galeckas, P. Rauwel, P.-A. Hansen, D. Wragg, O. Nilsen and H. Fjellvåg Materials Research Express 3, 055010 (11 pages) (2016) [REF].
  • « One Step Synthesis of Pure Cubic and Monoclinic HfO2 Nanoparticles: Effects of Temperature and Ambient on the Photoluminescent Properties » P. Rauwel, A. Galeckas and E. Rauwel ECS Trans. 64, (44) 19-28 (2015) [REF].
  • « Photoluminescent cubic and monoclinic HfO2 nanoparticles: effects of temperature and ambient »  E. Rauwel, A. Galeckas and P. Rauwel Materials Research Express 1, 015035 (2014) [REF].

Water remediation

  • «Ocimum tenuiflorum leaf-mediated graphitic carbon nitride and ZnO/GCN nanohybrid: a sustainable approach for environmental applications.» P. Panchal, P. Rauwel, S. Sharma, S. Pal Nehra, E. Estephan, K. Praakle and E. Rauwel, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. (2025) [REF]
  • «A comparative study of Cu-based nanoparticles and their spin-coated films: photocatalytic degradation mechanisms and efficiencies towards malachite green and neutral red azo dyes», P. Paredes, E. Rauwel, D. S. Wragg, L. Rapenne, I. Gélard and P. Rauwel, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 32, 314-334, (2025) [REF]
  • «Nanocobalt based (Co@Co(OH)2) sand nanocomposite applied to manganese extraction from contaminated water» R. Kumar, P.Rauwel, M. Kriipsalu, D. Wragg, E. Rauwel, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11(3), 109818 (2023) [REF]
  • «Sunlight-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue with Facile One-Step Synthesized Cu-Cu2O-Cu3N Nanoparticle Mixtures» P. Paredes, E. Rauwel, D. S. Wragg, L. Rapenne, E. Estephan, O. Volobujeva and P. Rauwel Nanomaterials MDPI 13(8), 1311 (2023) [REF]
  • «Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu3N Nanomaterials» P. Paredes, E. Rauwel and P. Rauwel Nanomaterials MDPI 12(13), 2218 (2022) [REF]
  • « A colorimetric method of As3+ ion detection and quantification using hand-held Lovibond photometers » R. Kumar, P. Rauwel, M. Kriipsalu, E. Rauwel Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2315, 012031 (2022) [REF]
  • « Nanoadsorbants for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Water: Current Scenario and Future Directions » R. Kumar, P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel, Processes MDPI 9(8), 1379 (2021) [REF]
  • « Electrochemical Characterisation of Co@Co(OH)2 Core‐shell Nanoparticles and their Aggregation in Solution » R.-C. Xie C. Batchelor-McAuley. E. Rauwel, P. Rauwel, R. G. Compton ChemElectroChem 7, 4259 –4268 (2020)[REF]
  • « Editorial for the Special Issue on ‘Application and Behavior of Nanomaterials in Water Treatment’ » Rauwel, W. Uhl and E. Rauwel Nanomaterials MDPI 9(6), 880 (2019) [REF]
  • « Towards the extraction of radioactive Cesium-137 from water via graphene/CNT and nanostructured Prussian blue hybrid nanocomposites: A Review » Rauwel and E. Rauwel Nanomaterials MDPI 9(5), 682 (2019) [REF]

Other fields: electrochemistry & thin films deposition

  • « Editorial for the Special Issue on ‘Metal Oxide Thin Film: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application’» E. Rauwel and P. Rauwel Materials MDPI 14(8), 1834 (2021) [REF]
  • « Redox reactivity at silver microparticles-glassy carbon contacts under a coating of polymer intrinsic microporosity (PIM). » D. He, E. Rauwel, R. Malpass-Evans, M. Carta, N. B. McKeown, D. B. Gorle, M. A. Kulandainathan, F. Marken Journal of Solid State Electrochem. (Short comm.) 21(7), 2141-2146 (2017). [REF]
  • « Recommended reading list of early publications on atomic layer deposition—Outcome of the “Virtual Project on the History of ALD”. » E. Ahvenniemi et al., (62 co-authors) J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 35(1), 010801 (2017)[REF].

2. Former papers related to Metal oxide nanoparticles synthesis:

  • « One step synthesis of pure cubic and monoclinic HfO2 nanoparticles: Correlating the structure to the electronic properties of the two polymorphs » P. Rauwel, E. Rauwel, C. Persson, M. F. Sunding, A. Galeckas J. App. Phys. 112, 104107 (2012) [REF].
  • « Response to Comment on “Unusual photoluminescence of CaHfO3 and SrHfO3 nanoparticles” » E. Rauwel, A. Galeckas, P. Rauwel, D. Wragg Adv. Func. Mat. 22(6), 1114-1115 (2012) [REF].
  • « Unusual photoluminescence of CaHfO3 and SrHfO3 nanoparticles » E. Rauwel, A. Galeckas, P. Rauwel, H. Fjellvåg Adv. Func. Mat. 22(6), 1174-1179 (2012) [REF].
  • « Precursor-Dependent Blue-Green Photoluminescence Emission of ZnO Nanoparticles » E. Rauwel, A. Galeckas, P. Rauwel, M. F. Sunding and H. Fjellvag J. Phys. Chem. C 115(51), 25227 (2011) [REF].

3. Books:

  • P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel, «Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis» Book of the Special Issue that was published in Nanomaterials MDPI (2023) [REF]
  • E. Rauwel and P. Rauwel, «Metal Oxide Thin Films: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications» Book of the Special Issue that was published in Materials MDPI (2022) [REF]
  • P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel, «Application and Behavior of Nanomaterials in Water Treatment» Book of the Special Issue that was published in Nanomaterials MDPI (2019) [REF]

4. Book chapters:

  • H. Kaur, P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel “Antimicrobial nanoparticles: Synthesis, mechanism of actions” published in “Antimicrobial Activity of Nanoparticles, Applications in Wound Healing and Infection Treatment”, Chapter 6, pages 155-202, Elsevier│S&T Books (2022) [REF]
  • S. Küünal, P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel, « Plant extract mediated synthesis of nanoparticles. » published in “Handbook of nanoparticles and architectural nanostructured materials”, Chapter 14, pages 411-446, Elsevier│S&T Books (2018) [REF]
  • P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel «Analyzing carbon based hybrid nanocomposites displaying interfacial phenomena with scanning transmission electron microscopy and related techniques.» Published in Microscopy Book Series#7 (EBook) “Microscopy and imaging science: practical approaches to applied research and education”, Applications in Physical/Chemical Sciences, A. Méndez-Vilas Ed., Formatex Research Center (2017) [REF]
  • P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel «Stabilization of higher symmetry HfO2 polymorphs as thin films and nanoparticles. » Published in ”Hafnium: Chemical Characteristics, Production and Applications” edited by Nova Science Publishers, inc. Chap. 4, p 77 – 111 (2014) [REF].
  • P. Rauwel and E. Rauwel «Probing the Electronic Structure of HfO2 polymorphs via Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy.» Published in Microscopy Book Series#6 (Ebook) “Microscopy: Advances in scientific research and education”, Applications in Physical/Chemical Sciences_Electron Microscopies, A. Méndez-Vilas Ed., Formatex Research Center (2014) [REF].

Guest editing:

  • 2022-23: Special Issue ‘Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis’ in ‘Nanomaterials’, MDPI. [weblink]
  • 2019-21: Special Issue ‘Metal Oxide Thin Films: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications’ appearing in ‘Materials’, MDPI [weblink]
  • 2018-19: Special Issue ‘Application and Behavior of Nanomaterials in Water Treatment’ in ‘Nanomaterials’, MDPI. [weblink]