Vajeeston Ponniah

Dr. Vajeeston Ponniah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oslo, affiliated with the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology. His research focuses on electronic structure calculations, nanomaterials, and sustainable energy technologies. He holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Madras (1997) and the University of Oslo (2004).

His work emphasizes computational modeling using Density Functional Theory (DFT) to study materials for energy applications, including batteries, solar cells, and water splitting. Key projects include the SiALD initiative for silicon-based photovoltaic materials and collaborations on high-entropy alloys and solid-state electrolytes.

Research interests span structural stability, electronic properties, and optoelectronic phenomena in materials under extreme conditions. His team explores novel polymorphs, catalytic nanostructures, and hybrid materials for advanced energy systems.

Key collaborations include experimental groups in Norway and internationally, with recent focus on triboelectric nanogenerators, perovskite optoelectronics, and pressure-induced superconductivity. He supervises doctoral researchers in computational materials science and leads projects funded by the Research Council of Norway.