Tejwant Singh Kang is a Physical Chemist, with research expertise in the colloidal chemistry of ionic liquids (self-assembly, microemulsions, ionic liquid-protein systems), and sustainable preparation of nanomaterials for photocatalytic applications. Currently, he is working as an Associate Professor at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. He did B.Sc. (Chemistry, Biology) from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and M.Sc. (Chemistry) at Punjabi University, Patiala, India. He obtained Ph.D under the supervision of Dr. Arvind Kumar, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute, India (2011). He is the recipient of prestigious JSPS Postdoctoral (2011-2012) and JSPS Invitation Fellowship for experienced researchers (2018-2019), where he worked in the group of Prof. Nobuo Kimizuka, Kyushu University, Japan. He worked as a visiting scientist in the group of Prof. Kazue Kurihara, Tohoku University, Japan (2015). He is also the recipient of Prof. Shantilal Oswal Young Scientist
EDUCATION
Ph.D. (Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI, CSIR), Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar - 364002, Gujarat, INDIA): 2012
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship (Host: Prof. Nobuo Kimizuka, Kyushu University, Japan): June 2011 - December 2012
JSPS Invitational Fellowship (Host: Prof. Nobuo Kimizuka, Kyushu University, Japan): June 2018 - March 2019
JSPS Invitational Fellowship (Host: Prof. Nobuo Kimizuka, Kyushu University, Japan): April 2024 - October 2024
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Chemistry, Biomaterials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Materials Chemistry
Graphitic Quantum Dots from Wheat Straw as Efficient Adsorbents for Removal of U(VI) from Water Harmandeep Kaur, Harjinder Singh, Satvir Singh, Kanica Sharma, Omish Sethi, et al. Advanced Sustainable Systems, 2026 A new sustainable method for in‐situ preparation of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from waste wheat straw at an optimal temperature (∼60°C) using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of ZnCl 2 and lactic acid is established. The Lewis acidic nature of ZnCl 2 , along with Cl − ions, facilitated the breakdown and dissolution of wheat straw in DES. Various techniques confirm the formation of GQDs appended with different functional groups. The resulting GQDs showed excellent adsorption performance toward U(VI) ions, removing over 95% of U(VI) from groundwater samples (50–360 µg L −1 ) collected from the northwestern Punjab region, India, using batch and column methods. Adsorption studies indicated that the process is endothermic and spontaneous, and follows the Langmuir isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 301 mg g −1 under optimum adsorption parameters: pH = 6, contact time = 30 min, and adsorbent dose = 0.4 g L −1 . The DES has been restored for reuse. This is the foremost report on dissolution and processing of wheat straw in a deep eutectic solvent (DES) under mild, low‐temperature conditions, enabling in‐situ formation of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) in a single step. This work is expected to enhance renewable biomass into sustainable materials using DESs.
Self-Assembly of 2-Hydroxyethyl-1H-imidazolium-Based Surface Active Ionic Liquids and Utilization of Their Aqueous Solution in Superactivity of Cytochrome-c Manpreet Singh, Rajwinder Kaur, Sugam Kumar, Vinod Kumar Aswal, Gurbir Singh, et al. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2025 Imidazolium-based surface active ionic liquids (SAILs) appended with a hydroxyethyl moiety at a cationic headgroup at a position opposite to an alkyl chain ([C12ImOH][Br] and [C16ImOH][Br]) and alkyl chain functionalized with amide ([C12AImOH][Br]) and ester ([C12EImOH][Br]) groups have been synthesized. Different techniques, i.e., surface tension, ionic conductance, fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, and isothermal titration calorimetry, have been exploited for establishing their micellization behavior, followed by the utilization of aqueous SAILs to offer enhanced enzymatic activity to cytochrome-c (Cyt-c). The hydrophobic hydration of the hydroxyethyl group retards the micellization in bulk but disturbs the water structure at and beneath the air-solution interface, resulting in better surface-active behavior as compared to their nonhydroxyethyl functionalized counterparts. The variation of characteristic micellar properties, i.e., cmc, counterion binding (β), aggregation number (Nagg), size, compactness, and thermodynamic parameters of micellization, is supported by the increasing hydrophobicity of the cationic SAIL along with contrastingly different H-bonding and stiffness of ester or amide moiety present near the cationic headgroup. The aqueous solutions of SAILs (below cmc) favored the enzyme activity governed predominantly by hydrophobic as well as polar interactions between SAILs and Cyt-c corroborated by molecular docking and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy investigations. Cyt-c shows a retarded activity in aqueous micelles of SAILs (above cmc) with the exception of [C12AImOH][Br], where enzyme activity increased further to ∼2.1-fold compared to that observed in buffer. It is anticipated that the current results would pave a new way to synthesize SAILs not only to be used for enzyme activation and prolonged storage in aqueous medium but also for other biological applications.
Ag/AgBr@MoS2 Nanocomposites for Sunlight-Driven Photocatalytic Water Remediation and Electrochemical Water Splitting Harjinder Singh, Kanica Sharma, Brahmari Honnappa, Karthikeyan Sekar, Tejwant Singh Kang Langmuir, 2025 Janus-type Ag/AgBr nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared in situ onto the surface of MoS2 exfoliated via low-energy bath sonication employing a biobased surfactant, choline deoxycholate ([Cho][Doc]). The [Cho][Doc] not only mediated the exfoliation of MoS2 but also acted as a stabilizing and reducing agent under sunlight needed for the reduction and controlled growth of the Ag phase onto AgBr nanocrystallites. The dimensions as well as the extent of adherence of Ag/AgBr NPs onto MoS2 in Ag/AgBr@MoS2 nanocomposites (NCs) was affected by the form (monomeric or micellar) of [Cho][Doc], depending upon its concentration. The prepared NCs showed excellent photocatalytic activity toward water remediation with an exceptionally high rate constant under sunlight and appreciable electrochemical water splitting efficiency with stability up to at least 15 h for both the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. In this way, a single-step, environmentally benign, and economically efficient method for preparing Ag/AgBr@MoS2 NCs and their appreciable utility for water remediation under sunlight and electrochemical water splitting are established.
Electric Field-Driven Long-Range Order and Enhanced Polarization Switching in High-Dipole Ionic Liquids Tejwant S. Kang, Masa-aki Morikawa, Manpreet Singh, Nobuo Kimizuka Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025 Ionic liquids (ILs) with significant dipole moments exhibit massive electric polarization (P) under an applied AC electric field (E) at room temperature. Among the various investigated ILs, the p-toluene sulfonate of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, [C2mim][Tos], which has a large dipole moment in the tosylate anion (∼10.99 D), shows large hysteresis in P-E curves with a high saturation polarization (Ps ∼ 92 μC cm-2) and a remanent polarization (Pr ∼ 68 μC cm-2) at a relatively low electric field E (1.75 kV cm-1). The mechanism of polarization and its switching in ILs are corroborated by the switching current peaks observed in current density (j) versus E (j-E) profiles and the change in fluorescence intensity of a cyanine dye doped in ILs. The reversible cyanine fluorescence intensity changes in response to the applied AC electric field reflect the dynamic orientational changes of the IL, synchronized with the polarization reversal. The dependence of Ps and Pr values on applied AC electric fields (E) is fitted by two straight lines with different slopes, below and above a threshold electric field Eth (∼1.25 kV cm-1). Long-range order is not obtained below the threshold potential of Eth. Under AC electric fields above Eth, more significant polarization and cyanine fluorescence responses to the electric field are observed. The present study indicates the presence of long-range ordering of molecular dipole moments over a distance of more than 1 μm from the interfacial adsorption layers through the transition zone to the bulk zone.
Unprecedently High Dissolution and Depolymerization of Hard to Dissolve Polyurethane in Deep Eutectic Solvents under Low Energy White Light H Kaur, R Kaur, M Muskan, M Singh, R Dutt, K Sharma, H Singh, K Singh, ... RSC Sustainability , 2026 2026
Self-Assembly of 2-Hydroxyethyl-1H-imidazolium-Based Surface Active Ionic Liquids and Utilization of Their Aqueous Solution in Superactivity of Cytochrome-c M Singh, R Kaur, S Kumar, VK Aswal, G Singh, TS Kang The Journal of Physical Chemistry B , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Ag/AgBr@MoS 2 Nanocomposites for Sunlight-Driven Photocatalytic Water Remediation and Electrochemical Water Splitting H Singh, K Sharma, B Honnappa, K Sekar, TS Kang Langmuir , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Mechanically Robust, Thermally Stable, and Fully Bio-Sourced Eutectogel Electrolytes for MXene-based Flexible Supercapacitor O Sethi, A Singla, G Singh, K Sharma, I Singh, A Mahajan, AK Sood, ... 2025 Citations: 1
Electric Field-Driven Long-Range Order and Enhanced Polarization Switching in High-Dipole Ionic Liquids TS Kang, M Morikawa, M Singh, N Kimizuka Journal of the American Chemical Society 147 (10), 8809-8819 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
Surfactant-free microemulsion as a fluid scaffold for the thermal stabilization of lysozyme M Kaur, M Singh, R Kaur, N Kaur, PK Pati, TS Kang Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 27 (20), 10580-10590 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Ionic liquid-mediated solid–liquid extraction and separation processes for essential oils: modern trends P Kumar, S Khanal, I Soni, P Shandilya, M Kumar, D Kumar, TS Kang, ... Green Chemistry 27 (40), 12538-12573 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Self-assembly of cationic surfactant in choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents: structural solvation and dynamics Y Vora, O Sethi, SN Bariya, SL Gawali, SS Soni, TS Kang, PA Hassan, ... Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 27 (2), 1171-1186 , 2025 2025 Citations: 10
Evaluating the binding ability of promethazine hydrochloride drug with sodium dodecylsulphate/sodium lauroylsarcosinate/sodium cholate in the company of uridine biomolecules … J Sharma, M Singh, TS Banipal, TS Kang, PK Banipal Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology 45 (14), 2626-2643 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Aromatic salt induced modulations in micellization behavior of amide functionalized surface-active ionic liquids: The role of cationic head group A Kaur, G Singh, SK Mehta, S Singh, TS Kang Journal of Molecular Liquids 407, 125219 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Solution Properties of Folic Acid/Nicotinic Acid in Aqueous 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium-chloride Media at Discrete Concentrations and Temperatures: A Thermodynamic … Richu, Q Majid, H Singh, A Bandral, M Singh, TS Kang, A Kumar Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data 69 (7), 2503-2527 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Bio-surfactant mediated sustainable exfoliation of MoS2 and in-situ preparation of Ag@ MoS2 nanocomposites for photocatalysis under sunlight in aqueous medium H Singh, K Sharma, K Sekar, M Singh, TS Kang Surfaces and Interfaces 48, 104272 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Do Ionic Liquids Exhibit the Required Characteristics to Dissolve, Extract, Stabilize, and Purify Proteins? Past-Present-Future Assessment P Bharmoria, AA Tietze, D Mondal, TS Kang, A Kumar, MG Freire Chemical Reviews 124 (6), 3037-3084 , 2024 2024 Citations: 67
Sustainable preparation of AuAg alloy@ AgBr Janus nanoparticles via dissipative self-assembly for photocatalysis K Sharma, H Singh, G Singh, N Kaur, PK Pati, K Singh, A Kumar, TS Kang Nanoscale 16 (37), 17549-17558 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Sustainable dissolution of collagen and the formation of polypeptides in deep eutectic solvents for application as antibacterial agents H Kaur, M Singh, N Kaur, PK Pati, M Rani, TS Kang RSC Sustainability 2 (8), 2312-2323 , 2024 2024 Citations: 11
Ionic liquid-assisted sustainable preparation of photo-catalytically active nanomaterials and their composites with 2D materials K Sharma, TS Kang Chemical Communications 60 (99), 14717-14732 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Self-assembly of choline-based surface-active ionic liquids and concentration-dependent enhancement in the enzymatic activity of cellulase in aqueous medium M Singh, G Singh, H Kaur, S Kumar, VK Aswal, TS Kang Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 26 (22), 16218-16233 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Water Induced Alterations in Self‐Assembly of a Bio‐Surfactant in Deep Eutectic Solvent for Enhanced Enzyme Activity O Sethi, M Singh, AK Sood, TS Kang ChemPhysChem 24 (19), e202300293 , 2023 2023 Citations: 9
Explorations on Solute–Solvent Interactions of Tripotassium Citrate and Sodium Benzoate in Aqueous 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Ethyl Sulfate Solutions: Physicochemical … H Singh, Q Majid, Richu, M Singh, TS Kang, A Kumar Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data 68 (10), 2563-2584 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
Mixed Aggregates of Surface-Active Ionic Liquids and 14-2-14 Gemini Surfactants in an Aqueous Medium as Fluid Scaffolds for Enzymology of Cytochrome-c M Singh, S Kumar, VK Aswal, TS Kang Langmuir 39 (33), 11582-11595 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Aggregation behavior of ionic liquids in aqueous solutions: Effect of alkyl chain length, cations, and anions T Singh, A Kumar The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 111 (27), 7843-7851 , 2007 2007 Citations: 497
Static dielectric constant of room temperature ionic liquids: internal pressure and cohesive energy density approach T Singh, A Kumar The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 112 (41), 12968-12972 , 2008 2008 Citations: 286
Aggregation Behavior of Amino Acid Ionic Liquid Surfactants in Aqueous Media KS Rao, T Singh, TJ Trivedi, A Kumar Journal of Physical Chemistry B 115, 13847 , 2011 2011 Citations: 141
Micellization Behavior of Surface Active Ionic Liquids Having Aromatic Counterions in Aqueous Media G Singh, G Singh, TS Kang The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 120 (6), 1092-1105 , 2016 2016 Citations: 122
Effect of Different Synthetic Routes on the Structural, Morphological and Magnetic Properties of Ce Doped LaFeO3 nanoparticles BSR Preet Shikha, Tejwant Singh Kang* Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 336-345 , 2015 2015 Citations: 118
Electrocoagulation technology for high strength arsenic wastewater: Process optimization and mechanistic study V Gilhotra, L Das, A Sharma, TS Kang, P Singh, RS Dhuria, MS Bhatti Journal of Cleaner Production 198, 693-703 , 2018 2018 Citations: 117
Ionic Liquids Induced Structural Changes of Bovine Serum Albumin in Aqueous Media: A Detailed Physicochemical and Spectroscopic Study T Singh, P Bharmoria, M Morikawa, N Kimizuka, A Kumar The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 116 (39), 11924-11935 , 2012 2012 Citations: 115
Micellization behavior of morpholinium-based amide-functionalized ionic liquids in aqueous media R Kamboj, P Bharmoria, V Chauhan, S Singh, A Kumar, VS Mithu, ... Langmuir 30 (33), 9920-9930 , 2014 2014 Citations: 105
Micellization Behavior of Morpholinium-Based Amide-Functionalized Ionic Liquids in Aqueous Media TSK Raman Kamboj, Pankaj Bharmoria, Vinay Chauhan, Sukhprit Singh, Arvind ... Langmuir 30, 9920-9930 , 2014 2014 Citations: 105
Task‐Specific, Biodegradable Amino Acid Ionic Liquid Surfactants TJ Trivedi, KS Rao, T Singh, SK Mandal, N Sutradhar, AB Panda, ... ChemSusChem 4 (5), 604-608 , 2011 2011 Citations: 101
Dissolution, regeneration and ion-gel formation of agarose in room-temperature ionic liquids T Singh, TJ Trivedi, A Kumar Green Chemistry 12 (6), 1029-1035 , 2010 2010 Citations: 99
Non-ideal behaviour of a room temperature ionic liquid in an alkoxyethanol or poly ethers at T=(298.15 to 318.15) K A Kumar, T Singh, RL Gardas, JAP Coutinho The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics 40 (1), 32-39 , 2008 2008 Citations: 97
Cation–anion–water interactions in aqueous mixtures of imidazolium based ionic liquids T Singh, A Kumar Vibrational Spectroscopy 55 (1), 119-125 , 2011 2011 Citations: 94
Self-aggregation of ionic liquids in aqueous media: a thermodynamic study T Singh, A Kumar Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 318 (1-3 … , 2008 2008 Citations: 91
Temperature dependence of physical properties of imidazolium based ionic liquids: Internal pressure and molar refraction T Singh, A Kumar Journal of solution chemistry 38, 1043-1053 , 2009 2009 Citations: 85
Fluorescence behavior and specific interactions of an ionic liquid in ethylene glycol derivatives T Singh, A Kumar The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 112 (13), 4079-4086 , 2008 2008 Citations: 85
Micellar transitions in the aqueous solutions of a surfactant-like ionic liquid: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium octylsulfate T Singh, M Drechsler, AHE Müeller, I Mukhopadhyay, A Kumar Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 12 (37), 11728-11735 , 2010 2010 Citations: 82
Effect of the Alkyl Chain Length of Amphiphilic Ionic Liquids on the Structure and Dynamics of Model Lipid Membranes S Kumar, HA Scheidt, N Kaur, TS Kang, GK Gahlay, D Huster, VS Mithu Langmuir 35 (37), 12215-12223 , 2019 2019 Citations: 75
Effect of cationic head group on micellization behavior of new amide-functionalized surface active ionic liquids SSTSK Raman Kamboj, Pankaj Bharmoria, Vinay Chauhan, Gurbir Singh, Arvind Kumar PhysChemChemPhys 16, 26040-26050 , 2014 2014 Citations: 74
Physical and excess properties of a room temperature ionic liquid (1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) with n-alkoxyethanols (C 1 E m, m= 1 to 3) at T=(298.15 to 318 … T Singh, A Kumar The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics 40 (3), 417-423 , 2008 2008 Citations: 72