Muhammad Atiqullah | Polymer Chemistry | Innovative Research Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Atiqullah | Polymer Chemistry | Innovative Research Award

National Company for Mechanical Systems | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Muhammad Atiqullah is an accomplished scientific and technical leader whose career spans four decades of continuous contributions to chemical engineering, polymer science, materials science, and defense-related composite technologies. His work integrates advanced research, technical consulting, academic leadership, and industrial innovation, with a strong specialization in polymer reaction engineering, polyolefin catalysts, and thermoset polymer composites. As a Senior R&D Engineer and consultant in the defense sector, he focuses on developing high-performance composite materials and selecting polymeric systems for critical defense applications. His extensive experience at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals includes serving as Professor, Senior Research Engineer, founding director of major research centers, and contributor to establishing national research infrastructures. He led large-scale, high-impact collaborative programs with global organizations and developed strategic research initiatives in polyolefin catalysts, synthetic lubricants, polymeric flow aids, and advanced composite materials. Dr. Atiqullah’s work has generated substantial national value, including major competitive research funding and industry-sponsored projects. He is the lead inventor of multiple U.S. patents and has published extensively in high-ranking scientific journals, earning over a thousand citations. His editorial leadership includes serving as Editor-in-Chief of a materials science journal, and he is widely recognized as an expert reviewer across numerous scientific platforms. His research encompasses defense polymer composites, energy-efficient polymer processes, catalyst development, and high-value polyolefin technologies that underpin modern materials engineering and industrial chemistry. Beyond research, he has mentored graduate researchers, developed advanced laboratories, shaped research strategies, and contributed to national innovation ecosystems. Recognized through prestigious fellowships, awards, and leadership roles, Dr. Atiqullah continues to pursue scientific advancements with a forward-looking vision to establish specialized centers for defense polymer composites and to promote innovation-driven economic growth through technology development and talent cultivation.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Rawas, Y. A., Abdelaal, A. F., Al‐Muallem, H. A., & Atiqullah, M. (2025). Effects of catalyst activation, deactivation, and active site physical residential environment on ethylene−α‐olefin elastomeric copolymerization. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, e00406.

2. Atiqullah, M., Abdelaal, A. F., Adamu, S., & Alasiri, H. S. (2024). Catalytic making of ethylene-1-hexene elastomers: Thermodynamic guide to process development. AIChE Journal.

3. Atiqullah, M., & Al‐Asiri, H. S. (2022). Polyolefin catalyst research: A product-driven industrial perspective. The Chemical Record.

4. Ahmed, A. K., Atiqullah, M., Al-Harthi, M. A., Abdelaal, A. F., & Pradhan, D. R. (2020). Nonisothermal crystallization of Ziegler-Natta i-PP-graphene nanocomposite: DSC and new model prediction. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 98(6), 1398–1410.

5. Atiqullah, M., Al-Sarkhi, A. S., Al-Thenayan, F. M., Al-Malki, A. R., & Alasiri, H. S. (2019). Energy-saving UHMW polymeric flow aids: Catalyst and polymerization process development. Catalysts, 9(1002), 1–15.

Pandurangan Vijayalakshmi | Polymer Chemistry | Women Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Dr. Pandurangan Vijayalakshmi | Polymer Chemistry | Women Researcher Award

Department of Chemistry, Tamilnadu Open University | India

Dr. Vijayalakshmi P is an emerging researcher in environmental chemistry, nanomaterials, photocatalysis, and electrochemistry, with a strong publication record and interdisciplinary research experience. Her doctoral work focused on the design and synthesis of advanced semiconductor-based nanocomposites and their photocatalytic degradation efficiency toward hazardous organic pollutants, including antibiotics, pesticides, and dyes. She has developed a wide range of Z-scheme and heterojunction photocatalysts such as V₂O₅/g-C₃N₄/ZnO, Bi₂O₃/g-C₃N₄/ZnO, TiO₂/g-C₃N₄/CuFe₂O₄, and ZrO₂-based composites, demonstrating significant improvements in visible-light-driven degradation performance. Her research extends to energy storage materials, supercapacitors, electrochemical sensing, and CO₂ reduction, reflected in her contributions to high-impact journals including Ionics, ChemistrySelect, Electrochimica Acta, Langmuir, and Emergent Materials. She has also collaborated on studies involving nanostructures for sensing carbendazim, biocompatible nanoscaffolds, and spinels for antibacterial and dielectric applications. Skilled in multiple analytical and characterization techniques XRD, SEM, TEM, UV–Vis, PL, EIS. she integrates materials synthesis with mechanistic and kinetic studies to address real-world environmental challenges. Her international exposure includes a research internship at the National Taipei University of Technology. Recognized with the Visionary Research Scientist Award (2025), she continues to advance innovative solutions for environmental remediation and sustainable energy applications.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Vijayalakshmi, P., Shanmugavelan, P., & Mareeswaran, P. M. (2024). Enhanced photocatalytic activity of V₂O₅/g-C₃N₄/ZnO nanocomposite for efficient degradation of amoxicillin, chlorpyrifos, and methylene blue. Ionics, 1–29.

  • Vijayalakshmi, P., Shanmugavelan, P., Anisree, S., & Mareeswaran, P. M. (2024). Enhanced visible-light Z-scheme photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin, chlorpyrifos, and methylene blue by Bi₂O₃/g-C₃N₄/ZnO nanocomposite. Journal of Materials Research, 39(22), 3103–3125.

  • Vijayalakshmi, P., Shanmugavelan, P., Muthu Mareeswaran, P., Yuvakkumar, R., & Nehru, S. (2024). Visible-light photocatalytic activity of a novel TiO₂/g-C₃N₄/CuFe₂O₄ nanocomposite in degradation of amoxicillin, chlorpyrifos, and methylene blue. ChemistrySelect, 9(38), e202400943.

  • Vijayalakshmi, P., Shanmugavelan, P., Mareeswaran, P. M., & Kandasamy, K. (2024). Synthesis of novel ZrO₂/g-C₃N₄/CuFe₂O₄ nanocomposite and its efficient photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin, chlorpyrifos, and methylene blue. Asian Journal of Chemistry, 36(3), 697–709.

  • Anisree, S., Shanmugavelan, P., Vijayalakshmi, P., Kishore, R., & Srivastava, N. (2024). Synthesis, characterization and anticancer screening of novel phenylbenzylidene thiosemicarbazone derivatives. Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements, 199(4), 267–276.