DR. J. JAYAKUMAR (庫馬) 

My research career has been dedicated to advancing the frontiers of organic synthesis, materials chemistry, and catalysis, with a focus on designing functional frameworks for energy, optoelectronics, and biomedical applications. His work integrates advanced synthetic methodologies with structure–property investigations to develop next-generation porous materials and molecular platforms.
Notably, I developed the first Rh-catalyzed synthesis of isoquinolinium salts via C–H activation, successfully isolating a key metal–complex intermediate and applying this strategy to the total synthesis of oxychelerythine (this work was highly cited (+270)). Building on this breakthrough, I further expanded transition-metal-catalyzed C–H activation chemistry to access a wide range of quaternary ammonium scaffolds, including cinnolinium, isoquinolinium, isoindolium, protoberberine, and pyridinium derivatives. These contributions, published as the leading author in Angew. Chem. (3), Org. Lett., Chem. Commun., and Chem. Eur. J., provided powerful methodologies for pharmaceuticals and materials design and earned him the Outstanding Academic Researcher Award from MOST (Taiwan).
Building upon this foundation, I expanded my research into organic optoelectronic materials, where I designed and synthesized pyridine-carbonitrile-based emitters, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials, and carbazole derivatives for blue to green OLEDs. My contributions in this field have been recognized with patents filed in Taiwan, the USA, and China, technology transfer, and as well as publications as a leading author in Adv. Mater. J. Mater. Chem. C (4), Chem. Eng. J. and ACS Applied Mater. & Interfaces (6). 
In parallel, I have contributed to the development of polymer-based photocatalysts and COF-derived nanostructures for visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution, which led to impactful publications as first and co-authors in J. Mater. Chem. A, App. Catal B: Environ, Nat. Commun, and ACS Appl. Energ. Mater. Additionally, I have participated in a biomaterials design project, creating functional materials for biomedical applications such as liver fibrosis, kidney failure, cancer immunotherapy, and tumor monitoring. Which led to impactful publications as co-authors in ACS Nano, and Adv. Mater.
This body of work highlights my ability to integrate synthetic chemistry, materials science, and catalysis, establishing a strong foundation for advancing sustainable chemistry, energy storage, and biomedical technologies.