Dr.Vijayakumar Chakkooth

Dr.Vijayakumar Chakkooth

Dr. Vijayakumar received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Kerala in January 2008 based on the work done in the area of ‘Functional Supramolecular Materials’ under the guidance of Prof. A. Ajayaghosh at CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram. Subsequently, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (January 2008 – December 2010) at the Organic Materials Group, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan. Later he worked as an Assistant Professor (January 2011 – December 2012) at the Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Japan. He joined the Chemical Sciences and Technology Division of CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram as a Scientist on 01 January 2013.

Dr. Vijayakumar has been recognized by several awards, including the prestigious Ramanujan Fellowship (DST-2013), Kerala State Young Scientist Award (KSCSTE-2017), and Raman Research Fellowship (CSIR-2021; Host Institute: Purdue University, USA). He has established many collaborations with high-ranking research institutions such as Osaka University (Japan), National Institute for Materials Science (Japan), Hokkaido University (Japan), Uppsala University (Sweden), ITMO University (Russia), A. N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry (Russia), AGH University of Science and Technology (Poland), Mahidol University (Thailand), Universiti Kebangsaan (Malaysia), and Purdue University (USA). He has been invited to Hokkaido University as a visiting scientist (2016). He got selected for the Micro Fellowship program of ITMO University, Russia (2020).

Dr. Vijayakumar has published more than 50 papers in top international journals. His career h-index is 26, i10-index 38 with 3,398 total citations, including nine highly cited articles with citations >100.  His current research interests include Halide Perovskites, Thermoelectric Composites, Fluorescent Materials, Supramolecular Chemistry, and Photophysics.

http://niist.irins.org/profile/64964

Group Website  : www.vijayakumarlab.com
Google Scholar : scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=GLTYrp0AAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID iD          : orcid.org/0000-0001-5347-6799
Researcher ID   : AAO-1412-2020

Professional Experience
  • Principal Scientist (Jan 2019 – Till date) at CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
  • Senior Scientist (Jan 2016 – Dec 2018) at CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
  • Ramanujan Fellow (Aug 2013 – Jul 2018) at CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
  • Scientist (Jan 2013 – Dec 2015) at CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
  • Assistant Professor (Jan 2011 – Dec 2012) at the Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan (Advisor: Prof. S. Seki).
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Jan 2008 – Dec 2010) at the Organic Materials Group, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan (Advisor: Prof. M. Takeuchi).
  • Senior Research Fellow (Jan 2006 – Dec 2007) under CSIR-NET Fellowship at CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram (Advisor: Dr. A. Ajayaghosh).
  • Junior Research Fellow (Jan 2003 – Dec 2005) under CSIR-NET Fellowship at CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram (Advisor: Dr. A. Ajayaghosh).
Achievements & Awards

Honours and Awards

  • Raman Research Fellowship (Purdue University, USA); Awarded by CSIR, Govt. of India (2021)
  • Honorary Fellow at ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia (2020)
  • Kerala State Young Scientist Award (Chemical Sciences); Awarded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (2017)
  • Visiting Scientist Hokkaido University, Japan 2016
  • Ramanujan Fellowship (2013)
  • Member of American Chemical Society (2012 onwards)
  • Member of Royal Society of Chemistry (2012 onwards)
  • CSIR Senior Research Fellowship (January 2005)
  • CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (June 2002)
  • UGC National Eligibility Test (December 2001)
Patents & Publications

Publications:

  • Stable and Efficient White Photoluminescence from Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals/ Polyfluorene Organogel Composite by Suppressing of Halide Ion Migration; C. Muthu, J. K. Pious, T. Thankachan, N. Krishna, C. Vijayakumar,* Adv. Opt. Mater. 2021, 9, 2100601 (1-6).
  • Self-Assembled Organic Cations-Assisted Band-Edge Tailoring in Bismuth-Based Perovskites for Enhanced Visible Light Absorption and Photoconductivity; K. Pious, M. G. Basavarajappa, C. Muthu, R. Nishikubo, A. Saeki, S. Chakraborty, A. Takai, M. Takeuchi, C. Vijayakumar,* J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2021, 12, 5758-5764.
  • MWCNT/Thienothiophene based All-Organic thermoelectric composites:
    Enhanced performance by realigning of the Fermi level through doping; Vijitha, N. Raveendran, P. Arjun, T. P. Yuvaraj, C. Vijayakumar,* B. Deb,* Chem. Eng. J. 2021, 409, 128294 (1-11).
  • Resistive Switching in Formamidinium Lead Iodide Perovskite Nanocrystals: A Contradiction to the Bulk Form; C. Muthu, A. N. Resmi, J. K. Pious, G. Dayal, N. Krishna, K. B. Jinesh,* Vijayakumar,* J. Mater. Chem. C 2021, 9, 288-293.
  • Formamidinium Lead Iodide Perovskite Nanocrystal/Squaraine Dye Composite based Visibly Opaque and Near-Infrared Transmitting Material; C. Muthu, J. K. Pious, P. S. Seethal, N. Krishna, Vijayakumar,* Adv. Optical Mater. 2020, 8, 2001130 (1-8).
  • Anisotropic Photoconductivity and Long-Lived Charge Carriers in Bismuth-Based One-Dimensional Perovskite with Type-IIa Band Alignment; J. K. Pious, M. G. Basavarajappa, C. Muthu, N. Krishna, R. Nishikubo, A. Saeki, S. Chakraborty,* Vijayakumar,* J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2020, 11, 6757-6762
  • Bismuth based zero-dimensional perovskite-like material: Effect of benzylammonium on dielectric confinement and photoconductivity; J. K. Pious, C. Muthu, S. Dani, A. Saeki, Vijayakumar,* Chem. Mater. 2020, 32, 2647-2652.
  • Trifluoromethyl-Directed Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Fullerenes: Synthesis, Characterization and Photovoltaic Applications; S. Thawarkar, P. Nagarjuna, A. Bagui, R. Narayan, J. S. Panicker, Vijayakumar, S. P. Singh*; Chem. Select 2020, 5, 1115-1121.
  • Zero- Dimensional Lead-Free Hybrid Perovskite-like Material with a Quantum-Well Structure; J. K. Pious, Katre,C. Muthu,S. Chakraborty,S. Krishna, C. Vijayakumar,* Chem. Mater. 2019, 31, 1941-1945.
  • Photoinduced photoluminescence enhancement in self-assembled clusters of formamidinium lead bromide perovskite nanocrystals; S. Ghimire, Vijayakumar*, C. Muthu, K.-i. Yuyama, M. Vacha, V. Biju*; Nanoscale 2019, 11, 9335-9340.
  • Protein-assisted supramolecular control over fluorescence resonance energy transfer in aqueous medium; Vijayakumar,* K. K. Kartha, B. Balan, S. Poulose, M. Takeuchi*; J. Phys. Chem. C 2019, 123, 13141-13146.
  • Preferential face-on and edge-on orientation of thiophene oligomers by rational molecular design; T. Ghosh, S. Nagasawa, N. Raveendran, V. Darshan, A. Saeki, Vijayakumar*; Chem. Asian J. 2019, 14, 963-967.
  • V. V. Malov, T. Ghosh, C. Vijayakumar, M. M. Maslov, K. P. Katin, K. N. N. Unni, A. R. Tameev*; Hole mobility in thieno[3,2-b]thiophene oligomers; Mendaleev Commun. 2019, 29, 218-219.
  • K. C. Naeem, C. Vijayakumar*; Reversible switching of solid-state luminescence by heat-induced interconversion of molecular packing; Mol. Syst. Des. Eng. 2018, 3, 142-149.
  • J. K. Pious, M. L. Lekshmi, C. Muthu, R. B. Rakhi,*; C. Vijayakumar*; Zero-Dimensional Methylammonium Bismuth Iodide-Based Lead Free Perovskite Capacitor; ACS Omega 2017, 2, 5798-5802.
  • K. C. Naeem, K. Neenu, C. Vijayakumar*; Effect of differential self-assembly on mechanochromic luminescence of fluorene-benzothiadiazole-based fluorophores; ACS Omega 2017, 2, 9118-9126.
  • C. Muthu, A. Vijayan, C. Vijayakumar*; CH3NH3PbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals as Efficient Light-Harvesting Antenna for Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; Chem. Asian J. 2017, 12, 988–995.
  • T. Ghosh, J. S. Panicker, C. Vijayakumar*; Self-Assembled Organic Materials for Photovoltaic Application; Polymers 2017, 9, 112.
  • C. Vijayakumar,* C. Muthu, A. L. Rogach, R. Kohara, and V. Biju*; Channeling Exciton Migration into Electron Transfer in Formamidinium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystal/Fullerene Composites; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 1214–1218.
  • Jayanthy S. Panicker, Shinji Nagasawa, Akinori Saeki,* Vijayakumar; Synthesis and Optoelectronic Properties of Thiophene-Based Semiconducting Oligomers; Chem. Select 2016, 1, 6872–6879.
  • Jayanthy S. Panicker, Bijitha Balan*, Suraj Soman*, Vijayakumar; Understanding structure-property correlation of metal free organic dyes using interfacial electron transfer measurements; Solar Energy 2016, 139, 547–556.
  • T. Ghosh, A. Gopal, S. Nagasawa, N. Mohan, A. Saeki,* C. Vijayakumar*; Following the TRMC trail: Optimization of photovoltaic efficiency and structure-property correlation of thiophene oligomers; ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 25396-25404.
  • C. Muthu, S. Agarwal, A. Vijayan, P. Hazra, K. B. Jinesh,* C. Vijayakumar*; Hybrid perovskite nanoparticles for high-performance resistive random access memory devices: Control of operational parameters through chloride doping; Adv. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 3, 1600092.
  • P. Kumar, C. Muthu, C. Vijayakumar, K. S. Narayan*; Quantum confinement effects in organic lead tribromide perovskite nanoparticles; J. Phys. Chem. C 2016, 120, 18333-18339.
  • B. Vedhanarayanan, V. S. Nair, C. Vijayakumar, A. Ajayaghosh*; Formation of coaxial nanocables with amplified supramolecular Chirality through an interaction between carbon nanotubes and a chiral pi-gelator; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 10345–10349.
  • J. S. Panicker, B. Balan,* S. Soman,* T. Ghosh, C. Vijayakumar; Thiophene-bithiazole based metal-free dye as DSSC sensitizer: Effect of co-adsorbents on photovoltaic efficiency; J. Chem. Sci. 2016, 128, 101-110.
  • K. C. Naeem, A. Subhakumari, S. Varughese, C. Vijayakumar*; Heteroatom induced contrasting effects on the stimuli responsive properties of anthracene based donor–pi–acceptor fluorophores; J. Mater. Chem. C 2015, 3, 10225-10231.
  • T. Ghosh, A. Gopal, A. Saeki,* S. Seki, C. Vijayakumar*; p/n-Polarity of thiophene oligomers in photovoltaic cells: role of molecular vs. supramolecular properties; Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015, 17, 10630-10639.
  • S. Prasanthkumar, S. Ghosh, C. Vijayakumar, A. Saeki, S. Seki, A. Ajayaghosh*; Organic donor–acceptor assemblies form coaxial p–n heterojunctions with high photoconductivity; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 946–950.
  • C. Muthu, S. R. Nagamma, C. Vijayakumar*; Luminescent hybrid perovskite nanoparticles as a new platform for selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol; RSC Adv. 2014, 4, 55908–55911.
  • K. K. Kartha, A. Sandeep, C. Vijayakumar, M. Takeuchi,* A. Ajayaghosh*; A carbazole–fluorene molecular hybrid for quantitative detection of TNT using a combined fluorescence and quartz crystal microbalance method; Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2014, 16, 18896–18901.
  • M. Tsuji, A. Saeki,* Y. Koizumi, N. Matsuyama, C. Vijayakumar, S. Seki*; Benzobisthiazole as weak donor for improved photovoltaic performance: Microwave conductivity technique assisted molecular engineering; Adv. Funct. Mater. 2014, 24, 28–36.
  • B. Balan, C. Vijayakumar, A. Saeki,* Y. Koizumi, M. Tsujia, S. Seki*; Optical and electrical properties of dithienothiophene based conjugated polymers: medium donor vs. weak, medium, and strong acceptors; Polym. Chem. 2013, 4, 2293–2303.
  • Y. Koizumi,* M. Ide, A. Saeki, C. Vijayakumar, B. Balan, M. Kawamoto, S. Seki*; Thienoisoindigo-based low-band gap polymers for organic electronic devices; Polym. Chem. 2013, 4, 484–494.
  • A. Saeki,* S. Yoshikawa, M. Tsuji, Y. Koizumi, M. Ide, C. Vijayakumar, S. Seki; A versatile approach to organic photovoltaics evaluation using white light pulse and microwave conductivity; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 19035–19042.
  • C. Vijayakumar, B. Balan, A. Saeki,* T. Tsuda, S. Kuwabata, S. Seki*; Gold nanoparticle assisted self-assembly and enhancement of charge carrier mobilities of a conjugated polymer; J. Phys. Chem. C 2012, 116, 17343–17350.
  • C. Vijayakumar, A. Saeki,* S. Seki*; Optoelectronic properties of dicyanofluorene based n-type polymers; Chem. Asian J. 2012, 7, 1845–1852.
  • B. Balan, C. Vijayakumar, M. Tsuji, A. Saeki,* S. Seki*; Detection and distinction of DNT and TNT with a fluorescent conjugated polymer using microwave conductivity technique; J. Phys. Chem. B 2012, 116, 10371-10378.
  • B. Balan, C. Vijayakumar, A. Saeki,* Y. Koizumi, S. Seki*; p/n Switching of ambipolar bithiazole-benzothiadiazole-based polymers in photovoltaic cells; Macromolecules 2012, 45, 2709–2719.
  • S. Seki,* A. Saeki, W. Choi, Y. Maeyoshi, M. Omichi, A. Asano, K. Enomoto, C. Vijayakumar, M. Sugimoto, S. Tsukuda, S.-i. Tanaka; Semiconducting cross-linked polymer nanowires prepared by high- energy single-particle track reactions; J. Phys. Chem. B 2012, 116, 12857-12863.
  • B. Balan, C. Vijayakumar, S. Ogi, M. Takeuchi*; Oligofluorene-based nanoparticles in aqueous medium: Hydrogen bond assisted modulation of functional properties and color tunable FRET emission; J. Mater. Chem. 2012, 22, 11224–11234.
  • C. Vijayakumar, B. Balan, M.-J. Kim, M. Takeuchi*; No-covalent functionalization of SWNTs with azobenzene-containing polymers: Solubility, stability and enhancement of photoresponsive properties; J. Phys. Chem. C 2011, 115, 4533–4539.
  • C. Vijayakumar, V. K. Praveen, K. K. Kartha, A. Ajayaghosh*; Excitation energy migration in oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) based organogels: structure-property relationship and FRET efficiency; Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011, 13, 4942–4949.
  • C. Vijayakumar, K. Sugiyasu, M. Takeuchi*; Oligofluorene-based electrophoretic nanoparticles in aqueous medium as a donor scaffold for fluorescence resonance energy transfer and white light emission; Chem. Sci. 2011, 2, 291–294.
  • C. Vijayakumar, G. Tobin, W. Schmitt, M.-J. Kim, M. Takeuchi*; Detection of explosive vapors with a charge transfer molecule: Self-assembly assisted morphology tuning and enhancement in sensing efficiency; Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 874–876.
  • C. Vijayakumar, V. K. Praveen, A. Ajayaghosh*; RGB emission through controlled donor self-assembly and modulation of excitation energy transfer: A novel approach to white light emitting organogels; Adv. Mater. 2009, 21, 2059–2063.
  • V. K. Praveen, S. S. Babu, C. Vijayakumar, R. Varghese, A. Ajayaghosh*; Helical supramolecular architectures of self-assembled linear pi-systems; Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 2008, 81, 1196–1211.
  • A. Ajayaghosh,* V. K. Praveen, C. Vijayakumar; Organogels as scaffolds for excitation energy transfer and light harvesting; Chem. Soc. Rev. 2008, 37, 109–122.
  • A. Ajayaghosh,* V. K. Praveen, C. Vijayakumar, S. J. Goerge; Molecular wire encapsulated into pi-organogels: efficient supramolecular light harvesting antennae with color-tunable emission; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 6260–6265.
  • V. K. Praveen, S. J. George, R. Varghese, C. Vijayakumar, A. Ajayaghosh*; Self-assembled pi-nanotapes as donor scaffolds for selective and thermally gated fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET); J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 7542-7550.
  • A. Ajayaghosh,* C. Vijayakumar, V. K. Praveen, S. S. Babu, R. Varghese; Self-location of acceptors as “isolated” or “stacked” energy traps in a supramole-cular donor self-assembly: A strategy to wavelength tunable FRET emission; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 7174-7175.
  • A. Ajayaghosh,* R. Varghese, S. J. George, C. Vijayakumar; Transcription and amplification of molecular chirality to oppositely biased supramolecular pi-helices; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 1141-1144. (VIP article with front cover page)
  • Ajayaghosh,* Vijayakumar, R. Varghese, S. J. George; Cholesterol-aided supramolecular control over chromophore packing: Twisted and coiled helices with distinct optical, chiroptical and morphological features; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 456-460. (VIP article)

Patents:

  • A. Ajayaghosh, C. Sandeep, C. Vijayakumar; A thermoresponsive self-assembled organic material as photonic ink and a process of making thereof; Filed (0157NF2019; Application No. 202011038507; Date of Filing: 05 September 2020).
  • B. Ded, C. Vijayakumar, I. Vijitha, M. R. Meshram, J.Singh, T. P. Yuvaraj; Thermoelectric material and process for the preparation thereof; Filed (0068NF2018; Appl. No.: 201811035273; US Patent App. 16/979019).
  • A. Ajayaghosh, C. Vijayakumar, V. K. Praveen White light emitting organogel and process thereof IN200702749-I1; US2010283006-A1; WO2009084006-A1.

Technology Transfer:

  • Process/product know-how for the making of invisible fluorescent dyes and pigments
Completed Projects as Principle Investigator

Ongoing Projects:

  1. Fluorescent pigments for currency application; Funded by CSIR under the Fast Track Commercialization (FTC) Projects; Team members: Dr. Praveen V. K., Dr. Jubi John, Dr. Saju Pillai, Dr. Sreejith Shankar, Dr. Karunakaran
  2. Development of thermoelectric modules with enhanced performance in TEG and TEC modes; Funded by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL); Phase-II project; Joint-PI: Dr. Biswapriya Deb, CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram
  3. Experimental and Theoretical Investigation on Lead-Free Perovskites for Optoelectronic Applications; Funded by DST-SERB under the Core Research Grant (CRG) Scheme. Collaborator: Dr. Sudip Chakraborty, Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI) Allahabad, India.
  4. Synthesis and Photophysical Study of Hybrid Perovskite Materials for High-Efficiency Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices; Funded by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE) under the Kerala State Young Scientist Award (KSYSA) Scheme.
  5. Exploring Lead-Free Hybrid Perovskite Materials for Neuromorphic Computing; Funded by DST under the India-Poland Inter-Governmental Science & Technology Cooperation Program; Collaborator: Konrad Szacilowski, Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland.
  6. Lead-free hybrid perovskites incorporated with organic charge-transfer complexes for photovoltaic application; Funded by DST under the ASEAN-India Collaborative R&D Scheme; Collaborators: Pongsakorn Kanjanaboos, Mahidol University, Thailand. & Dr. Mohd. Asri Mat Teridi, Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia.
  7. Lead-free perovskite materials for photonic applications; Approved under the Micro Fellowship Program, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Host: Dr. Sergey Makarov, Laboratory of Hybrid Nanophotonics and Optoelectronics, ITMO University.
  8. Device studies of novel lead-free perovskite materials for optoelectronic applications; Approved under the CSIR – Raman Research Fellowship Award; Host: Dr. Letian Dou, Purdue University, USA.

Completed Projects:

  1. Fluorescent Materials for Security Applications (CSIR-FTT)
  2. Organic-based thermoelectric materials for low-cost refrigeration usage (GAIL; Phase-I Project)
  3. Development of Novel Organic Materials for Photovoltaic Applications (DST-Ramanujan Fellowship)
  4. Fluorescence-based anti-counterfeiting/security technology (CSIR-NIIST)
  5. New materials for improved cost-effective perovskite solar cells (DST-SERI)
  6. Fused thiophene based FET devices for lung cancer VOC biomarker detection (CSIR-FTT)
  7. Chromogenic Materials for Smart Coating Applications (CSIR-NCP)
  8. Charge carrier transport in polymeric and organic semiconducting thin film for application in light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, and photovoltaic devices (DST; Indo-Russian)
  9. Large area optoelectronics for Australia and India: From materials to advanced devices (DST; Indo-Australian)
  10. Nano-Biosensors and Microfluidics for Health Care (CSIR-Mission)
  11. Molecules to Materials to Devices (CSIR-Network)
  12. Development of organic photovoltaics for energy harvesting (CSIR-Network)
Academic Qualification
  • Ph. D., Chemistry, 2008, CSIR–NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram (Awarded by University of Kerala, Trivandrum)
    Thesis title: “Design, synthesis, and self-assembly of a few oligo(p-phenylenevinylene)
    derivatives: Control of chromophore assemblies and optical properties of p-organogels”
    Thesis supervisor: Dr. A. Ajayaghosh, Photosciences and Photonics Group, CSIR-NIIST, Trivandrum
  • M. Sc. Chemistry, 2002, SNGS College Pattambi, Calicut University, Kerala.
  • B. Sc. Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, 2000, SNGS College Pattambi, Calicut University, Kerala.
Research Interest

Research Interests

  • Halide Perovskites: Luminescent nanocrystals, Quantum dots, Lead-free materials, Non-volatile memory devices, Neuromorphic computing, Photonic devices, Solar cells, Photodetectors, Light-emitting diodes.
  • Thermoelectric Composites: All-organic light-weight composites, Waste heat harvesting and conversion to electricity, Thermoelectric coolers
  • Fluorescent Materials: Security printing, Anti-counterfeiting, Brand protection, Stimuli-responsive materials, Thermochromic/ Electrochromic/ Photochromic materials
  • Supramolecular Chemistry: Self-assembly, Pi-conjugated systems, Functional materials, Chromophore packing
  • Photophysics: Absorption, Fluorescence, Phosphorescence, Excited-state properties, Time-resolved microwave conductivity