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.

 

N. Najmu Shabah | Polymer Chemistry | Women Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Ms. N. Najmu Shabah | Polymer Chemistry | Women Researcher Award

Scholar | University of Calicut | India

Najmu Shabah N is a passionate and dedicated early-career researcher in Chemistry with a strong academic foundation and hands-on laboratory skills, specializing in polymer nanocomposites, green synthetic methodologies, and advanced spectroscopic analysis. She holds an MSc in Chemistry from Grace Valley College of Arts and Science, University of Calicut, where she gained comprehensive knowledge across theoretical chemistry, organic, inorganic, physical chemistry, and instrumental analysis. Her research is driven by an interest in developing sustainable and functional materials through environmentally conscious approaches. During her Master’s dissertation under the supervision of Dr. M.T. Ramesan, she successfully synthesized eco-friendly polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/arrowroot/LiAgO nanocomposites using green chemistry strategies. This work involved systematic nanoparticle synthesis and characterization using FT-IR, XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and SEM to study structural, optical, and surface properties. She further evaluated conductivity behavior and antibacterial efficiency against E. coli, demonstrating the composite’s promise for biodegradable antibacterial and optoelectronic applications. Her undergraduate research on green nitration methods reinforced her commitment to sustainable chemistry and demonstrated her ability to design efficient, low-toxicity synthetic routes. Along with academic research, Najmu has practical laboratory experience as a Research Lab Assistant at the University of Calicut, where she prepared samples, operated spectroscopy and chromatography instruments, maintained lab safety standards, managed inventory, and supported ongoing research projects. She also worked as a Chemistry Subject Matter Expert at Cloud Bird Digital Pvt. Ltd., where she contributed to solving analytical challenges and supported interdisciplinary teams in product development and scale-up. Her skills span chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, computational chemistry (Gaussian), and advanced analytical methods, including TCSPC. With research interests spanning polymer science, nanomaterials, photonics, catalysis, and drug-related studies, she aspires to contribute to innovative materials and sustainable chemical technologies while advancing her future research career.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publication

Najmu Shabah, N., Khaleelul Rahman, T. T., Gopika, R., & Ramesan, M. T. (2025, July 7). Multifunctional polyvinyl alcohol/maranta arundinacea starch/LiAgO nanocomposites: A sustainable approach for antibacterial and optoelectronic applications. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials.

 

Oka Arjasa | Nanotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oka Arjasa | Nanotechnology | Best Researcher Award

BRIN | Indonesia

Assoc. Prof. Oka Pradipta Arjasa, Ph.D. is a leading researcher and Principal Investigator in Colloid and Nanoscience at the Fuel Cells System and Hydrogen Production Research Group, Energy Conversion and Conservation Research Centre (PR KKE), BRIN, Indonesia. With a strong focus on hydrogen technology and sustainable energy solutions, he has been instrumental in developing cutting-edge research and national policy frameworks for energy transition. Dr. Arjasa holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Manchester, UK, where he specialized in the magnetic properties of graphene using Electron Spin Resonance. He also earned a Master of Engineering from the University of Indonesia, a Master of Science from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Universitas Gadjah Mada. His professional journey includes over a decade of research at the Center for Material Technology (BPPT) and ongoing contributions to national and ASEAN-level scientific initiatives. He currently serves as a Technical Committee member for Indonesia’s Hydrogen Technology Standard (TC 27-11) and as the ASEAN COSTI focal point for Sustainable Energy Research. In Scopus, he has published 15 documents with 28 citations and an h-index of 3. Google Scholar reports 530 citations with an h-index of 10, reflecting his growing impact in sustainable energy research. In addition to his research, Dr. Arjasa is Vice President of Power Resilience at HAGI, a reviewer for international journals, and a dedicated member of multiple scientific consortia. His work in battery recycling, rare earth materials, and hydrogen fuel development reflects his commitment to advancing clean energy technologies in Indonesia and beyond.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid | Google scholar 

Featured Publications

Bhagaskara, A., Wijaya, K., Trisunaryanti, W., Saputra, D. A., Agustanhakri, A., Taqwatomo, G., Arjasa, O. P., Budiman, A. H., & Anggaravidya, M. (2025, October). Upcycling secondary nickel from spent nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries as a nanocatalyst on sulfated natural zeolite for converting LDPE plastic waste into jet-fuel hydrocarbons. Next Materials.

Hastuti, L. P., Budiman, A. H., Arjasa, O. P., Ristiana, D. D., Gumelar, M. D., Saputra, D. A., Rahayu, S., Husin, S., & Prasetyo, H. (2025, June 18). Synergistic NiS/CuO heterostructures as two-in-one catalysts for dye removal and bacterial inactivation. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry.

Hastuti, L. P., Budiman, A. H., Darsono, N., Timuda, G. E., Bakri, A., Darmawan, A., & Arjasa, O. P. (2025, May 4). Novel g-C₃N₄/rGO/NiS incorporated into GO free-standing membrane as a photocatalytic membrane for excellent dye photodegradation. Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures.

Simamora, R. M. A., Setyadi, J. P., Pravitasari, R. D., Arjasa, O. P., Damisih, D., Hapsari, A. U., Raharjo, J., Indayaningsih, N., Subhan, A., Budiman, A. H., et al. (2025, January 13). Pt nanowire arrays on graphene-integrated cathode gas diffusion layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. ACS Applied Energy Materials.

Husin, S., Saudi, A. U., Taqwatomo, G., Gumelar, M. D., Raharjo, J., Rahayu, S., Prasetyo, H., Yuliani, H., Saputra, D. A., Arjasa, O. P., et al. (2024). Recovery of valuable metals from NMC-811 Li-ion battery waste with froth flotation and hydrometallurgical extraction. Engineering and Applied Science Research.