Research work ( Catalysis and Green Chemistry)
Research Interests
1. Catalysis for the application to Green and sustainable chemistry
2. Catalytic materials for hydrogen generation and utilization
3. Heterogeneous catalysts for transfer halogenation of chemical functionalities
4. Plastic degradation to crude oil and value-added chemicals
5. Development of Synthetic methodologies
Research work during Ph.D.
(i) Development of Heterogeneous catalysts and Greener methods of synthesis
During doctoral research, I worked on synthesis and characterization of various two dimensional (2D) carbon based materials and their applications as heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of various bioactive molecules such as indole alkaloids and chromenes etc. In this regard, various materials based on ZnO-reduced graphene oxide, MoS2-reduced graphene oxide, MoS2- graphitic carbon nitride, Polyaniline-graphitic carbon nitride and functionalized graphitic carbon nitride were synthesized and used for various organic transformation reactions. While designing our catalyst we focus on study of inherent properties (i.e. acidic, basic, oxidising etc.) of the catalytic materials and then apply it to a suitable organic reaction. To perform an organic transformation reaction for the synthesis of various bioactive molecules, we focus on various green chemistry aspects such as atom economy, E-factor, Product mass intensity (PMI) and nature of solvent to be used. We perform organic transformation reactions in green solvents such as water and ethanol to continue our efforts toward a green and sustainable chemistry. In addition to this we also focus on performing gram scale reactions to see the industrial or large scale efficiency of our developed heterogeneous catalyst under suitable green & sustainable conditions.
Selected publications
Green Chem., 2020, 22, 5084-5095 doi.org/10.1039/D0GC01123A
Green Chem., 2019, 21, 6012-6026 doi.org/10.1039/C9GC02120E
ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 2018, 1, 6711-6723 doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.8b01524
ACS Omega, 2018, 3 , 12163–12178 doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b01687
ChemCatChem 2018, 10, 3121 – 3132 doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201800369
ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2017, 5, 8551-8567 doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b00648
(ii) Development of Synthetic Methodologies
Synthetic methodologies refers to the development of novel methods used for the synthesis of chemical compounds. Methodology research involves three main stages: discovery, optimization, and study of scope and limitations . The discovery requires knowledge and experience with chemical reactivities of appropriate reagents. Optimization is a process in which one or two starting compounds are tested in the reaction under a wide variety of conditions of temperature, solvent, reaction time, etc., until the optimal conditions for product yield and purity are found. Finally, scope and limitations are investigated to extend the method to a broad range of different starting materials.
Synlett, 2017, 28, 117–121 doi.org/10.1055/s-0036-1588885
Chem. Communication, 2015, 51, 15438-15441 doi.org/10.1039/C5CC05713B
RSC Advances, 2014, 4, 15011-15013 doi.org/10.1039/C4RA01748J
Current Research work
Energy is closely associated with both problems and opportunities that are important parameters for human development in the technologically advancing twenty‐first century. Renewable energy is gaining global significance in addressing environmental concerns over conventional fossil fuels. Nowadays, hydrogen is considered as a promising energy carrier for a sustainable energy economy in the next decades. Hydrogen has received significant attention on account of ongoing research to use hydrogen as a future fuel of transportation. However, practicable and straightforward solutions for the safe storage of hydrogen are still being explored.
Currently, I am working on the development of heterogeneous catalysts for reversible hydrogen storage. The formate-bicarbonate based reversible system can be potential way for safer hydrogen storage and release in vehicular applications.
Selected publications
Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2021, 46, 36210-36220 doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.08.178
Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2021, 46, 28554-28564 doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.06.133
ChemistrySelect, 2021, 6, 9477–948 doi.org/10.1002/slct.202101755
Catalysts 2021, 11, 1227 doi.org/10.3390/catal11101227
ChemSusChem 2021, 14, 1258–1283 doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202002433
ACS Omega 2020, 5, 12302−12312 doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c00996