Prof. Kandasamy Jothivenkatachalam – Electrocatalysis – Best Researcher Award

University College of Engineering, Anna University Tiruchirappalli, India

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🎓 Educational Background

Prof. Jothivenkatachalam’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Chemistry from Kandaswami Kandar’s College under the University of Madras between 1990 and 1993. He pursued a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Chemistry at Annamalai University from 1993 to 1995 and simultaneously earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Chemistry in 1996 from the same institution. His passion for research led him to complete an M.Phil. in Chemistry from the University of Madras in 1998. He later obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Madras in 2003 under the esteemed guidance of Prof. P. Natarajan, FNASc, FASc, FNA, and former Director of CSMCRI-CSIR. His doctoral thesis focused on “Photoredox reactions of some carboxylatopentaamminecobalt(III) and alkylcobaloxime complexes,” marking a foundational contribution to coordination chemistry and photochemistry.

👨‍🏫 Teaching and Research Experience

Beginning his career as a Lecturer at Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore, Prof. Jothivenkatachalam transitioned into Anna University where he has steadily risen through academic ranks. He served as Senior Lecturer, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor before being promoted to the position of Professor in September 2015. Over two decades, he has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses while mentoring numerous students in both theoretical and experimental research. His extensive experience underscores a strong commitment to academic excellence and mentorship in the field of chemistry.

🔬 Research Interests

Prof. Jothivenkatachalam’s research portfolio is diverse yet strongly focused on the real-world applications of chemistry. His primary research areas include photocatalysis and photo-electrochemistry, with a special emphasis on energy conversion systems and environmental cleanup technologies. He is actively engaged in the synthesis of novel materials for these applications and has a deep interest in the photochemistry of coordination compounds. His research contributes to the global effort toward sustainable energy solutions and green chemistry innovations.

🏆 Awards and Achievements

Throughout his career, Prof. Jothivenkatachalam has received numerous accolades in recognition of his academic and research excellence. Notable among them is the Best Science Faculty Award in 2024 presented by the Madras Journal Series. He was honored with the C.N.R. Rao Best Scientist Award by the Bose Science Society in 2022, and in the same year, he was inducted as a Fellow of The Academy of Sciences, Chennai. He also received the Outstanding Scientist Award from VDGOOD Technology in 2021. His early career was marked by prestigious fellowships such as the CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship from 2001 to 2003, the TNSCST Research Fellowship between 1998 and 2000, and a University Research Fellowship in 1997. Additionally, he has won poster presentation awards at various national conferences and was recognized with a Certificate of Merit for securing 100% results in Environmental Science and Engineering in 2005 and 2006.

🧑‍🔬 Scientific and Professional Memberships

Prof. Jothivenkatachalam is actively engaged with numerous professional and scientific organizations both in India and abroad. He is a Fellow of The Academy of Sciences, Chennai, and the Bose Science Society. His international affiliations include membership in the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, and the International Zeolite Association, France. Nationally, he is associated with bodies such as the Indian Science Congress Association, the Society of Environmental Chemistry and Allied Sciences, the Society for Advancement of Electrochemical Science and Technology, and the Chemical Research Society of India. He also maintains lifetime memberships in the Indian Society for Technical Education and the Indian Association of Solid-State Chemists and Allied Scientists. These affiliations reflect his ongoing commitment to scientific collaboration and knowledge dissemination.

✨ Legacy and Contribution

Prof. Kandasamy Jothivenkatachalam stands as a leading voice in modern chemistry, particularly in domains that intersect with sustainability and environmental safety. His academic journey, marked by consistency, excellence, and innovation, continues to inspire young scientists and researchers. Through his extensive teaching, ground-breaking research, and proactive involvement in scientific communities, he has contributed immensely to the advancement of chemical sciences in India and globally. His legacy is one of passion for science, dedication to teaching, and unwavering pursuit of sustainable solutions through chemistry.

Notable Publications📄

📄Optoelectronic, photocurrent sensitivity and photocatalytic dye degradation behaviour of spray deposited Cr doped SnO₂ thin films

• Authors: P. Senthilkumar, S. Raja, Ramesh Babu Ramraj, V. Kavinkumar, K. Jothivenkatachalam, VASUKI G

• Journal: Materials Chemistry and Physics

• Year: 2023

📄Dye Excitation and Surface Defects Mediated Photocatalytic Behavior of Vertically Aligned ZnO Nanorods

• Authors: Sundara Venkatesh Perumalsamy, Prabhu Saravanan, Jothivenkatachalam Kandasamy, Jeganathan Kulandaivel

• Journal: International Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

• Year: 2023

📄Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Over Decahedron Shaped BiVO₄ Photoanode by Tuning the Experimental Parameters

• Authors: A. Pandiaraj, M. Mohmed Ibrahim, K. Jothivenkatachalam, V. Kavinkumar

• Journal: Journal of Cluster Science

• Year: 2023

📄Impact of Erbium (Er) and Yttrium (Y) doping on BiVO₄ crystal structure towards the enhancement of photoelectrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic performance

• Authors: Subramanian Moscow, Veerappan Kavinkumar, Masilamani Sriramkumar, Kandasamy Jothivenkatachalam, Panchamoorthy Saravanan, Natarajan Rajamohan, Yasser Vasseghian, DR. M. Rajasimman

• Journal: Chemosphere

• Year: 2022

📄Ultrafast dynamics of proflavine bound to poly (methacrylic acid) in aqueous solution

• Authors: Durai Murugan Kandhasamy, Jothivenkatachalam Kandasamy, Sekar Chinnathambi, Magda H. Abdellattif

• Journal: Journal of Molecular Structure

• Year: 2022