Journal of Integrative Science and Innovation Research

Dr. S. Muthulingam is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Mohan Babu University, Tirupati. He earned his Ph.D. from Anna University, Chennai, in 2017, specializing in Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs)-decorated ZnO and CuO nanomaterials for photocatalytic applications. His research interests include materials chemistry, electrochemistry, photocatalysis, and energy storage systems. He has expertise in the synthesis and modification of metal oxide and carbon-based nanomaterials for electrochemical sensing, environmental remediation, and supercapacitors. Dr. Muthulingam has published 35 research articles in reputed journals and is actively working on developing functionalized CQDs for electrocatalytic, sensing, and sustainable energy applications.

• 1. Introduction My research lies at the intersection of nanomaterials, photocatalysis, and sustainable chemistry, with a focus on the design of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and metal oxide nanocomposites for applications in environmental remediation, renewable energy, and biomedical systems. Over the past decade, my work has bridged fundamental materials chemistry with real-world applications such as dye degradation, supercapacitors, and UV shielding materials. 2. Past Research Contributions My doctoral and early postdoctoral work concentrated on the synthesis and characterization of CQDs-decorated ZnO and CuO nanomaterials and their photocatalytic properties under UV and visible light. These efforts led to publications in RSC Advances, Journal of Colloid & Interface Science, Materials Letters, and Environmental Nanotechnology. Key achievements include: • Novel CQD–ZnO nanocomposites that demonstrated superior photocatalytic activity with suppressed photocorrosion. • Development of CuO nanosheet-based UV filters, advancing nanomaterial applications in protective coatings. • Investigation of CQDs as electron mediators, enhancing charge separation efficiency in photocatalytic systems. • Supervision of 14 MSc, 5 MPhil, and 2 ongoing PhD projects on nanomaterials and environmental chemistry. This body of work established my expertise in nanomaterial synthesis and morphological control for targeted applications.