About the Faculty

Dr. Saurav Bhattacharya joined as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry of BITS Pilani K. K. Birla Goa campus in June 2022. Before doing so, he obtained his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (2009-2016), and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2016-2022). His research interests primarily lie in the area of synthesis and structural determination of transition metal- and noble metal-oxo clusters integrated into Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), and study their efficacy as heterogeneous catalysts in important organic coupling reactions as well as oxidative and reductive transformations that yield important value-added products. When not working in the laboratory, Dr. Bhattacharya loves to walk, observe and capture unique moments from day to day life in his camera. He loves to listen to music and dabble in various kinds of sports, both indoors as well as outdoors.

Education

Integrated MS and PhD in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, India (Aug 2007 – Mar 2016)

PhD Supervisor: Prof. Srinivasan Natarajan

BSc in Chemistry from Presidency College, University of Calcutta, India (2004 – 2007)

Work Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (Apr 2016 – May 2022)

Research Supervisor: Prof. Ulrich Kortz

Research Interests

The principal aim of our research group is the systematic design and development of novel heterogeneous catalysts based on transition-metal ion/noble-metal ion clusters and their organic-inorganic hybrids as well as the design of mixed-metal nano-alloys on porous supports, which can catalyze various fundamentally important reactions. We lay emphasis on the structural determination and characterization of the materials utilizing X-ray diffraction (single crystal and powder), microscopic as well as spectroscopic techniques, and the catalytic reactions are performed utilizing conventional solvothermal techniques, microwave reactors, high pressure catalytic reactors, and electrochemical methods. In addition, the research, being right at the interface between inorganic and materials chemistry, necessitates collaborations with theoretical and spectroscopic research groups in order to study the structure-property relationships and decipher the mechanisms of the reactions, as well as industry, especially in the energy and environment sector, in order to study the efficacy of the catalysts in industrially relevant processes.

Key Points

• Coordination Chemistry: Synthesis and structural determination of Metal-oxo clusters and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
• X-ray diffraction (single-crystal and powder) and spectroscopy (UV-Vis, IR, Luminescence)
• Directed synthesis of metal nanoparticles and nano-alloys on porous supports
• Heterogeneous Catalysis: organic coupling reactions, oxidation, selective hydrogenation, and electrocatalysis.

External Websites

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