By Branden Ferguson

As a national leader in high-impact research, Bowling Green State University has embarked on groundbreaking photochemical research that has the potential to provide innovative solutions for the pharmaceutical, manufacturing and agricultural industries.

Dr. Jayaraman Sivaguru, Distinguished Research Professor and associate director of the world-renowned Center for Photochemical Sciences, received a grant totaling more than half a million dollars from the National Science Foundation, fully funding his research to better understand the interactions of light with molecules under specific conditions. The grant will fund projects through Fall 2027.

“These fundamental studies will allow us to develop environmentally benign solutions with light. The strategies that are pursued are innovative and have the potential to impact manufacturing processes in various industries such as pharmaceuticals and agriculture.” Sivaguru said. “While the application of chemistry is exciting to see, the basis for solutions to many of the critical problems are often fundamental in nature. Hence, understanding fundamental chemistry is important. Without this fundamental understanding, one will face an uphill battle to solve scientific problems.”

Fundamental research is crucial in developing industry solutions and plays an integral role in the University's participation in the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub, formed to bolster economic growth and technological progress in Ohio and build upon the region’s existing industrial and research capabilities to solidify the state as a global leader in glass technology.

Recent projects by leading BGSU researchers, including Sivaguru's pioneering research to enhance the durability, UV resistance and performance of electronically dimmable protective eyewear, demonstrate the University's strength in fundamental research.

“Fundamental research is used when creating solutions to industry problems. Our research with AlphaMicron on electronically dimmable protective eyewear that can adjust its tint from clear to dark in 0.1 seconds was the result of fundamental research," Sivaguru said. “This grant allows us to conduct fundamental research that may one day be used to solve additional industry problems.”

The NSF grant provides graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct groundbreaking, fundamental research alongside Sivaguru and is among the many ways BGSU empowers students to advance their education. Students are not only learning about light-initiated reactions and collecting data that will be used to solve future industrial problems, but they are also creating never-before-seen results.

Fundamental research results are not often immediately visible, but Sivaguru said the impact they make can transcend multiple disciplines. Whether decreasing the production time to create compounds used in the pharmaceutical industry or improving the effectiveness of manufacturing agricultural herbicides and fungicides or providing efficient pathways to develop novel materials, he surmises many industries could benefit from efficient, light-initiated reactions.

Manipulating light can enhance molecules, decrease reaction time, decrease the energy needed and result in lower production costs. Sivaguru said that instead of using a thermal reaction, which typically comes from the burning of fossil fuels or nuclear energy, BGSU researchers are creating chemical reactions that can be performed at room temperature using LED lights. He said the process creates cost savings that can be passed on to consumers and is environmentally friendly.

“The methodology we are creating is cutting edge,” said Sivaguru. “Our students have a huge advantage over others in their field. Some of the reactions we have developed have never been seen before, allowing us to name some of these reactions ourselves.”

Sivaguru said harnessing the power of light to create reactions has been discussed for more than 150 years and requires an understanding of photophysics and photochemistry, something he and his students possess.

“Our unique expertise allows us to understand the photophysical process and apply that to photochemical reactions," he said. "That opens new channels for reactivity and the creation of novel fundamental processes."