Chemical Communications Blog

We are excited to share the success of Rajendra Kumar Konidena’s first-time independent article in ChemComm; “A streamlined steric-shielding approach toward efficient narrowband (FWHM ∼ 18 nm) ultra-violet emitters for OLEDs” included in the full milestones collection. 

Read our interview with Rajendra below.

What are the main areas of research in your lab and what motivated you to take this direction?

Replacing traditional metal-based functional materials with purely organic alternatives in energy-related optoelectronic devices and biomedical applications is one of the current key goals of chemical sciences research. Despite their advantages in cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability, achieving high performance demands a deep understanding of the interplay between molecular structure and functional properties. Driven by this challenge, our group — the Organic Materials Laboratory (OM-Lab) at IIT Patna — is dedicated to designing and synthesizing innovative organic building blocks and exploring their structure–property correlations and device performances. Our long-term vision is to develop efficient organic materials that can enable real-world devices with significant technological and societal impact.

Can you set this article in a wider context?

Developing metal-free, purely organic narrowband ultraviolet (UV) emitters with emission < 380 nm remains a significant challenge. UV emitters are not just important in lighting and display technologies— they also play key roles in sterilization, sensing, photocatalysis, and biomedical imaging. Traditional approaches often rely on complex boron-based systems, which limit scalability and sustainability. Our work addresses this gap by introducing a simple, yet versatile, molecular design by combining two rigid organic building blocks — indolocarbazole and carbazole — in a sterically controlled, non-conjugated fashion. This design unveiled a new molecule that produces sharp, color-pure UV emission with an impressively narrow bandwidth. This study highlights how smart molecular engineering can lead to cost-effective, sustainable, and high-performance organic materials that could power the next wave of optoelectronics.

What do you hope your lab can achieve in the coming year?

The group has now grown to a substantial size, and individual research projects are gaining momentum. In the coming year, I hope our lab will continue to explore new molecular designs and synthesize new heterocyclic building blocks that challenge the boundaries of what organic materials can do. My vision is that each discovery from our lab should bring us a step closer to being both scientifically exciting and technologically impactful.

Describe your journey to becoming an independent researcher.

There have been many crucial moments that have shaped my journey to where I am today, and I am deeply grateful to the many people who have supported me along the way—especially my supervisors. Their invaluable guidance and mentorship have played a central role in shaping me into the scientist I am today.

I earned my Ph.D. in 2017 under the guidance of Prof. K. R. Justin Thomas at IIT Roorkee, where I developed a keen interest in functional organic materials for optoelectronic applications. Following my Ph.D., I held a NRF-sponsored Postdoctoral Fellowship in Prof. Jun Yeob Lee’s group at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea, where I explored advanced organic emitters for modern displays. I then worked with Prof. X. L. Feng at TU Dresden, Germany, and later with Prof. Jangwook Park in South Korea. Subsequently, I joined Prof. Takuma Yasuda’s group at Kyushu University, Japan, where I developed multiresonant TADF materials for OLEDs.  Across these experiences, I gained deep expertise in the rational design, synthesis, and structure–property studies of organic functional materials, which have become the foundation of my research philosophy. Motivated to translate these experiences into a distinct research vision, I established the independent research group, named OM-Lab at IIT Patna in 2024.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

I’ve been fortunate to receive valuable advice from many mentors, but the quote immediately come to mind while reading this is from my Ph.D. advisor, Prof. Justin: “Keep trying until you succeed” It continues to shape my approach to research and life.

Why did you choose to publish in ChemComm?

I chose ChemComm for its strong reputation in publishing high-quality, interdisciplinary, and cutting-edge research. Its broad and diverse readership also provides an excellent platform to maximize the visibility and impact of our work

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Dr Rajendra Kumar Konidena is an accomplished chemist with a strong academic and research background in organic chemistry and functional materials. He earned his Ph.D at IIT-Roorkee in 2017 under the guidance of Prof. K. R. Justin Thomas. Then, he undertook a postdoctoral fellowship sponsored by the NRF at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea, in Prof. Jun Yeob Lee group. He then joined the TU- Dresden, Germany, for a short postdoctoral stint. In July 2021, he began his tenure as a Research Professor at Kyung Hee University, Korea until March 2022. Subsequently, he moved to Kyushu University, Japan, where he served as a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow until April 2023. During his journey, he has been received prestigious fellowships, including the National Postdoctoral Fellowship, Ramanujan Fellowship (SERB, India), NRF Postdoctoral Fellowship (South Korea), JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship, Marie-Curie ERA Fellowship. In May 2024, Dr Konidena joined the Department of Chemistry at IIT Patna as Assistant Professor. His research interests lie in the design and synthesis of innovative organic functional materials for applications in optoelectronics and biomedical sciences.   Group webpage: https://rkonidena531.wixsite.com/organic-materials–1

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We are excited to share the success of Hongbing Wang’s first-time independent article in ChemComm; “Surface acidity as the decisive descriptor for hydroxyl-mediated hydrogen spillover in hydrogen isotope exchange” included in the full milestones collection. 

Read our interview with Hongbing below.

What are the main areas of research in your lab and what motivated you to take this direction?

My group at Chengdu University of Technology focuses on computational catalysis and materials design. We use first-principles calculations to understand reaction mechanisms at the atomic level and to design novel, efficient catalysts for sustainable chemical processes. I was motivated by the urgent global need for clean energy solutions, and I believe that fundamental, theory-driven research can accelerate the discovery of materials for critical applications like hydrogen energy and CO₂ valorization.

Can you set this article in a wider context?

This work on hydrogen isotope exchange is crucial for advancing hydrogen energy technologies. Efficiently separating hydrogen isotopes like deuterium and tritium is vital for heavy water production in nuclear reactors and for fuel processing in future fusion power plants. Our paper reveals that surface acidity is a key factor, providing a clear design principle for developing better catalysts for these important, large-scale applications.

What do you hope your lab can achieve in the coming year?

In the coming year, I hope to grow my research team by recruiting talented graduate students. We aim to expand our research from fundamental understanding to tackling more complex catalytic systems described in our article. Securing new funding and establishing strong collaborations with experimental groups will also be a key focus, as we want to bridge the gap between theoretical predictions and real-world applications.

Describe your journey to becoming an independent researcher.

My journey began with my undergraduate studies in chemical engineering at Chengdu University of Technology. My master’s at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and my PhD at the Institute of Materials, CAEP, provided me with a solid foundation in catalysis and materials science. I was fortunate to have excellent mentors who encouraged curiosity and independent thinking. The desire to pursue my own research ideas and to mentor the next generation of scientists was the driving force behind my decision to start my own lab.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

The best piece of advice I’ve received is “Focus on the important problems.” In research, it’s easy to get lost in minor details. This advice constantly reminds me to step back, look at the bigger picture, and direct my efforts toward questions that could truly make a difference in our field.

Why did you choose to publish in ChemComm?

ChemComm is a prestigious journal with a broad readership across all areas of chemistry. We chose it because we wanted our findings on a fundamental aspect of catalysis to reach a wide and diverse audience quickly. The journal’s reputation for publishing timely and significant research made it the perfect venue for our first independent work.

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Hongbing Wang is a  Associate Professor  at Chengdu University of Technology. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Chengdu University of Technology, followed by a master’s degree in the same field from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was awarded his PhD from the Institute of Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics. Throughout his academic career, his research interests have focused on heterogeneous catalysis, with specific expertise in interface catalysis, zeolite-mediated transformations, C1 chemistry, and solar-driven interfacial evaporation.

Explore more ChemComm Milestones news and updates on our Bluesky Feed (‪@chemcomm.rsc.org‬) and LinkedIn (ChemComm Journal)

We are excited to share the success of Marcel Schorpp’s first-time independent article in ChemComm; “A diazadiphospholenium cation featuring a reactive P=P bond: synthesis and reversible main-group bond activation” included in the full milestones collection. 

Read our interview with Marcel below.

What are the main areas of research in your lab and what motivated you to take this direction?

Our lab focuses on reactive main-group species, particularly the design and synthesis of molecular systems capable of reversible bond activation. A central theme is triggerable reactivity. We investigate compounds that respond to external stimuli, such as coordination, redox changes, and photoexcitation, enabling the controlled uptake, release, or transformation of chemical bonds.

Can you set this article in a wider context?

This article introduces a new heterocyclic cation featuring a reactive P=P bond. Typically, compounds with heavier p-block element multiple bonds require substantial kinetic stabilization through bulky ligand frameworks. In contrast, our system features a sterically exposed formal P=P double bond, which remains stable yet reactive. We believe its stability arises from a delicate balance between electronic delocalization and cationic charge. We are currently exploring its coordination chemistry and have already made some exciting observations. Looking ahead, we aim to extend this motif to other p-block elements, where we anticipate similarly intriguing reactivities and bonding scenarios.

What do you hope your lab can achieve in the coming year?

The group has now reached a decent size. It’s starting to look like the individual research projects are taking up pace, and we hope to finalize some stories from the various research directions we’re currently exploring over the next year.

Describe your journey to becoming an independent researcher.

My journey isn’t anything unusual: I completed a Ph.D. followed by two postdoctoral positions. I finished my Ph.D. just as COVID hit, which unfortunately prevented me from pursuing a planned postdoc in Australia. Thanks to the flexibility of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, I was able to change plans on short notice. While that period was challenging, everything has worked out well in the end, likely due to a good portion of luck and the excellent mentors I met along the way, who played a key role in shaping my path.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

I’ve had, and still have, many great supervisors and colleagues whose advice has been truly impactful. However, the quote that immediately came to mind while reading this is: “You have to be in it to win it,” a phrase a good friend often used to say.

Why did you choose to publish in ChemComm?

ChemComm was the right fit for this work due to its focus on concise, high-impact communications and its broad readership in inorganic and main-group chemistry. It’s an excellent platform for sharing new molecular designs and reactivity concepts.

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Marcel Schorpp studied Chemistry at Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, earning both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees. During this time, he completed a research internship with Prof. Jose Goicoechea, working on structurally constrained main-group compounds. From 2017 to 2020, he pursued a Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Ingo Krossing, focusing on the development of novel cationic oxidants and reactive main-group cations for bond activation. He then held a postdoctoral position with Prof. Lutz Greb at Heidelberg University, investigating structural constraint and electromerism in stibenium ↔ stibonium systems, demonstrating triggerable Lewis superacidity. From 2021 to 2023, he joined the group of Prof. Simon Aldridge at the University of Oxford, co-supervised by Prof. Cameron Jones, as a Feodor Lynen Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. His research there explored Group 14 and 15 compounds bearing aluminyl ligands for bond activation. Since April 2023, he has been a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Regensburg, where his research focuses on main-group compounds with triggerable reactivity. Instagram: @schorpplab Bluesky: @m-schorpp.bsky.social webpage: go.ur.de/schorpp-group

Explore more ChemComm Milestones news and updates on our Bluesky Feed (‪@chemcomm.rsc.org‬) and LinkedIn (ChemComm Journal)

We are excited to share the success of Yang Song’s first-time independent article in ChemComm; “Aqueous–organic hybrid electrolyte stabilizing zinc metal anodes” included in the full milestones collection. 

Read our interview with Yang below.

What are the main areas of research in your lab and what motivated you to take this direction?

My research group focuses on the following areas: Molten salt electrochemistry, including the reduction mechanism of titanium ions in molten salts, the design and development of molten salt aluminum-ion batteries, and the molten salt synthesis of MAX and Mxene materials. In terms of energy conversion, my research is dedicated to the development of novel electrolytes and electrode materials, as well as the electrochemical performance regulation of multivalent batteries (magnesium, aluminum, and zinc). We have chosen zinc-ion batteries as our research focus because zinc anodes offer advantages such as high specific capacity, low redox potential, low cost, and high safety, making zinc-based batteries highly promising for large-scale grid energy storage systems.

Can you set this article in a wider context?

Organic electrolytes exhibit excellent cycling stability and electrochemical performance, making them a focal point of extensive research interest in the optimization of zinc-ion battery electrolytes. Currently, systems utilizing solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMAC), and acetonitrile (AN) effectively suppress hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) through the high thermodynamic stability of the solvents, thereby mitigating parasitic reactions caused by water. However, practical applications face dual challenges: the inherent flammability of these organic solvents poses safety concerns, while the expensive fluorinated zinc salts, such as Zn(OTf)₂ and Zn(TFSI)₂, significantly hinder large-scale commercialization. Here, we propose a cost-effective, non-flammable hydrated organic electrolyte composed of DMF, H₂O, and hydrated Zn(BF₄)₂ salt, and report on the impact of Zn(BF₄)₂ concentration on the cycling stability of the zinc anode. At the optimal Zn(BF₄)₂ concentration, DMF plays a dominant role in the dissolution structure of Zn²⁺, reducing the amount of active water involved in Zn²⁺ coordination. This dissolution structure also facilitates the in-situ formation of a ZnF₂ solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the zinc anode, thereby suppressing zinc dendrite growth.

What do you hope your lab can achieve in the coming year?

In the coming year, we aim to develop an electrolyte additive capable of in-situ film-forming and self-healing at the zinc anode interface, and to elucidate its interfacial self-repair mechanisms. Aligned with our research focus, theoretical and experimental studies on high-performance electrolytes based on Zn-Cl ion coordination are anticipated to achieve breakthroughs in the coming year.

Describe your journey to becoming an independent researcher.

I obtained my Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2017. During this period, I received extensive training in molten salt electrochemistry and battery technology, acquiring expertise in designing molten salt batteries. Subsequently, I joined Seres Group to engage in the design and development of powertrain battery systems, participating in multiple automotive battery projects. In 2020, I commenced my Ph.D. studies at Chongqing University, focusing on developing regulation strategies for zinc anodes in zinc-ion batteries. As the first author, I have published seven high-impact papers in journals including Advanced Functional Materials (2) and Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2), accumulating 279 citations to date. These research experiences have cultivated strong independent research capabilities, laid the foundation for my current projects, and established me as a proficient independent researcher.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

“Opportunity favors the prepared mind.” This guiding principle has carried me through challenging periods in my research career, sustaining my optimism and confidence.

Why did you choose to publish in ChemComm?

As an energy electrochemistry researcher, I am a regular reader of ChemComm which is one of the best journals in the field of chemical science. The reviewer’s comments are very helpful in improving the quality of submitted manuscripts. I am also especially impressed by its strong support to early career researchers.

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Yang Song is an early-career researcher in energy electrochemistry, specializing in novel electrolyte design, electrode materials development, and electrochemical performance modulation for multivalent batteries (Mg/Al/Zn). He received his B.Eng. (2014) and M.Eng. (2017) in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and recently completed his Ph.D. (2024) in Chemical Engineering and Technology at Chongqing University. His current research focuses on molten-salt synthesis of MAX/MXene materials and rational engineering of charge-carrier coordination chemistry for next-generation energy storage systems

Explore more ChemComm Milestones news and updates on our Bluesky Feed (‪@chemcomm.rsc.org‬) and LinkedIn (ChemComm Journal)

We are excited to share the success of Ramkrishna Sarkar’s first-time independent article in ChemComm; “Benzyl ether: a dynamic covalent motif for designing a trans-ether based covalent adaptable network (CAN)” included in the full milestones collection. 

Read our interview with Ramkrishna below.

What are the main areas of research in your lab and what motivated you to take this direction?

Our group’s research is currently focused on the development of sustainable polymers, with research spanning four key areas:

A) The development of the chemistry for the covalent adaptable network (CAN) or Vitrimer.

B) The upcycling of polymer waste.

C) The making and breaking (recycling) of the sustainable polymer.

D) Improving mechanical performances and applicability of hydrogels.

Polymers play a pivotal role in modern society but also contribute significantly to pollution and economic losses. This dual challenge has motivated our research direction. Our goal is to minimize polymer waste, recover embedded energy, and make polymers more sustainable through innovative chemistry.

Can you set this article in a wider context?

Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) are a unique class of polymeric materials that combine the mechanical strength of thermosets with the reprocessability of thermoplastics. Recent research in this area has focused on developing chemistries that impart both robustness and dynamic properties to CANs.

Inspired by the ether linkages’ robustness and versatility, we introduce trans-ether exchange as a robust dynamic chemistry to design CAN. The developed CAN demonstrated notable thermal stability, malleability, and reprocessability. The spectrum of materials with ether linkages is vast. We anticipate that incorporating dynamic ether chemistry into polymeric materials will lead to significant interest in developing robust dynamic materials.

What do you hope your lab can achieve in the coming year?

In the coming year, we hope to develop chemistries for CANs and focus on the upcycling of waste plastic with an emphasis on their commercial and economic viability.

Describe your journey to becoming an independent researcher.

At the beginning of my undergraduate studies, I developed a passion for physical chemistry (quantum mechanics!), which shifted towards organic chemistry at a later stage.  Subsequently, I enrolled in the integrated M.Sc-PhD program at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, which provided me with early exposure to the research environment. I had the opportunity to pursue my PhD in polymer science under the guidance of Prof. S. Ramakrishnan. The interdisciplinary nature of polymer science, combining aspects of physical and organic chemistry, aligned perfectly with my interests. My love for organic chemistry allowed me to design polymers with targeted properties, while my passion for physical chemistry was essential for understanding their behavior. My post-doctoral research at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands, in the group of Prof. Anja Palmans, expanded my knowledge of the various sustainability aspects of polymer science. In May 2022, I joined the Department of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur as an assistant professor where I am currently pursuing my independent research career.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

It’s better to learn something good even if it is late.

Why did you choose to publish in ChemComm?

I chose ChemComm because of its strong reputation for publishing high-quality, interdisciplinary, and cutting-edge research. Additionally, the journal’s broad readership helps enhance the visibility and impact of the work.

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Ramkrishna Sarkar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. He was an integrated PhD fellow at the Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore.  He received his M.Sc. in 2014 and earned his PhD in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. S. Ramakrishnan. He has carried out his post-doctoral research at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands, in the group of Prof. Anja Palmans. In May 2022, he joined IIT Kanpur as an Assistant Professor, where he is now pursuing an independent research career. Research interests of his group include vitrimers/covalent adaptable network, the development of sustainable polymers from renewable resources and their closed-loop recycling, upcycling of polymer waste, reusable polymeric coatings, and enhancing the mechanical properties and functionality of hydrogels.

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