Brief CV

Dr. R. K. Kotnala 

FNASc, FIGU, FMSI

Ph D, Silicon Solar Cell, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; Sigma Xi, Elected Member as an exceptional contributorto the research community, The Scientific Research Honour Society (ΣΞ),USA, world’s largest honour society for Scientists and Engineers. World,s among top ranking 2%  scientists published by Stanford University USA,

Outstanding Academician-APAM, Asia Pacific Academy of Materials.

Former-Chairman NABL & Raja Ramanna Fellow, DAE (To Advise on magnetic measurements on iCAL detector of Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO), Mega multi-project bigger than CERN project.

Head (former), Environmental Sciences & Biomedical Metrology Division & Chief Scientist (Ex); CSIR-NPL. National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.

Published over 580 research papers in SCI peer-reviewed journals with >14,620 citations, h-index 60 (google); 30,000 Followers on LinkedIn; besides 12 US/Indian patents,+11 industrial US/Indian patents,+11 industrial consultancies + 4 books and 8 chapters. Google Scholar Link: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0oEW3RwAAAAJ&hl=en

Unbelievable Path-Breaking Invention of Hydroelectric Cell to Generate Green Electricity by Water Splitting. Hydroelectric Cell: Pride of India Invented in 2016. Hydroelectric cell generate electricity instantly using a few drops of water only with no acid/alkali/light/temperature. Dr Kotnala and Dr Shah have invented Nano-porous oxygen deficient magnesium ferrite based Hydroelectric Cell, which splits water molecules spontaneously at room temperature and generates electricity & hydrogen gas.

Hydroelectric Cell being the biggest invention of the 21st Century in the Green Energy as an alternative to Solar Cell & Fuel Cell, is patented US10752515B2. Hydroelectric Cell article has been published in Everybody Wiki, Encyclopaedia

Honours/Awards: Renewable Energy India UBM London, REI Award 2018. Fellow National Academy of Sciences, India 2015; Outstanding Academician Recognition 2013-APAM, Asia Pacific Academy of Materials; MRSI Medal Award 2008 in Material Science (Magnetic Materials); JSPS Japan visiting Scientist 1989 and others.

Associate Editor: J. Appl Physics (AIP) U.S.A, 2014-18; Associate Editor, IET Science, Measurement & Technology:(Institutions of Engineering and Technology), London, U.K. 2017- continued, and J of Physics, Parmana ;Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, India.2015-2020.

Learned Society Leadership: Chairman, committee on Magnetic Materials, Materials Research Society of India (MRSI), Bangalore, 2012- continued. Currently Vice President, Magnetic Society of India, 2008 onwards. President, Society for scientific Values (SSV),  2019-continued. President, Society for Environment Awareness & Protection (SEAP), 2018- continued.

Dr.Kotnala Chairs various committees/Boards, member of Academic Council of Universities and Court of University/Governing Council of Technical Universities/Colleges/Institutions. Delivers Keynote Addresses, Chairs sessions in national & international conferences.

Metrology Speciality & Leadership

Quality System ISO 17025/33/34 based Science for Society & Industry, R K Kotnala’s Pioneering Role: Dr Kotnala realised the need of the country’s industrial growth in 1995 and took an initiative to establish Primary standards lab on magnetic measurements for the first time in India keeping the focus on industrial metrology. Later, he continued to establish environmental pollution and biomedical standards also. In spite of prolific scientific and exclusive output, Dr Kotnala supported more than 137 industries on their quality system based on ISO 17025 and others.

Global Distinctions

1. A Series Volume Chapter Published on Magnetic Material: Hydroelectric Cell, (An Alternative to Solar Cell and Fuel Cell for Masses), A Comprehensive Energy System, Vol 2, Edition I, Dincer, Feb 2018, Elsevier.
2. A chapter “FERRITES: Nano-Materials to Spintronics” in the Handbook on Magnetic Materials, Vol. 23, 2015 by Elsevier North-Holland.
3. Office of Naval Research (ONR), Washington, USA had entrusted my work on multiferroics for development of electromagnetic sensors and awarded 0.105 million $ US as a contract project in 2011.
4. Authored a book on “Ethical Issues on Nanotechnology ” Formulating Ethical Codes for first time, Chapter in New Nano Techniques, Nova Science Publisher, New York 2009.
5. PAC Member, Programme Advisory Committee on Condensed Matter Physics & Materials Science, Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) DST India 2018 onwards.
6. Member of Strategic Programmes DST, Large Initiatives and Coordinated Action Enabler (SPLICE) and Climate Change Programme Committee of Department of Science & Technology (DST); Govt of India 2014-19.
7. Special Address on Spintronics & Multiferroic Materials Novel Approach to Nano Device Initiatives in Naval Research Lab,Washington,USA May 29, 2015.
8. Distinguished talk on Solar Cell Future Prospects in India, Hyundai Solar, Seoul 2013, South Korea.
9. Invited talk on Barium Ferrite Thin Film for Magnetic Memory: 2011 Moscow Univ.
10. Invited talk on Multiferroics & its Future Prospects: Catania Univ.2010 Italy.

Metrology and Industrial Contributions:

  1. CPEM 2010 Chaired Session: ; Current (DC/AC); June 17, 2010. (The international conference series CPEM 2010 is of apex level in standards from BIPM, France provides new results for SI units. It was held at Daejeon South Korea).
  2. Technical member in the Asia Pacific Metrology Programme Meeting of BIPM Nov. 2012 in New Zealand.
  3. ISO- 17025 certification in 1996 from NAMAS, UK.
  4. Project Coordinator of Super Technical Metrology building at NPL based on ISO: 17025 (12500 Sqm), 5th super technical Lab in world 2010-14.
  5. Established Magnetic Primary Standard Lab for the first time in 1998 at International Level at NPL.
  6. Worked for a national mission to create an inventory of atmospheric data & to calibrate equipment used in the measurement of air pollutant gases, particulate matter PM2.5, and greenhouse gases for climate change due to Environmental Pollution.
  7. Biomedical Metrology: Established & Coordinated for the first time in India
    1. MRI magnetic field calibration using the primary standard established in 2014.
    2. Defibrillator for Hospital emergency calibration Established in 2017.
  8. Contributions to Indian Reference Standards (BND):
    1. Basmati Rice Reference BND.
    2. Make in India (PM2.5 sampler)
    3. Breath Alcohol standard,
    4. Copper in Water as Reference material.
  10. Planned & Guided for EMI/EMC Test Facility in EQDC, Gandhi Nagar Gujarat 2012.
  11. Magnetic tampering-proof energy meters were developed with new technical specs in 2001 for Central Board of Irrigation & Power, CBIP. It saved Crores of Rupees from electricity theft in India.
  12. Industrial Support for Magnetic Materials, Measurements, and Power Loss in Electrical Steel used as core material for Transformer: IEC 404-2. 
  13. Developed Gold Certified Reference Material (CRM) first Indian standard on high purity (99.99%) gold with Indian Govt, Mint and BARC.
  14. Coordinator in Pristine Air Monitoring Station at Palampur to precisely measure air pollution, 2016. 
  15. Coal Certified Reference Material (CRM) Standard developed with CIMPER Dhanbad, 2017.