Light-Matter Interactions at the Nanoscale
From molecular assemblies to hybrid nanostructures
About Us
Research activities of KGT Group at IISER Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM) focus on understanding the photochemistry and photophysics of molecular assemblies, plasmonic systems and semiconductor quantum dots, and chiral nanostructures.
The group was initially at CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, and moved to IISER TVM in 2010. The group is actively involved in both fundamental and translational research, undertaken by doctoral and BS-MS students. Alumni from the KGT group are occupying important positions as faculty members/research scientists in prestigious academic institutes and R & D laboratories.
Jointly with other colleagues, we have developed a surface-enhanced spectroscopy based device for the rapid detection of pesticide/insecticide residues.
Selected perspectives
Emergent chiroptical properties in supramolecular and plasmonic assemblies
Parallels between excitons and plasmons
Teaching Materials
Our research activities:
Plasmonically-powered chemical systems
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Plasmon-exciton coupling using ensemble and single-particle studies
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Design of SERS platforms - enhancing the Raman signal intensity through the generation of hot-spots
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Plasmon driven chemical reactions
Photochemistry and photophysics of Semiconductor quantum dots
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Light-induced energy and electron transfer processes (using various steady-state and time-resolved techniques)
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Single-molecule/particle spectroscopy to understand trap states in quantum dots and energy transfer hybrid systems
Chiroptical properties of nanostructures
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Understanding the emergence of chiral plasmons/excitons in supramolecular assemblies and nanostructures
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Design of chiral nanostructures
Latest from KGT group
Openings
# PhD positions in KGT group:
Candidates having CSIR/UGC - JRF with strong interest in physical chemistry may apply (click here)
Our selected research articles (recent)
Combined Effects of Emitter-Emitter and Emitter-Plasmonic Surface Separations Dictate Photoluminescence Enhancement in Plasmonic Field
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. (2022)
InP-Bovine Serum Albumin Conjugates as Energy Transfer Probes
J. Phys. Chem. B (2022)
Ligand-Induced Ground- and Excited-State Chirality in Silicon Nanoparticles: Surface Interactions Matter
J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2022)
We sincerely thank the theoretical collaborations with:
Dr. R. S. Swathi, IISER Thiruvananthapuram (India), Dr. Stephen Gray, Argonne National Laboratory (USA), Dr. Cristina Sissa and Prof. Anna Painelli, University of Parma (Italy), Prof. Shobhana Narasimhan, JNCASR, Bangalore (India), Prof. S. Balasubramanian, JNCASR, Bangalore (India).
We thank DST and SERB for the generous funding through projects and IISER TVM for infrastructure facilities.