The Department of Chemistry, right from its inception, extends its services to the engineering students, providing a strong foundation and practical exposure on Chemical Sciences related to their field. Well qualified faculty with strong research exposure provide guidance to students and research scholars. Besides offering a Master’s Programme in chemistry, the department is involved in research in the following areas:

• Bioorganic chemistry
• Photocatalysis
• Biofuels
• Polymeric supercapacitors
• Synthesis of organic materials
• Biopolymers and
• Nanomaterials for biomedical and environmental remediation

Vision

The Department of Chemistry strives for the construction of a strong society through Science Education by being adaptive, innovative and constantly meeting the ever-growing demands of the scientific community in inter-disciplinary Chemical Sciences, thus creating prepared minds to face the challenges.

Mission

To educate the students to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of Chemical sciences through a gradual exposure and equip them with practical skills to face the challenges in Technology Development.

PROGRAMME’S EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (PEO’S)

The Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) of M.SC. Chemistry are:

• PEO1. Excel in his/her professional career and/or pursue higher education including research by applying the knowledge of chemistry.
• PEO2. Apply chemical principles and theories and acquire skills in synthesis, instrumentation and characterization.
• PEO3. Work productively as chemistry professional by adopting to environment with lifelong learning and adhering to ethical standards and apply the knowledge acquired for the improvement of the society.

PROGRAMME’S OUTCOMES (PO’s)

• PO1. Scientific Knowledge: Apply the knowledge of chemical sciences and employ the training in use of scientific data for analysis and interpretation and provide valid conclusion.
• PO2. Problem analysis and Critical Thinking: Identify, formulate, research literature, and analyze complex scientific problems reaching substantiated conclusions using principles of chemistry.
• PO3. Teamwork: Function effectively as an individual, independently, as a member or leader in diverse teams, and in multidisciplinary settings of chemical science.
• PO4. Environment and Sustainability: Understand the impact of the professional scientific solutions in the societal and environmental contexts and provide eco-friendly approaches for sustainable development.
• PO5. The Chemist and the Society: Apply reasoning within the contextual knowledge to access societal, health, safety and legal issues and the consequent responsibilities relevant to the professional scientific practice in designing innovative chemical routes leading to product development.

PROGRAMME’S SPECIFIC OUTCOMES (PSO’s)

• PSO1: Ability to synthesize, separate and characterize compounds using laboratory and instrumentation techniques required for a successful chemist.
• PSO2: Ability to envisage, understand the current challenges in industrial chemical processes, work as a team and offer suitable solutions.
• PSO3: A flair for working as a scientist in industry / academy for the development of new methods for environmental pollution control.

The full time Course on M.Sc.(Chemistry) offers essential aspects of chemical sciences viz. Physical, Organic, Inorganic, Analytical, Nuclear Chemistry, Spectroscopy and Biochemistry. In addition, exposure to chemistry related to interdisciplinary areas is also covered. Tuning the students with knowledge and know-how on practical training and project training extending to research are the other essential components of the course. The total credit of the course is 93. The evaluation of the course comprises Continuous Internal Assessment (50%) and End-Semester Examination (50%). The students after completion of the course will have a good understanding of the applications of Chemistry in day-to-day life which will enable them to face the challenges of the current industrial needs.

Depending on the choice of profile and specialization track, there is a constant look out for tal­ent by the Organizations and companies in the chemical sector.

• As a researcher:

Research positions are available with institutions and industries for those who have a flair for innovative ideas.

• As a Consultant:

These are often posts in the chemicals industry, with inspection services or consultancy firms, where there is an emphasis on management and/or policy aspects and where communication with professionals from different backgrounds is an important skill.

• As an Academician:

Students who opt for the education profile often can find work as teachers. They can also find an opportunity to become a science journalist or an education officer at a publishing house or museum.

Materials Chemistry Laboratory:

The Department of Chemistry has Materials Chemistry Laboratory for B.Tech. and M.Sc. Chemistry students on the Ground floor of Vaiyapuri hall. It is equipped with modern digital instruments pertaining to the curriculum and syllabi. Special attention is given to individual students by providing the required numbers of apparatus to learn chemistry with excellence.

Research Laboratory:

The Department of Chemistry has a dedicated Research Laboratory for promoting the research activities of undergraduate, postgraduate, research scholars and faculty members. The department has 10 core faculty members with diverse expertise in chemical sciences and with funded research projects leading into high-quality publications in national and international journals.The major research facilities available in the department are

• UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
• Freeze-Dryer
• Sonicator
• Ultra-Low temperature Freezer
• Gas Chromatography
• Three-way gas analyser
• Shaking Water bath
• Vacuum Oven
• Muffle Furnace

Our Faculty

Research and Development

Research in the Department of Chemistry aims to develop innovative solutions to challenging problems. It aims to enhance its efforts through collaborations with leading research institutions and industry.
The department has received funded projects from DRDO, DST-Nano Mission and DST-SERB with a total grant of 1.25 Crores. Research Scholars are pursuing their Ph.D. in both full-time and part-time mode.

Recent Research Publications

Amr Sabbah, Indrajit Shown, Mohammad Qorbani , Fang-Yu Fu, Tsai-Yu Lin,Heng-Liang Wu, Po-Wen Chung, Chih-I. Wu, Svette Reina Merden Santiago, Ji-Lin Shen, Kuei-Hsien Chen, Li-Chyong Chen, Boosting photocatalytic CO2 reduction in a ZNS/ZnIn2S4 heterostructure through strain-induced direct Z-scheme and a mechanistic study of molecular CO2 interaction thereon. Nano Energy, 93, 106809, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106809 (Impact Factor, 17.88)

Abhijeet R. Shelke, Hsiao-Tsu Wang, Jau-Wern Chiou, Indrajit Shown, Amr Sabbah, Kuang-Hung Chen, Shu-Ang Teng, I-An Lin, Chi-Cheng Lee, Hung-Chung Hsueh, Yu-Hui Liang, Chao-Hung Du, Priyanka L. Yadav, Sekhar C. Ray, Shang-Hsien Hsieh, Chih-Wen Pao, Huang-Ming Tsai, Chia-Hao Chen, Kuei-Hsien Chen, Li-Chyong Chen, Way-Faung Pong, Bandgap shrinkage and charge transfer in 2D layered SNS2 doped with V for photocatalytic efficiency improvement. Small, 18(2), e2105076, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202105076 (Impact Factor, 13.28)

Satyanarayana Samireddi, V Aishwarya, Indrajit Shown, Saravanakumar Muthusamy, Sreekuttan M Unni, Ken-Tsung Wong, Kuei-Hsien Chen, Li-Chyong Chen, Synergistic Dual‐Atom Molecular Catalyst Derived from Low‐Temperature Pyrolyzed Heterobimetallic Macrocycle‐N4 Corrole Complex for Oxygen Reduction. Small, 17(46), (2021), 2170243. DOI: 10.1002/smll.202103823. (Impact Factor, 13.28)

A.S. Soubhagya, A. Moorthi, M. Prabaharan. Preparation and characterization of chitosan/pectin/ZnO porous films for wound healing. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 157, 135 – 145. 2020, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.156.(Impact Factor, 8.025)

P.R. Sivashankari and M. Prabaharan, Three-dimensional porous scaffolds based on agarose/chitosan/graphene oxide composite for tissue engineering, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 146, 222 – 231, 2020, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.219 (Impact Factor, 8.025)

S. Rajkumar and M. Prabaharan, Multi-functional FITC-silica@gold nanoparticles conjugated with guar gum succinate, folic acid and doxorubicin for CT/fluorescence dual imaging and combined chemo/PTT of cancer, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 186, 110701, 2020. DOI:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.110701. (Impact Factor, 5.27)

Patents Filed

• Indrajit Shown. A process for developing nano-inspired ultra-thin large surface area anti- slippery self-cleaning anti-bacterial mattress, Australian Patent No. 2021105521, Year 2021.
• Indrajit Shown. A process for developing highly transparent stickable -feelable solar cells for building integrated photovoltaic device, Australian Patent No. 2021105520, Year 2021.
• P.S Raghavan, A. Shiva Kumar, S. Udhaya Kumar and T.Murali, Front View Reflector, Indian Patent, No. E-2/892/2017-CHE, 2017.
• P.S. Raghavan and S.Induja, Non-noble metal catalyst for Automobile exhaust gas emission control, Indian Patent, No. 2244/CHE/2013
• S. Induja and P.S. Raghavan, Sintered calcium phosphate as catalyst support, Indian Patent No.2303/CHE/2012
• P.S. Raghavan, Process for preparation of radio-opaque glass filler for dental restorative application, Indian Patent, No.478/CHE/2010.

List of ongoing/completed projects

Ongoing
Dr. Indrajit Shown, Probing the dynamic photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity and interface carrier transport of direct Z scheme heterostructure based on in situ spectroscopy, DST – GITA, 44.47 Lakhs
Dr. Indrajit Shown, Development of highly efficient direct Z-scheme hetero structure photo catalyst based on 2D metal sulfide for CO₂ reduction, DST - SERB, 2021-24, 49.41 lakhs
Completed
Dr. M. Prabaharan, Development of multifunctional nanomaterials for cancer therapy, DST-Nano Mission, 2014-17, 46.83 lakhs.
Dr. P.S. Raghavan & Dr. S. Induja, Development of Carbon-dioxide Adsorbent as per IS-5321 Standard using Indigenous raw materials, DRDO-NRB, 2013-15, 18.84 lakhs

Winter course on Scientific Research Practice & Instrumentation Techniques on 20th December 2023

National Symposium On Green Hydrogen Technology: Harnessing the Power of Renewables on 20th April 2023

Guest Lecture on Advancements of biomaterials in Drug delivery on 7th Feb 2020.

International Conference on Physics and Chemistry of Solids on 7 & 8 March 2019.

SCIENCE MEET- 2019

SCIENCE MEET- 2018