Catalysis Division

Welcome address

“Chemistry without catalysis, would be a sword without a handle, a light without brilliance, a bell without sound” –Alwin Mittasch

Catalysis Division of CSIR-NCL work at developing novel heterogeneous catalytic materials for variety of applications including Energy, Environment and Healthcare. We also undertake fundamental surface science studies under in-situ or operando conditions to arrive at molecular level details of bond making and breaking process on a catalyst surface.

A strong emphasize on converting the performance of the materials to processes with pilot plant facility makes our division unique among others.

Materials for Hydrogen Generation, Biomass Utilization, Photocatalysis, Surface Science etc are some of the areas that are currently being actively pursued.

The students can expect to carry out material synthesis, characterization and their catalysis. They will be trained to operate different types of reactors, high end instruments for catalyst characterization and will enjoy the freedom to cut across divisions to acquire cross disipilnary knowledge.

News, Events and Highlights

Recent Publications view all>>

Co-existence of ZrW O

Manimaran Shanmugam, C. Kavitha, Anusree Elavanaparambil Anilan, Banu Marimuthu, Pandurangan Arumugam,Krishna Kumar Yadav, Norah A.M. Alsaif, Mir Waqas Alam, Co-existence of ZrW2O8 and ZrO2 for the Catalytic Conversion of Levulinic Acid and Furfuryl Alcohol into n-Butyl Levulinate, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering., , 123886 (2026), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.123886.

Catalytic strategies for saccharides-to-lactic

Banu Marimuthu*, Anusree Elavanaparambil Anilan,Sreejith Sreekantan, Catalytic strategies for saccharides-to-lactic acid production: Process pathways, economic viability, and environmental sustainability – A comprehensive review, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering., 14, 123533 (2026), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.123533.

A process for the

Arunima Balachandran Kirali, Banu Marimuthu, Sreejith Sreekantan, A process for the direct conversion of sugar to value added products, WO2023203582A1., , (2026).

Photoluminescence Decay Lifetime Study

Gangadhar Hattale, Rutuja Kadam, Vishal Virole, Rinu Pandya, Aditya Paul, Ajay Kumar, Rahul Shevate, Kumar Vanka, Avishek Saha, Rajesh Kanawade*, Photoluminescence Decay Lifetime Study of Hydrothermally Synthesized Highly Porous Ruthenium–Silica Composite for Optical Dissolved Oxygen Sensing Application, ACS Applied Nano Materials., 9, 937 - 949 (2026), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.5c04307.

Concurrent glycerol oxidation and

Jayasmita Jana,* Somnath Chowdhury, Avishek Saha, Sung Gu Kang, Seung Hyun Hur,* Chinnakonda S. Gopinath*, Concurrent glycerol oxidation and hydrogen production on Cesingle bondCo oxide/carbon for sustainable biomass valorization, Chemical Engineering Journal., 535, 175707 (2026), DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2026.175707.

Announcements