Department of Physics · NIT Calicut
Dr. Aji A. Anappara
Professor · Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory
National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala, India
BACKGROUND
About
Dr. Aji A. Anappara is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the National Institute of Technology Calicut. His research focuses on advanced functional materials, optoelectronic devices, and light–matter interactions, with an emphasis on translating fundamental science into practical technologies and patented innovations.
He completed his Ph.D. under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Alessandro Tredicucci at the NEST (National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.
Following his doctoral studies, he was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, where he worked with Prof. Alfred Leitenstorfer and Prof. Rupert Huber at the University of Konstanz.
He joined NIT Calicut in November 2010 as an Assistant Professor and is currently a Professor. He leads the Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory, working at the interface of nanomaterials, optoelectronics, and ionotronic systems.
His work has resulted in high-impact publications, multiple patents (granted and filed), and externally funded research projects, reflecting a strong synergy between fundamental science and technological innovation.
40+
JOURNAL PAPERS
14
PATENTS
10+
Ph.D. SCHOLARS GUIDED
15+
YEARS AT NITC
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Physics
Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy · 2008
M.Phil.
Kerala University · 2003
M.Sc. Physics
Kerala University · 2000
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
-
ProfessorNIT Calicut2022–Present
-
Associate ProfessorNIT Calicut2018–2022
-
Assistant ProfessorNIT Calicut2010–2018
-
AvH Postdoctoral FellowUniversity of Konstanz, Germany2008–2010
RESEARCH GROUP · Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory
Research Overview
Our group operates at the interface of nanomaterials science, device physics, and light-driven chemical processes, specializing in low-dimensional material systems for next-generation optoelectronic, ionotronic, and neuromorphic technologies.
Optoelectronics
NIR / VIS light interactions
2D Materials
Nanosheets & quantum dots
Neuromorphic
Brain-inspired circuits
Catalysis
Laser-driven chemical reactions
Ionotronics
Ion-transport devices
Nanomaterials
Low-dimensional systems
Optoelectronics
Next-Gen Self-Powered Photodetectors
Developing self-powered, broadband (UV–Vis–NIR) photodetectors with zero-bias operation on flexible substrates. High-temperature operation up to ~500°C, surpassing conventional Si and InGaAs technologies.
Neuromorphic
Bio-inspired Optoelectronics & Artificial Vision
Retinomorphic and event-driven photodetectors that emulate the adaptive human visual system. Opto-ionotronic synaptic devices integrating optoelectronics with ionic transport for neuromorphic computing
Ionotronics
Optofluidics & Ionotronic Architectures
Optofluidic platforms coupled with solid-state ionic transport for adaptive, reconfigurable device architectures enabling hardware-level analog computing and unconventional information processing
Catalysis
Light-Driven Chemical Transformations
Photothermal catalytic systems for efficient chemical conversion, light-induced sustainable chemical transformations, and patented approaches for light-driven polymer upcycling.
2D Materials
Low-Dimensional Materials Science
Structure–property relationships in multivalent and low-dimensional materials (2D nanosheets, 0D quantum dots). Dimensionality-driven phase transformations and multivalency-induced structural evolution.
Nanomaterials
Carbon & Boron-based Nanomaterials
Carbon dots, CNTs, graphene for optoelectronics and energy harvesting. Boron-based nanomaterials from transition-metal diborides. Heavy metal-free phosphorescent materials and white-light LEDs.
PEER-REVIEWED
Publications
41 publications in peer-reviewed journals (reverse chronological order)
#41
Ultraviolet emission from 2D tellurium nanosheets synthesised using diverse exfoliation techniques
Applied Physics A, 131, 844 (2025)
Materials
#40
Cellulose fiber tortuosity as a bio-inspired design strategy for light-driven, self-powered ionotronic synapses
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 17, 48, 65781–65792 (2025)
Devices
#39
Deciphering the crystal structure evolution from 3D non-van der Waals solids to 2D nanosheets
Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 13, 22278–22286 (2025)
Materials
#38
Unveiling the potential photothermal activity of vanadium carbide for driving chemical reactions
Langmuir, 41, 28, 18544–18553 (2025)
Photothermal
#37
Selective etching of Aluminium towards the synthesis of AlB₂ derived aqueous dispersion of luminescent boron-based nanosheets
Applied Physics A, 131, 39 (2025)
Materials
#36
Multivalency-induced structural variations of 2D selenium nanosheets: facile solution-phase synthesis and optical properties
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 26, 33, 22112–22121 (2024)
Materials
#35
Comparative photoluminescence study of nitrogen doped carbon dots co-doped with boron and sulphur
Luminescence, 37, 9, 1481 (2022)
Carbon Dots
#34
Specific ultralow level chemorecognition using graphene-fluorophore supramolecular assembly: fine-tuning the fluorophore framework
Spectrochimica Acta Part A, 266, 120408 (2022)
Sensing
#33
Multi-functional carbon dots for visual detection of picric acid and white-light emission
Materials Research Bulletin, 138, 111223 (2021)
Carbon Dots
#32
Acetic acid derived carbon dots as efficient pH and bio-molecule sensor
International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 101, 506–512 (2021)
Sensing
#31
Photo-to-thermal conversion: effective utilization of futile solid-state carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for energy harvesting applications
New Journal of Chemistry, 44, 25, 10662–10670 (2020)
Photothermal
#30
Facile synthesis of aqueous-dispersed luminescent nanosheets from non-layered lanthanum hexaboride
RSC Advances, 10, 31788–31789 (2020)
Materials
#29
Aqueous dispersion of highly luminescent boron-rich nanosheets by the exfoliation of polycrystalline titanium diboride
New Journal of Chemistry, 43, 9953–9960 (2019)
Materials
#28
Photothermal effect in solid-state MWCNT: Possible signatures of thermal anisotropy
Journal of Applied Physics, 124, 145104 (2018)
Photothermal
#27
Tailored periodic Si nanopillar based architectures as highly sensitive universal SERS biosensing platform
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 254, 264–271 (2018)
Sensing
#26
Ellagic acid-functionalized fluorescent carbon dots for ultrasensitive and selective detection of mercuric ions via quenching
Journal of Luminescence, 192, 761–766 (2017)
Carbon Dots
#25
Enhanced photothermal effect in reduced graphene oxide in the solid-state
Journal of Applied Physics, 122, 185103 (2017)
Photothermal
#24
Charge transport studies on Si nanopillars for photodetectors fabricated using vapor phase metal-assisted chemical etching
Applied Physics A, 123, 681 (2017)
Devices
#23
Magnesium diboride: An effective light-to-heat conversion material in the solid-state
Applied Physics Letters, 111, 033901 (2017)
Materials
#22
Long lifetime room-temperature phosphorescence of carbon dots in aluminum sulfate
ChemistrySelect, 2, 4058–4062 (2017)
Carbon Dots
#21
Cool white, persistent room-temperature phosphorescence in carbon dots embedded in a silica gel matrix
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 19, 15137–15144 (2017)
Carbon Dots
#20
White-light emitting carbon dots prepared by the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite
ChemPhysChem, 18, 292–298 (2017)
Carbon Dots
#19
Influence of defects on electrical properties of electrodeposited co-doped ZnO nanocoatings
Materials Research Express, 4, 015001 (2017)
Materials
#18
Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of UV-emitting carbon dots from tannic acid
New Journal of Chemistry, 40, 8110–8117 (2016)
Carbon Dots
#17
Evolution mechanism of mesoporous silicon nanopillars grown by metal-assisted chemical etching and nanosphere lithography
Applied Physics A, 669, 122–132 (2016)
Materials
#16
White light emission of carbon dots by creating different emissive traps
Journal of Luminescence, 178, 128–133 (2016)
Carbon Dots
#15
Improved broadband and omnidirectional light absorption in silicon nanopillars via gradient mesoporosity induced leaky waveguide modulation
RSC Advances, 6, 109157–109167 (2016)
Devices
#14
Enhanced room temperature ferromagnetism in electrodeposited co-doped ZnO nanostructured thin film by controlling oxygen vacancy defects
Journal of Applied Physics, 117, 214310 (2015)
Materials
#13
Tuning of deep level emission in highly oriented electrodeposited ZnO nanorods by post growth annealing treatments
Journal of Applied Physics, 116, 074309 (2014)
Materials
#12
Switching ultrastrong light-matter coupling on a subcycle scale
Journal of Applied Physics, 109, 102418 (2011)
Photonics
#11
Signatures of ultrastrong light-matter coupling regime
Physical Review B, 79, 201303(R) (2009)
Photonics
#10
Sub-cycle switch-on of ultrastrong light-matter interaction
Nature, 458, 178–181 (2009)
Photonics
#9
Photoacoustic thermal characterization of Al₂O₃-Ag ceramic nanocomposites
Materials Chemistry and Physics, 111, 38–41 (2008)
Materials
#8
Tailoring light-matter interaction in intersubband microcavities
Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures, 40, 1906–1908 (2008)
Photonics
#7
Cavity polaritons from excited subband transitions
Applied Physics Letters, 91, 231118–231122 (2007)
Photonics
#6
Controlling polariton coupling in intersubband microcavities
Superlattices and Microstructures, 41, 308–312 (2007)
Photonics
#5
Giant intersubband polariton splitting in InAs/AlSb microcavities
Solid State Communications, 142, 311–313 (2007)
Photonics
#4
Tunnel-assisted manipulation of intersubband polaritons in asymmetric coupled quantum wells
Applied Physics Letters, 89, 171109 (2006)
Photonics
#3
Electrical control of polariton coupling in intersubband microcavities
Applied Physics Letters, 87, 051105 (2005)
Photonics
#2
Impedance spectroscopic studies of sol-gel derived sub-critically dried silica aerogels
Acta Materialia, 52, 369–375 (2004)
Materials
#1
Impedance spectral studies of sol-gel alumina-silver nanocomposites
Acta Materialia, 51, 3511–3519 (2003)
Materials
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Patents
14
Total Patents
12
Granted
2
Published
2026
GRANTED
2026
Artificial opto-ionotronic synaptic device
Patent No.: 600935 · Granted: 04/09/2026
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
GRANTED
2026
A dark-current free self-powered photodetector based on Vanadium carbide (VC) – Silver (Ag) heterostructures
Patent No.: 588229 · Granted: 04/05/2026
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
PUBLISHED
2026
A scalable solid-state ionic transport device for continuous-time hardware-level differentiation and integration
Appl. No.: 202641033335 · Published: 27/03/2026
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma, Henna Sherin P., Anupama K. S., Desouza Ivan Jemi, Allen Samuel Stephen
2025
GRANTED
2025
An edible event-responsive photodetector for light intensity detection and method of operation thereof
Patent No.: 565859 · Granted: 30/04/2025
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
GRANTED
2025
A method of the fabrication of pristine Vanadium monocarbide quantum dots for the reduction of nitrobenzene
Patent No.: 565289 · Granted: 17/04/2025
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Anupama M.
GRANTED
2025
Fabrication method of Vanadium monocarbide nanosheets as efficient anode catalysts for single-chamber microbial fuel cells
Patent No.: 560607 · Granted: 19/02/2025
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Haribabu Krishnan, Anupama M., Juliana John, Karnapa Ajit
GRANTED
2025
A zero-bias retinomorphic photodetector on a paper-based substrate and a method of fabricating the same
Patent No.: 557484 · Granted: 06/01/2025
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
PUBLISHED
2025
High-temperature broadband photodetector based on a self-powered hybrid p-n junction
Appl. No.: 202541104335 A · Published: 28/11/2025
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Henna Sherin P.
2024
GRANTED
2024
A dark-current free and carrier-diffusion based self-powered photodetector and method of operating the same
Patent No.: 532661 · Granted: 12/04/2024
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
GRANTED
2024
A charge carrier-diffusion based self-powered photodetector based on Hafnium diboride/Silver heterostructures
Patent No.: 529570 · Granted: 21/03/2024
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
GRANTED
2024
A Niobium diselenide based self-powered photodetector
Patent No.: 551014 · Granted: 25/09/2024
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
GRANTED
2024
Fabrication of a self-powered photodetector based on thermo-diffusion effect in ionic liquids
Patent No.: 541052 · Granted: 06/06/2024
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Varsha Sharma
GRANTED
2024
A method of synthesizing oxalate-functionalized Niobium monocarbide nanosheets for efficient photothermal conversion and light-triggered chemical reactions
Patent No.: 547506 · Granted: 12/08/2024
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Anupama M.
GRANTED
2024
A method for the visible light-induced selective degradation of poly(propylene carbonate) to its monomer propylene carbonate
Patent No.: 515351 · Granted: 26/02/2024
👥 Aji A. Anappara, Parameswaran P., Saju K. John, Tijin Hanno Geo Saji
PHOTONIC MATERIALS AND DEVICES LABORATORY
Doctoral Students
CURRENT STUDENTS
Ms. Varsha Sharma
Event-responsive and retinomorphic sensors; artificial opto-ionotronic synaptic devices
Institute Funding
Ms. Henna Sherin P.
Higher-operating-temperature Near-IR photodetectors; self-powered photodetectors for UV-Vis-NIR detection
INSPIRE Funding
Ms. Gana K.G.
Ongoing doctoral research
JRF-UGC
Ms. Shafna C A
Next-generation self-powered high-temperature broadband photodetectors
JRF-ANRF
Ms. Vishnupriya C H
Ongoing doctoral research
Institute Funding
COMPLETED DOCTORAL RESEARCH
Dr. Anupama M.
Light-induced energy conversion in transition metal monocarbides: bulk photothermal effects to nanoscale photocatalysis
Dr. Swathi V. M.
Multivalency-induced structural variations and related optoelectronic properties of elemental chalcogen nanostructures
Dr. Saju K. John
Optoelectronic properties of boron-based nanostructures derived from metal diborides
Dr. Nishaina Sahadev
Energy harvesting applications of low-dimensional carbon-based systems
Dr. Julin Joseph
Luminescent carbon dots for chemical sensing, phosphorescence and white-light emitting device applications
Dr. A. Simimol
Defect-induced electrodeposited ZnO nanostructures: optical, magnetic and electrical properties
Dr. Prajith K.
Multifunctional Silicon nanopillars for Antireflection, Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and photodetector applications
ACADEMICS
Teaching
THEORY COURSES
PH4029D
Solid State Devices
PH4025D
Light-matter interaction in resonators
PH4001D
Laser Physics
PH1001D
Physics of Materials
LABORATORY COURSES
—
General Physics Lab
—
Solid State Physics Lab
GET IN TOUCH
Contact
OFFICE ADDRESS
PH 117 (B), First Floor, Physics Building
Department of Physics, NIT Calicut
Kerala, India – 673 601
Department of Physics, NIT Calicut
Kerala, India – 673 601
PHONE
EMAIL
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
Active externally funded research: ANRF-ARG (~₹63.96 lakhs, 2026–2029) on next-generation self-powered high-temperature broadband photodetectors.
Join our research group
We are always looking for highly motivated and talented researchers to join our group. We work on cutting-edge problems at the interface of nanomaterials, optoelectronics, and ionotronic systems at the Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory.
Postdoctoral/Ph.D. positions:
Highly motivated and talented postdoctoral/doctoral aspirants are encouraged to reach out directly.
B.Tech/M.Tech/M.Sc. projects:
Interested students from NITC can contact the group leader to discuss possible project topics.