Academic & Professional Journey: Prof. Kuntal Chatterjee is a distinguished academician and researcher serving as a professor and the current Head of the Department (HOD) of Physics at Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal. His long-standing association with the university began on September 12, 2007, when he joined as an Assistant Professor. His dedicated contributions to teaching and advanced experimental research led to his promotion to Associate Professor in 2019, followed by his elevation to the rank of Professor on September 12, 2022. Prior to his tenure at Vidyasagar University, Prof. Chatterjee established a robust foundation in material sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in 2005 from the prestigious Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata. Driven by a passion for cutting-edge global research, he pursued his initial post-doctoral research fellowship at the Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, from 2005 to 2007. He was also later selected for the prestigious UGC-Raman Fellowship, which enabled him to work as a Post-Doctoral Visiting Scholar at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MSNE) at Rice University, Texas, USA, between 2014 and 2015. Research Specialization & Contributions: Prof. Chatterjee’s research group works predominantly on Nanomaterials for Functional Applications. His core scientific endeavors tackle contemporary issues in energy, environment, and healthcare through material engineering. His key areas of expertise include: • 2D Materials & Layered Metal Dichalcogenides (LMDs): Engineering structural imperfections, chemical co-doping, and phase conversions (such as in MoS2) to enhance material functionalities. • Renewable Energy & Electrocatalysis: Developing cost-effective, earth-abundant electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reactions (HER), Oxygen Evolution Reactions (OER), and Urea Oxidation Reactions (UOR) aimed at clean energy production. • Environmental & Biomedical Applications: Synthesizing nanostructures (like ZnO, Fe2O3, and CdS composites) optimized for visible-light-driven photocatalysis, wastewater remediation, and evaluating their potent antibacterial and anticancer properties. Mentorship & Academic Footprint: With a prolific academic footprint, Prof. Chatterjee has published over 50 research papers in esteemed, peer-reviewed international journals, including Small, Materials horizons, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Advanced Materials Interfaces, ChemSusChem, Physical Review B, and the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. As a dedicated mentor, he has successfully guided multiple doctoral scholars through their Ph.D. theses on topics ranging from the growth of engineered 2D materials to functional nanomaterials for environmental sustainability. He also regularly delivers invited lectures at national webinars and seminars, contributing significantly to the wider scientific community.

Prof. Kuntal Chatterjee’s research operates at the intersection of Materials Science, Surface Science, and Experimental Nanoscience. His group primarily focuses on synthesizing, characterizing, and tuning "Nanomaterials for Functional Applications" to address pressing global issues in sustainable energy, environmental safety, and public health. His core research frontiers include: • Nano Engineering in 2D Materials: A major focus involves the surface and structural manipulation of Layered Metal Dichalcogenides (LMDs), such as Molybdenum Disulfide MoS2, MoSe2 CoSe2 etc. By introducing intentional size and phase tuning, structural defects, controlling morphology/thickness, and executing chemical co-doping (e.g., Nitrogen and Phosphorus), his lab successfully triggers stable phase conversions (such as the 2H to 1T phase transition) to turn inert basal planes into highly active catalytic sites. • • Clean Energy & Advanced Electrocatalysis: Developing cost-effective, earth-abundant transition metal electrocatalysts to substitute for expensive precious metals. His team designs multi-functional nanostructures (including Ni-MOFs, NiCoP, and NixPy nanoalloys) optimized for green water-splitting mechanisms—specifically the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER), Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), and Urea Oxidation Reaction (UOR). • Environmental Remediation & Photocatalysis: Fabricating advanced heterostructured nanocomposites (such as CdS-ZnO, alpha-Fe2O3 embedded in g-C3N4, and TiO2-loaded matrices). These systems are custom-tailored for high-efficiency, visible-light-driven photocatalysis to degrade toxic organic pollutants and industrial dyes for wastewater treatment. • • Biomedical Nanotechnology: Assessing the cellular and biological interactions of nanotextured metal oxide composites and layered double hydroxides. His work examines their biocompatibility, robust antibacterial properties, and targeted anticancer activities for futuristic healthcare solutions.