Suresh Babu K

DST-INSPIRE faculty / Assistant professor

Materials Science Division, PPISR,

Email: sureshk[at]poornaprajna[dot]org

Phone: +91-​80-27408553Materials Science

Material design group at PPISR deals with the design of nanostructured materials (Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), Metal nanoparticles..etc) and their manipulation at molecular/atomic levels to realize desired properties for biomass conversion into fine chemical synthesis and photocatalysis. Please find here the complete list of publications.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs): Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline coordination polymers, built from the connectivity of organic linker ligand and metal ions/metal clusters (secondary building units, SBUs).  MOFs present unprecedented topological richness because the geometric regularity of high symmetry cluster binding to organic linkers allows topology-directed synthesis. The hybrid nature of MOFs, tunable pore surface, and high dispersion of components, all point at applications of MOFs in heterogeneous catalysis. The catalytic properties of MOFs arise from both metals and linker-based chemical functionality. The unique opportunity with MOFs is their “tunability,” i.e., the ability to modulate their properties by modifying the organic linker or metal ion while maintaining the basic topology. Our research efforts are directed in harnessing this unique opportunity and develop versatile class multifunctional catalysts for fine chemical synthesis and biomass conversion.

Light harvesting and Photocatalysis: With recent shocking spikes in global surface temperatures, there is a mounting sense of urgency to meet the today’s energy demand through renewable energy sources. In this scenario, light harvesting which involves the use of sunlight energy to promote photochemical reactions or produce solar fuelsis an extremely attractive prospect. In comparison with the conventional inorganic semiconductor photocatalysts, porous, tunable and modifiable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)  materials could be developed as a new generation light harvesting materials .

Recently, the concept of semiconductive MOFshas been proposed and studied. MOFs can be considered as a matrix of semiconductor quantum dots (secondary building units, SBUs) linked by organic sensitizers (organic linkers). To have an efficient photocatalytic activity, the material has to absorb visible light to undergo electronic excitation and charge separation of thus generated electron-hole pair has to be achieved. Preventing electron-hole recombination and improving the charge separation are critical to enhance photocatalytic performance. Through apt designing of MOFs we address these issues to realize novel photocatalytic efficiencies.

  1. V. R. Bakuru,   S. R. Churipard, S. P. Maradur, S. B. Kalidindi* “Exploring the Brønsted Acidity of UiO-66 (Zr, Ce, Hf) Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Solketal Synthesis from Glycerol Acetalization”  Dalton transactions, 2018, DOI: 10.1039/C8DT03512A
  2. M. E. D’Mello,  N. Sundaram,  A. Singh,  A. K. Singh  and  S. B. Kalidindi, Amine Functionalized Zirconium Metal-Organic Framework as an Effective Chemiresistive Sensor for Acidic Gases”  Chemical Communications, 2018,
  3. V. R. Bakuru, Velaga, B., Peela, R., and Kalidindi, S. B., “Hybridization of Pd Nanoparticles with UiO-66(Hf) Metal-Organic Framework and the Effect of Nanostructure on the Catalytic Properties”, Chemistry A European Journal, 2018.
  4. M.E. DMello, N.G. Sundaram, S.B. Kalidindi*, Assembly of ZIF- 67 Metal-Organic Framework over Tin Oxide Nanoparticles for Synergetic Chemiresistive CO2 Gas Sensing.”  Chemistry A European Journal 2018, 24, 9220 –9223
  5. V. R. Bakuru, Kalidindi, S.B. “Synergistic Hydrogenation over Palladium through the Assembly of MIL-101(Fe) MOF over Palladium Nanocubes” Chemistry A European Journal .2017 , 23,16456 –16459
  6. S.B. Kalidindi, S. Nayak, M.E. Briggs, S. Jansat, A.P. Katsoulidis, G.J. Miller, J.E. Warren, D. Antypov, F. Corà, B. Slater, M.R. Prestly, C. Marti-Gastaldo, M.J. Rosseinsky “Chemical and Structural Stability of Zirconium-based Metal-Organic Frameworks with Large Three-Dimensional Pores by Linker Engineering” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 221–226
  7. class=”rtejustify”> Oh, H;  Kalidindi, S. B.; Um, Y.; Bureekaew, S.; Schmid, R.; Fischer, R. A.; Hirscher, M.“A Novel Cryo-Flexible Covalent Organic Framework for Efficient Hydrogen Isotope Separation by Quantum Sieving” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 13219 –13222
  8. Kalidindi, S. B.; Yusenko, K.; Fischer, R. A. “Metallocenes@COF-102: organometallic host–guest chemistry of porous crystalline organic frameworks”, Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 8506-8508.
  9. Kalidindi, S. B.; Esken, D.; Fischer, R. A. “B-N chemistry@ZIF-8: dehydrocoupling of dimethylamineborane at room temperature by size confinement effect”, Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 6594-6597
  10. Kalidindi, S. B.; Jagirdar, B. R. “Highly Monodisperse Colloidal Magnesium Nanoparticles by Room Temperature Digestive Ripening”, Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 4524.
  11. Kalidindi, S. B.; Indrani, M.; Jagirdar, B. R. “First Row Transition Metal Ion-Assisted Ammonia-borane Hydrolysis for Hydrogen Generation”, Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 7424-7429.
  • Transformative Crystalline Hybrid Porous Materials: Chemical Synthesis and Applications-Department of Science and technology (DST), INSPIRE
  • Design and Development Stable Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) with Multiple Functional Sites for Catalysis-Department of Science and technology (DST), Early career research award
  • DST-INSPIRE Faculty/Assistant Professor. Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research(PPISR), Bangalore, Aug 2015-present
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate.  University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, September 2013-July2015.
  • Alexander von Humboldt Fellow. Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart and Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany.   August 2011 –September 2013
  • RD-IFSC Post Doctoral Fellow. Ruhr University, Bochum. Germany, May 2010 – July 2011
  • Ph.D. – Supervisor, Prof. Balaji R. Jagirdar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, Aug 2005 – April 2010
  • 2016 “DST- Early career research award”
  • 2015 “DST-INSPIRE Faculty Award”
  • 2011-13“Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship”
  • 2010-2011“Post-doctoral fellowship” from Research Department- Interfacial Systems Chemistry, Ruhr University, Bochum
  • 2009-2010 “Best Ph. D thesis award- Prof. S. Soundarajan Medal” from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
  • 2007-08“Vasudevamurthy-Soundarajan prize” for best seminar during the academic year from Department of Inorganic Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
  • 2007-2010“Senior research fellowship (SRF,)” from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India.
  • 2005-2007“Junior research fellowship (JRF,)” from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India.”

B. Vasudeva Rao obtained his M.Sc in Inorganic chemistry from Andhra University. He joined the group in November 2015 and his research areas include metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and catalysis.


Marilyn E. Dmello obtained M. Sc in Analytical Chemistry from St. Aloysius College, Mangalore University. She joined the group in September 2015 and her research areas include photocatalysis and MOFs


Sucharita K. carried out her M. Tech degree project in our group on modification of metals nanoparticles with boron for biofuel conversion.