RAVI SEENU

Skilled researcher enthusiastic about supporting advancements in sustainable materials, catalysis, and environmental remediation. Passionate about developing porous frameworks (MOFs, COFs, mesoporous polymers) and functional catalysts to drive innovative solutions in CO₂ capture, biomass conversion, and water treatment. Ready to apply knowledge and over 10 years of research experience in materials design, synthesis, characterization, and environmental applications.

Materials Chemistry

Research Interest: 

Synthesis of covalent organic polymers/framework

Water treatment 

Gas separation

Heterogenous catalysis

• I have received two government funded individual projects (2021-2023) and (2023 to 2026)
• In the project titled "Syntheses of nitrogen-rich coordination and covalent organic polymers (COPs) and their amine functionalization for selective CO2 capture and conversion" (June 2021 - May 2023, NRF- 2021R1I1A1A01058669), I aimed to design and synthesize nitrogen-enriched CCOPs with high CO2 adsorption capacity (>5 mmol/g) and CO2/N2 selectivity (>300). The goal was to convert CO2 into valuable cyclic carbonates under ambient temperature (25C) and low pressure (1 bar), achieving a turnover frequency >3 h−1. By combining carbonyl and triazine units, I developed novel COP materials that exhibited high CO2 selectivity and large CO2 capacity due to the unique orientation of linking sites during polymerization, enhancing the materials' surface properties and amine-functionalization.
• In my current project, titled "Phosphorous covalent porous organic polymer derived single metal atom catalyst for the production of valuable fine chemicals" (June 2023 - May 2026, NRF: RS-2023-00247919), I am developing phosphorous-enriched metal-intercalated COPs to catalyze the production of biomass derived materials and CO2 conversion to HCOOH with high turnover frequencies under ambient conditions. The project aims to optimize catalytic performance and contribute to sustainable chemical production.

• Jung Sub Kim, S. Lee, T-H Kim, K. H. Oh, Y. Choi, H. Byun, C-H Lee, S. Ravi, Y-S Bae, Enhanced hydrogen storage via microporous defects and Cu (I) sites in HKUST-1 International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 90, 941, 2024. (co-corresponding author)
• Seungjin Lee, K. H. Oh, S. Ravi, Y-S Bae, Efficient hydrogen storage using Pt-incorporated nitrogen/oxygen-containing activated carbon wi th an ultra-large pore volume, J. Ind. Eng. Chem.,145, 452, 2024. (co-corresponding author)
• I.A. Matheen, A.A. Raza, A.M. Aatif, S. Ravi, A. Kubaib, S.A. Majeed, S.Z. Ahmed, S.S. Tajudeen, Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants using a novel bimetallic Ag-Cu doped biphenyl linked covalent triazine framework: Experimental, theoretical and toxicological assessments, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 462, 116264, 2025.
• S Ravi, HH Han, Y Choi, H Choi, HH Park, YS Bae, Covalent organic polymer/chitosan multifunctional granular aerogels for diclofenac sodium removal from water, Chemical Engineering Journal, 492, 152334, 2024.
• Y Choi, HH Han, KH Oh, HH Park, S. Ravi, YS Bae, Novel phosphite-based porous organic polymers for efficient removal of sulfur-containing antibiotics from water, Separation and Purification Technology, 329, 125219, 2024 (co-corresponding author)
• J Kim, S Ravi, K Kim, Y Choi, HH Park, YS Bae, Novel Porous Organic Polymer Catalyst with Phosphate and Sulfonic Acid Sites for Facile Esterification of Levulinic Acid, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 15, 41, 48445, 2023. (co-corresponding author)
• S. Ravi, Y Choi, YS Bae, Melamine-functionalized aromatic carbonyl-based polymer with high surface area for efficient CO2 capture, Separation and Purification Technology, 317, 123828, 2023.
• S. Ravi, Y Choi, YS Bae, Metal-Free Amine-Anchored Triazine-Based Covalent Organic Polymers for Selective CO2 Adsorption and Conversion to Cyclic Carbonates Under Mild Conditions, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 11, 3, 1190, 2023.
• S. Ravi, SY Kim, YS Bae, Novel benzylphosphate-based covalent porous organic polymers for the effective capture of rare earth elements from aqueous solutions, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 424, 127356, 2021.
• S. Ravi, Yujin Choi, W. Park, H. H. Han, S. Wu, R. Xiao, Y-S Bae, Novel triazine carbonyl polymer with large surface area and its polyethylimine functionalization for CO2 capture, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 108, 188, 2022.
• S. Ravi, Y. Choi, S. Wu, R. Xiao, Y-S Bae, Porous organic nanofiber polymers as superfast adsorbents for capturing pharmaceutical contaminants from water, Environmental Science: Nano, 9, 730, 2022.
• K Karuppasamy, D Vikraman, KW Jang, S. Ravi, WH Tanveer, R Bose, Bio-inspired proton conducting phytagel derived zwitterionic complex membranes for fuel cells, International Journal of Energy Research, 2021, 45 (12), 17120-17132.
• A. A Raza, S. Ravi, S. S. Tajudeen, A. K. Sheriff, Trifunctional covalent triazine and carbonyl based polymer as a catalyst for one-pot multistep organic transformation, Reactive and Functional Polymers 2021,167, 105011.
• A. A Raza, S. Ravi, S. S. Tajudeen, A. K. Sheriff, Sulfonated covalent triazine polymer loaded with Pd nanoparticles as a bifunctional catalyst for one pot hydrogenation esterification reaction, Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 2021, 302, 122417.
• S. I. Kim, A. R. Kim, H. J. Bae, S. Y. Kim, S. Ravi, K. C. Kim, Y. S. Bae, Cu (I)-incorporation strategy for developing styrene selective adsorbents, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2021, 425, 130601.
• A. A Raza, S. Ravi, S. S. Tajudeen, A. K. Sheriff, Applications of Covalent Triazine Polymers in Catalytic Organic Transformations, Current Catalysis, 2021, 10 (1), 42-74
• S. Ravi, Y. Choi, J. K. Choe, Achieving effective fructose-to-5-hydroxymethylfurfural conversion via facile synthesis of large surface phosphate-functionalized porous organic polymers, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2021, 271, 118942.
• S. Ravi, Y. Choi, J. K. Choe, Novel phenyl-phosphate-based porous organic polymers for removal of pharmaceutical contaminants in water, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 379, 122290.
• P. Puthiaraj, S. Ravi, KwangsunYu, Wha-SeungAhn, CO2 adsorption and conversion into cyclic carbonates over a porous ZnBr2-grafted N-heterocyclic carbene-based aromatic polymer, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2019, 251, 195-205.
• S Zhang, S. Ravi, YR Lee, JW Ahn, WS Ahn, Fly ash-derived mesoporous silica foams for CO2 capture and aqueous Nd3+ adsorption, Journal of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, 72, 241-249, 2019.
• S. Ravi, P Puthiaraj, K Yu, WS Ahn, Porous Covalent Organic Polymers Comprised of Phosphite Skeleton for Aqueous Nd (III) Capture, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11, 11488-11497, 2019.
• S. Ravi, Siqian Zhang, Yu-Ri Lee, Kyoung-Ku Kang, Ji-Man Kim, Ji-Whan Ahn, Wha-Seung Ahn, EDTA-functionalized KCC-1 and KIT-6 mesoporous silicas for Nd3+ ion recovery from aqueous solutions, Journal of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, 2018, 67, 210-218.
• Yu-Ri Lee, Kwangsun Yu, S. Ravi, Wha-Seung Ahn, Selective adsorption of rare earth elements over functionalized Cr-MIL-101, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2018, 10, 28, 23918–23927.
• S. Ravi, Pillaiyar Puthiaraj, Dong-wha park, Wha seung Ahn, Cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides over a porous covalent triazine-based polymer incorporated with Fe3O4, New Journal of Chemistry, 2018,42, 12429-12436.
• S. Ravi, Pillaiyar Puthiaraj, Wha seung Ahn, Hydroxyl amine functionalized covalent organic polymer for CO2 adsorption and fixation into cyclic carbonates, ACS Sustainable engineering and Chemistry, 2018, 6, 7, 9324–9332.
• S. Ravi, Wha seung Ahn, A facile synthesis of mesoporous organic polymers and its application in mercury removal, Microporous and mesoporous materials, 2018, 271, 59-67.
• Pillaiyar Puthiaraj, Yu-Ri Lee, S. Ravi and Wha-Seung Ahn, Inorganic materials for post-combustion CO2 capture – Metal organic frameworks based adsorbents. RSC- Book chapter, 2018
• S. Ravi, Y-Lee, K. Yu, J-W. Ahn, W. S. Ahn, Benzene triamido-tetraphosphonic acid immobilized on mesoporous silica for adsorption of Nd3+ ions in aqueous solution, Microporous and mesoporous materials, 2018, 258, 62-71.
• S. Ravi, P. Puthiaraj, K-H Row, D-W Park, W. S. Ahn, Aminoethanethiol-grafted porous organic polymer for Hg2+ removal in aqueous solution, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2017, 56 (36), 10174-10182.
• S. Ravi, P. Puthiaraj, Y-Lee, W. S. Ahn, Cyclic carbonate synthesis from CO2 and epoxides over diamine functionalized porous organic frameworks, Journal of CO2 Utilization, 2017, 21, 450-458.
• Chandu VVM Gopi, S. Ravi, S. S. Rao, H.-J. Kim, Carbon nanotube/metal-sulfide composite flexible electrodes for high-performance quantum dot-sensitized solar cells and supercapacitors, Scientific Reports, 2017, 7, 46519.
• H.-J. Kim, S.-M. Suh, S. S. Rao, D. Punnoose, C. V. Tulasivarma, Chandu VVM Gopi, N. Kundakarla, S. Ravi, I. K. Durga, Investigation on novel CuS/NiS composite counter electrode for hindering charge recombination in quantum dot sensitized solar cells, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 2016, 777, 123-132.
• G.-Y. Hwang, R. Roshan, H.-S. Ryu, H.-M. Jeong, S. Ravi, M.-I. Kim, D.-W. Park, A highly efficient zeolitic imidazolate framework catalyst for the co-catalyst and solvent free synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2, Journal of CO2 Utilization, 2016, 15, 123-130.
• S. Ravi, Chandu VVM Gopi, Hee je Kim, Enhanced electrochemical capacitance of polyimidazole coated covellite CuS dispersed CNT composite materials for application in supercapacitors, Dalton Transactions, 2016, 45, 12362-12371.
• S. Ravi, Chandu V. V. M. Gopi, S. Srinivasa Rao, Soo-Kyoung Kim and Hee-Je Kim, “Hydroxyl solvent prompted interwoven morphological deposition of iron sulfide nanoparticles as an effective counter electrode for Quantum dot sensitized Solar cell”, Electrochimica Acta, 2016, 204, 255-262.
• Chandu. V. V. M. Gopi, M. V.-Haritha, S. Ravi, C. V. T. -Varma, Soo-Kyoung Kim and Hee-Je Kim “Solution processed low-cost and highly electrocatalytic composite NiS/PbS nanostructures as a novel counter-electrode material for high performance quantum dot-sensitized solar cells with improved stability, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015, 3, 12514-12528.
• J. Sivaguru, M. Selvaraj, S. Ravi, H. Park, C. W. Song, H. H. Chun, C.-S. Ha Diamine Functionalized Cubic Mesoporous Silica for Ibuprofen Controlled Delivery, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2015, 15, 4784-4791.
• S. Ravi, R. Roshan, J. Tharun, A. C. Kathalikkattil and D. W. Park, Sulfonic acid functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 as catalyst for styrene carbonate synthesis from CO2 and styrene oxide at moderate reaction condition, Journal of CO2 Utilization, 2015, 10, 88-94.
• S. Ravi, R. Roshith, J. Tharun, D. W. Park, H-H. Chun, H. Park and M. Selvaraj, Mesoporous silica-giant particle with slit pore arrangement as adsorbent for heavy metal oxyanions from aqueous medium, RSC Advances., 2015, 5, 10260-10266.
• S. Ravi, D. H. Kang, R. Roshan, T. Jose, A. C. Kathalikkattil and D. W. Park, Organic sulphonate salts tethered mesoporous silicas as catalysts for CO2 fixation into cyclic carbonates, Catalysis Science & Technology, 2015, 5, 1580-1587.
• S. Ravi, M. Selvaraj, H. Park, H. H. Hyun and C. S. Ha, Novel hierarchically dispersed mesoporous silica spheres: effective adsorbents for mercury from wastewater and a thermodynamic study, New J. Chem., 2014, 38, 3899-3906.
• S. Ravi and M. Selvaraj Incessant formation of chain-like mesoporous silica with a superior binding capacity for mercury, Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 5299-5308.

Prof. Youn Sang Bae,

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering,

Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, 03722, 

mowbae@yonsei.ac.kr, 

+82-2-2123-2755,

Gopinathan Janarthanan, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Division of Engineering
Experimental Research Building C1 (Desk: C1-L0-RL5-13)
New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Saadiyat Campus
P.O. Box 129188
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Mobile: +971-502646110

I hereby declare that the information furnished above is true to the best of my knowledge. 

Yours sincerely, 

Seenu Ravi, 

Research Professor, Yonsei University.