About the Department

The prestigious 160 years old University of Madras, which is known for its long history, heritage and services to Higher Education across the state, country and globe as well. Our Department was established in 1952, by Prof. M. Santappa, first HOD, a recipient of the Shanthi Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Research in Chemical Sciences, and has also served as a Director of a National CSIR Laboratory and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras. This Department has produced three former Vice-chancellors, Educationalist, Industrialist, Bureaucrats and so on. Prof. T. Balakrishnan, Former Professor and Head, Department of Physical Chemistry has served as ViceChancellor, Periyar University and Prof. P. Maruthamuthu also served as Vice-Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University. Also, this Department has contributed more than 750 Ph. D scholars with 3000 publications, 2000 M. Sc., M. Phil students over this period. 

Achievements: The Department of Physical Chemistry was established as a Research Department in August 1952, with Prof. M. Santappa as the Head of Department (HOD). During the fifty and odd years that have gone by, the Department has nurtured the growth of several students and faculty into academicians, industrial chemists and academic administrators of high standing. Research programmes conducted in the Department have resulted in important contributions in Physical chemistry including polymers, Catalysis, Solution Equilibria, Electrochemistry, Photochemistry, Surface Chemistry, microemulsions and recently Nanomaterials and their application. A brief list given below is an indicator of the highlights in the History of the Department.

• The Department was recognised for the UGC Special Assistance Programme (SAP), which led to the creation of the Department of Polymer Science-1982.
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• The Department initiated the College Science Improvement University Leadership Project (COSIP-ULP)-1975.
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• The Department was a member in the Space Science Programme of the University and successfully completed two Research Projects on High Temperature Resistant Polymers in Collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
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• The Department received funding under the DST - FIST Program - 2003 to 2008

• Prof. M. Santappa, first HOD, is a recipient of the Shanthi Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Research in Chemical Sciences, and has served as a Director of a National CSIR Laboratory and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras.
• Prof. T. Balakrishnan, former Ph.D. Student of the Department and later Head of Department , has served as Vice-Chancellor of the Periyar University.
• Prof. P. Maruthamuthu, former Ph.D. student, served as Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University.

Infrastructure

Laboratory

• Research Laboratory - 4 
• I M.Sc Laboratory - 1 
• II M.Sc Laboratory -1
• Instrumentation Labs - 2

Equipments

• Gas chromatograph (Varian)
• GC-MS (Shimadzu)
• FI-IR spectrophotometer (Bruker)
• UV-vis spectrophotometer (Shimadzu)
• UV-vis spectrophotometer (Techcomp)
• Electrochemical Analyser (Autolab)
• Electrochemical Analyser (CH Instruments)
• Wenking Cyclic Voltemmetry set-up
• PARSTAT 3000 electrochemical workstation
• HITACHI UH5300 UV Visible spectroscopy
• BUCHI R300 - Rotavapor with Chiller
• HORIBA Spectrofluorimeter
• PARSTAT Electrochemical workstation
• Raman spectrometer

Medals & Endowments 

• Prof.M.Santappa Prize for the best proficiency in Physical Chemistry
• Prof. M. Santappa and Dhanalakshmi Gold Medal - PhD Scholar for Best Thesis
• Prof. M. Santappa Endowment Lecture
• Prof. T. Balakrishnan Endowment Lecture
• Prof. M. J. Nanjan Endowment Lecture

Contact Address:

Department of Physical Chemistry,  School of Chemical Science,  University of Madras,  Guindy Campus, Chennai - 600 025

Office Landline : 91-44-2220 2819

Email: physicalchemistry082016@gmail.com