Jagadese J. VITTAL
Emeritus Professor, FRSC, FSNIC, FICS, FIAAM
Postdoc., Univ. of Western Ontario, 1987; Ph.D., Indian Inst. of Science, 1982; M.Sc., Madurai Univ., 1977; B.Sc., Univ. of Madras, 1975.
Contact Information:
Email: jjvittal@nus.edu.sg and jjvittal@u.nus.edu
Research
Recognition and Achievements
- Global Excellence Award, IEM UEM Group and Smart Society USA, 2025
- A special virtual issue “Honoring Professor Jagadese J. Vittal and his Contributions to Functional Molecular Crystals”, by the American Chemical Society journal Crystal Growth & Design, 2024/2025
- Professor N.R. Dhar Memorial Award in photochemistry, Indian Photobiology Society, 2024/2025
- Toronto International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN 2023) Gold Medal, 2023
- Japanese Photochemistry Association Elsevier Lectureship Award, 2023
- Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) Medal 2020
- Indian Chemical Society G.V. Bakore Memorial Award, 2019
- Outstanding Chemist Award, NUS, 2014
- CRISP Award, Faculty of Science, NUS 2013
- Outstanding Researcher Award, NUS, 2011
- Outstanding Scientist Award, NUS, 2007
- ISCAS Bronze Medal, India, 2001
- Highlighted in Angewandte Author Profile, 2014
- World Class University Chair Professor, Gyeongsang National University, S. Korea, 2009-2013
Research Interests
JJ’s recent research interests include mechanically responsive dynamic crystals, solid-state chemistry, photoreactivity, and structural transformations, energy storage and nano materials, gels, and fibres. He is also interested in designing multifunctional materials showing multi-photon absorption, second harmonic generation (SHG) and third harmonic generation (THG) properties and creating non-centrosymmetry via defects in CPs and MOFs.
Research Highlight
Metal–organic gels are promising chemosensors for metal ions of biological and environmental relevance, particularly toxic Cu²⁺ ions. Coumarin-based sensors are attractive due to their low toxicity and ease of functionalization. Here the luminescent N-(7-hydroxy-4-methyl-8-coumarinyl)-leucine (H₂muleu) ligand forms a coordination polymeric gel with Ca2+ ion. This organogel shows intense blue fluorescence at 455 nm, markedly enhanced compared to the free ligand. Both H₂muleu and its Ca²⁺ gel exhibit high selectivity and sensitivity toward Cu²⁺ ions in aqueous media, especially as nitrates, with low detection limits. Complete fluorescence quenching enables naked-eye Cu²⁺ detection under UV light, demonstrating a rare water-soluble chemosensor system suitable for environmental and biological monitoring. Chemistry – An Asian J., 2025, 20(24), e70467.
Representative Publications
The full publication list is here.
- Vittal, J.J., [2+2] Photocycloaddition reaction as a tool to monitor the molecular motions in the solid state by mechanochemical grinding. J. Photochem. Photobiol. C: Photochem. Rev., 2023, 57, 100636.
- Rath, B.B.; Kottilil, D.; Ji, W.; Vittal, J.J., Enhancement in Two-Photon Absorption and Photoluminescence in Single Crystals of Cd(II) Metal Organic Frameworks. ACS Appl. Mater. & Interfaces, 2023, 15, 26939-26945.
- Kole, G.K.; Vittal, J.J., Isomerization of cyclobutane ligands in the solid state and solution. J. Ind. Chem. Soc., 2022, 99, 100630.
- Rath, B.B.; Vittal, J. J., Photoreactive Crystals Exhibiting [2+2] Photocycloaddition Reaction and Dynamic Effects. Acc. Chem. Res., 2022, 55, 1445-1455.
- Liu, N.; Chen, Z.; Fan, W.; Su, J.; Lin, T.; Xiao, S.; Meng, J.; He, J.; Vittal, J.J.; Jiang, J., Highly Efficient Multiphoton Absorption of Zn-AIEgen Frameworks. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2022, 61, e202115205.
- Rath, B.B.; Gupta, M.; Vittal, J. J.; Multistimuli Responsive Dynamic Effects in a One-Dimensional Coordination Polymer. Chem. Mater., 2022, 34, 178-185.
- Chakraborty, G.; Park, I.H.; Medishetty, R.; Vittal, J.J., Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework Materials: Synthesis, Structure, Properties, and Applications. Chem. Rev., 2021, 121, 3751-3891.
- Rath, B.B.; Gallo, G.; Dinnebier, R.E.; Vittal, J.J., Reversible Thermosalience in a One-Dimensional Coordination Polymer Preceded by Anisotropic Thermal Expansion and Shape Memory Effect. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143, 2088–2096.
- Rath, B.B.; Vittal, J.J., Mechanical Bending and Modulation of Photoactuation Properties in a One-Dimensional Pb(II) Coordination Polymer. Chem. Mater., 2021, 33, 4621-4627.
- Rath, B.B.; Vittal, J.J., Dynamic Effects in Crystalline Coordination Polymers. CrystEngComm., 2021, 23, 5738 – 5752
