Graduate Research Highlights
Udani Wijethunga
PhD student in Dr. Cook's and Dr. Watson's labs.
My PhD research focuses on designing and characterizing semiconductor–molecular heterostructures for photocatalytic CO2 reduction, with an emphasis on charge-transfer dynamics and band alignment. I combine advanced nanomaterial synthesis with spectroscopic and catalytic studies to improve efficiency and selectivity in sustainable energy applications.
I enjoy being a graduate student at UB because it offers a diverse and collaborative environment where I can engage in cutting-edge research and participate in extracurricular and networking opportunities that support my professional growth. The welcoming community and access to advanced resources make it an inspiring place to learn and innovate, while seminars, student organizations, and research activities have helped me connect with peers and faculty across disciplines.
Outside the lab, I love baking and trying out new recipes, and I really enjoy traveling and exploring new places.
- Excellence in Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants, University at Buffalo’s Graduate School, 2025
- Best Presentation Award, Western New York Inorganic Symposium, 2025
- Mattern-Tyler Teaching Award, Department of Chemistry, 2023
Oral Presentations
- Wijethunga, U. K.; Ayala, J. R.; Giem, A. R.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Harrell, M.; Banerjee, S.; Cook, T. R.; Watson, D. F. “Tuning Charge Transfer Pathways in Sb2VO5/CdS-Zn(II) Porphyrin Ternary Heterostructures.” Western New York Inorganic Symposium 2025, University of Rochester.
- Wijethunga, U. K.; Ayala, J. R.; Giem, A. R.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Harrell, M.; Banerjee, S.; Cook, T. R.; Watson, D. F. “Ternary Sb2VO5-CdS-Porphyrin Heterostructures that Promote Extended Separation of Photogenerated Charge Carriers and Selective Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2.” The Materials Research Society MRS Fall 2025 Meeting & Exhibit 2025, Boston, Massachusetts.
Poster Presentations
- Wijethunga, U. K.; Cook, T. R.; Watson, D. F. “Binding Modes of Zinc Porphyrins on CdS QDs Surfaces and Investigation of Excited-State Charge Transfer Dynamics in QD-Porphyrin Assemblies.” Western New York Inorganic Symposium 2023, University of Rochester.
- Wijethunga, U. K.; Ayala, J. R.; Banerjee, S.; Cook, T. R.; Watson, D. F. “Heterostructured photocatalysts of Sb2VO5 nanorods, CdS QDs, and Cationic Porphyrins: Excited-state Charge Transfer for Visible-light-driven CO2 Reduction.” American Chemical Society Fall 2024; Denver, CO.
5 publications 2024-present, including a first-author publication in Journal of the American Chemical Society in 2025:
- Wijethunga, U. K.; Harrell, M. A.; Ayala, J. R.; Giem, A. R.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Zhang, D.; Pakhira, A.; Crawley, M. R.; Li, Y. C.; Banerjee, S.; Cook, T. R.; Watson, D. F. Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction by Ternary Heterostructures of Sb2VO5 Nanorods, CdS Quantum Dots, and a Zinc(II) Porphyrin Complex. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 44834.
- Gilbert, A. B.; Wijethunga, U. K.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Watson, D. F.; Cook, T. R. Excited-State Hole-Transfer from CdSe Quantum Dots to a Self-Assembled Pd(II) Nanocage Functionalized with Ferrocenes. J. Phys. Chem. C 2025, 38, 17132.
- García-Pedraza, K. E.; Ayala, J. R.; Wijethunga, U.; Giem, A. R.; Agbeworvi, G.; Banerjee, S.; Watson, D. F. Heterostructures of Ni(II)-doped CdS quantum dots and β-Pb0.33V2O5 nanowires: Enhanced charge separation and redox photocatalysis via doping of QDs. Nano Research 2024, 17, 10279.
- Ayala, J. R.†; García-Pedraza, K. E.†; Giem, A. R.; Wijethunga, U.; Hariyani, S.; Carrillo, L.; Jaye, C.; Weiland, C.; Fischer, D. A.; Watson, D. F.; Banerjee, S. Interface-Modulated Kinetic Differentials in Electron and Hole Transfer Rates as a Key Design Principle for Redox Photocatalysis by Sb2VO5/QD Heterostructures. J. Chem. Phys. 2024, 160, 194703.
- Zaheer, W.; McGranahan, C. R.; Ayala, J. R.; García-Pedraza, K. E.; Carrillo, L. J.; Rothfuss, A. R. R.; Wijethunga, U.; Agbeworvi, G.; Giem, A. R.; Andrews, J. L.; Handy, J. V.; Perez-Beltran, S.; Caledron-Oliver, R.; Ma, L.; Ehrlich, S. N.; Jaye, C.; Weiland, C.; Fischer, D.A.; Watson, D. F.; Banerjee, S. “Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution mechanisms mediated by stereoactive lone pairs of Sb2VO5 in quantum dot heterostructures.” Chem Catalysis 2024, 4, 100844.