Nano-Catalysis and Organic Synthesis

HomeResearch Groups Nano-Catalysis and Organic Synthesis

Dr. Manoj B. Gawande, Ph.D., FRSC (UK)

Group Leader

Email:  manoj.gawande@upol.cz 

Group Leader

Manoj B. Gawande received his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry in 2008 from the Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technology, (Formerly UDCT) Matunga, Mumbai, India, under the supervision of Prof. R.V. Jayaram. During his research tenure, he has been awarded several prestigious fellowships including Senior Research fellowship (SRF) from CSIR, New Delhi India; Brain Korea-21 (BK-21) Research fellowship from Ministry of Science, South Korea; and FCT Research fellowship from MCTES, Lisbon, Portugal. After that he worked as a Visiting Professor at Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. In 2014, he has awarded prestigious "Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman-2014” by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India in conjunction with the NRI Welfare Society of India, for his outstanding contribution, service, and achievements in Chemistry Research. In 2015, and 2016 both consecutives years, he received “Deans Award“ from the Dean of Palacký University, Olomouc Czech Republic for best publication output. In June 2017, he has been selected as Fellow (FRSC) Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), United Kingdom for his signification contribution in nanocatalysis and sustainable chemistry.

Presently, he is working as an Associate Professor and Head of nanocatalysis research group at Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic. During his stay at RCPTM, Palacký University, he has several visiting professor/scientist positions including Prof. Steve Ley (Cambridge University Cambridge United Kingdom), Prof. Dunwei Wang (Boston College, Boston, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA), Prof. C. N. R. Rao, and Prof. Rajender S. Varma (EPA, Cincinnati, USA).

His research interests are in the development of advanced nanomaterials, and its applications in catalysis. He has published over 100 scientific publications including reviews, patents, papers, editorial and commentary articles. Presently, he is supervising several doctoral student and postdoctoral co-workers.

Prof. Gawande is a Guest editor of several leading journals including RSC Advances (RSC Publications), Current Organic Chemistry (Bentham publications), Nanomaterials, and Molecules (MPDI). He is also an Associate Editor for Current Catalysis, and Frontiers Chemistry and Regional Editor for Current Organic Synthesis (Europe-Zone-Bentham Publications). He is also Editorial board member of Scientific Reports (Nature Publication).


Scientific focus of the division:

  • Single atom nanocatalyst
  • Nano-Chemistry, organic synthesis via nano-catalysis.
  • Nanomaterials synthesis and its applications in energy
  • Immobilization of metals on inert support including carbon nitrides and nano-diamond.
  • Flow reactor catalytic reactions.
  • Continuous flow–MS monitoring organic transformations.
  • Core-shell and Integrated nanocatalysts.
  • Covalent organic framework materials.
  • Carbon-based nanomaterials and applications

Key Collaborators

Prof. Rajender S. Varma

Sustainable Technology Division,
National Risk Management Research
Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency,
MS 443, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45268, USA

Email: Varma.Rajender@epamail.epa.gov
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/organic_reactions.html
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/green_chem_nano.html

Prof. Tewodros Asefa

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Rutgers,
The State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road,
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA

Email: tasefa@rci.rutgers.edu
http://chem.rutgers.edu/asefa_teddy

Prof. Yusuke Yamauchi

National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS),
1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.

Associate Editor, APL Materials, The American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

Email: Yamauchi.Yusuke@nims.go.jp
http://www.yamauchi-labo.com

Prof. François-Xavier Felpin

Université de Nantes
CEISAM, UMR CNRS 6230
UFR des Sciences et des Techniques
2 rue de la Houssinière
44322 Nantes Cedex 3

Email: Francois-Xavier.Felpin@univ-nantes.fr
http://f-x.felpin.voila.net/biography.html

Current Research group members

Dr. Subodh Kumar (Ph.D. Organic Chemistry)

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate
  • Research Interest
    • Synthesis of 2D carbon materials for energy applications
    • Sustainable chemical processes
    • Advanced chemical reactions by Flow Chemistry
  • Postdoctoral Experience
    • (2015-2017): Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel (Advisor: Dr. Gilbert. D. Nessim)
  • Education
    • Ph. D. (2015) - CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India (Advisor: Dr. Suman L. Jain)
    • M. Sc. (2008) - A. M. U. Aligarh, India
  • Selected publications
    • Carbon 2017, 120, 419-426; Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 3488-3494; J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 18861-18866.

Dr. Ravishankar G. Kadam (PhD, Chemical Sciences)

  • Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Research interest
    • Synthesis and characterisation of advanced mesoporous and nanoporous materials for catalysis
    • Carbon and functional graphene supported single metal atom and ion catalysts
    • Development of heterogeneous catalysts for organic transformations and sustainability.
  • Education
    • Ph. D. (2018) – Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
    • M. Sc. (2012) - University of Mumbai-Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
  • Selected publications
    • ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2018, 6 (10), pp. 12935–12945
      ChemPlusChem, 2017, 82, 3, 467-473.

Dr. Priti Sharma (Ph.D. Catalysis)

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate
  • Research interest
    • Single atom catalysis: g-C3N4 & graphene based semiconductor support for photoactive chemical transformations.
    • Metal and nonmetal doped g-C3N4, graphene, CNT based composite photo-catalytic & sensing applications.
    • H2 generation via photocatalytic water splitting, formic acid, formats and C-H Activation photo chemically.
  • Postdoctoral Experience
    • Casali Centre of Applied Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2016 – 2018). Research Guide ( Prof. Yoel Sasson)
    • Research Associate CSIR-NCL, Pune, India (Catalysis Division) 2015 - 2016.
  • Education
    • Ph. D. (2015) - CSIR-NCL, Pune, India (Catalysis Division) (2009-2015). (Research Guide: Dr. A. P. Singh).
  • Selected publications
    • Catalysis Science & Technology, 2018, 8, 3246-3259,(Cover page).; Green Chemistry.19 (2017) 844-852 (cover page selected); Catalysis Science & Technology, 4 (2014) 2978-2989.

Valeryia Kasneryk (Ph.D. Catalysis)

  • Research interest
    • Gas phase reactions
    • Synthesis of zeolite materials,
    • Graphene based catalysts and its application
    • Heterogeneous catalysis
  • Education
    • Ph.D. (2018) - J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic (www.jh-inst.cas.cz) and Faculty of Science of Charles University (www.natur.cuni.cz), Prague, the Czech Republic, Supervisor – Dr. M. V. Opanasenko. Title of dissertation “Design of zeolite materials with tailored interlayer structure and tunable textural properties”
  • Selected publications
    • Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 15, 4324–4327; J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 22576-22587; Dalton Trans. 2018, 47, 3084-3092

Vinicius Kothe

  • Visiting Ph.D. Student in Chemistry, Federal University of Paraná – Brazil
  • Scholarship offered by Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education – CAPES
  • Project title: “Bifunctional catalysts for simultaneous esterification and transesterification of soybean soapstock”
  • Visiting Ph.D. student (Prof. Luiz Ramos) from Brazil working on topic “– Biodiesel, esterification reactions”

Ms. Radka Kralova

  • Doctoral student
  • Research Interest
    • Synthesis of metal nanoparticles and nanocomposites
    • Application in catalysis and in photocatalysis
    • Magnetically recyclable nanomaterials
  • Education
    • M.Sc. Material Chemistry 2011-2013, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Czech Republic.
    • B.Sc. Environmental Chemistry, 2008 – 2011, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Czech Republic.

Mr. Petr Zajíček

  • Doctoral student
  • Research Interest
    • Water treatment – removal of herbicides and heavy metals
    • Analytical techniques - High performance liquid chromatography/ UV-Vis, Gas chromatography/ FID, Mass spectrometry
    • Iron nanomaterials for nanocatalysis and water treatment
  • Education
    • M.Sc. Analytical Chemistry, Palacký University 2012, Czech Republic.
    • B.Sc. Chemistry, Palacký University 2010, Czech Republic.

Former Postdoctoral/Researcher Colleagues


Dr. Anandarup Goswami (Postdoctoral fellow)

Current Position –working as “Associate Professor” at Vignan’s University, Vadlamudi, Guntur 522 213, Andhra Pradesh, India.


Dr. Anuj K. Rathi (Postdoctoral fellow)

Current Position –working as “group Leader at Jubilant Chemsys, Noida Delhi


Dr. Pawan Kumar (Postdoctoral fellow)

Current Position –working as “Postdoctoral fellow at University of Alberta.


Dr. Devaki Nandan (Postdoctoral fellow)

Current Position –working as “Associate Professor” at Vignan’s University, Vadlamudi, Guntur 522 213, Andhra Pradesh, India.


Piyali Bhanja (Postdoctoral fellow)

Students supervised

Dr. Mrs. Kashibatta J. Datta (July 2013-June 2016)

Co-supervised for doctoral research on topic entitled “Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for Catalytic Applications “at Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 11, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic.


Dr. Vilas Gade (Doctoral student) (July 2014-June 2018)

Co-supervised for doctoral research at Post Graduate & Research Center Department of Chemistry, S.S.G.M. College, Kopargaon, University of Pune, India.
Research topic: “Recyclable nano-catalysis- applications in Coupling and Multi-component reactions”


Dr. Deepak M. Nagrik (July 2010-Feb. 2013)

Co-supervised for doctoral research on the topic entitled “Synthetic and biological studies of nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorous containing organic compounds”.
Currently, working as Assistant Professor at G. S. College, Amravati University, Amravati, India.
Submission 7/11/11, viva 12/5/12, award Feb 2013.


Mr. Gonçalo Sousa

Supervised for undergraduate research on the project entitled “SÍNTESE DE AZIRIDINAS” under FCT, research programme, at New University of Lisbon, Portugal for the year 2010-2011.


Ms. Sofia Alexandra Marques de Sá

Supervised for undergraduate research on the project entitled “Magnetic nanocatalysis of coupling reaction” under FCT, research programme, at New University of Lisbon, Portugal for the year 2012-2013.

Results highlights – Publications:

M. B. Gawande, A. Goswami, F. Felpin, T. Asefa, X. Huang, R. Silva, X. Zou, R. Zboril, R. S. Varma: Cu and Cu-Based Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Catalysis, CHEMICAL REVIEWS vol. 116, iss. 6, pp. 3722-3811, 2017.
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00482, IF = 47.928
Y. Hou, Y. Liu, R. Gao, Q. Li, H. Guo, A. Goswami, R. Zboril, M. B. Gawande, X. Zou: Ag@CoxP Core–Shell Heterogeneous Nanoparticles as Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts, ACS CATALYSIS vol. 7, iss. 10, pp. 7038-7042, 2017.
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.7b02341, IF = 10.614
M. B. Gawande, A. Goswami, T. Asefa, H. Guo, A. V. Biradar, D. Peng, R. Zboril, R. S. Varma: Core–shell nanoparticles: synthesis and applications in catalysis and electrocatalysis, CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS vol. 44, iss. 21, pp. 7540-7590, 2017.
DOI: 10.1039/c5cs00343a, IF = 38.618
M. B. Gawande, R. Zboril, V. Malgras, Y. Yamauchi: Integrated nanocatalysts: a unique class of heterogeneous catalysts, JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A vol. 3, iss. 16, pp. 8241-8245, 2017.
DOI: 10.1039/c5ta00119f, IF = 38.618
M. B. Gawande, P. S. Branco and R. S. Varma: "Nano-magnetite (Fe3O4) as a support for recyclable catalysts in the development of sustainable methodologies", CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS, vol. 42, iss. 8, pp. 3371, 2013.
DOI: 10.1039/c3cs35480f, IF = 38.618
M. B. Gawande, S. N. Shelke, R. Zboril and R. S. Varma: "Microwave-Assisted Chemistry: Synthetic Applications for Rapid Assembly of Nanomaterials and Organics", ACC. CHEM. RES., vol. 47, iss. 4, pp. 1338-1348, 2014.
DOI: 10.1021/ar400309b, IF = 20.268
M. B. Gawande, V. D. B. Bonifácio, R. Luque, P. S. Branco and R. S. Varma: "Solvent-Free and Catalysts-Free Chemistry: A Benign Pathway to Sustainability", CHEMSUSCHEM, vol. 7, iss. 1, pp. 24-44, 2014.
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201300485, IF = 7.226
(Top 10 article, recommended by Reviewers)
M. B. Gawande, A. K. Rathi, I. D. Nogueira, R. S. Varma and P. S. Branco: "Magnetite-supported sulfonic acid: a retrievable nanocatalyst for the Ritter reaction and multicomponent reactions", GREEN CHEM., 2013.
DOI: 10.1039/c3gc40457a, IF = 9.125
M. B. Gawande, V. D. B. Bonifácio, R. Luque, P. S. Branco and R. S. Varma: "Benign by design: catalyst-free in-water, on-water green chemical methodologies in organic synthesis", CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS, vol. 42, iss. 12, pp. 5522, 2013.
DOI: 10.1039/c3cs60025d, IF = 38.618
Feature in Water Chemistry Research by RSC
M. B. Gawande, P. S. Branco, I. D. Nogueira, C. A. A. Ghumman, N. Bundaleski, A. Santos, O. M. N. D. Teodoro and R. Luque: "Catalytic applications of a versatile magnetically separable Fe–Mo (Nanocat-Fe–Mo) nanocatalyst", GREEN CHEM., vol. 15, iss. 3, pp. 682, 2013.
DOI: 10.1039/c3gc36844k, IF = 9.125
Hot article of week by editorial choice
M. B. Gawande, A. K. Rathi, P. S. Branco, I. D. Nogueira, A. Velhinho, J. J. Shrikhande, U. U. Indulkar, R. V. Jayaram, C. A. A. Ghumman, N. Bundaleski and O. M. N. D. Teodoro: "Regio-and Chemoselective Reduction of Nitroarenes and Carbonyl Compounds over Recyclable Magnetic Ferrite-Nickel Nanoparticles (Fe3O4-Ni) by Using Glycerol as a Hydrogen Source ", CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, vol. 18, iss. 40, pp. 12628-12632, 2013.
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201202380, IF = 5.317
Highlighted in Synfacts, Cited as HOT TOPICS Magnetic Materials