Research Area

Inorganic Synthesis, Hybrid Materials

• Polyoxometalates based hybrids: For photochromic, photocatalytic and photoresist applications. We aim to design and develop novel POM-organic hybrids using electronically and sterically tunable cationic organic moieties targeting diverse materials and catalytic applications.
• Coordination compounds: For optical and catalytic applications. Coordination compounds of multidentate ligands are developed as catalysts for organic reactions like trans-esterification, bio-diesel synthesis etc. Highly fluorescent coordination compounds are also developed for diverse optical applications including latent fingerprint imaging.
• Small organic molecules: As organic semiconductors, solid state near-infrared emitters and cytotoxic agents. New small organic molecules with extended π-conjugation exhibiting aromatic π-π stacking interactions are developed for OFET applications.

Research Interests

Our research group works on synthetic inorganic chemistry. We synthesize new small organic molecules, organic-inorganic hybrids and coordination compounds for materials and catalytic applications. One major area of our focus is Polyoxometalate-based hybrids. Recently, we target the development of new tunable hybrids based on non-traditional counter ions and diverse polyoxometalate clusters. These hybrids are explored as photoresists for applications in EUV/E-beam-lithography, photochromic materials, photocatalysts for environment remediation applications and as water-oxidation catalysts (WOCs).

Synthesis of new small organic molecules and their coordination compounds for optical and catalytic applications is another ongoing research activity of our group. We target the facile synthesis of simple organic molecules and coordination compounds that emit in NIR region in the solid state. Further, our group also focuses on developing small organic molecules exhibiting biological applications such as cytotoxic properties.

Recent Publications

• P. A. Abramov, P. S. Postnikov, N. S. Soldatova, R. K. Swain, C. P. Pradeep, "Noncovalent Interactions Surrounding Polyoxometalates: from Chemistry to Materials Applications", Chem. Rec., 2026, Accepted article.
• S. Bhowmik, T. Pal, K. Routh, M. Roy, C. P. Pradeep, D. D. Khubchandani, A. Suhail, N. R. Peela, P. K. Iyer, "Amide-Anchored Pyrazine-Bridged Cu-Phenanthroline Molecular Complex on Carbon Nitride Nanostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution", ACS Appl. Nano Mater., 2026, 9, 20, 9387-9399.

Representative Publications

• K. Routh, R. K. Swain, G. Kumar, C. P. Pradeep, "Amine functionalized quinolinium polyoxometalates as highly active heterogeneous catalysts for solvent-free CO2 cycloaddition and Knoevenagel condensation reactions", Dalton Trans., 2025, 54, 12324-12339.
• K. Routh, A. Kar, C. P. Pradeep, "Modulating the catalytic properties of decavanadate hybrids using a mixed counterion strategy for selective oxidation of thiophene-based sulfides and detoxification of mustard gas simulant", Dalton Trans., 2025, 54, 6195-6210.
• R. K. Swain, A. Kar, A. Halder, C. P. Pradeep, "An in situ dual modification strategy for enhancing the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution performance of ZIF-67", Dalton Trans., 2025, 54, 13294-13307.
• M. Singh, H. Gupta, P. Bedi, C. P. Pradeep, "Transformation of a Polyoxometalate Precursor into Carbon Doped Bismuth Molybdate Nanosheets for the Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Aqueous Pollutants", ACS Appl. Nano Mater., 2024, 7, 17596-17610.
• A. Kar, R. K. Swain, A. Halder, C. P. Pradeep, "Self-Sulfuration and Carbonization of a Mixed-Metal Aryl Sulfonium Polyoxometalate Hybrid: A Path to Electrocatalytically Active Ternary Composite", ACS Appl. Energy Mater., 2024, 7, 1828-1841.
• S. Sehlangia, S. Dogra, P. Mondal, C. P. Pradeep, "New 8-hydroxy quinoline-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) conjugates and their sulfonated derivatives: effects of sulfonation and PAH size on their structural, supramolecular and cytotoxic properties", CrystEngComm, 2024, 26 (18), 2361-2372.
• M. Singh, A. Yadav, R. Singh, C. P. Pradeep, "Aryl selenonium vs aryl sulfonium counterions in polyoxometalate chemistry: The impact of Se+ cationic centers on the photocatalytic reduction of dichromate", Dalton Trans., 2024, 53 (2), 724-737.
• K. Routh, C. P. Pradeep, "Multifunctional aryl sulfonium decavanadates: tuning the photochromic and heterogeneous oxidative desulfurization catalytic properties using salicylaldehyde-type functional moieties on counterions", Inorg. Chem., 2023, 62 (34), 13775-13792.
• R. Singh, C. P. Pradeep, "Highly pKa-Sensitive Colorimetric and Fluorescence Turn-on Chemosensors for Trinitrophenol and Crystallographic Investigation of Their Solid-State NIR-Emissive Host-Guest Adducts", Cryst. Growth Des., 2023, 23 (9), 6725-6736.
• A. Kar, C. P. Pradeep, "Mixed Organic Counterion Strategy Modulates the Self-Assembly of Polyoxometalate Hybrids into Toroids and Affects Their Photochromic and Photocatalytic Properties", Inorg. Chem., 2022, 61, 50, 20561-20575.
• M. Singh, A. Yadav, C. P. Pradeep, "Keggin Cluster Modulated Photocatalytic Activity of Aryl Sulfonium Polyoxometalate Hybrids toward Dichromate Reduction", Langmuir, 2022, 38, 51, 16034-16045.
• S. Sehlangia, N. Nayak, N. Garg, C. P. Pradeep, "Substituent-Controlled Structural, Supramolecular, and Cytotoxic Properties of a Series of 2-Styryl-8-nitro and 2-Styryl-8-hydroxy Quinolines", ACS Omega, 2022, 7, 28, 24838-24850.
• K. Routh, S. Kaur, C. P. Pradeep, "A New Class of Water-Soluble Aryl Sulfonium Decavanadates and Their Antioxidant Activity: Effects of Cluster Reduction and Counter Ion Substitution on Activity", Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2022, e202200265.
• R. Singh, C. P. Pradeep, "Mono-and Rare Trinuclear Zn (II) Complexes with Near-Infrared Emissive Ligands: Anion-Responsive Nuclearity Control, Interconversion, Solid-State NIR Emission, and Latent Fingerprint Imaging", Cryst. Growth Des., 2022, 22, 5, 2910-2924.
• A. Kar, L. Sharma, A. Kumar, A. Halder, C. P. Pradeep, "A Facile Synthetic Strategy for Decavanadate and Transition Metal Based All-Inorganic Coordination Polymers and Insights into Their Electrocatalytic OER Activity", Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2022, e202101031.
• M. Singh, C. P. Pradeep, "Modulation of photocatalytic properties through counter-ion substitution: tuning the bandgaps of aromatic sulfonium octamolybdates for efficient photo-degradation of rhodamine B", Dalton Trans., 2022, 51, 3122-3136.