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Mas Subramanian

{{Short description|Indian chemist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Mas Subramanian

| image = Photo of Mas Subramanian.jpg

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| birth_name = Munirpallam A. Subramanian

| other_names = M.A. Subramanian, Mas Subramanian

| birth_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

| birth_date = 1954

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| fields = Chemistry, materials science

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Mas Subramanian, (born 1954{{Cite book |last=Kupferschmidt |first=Kai |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1308396619 |title=BLUE : in search of nature's rarest color. |date=2022 |publisher=The Experiment |isbn=978-1-61519-906-8 |location=[S.l.] |oclc=1308396619 |page=14}}), is a solid-state materials scientist at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. He is a University Distinguished Professor{{Cite web|url=https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/oregon-state-names-three-distinguished-professors-0|title = Oregon State names three distinguished professors|date = 14 March 2019}} and the Milton Harris Chair of Materials Science in the university's Department of Chemistry. His work in solid-state chemistry on structure-property relationships of inorganic compounds has led to several new functional materials, many of which have found usage in various applications. Subramanian has authored 400+ research publications and holds 84 patents. His publications have received more than 35,000 citations (h-index: 80).

Early life and education

Subramanian was born and raised in Chennai, India.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2018-quest-for-billion-dollar-red/|title=The Quest for the Next Billion-Dollar Color|last=Schonbrun|first=Zach|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2018-04-20}} Subramanian received his B.S. in chemistry from the University of Madras, in 1975 and received a M.S. in inorganic chemistry from the same university in 1977. In his master's thesis Subramanian analyzed various minerals and alloys.{{Cite web|url=http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oh150/subramanian/biography.html|title=Biography - Mas Subramanian Oral History Interview - September 30, 2015 - Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries|website=scarc.library.oregonstate.edu|access-date=2018-04-20}} In 1982 he completed his Ph.D. in solid state chemistry on pyrochlore oxides at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India, under the guidance of G. V. Subba Rao. The introduction to his thesis is a pyrochlore review that remains his most cited work.{{Cite journal|last1=Subramanian|first1=M. A.|last2=Aravamudan|first2=G.|last3=Subba Rao|first3=G. V.|date=1983-01-01|title=Oxide pyrochlores — A review|journal=Progress in Solid State Chemistry|volume=15|issue=2|pages=55–143|doi=10.1016/0079-6786(83)90001-8}} From 1982 to 1984, he was a NSF Post Doctoral Fellow under the guidance of Abraham Clearfield at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Scientific career

In 1984, Subramanian joined the Central R&D department at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware,{{Cite web|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8050/print/8050chemhighlights1.html|title=C&EN: CHEMISTRY HIGHLIGHTS 2002 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY|website=pubs.acs.org|access-date=2016-07-10}} eventually becoming a DuPont Research Fellow in 2002. He has contributed to the fields of ceramics, superconductors, dielectrics, catalysis, thermoelectrics, multiferroics, ionic conductors, and organic synthesis. His notable discoveries include: zeolites as precursors to electronic ceramics,{{Cite journal|last1=Subramanian|first1=M. A.|last2=Corbin|first2=D. R.|last3=Chowdhry|first3=U.|date=1993-12-01|title=Better ceramic substrates through zeolites|journal=Bulletin of Materials Science|language=en|volume=16|issue=6|pages=665–678|doi=10.1007/BF02757661|issn=0250-4707|doi-access=free}} new Bi and Tl-containing superconductors,{{Cite journal|last1=Subramanian|first1=M. A.|last2=Calabrese|first2=J. C.|last3=Torardi|first3=C. C.|last4=Gopalakrishnan|first4=J.|last5=Askew|first5=T. R.|last6=Flippen|first6=R. B.|last7=Morrissey|first7=K. J.|last8=Chowdhry|first8=U.|last9=Sleight|first9=A. W.|date=1988-03-31|title=Crystal structure of the high-temperature superconductor TI2Ba2CaCu2O8|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=332|issue=6163|pages=420–422|doi=10.1038/332420a0|bibcode=1988Natur.332..420S|s2cid=4354154}} catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,{{Citation|last1=Herron|first1=Norman|title=Fischer-Tropsch processes and catalysts using fluorided supports|date=9 Apr 2002|url=http://www.google.ch/patents/US6368997|last2=Manzer|last3=Subramanian|first2=Leo E.|first3=Munirpallam A.|access-date=2016-07-10}} and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),{{Citation|last1=Mallikarjuna|first1=Rao V. N.|title=Fluoroolefin manufacturing process|date=29 February 2000|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6031141|last2=Subramanian|first2=Munirpallam A.|access-date=2016-07-10}} colossal dielectrics (CCTO),{{Cite journal|last1=Subramanian|first1=M. A.|last2=Li|first2=Dong|last3=Duan|first3=N.|last4=Reisner|first4=B. A.|last5=Sleight|first5=A. W.|date=2000-05-01|title=High Dielectric Constant in ACu3Ti4O12 and ACu3Ti3FeO12 Phases|journal=Journal of Solid State Chemistry|volume=151|issue=2|pages=323–325|doi=10.1006/jssc.2000.8703|bibcode=2000JSSCh.151..323S}}{{Cite journal|last1=Li|first1=J.|last2=Subramanian|first2=M. A.|last3=Rosenfeld|first3=H. D.|last4=Jones|first4=C. Y.|last5=Toby|first5=B. H.|last6=Sleight|first6=A. W.|date=2004-12-01|title=Clues to the Giant Dielectric Constant of CaCu3Ti4O12 in the Defect Structure of "SrCu3Ti4O12"|journal=Chemistry of Materials|volume=16|issue=25|pages=5223–5225|doi=10.1021/cm048345u|issn=0897-4756}} colossal magnetoresistance (GMR) oxides,{{Cite journal|last1=Subramanian|first1=M. A.|last2=Toby|first2=B. H.|last3=Ramirez|first3=A. P.|last4=Marshall|first4=W. J.|last5=Sleight|first5=A. W.|last6=Kwei|first6=G. H.|date=1996-07-05|title=Colossal Magnetoresistance Without Mn3+/Mn4+ Double Exchange in the Stoichiometric Pyrochlore Tl2Mn2O7|journal=Science|language=en|volume=273|issue=5271|pages=81–84|doi=10.1126/science.273.5271.81|issn=0036-8075|pmid=8688054|bibcode=1996Sci...273...81S|s2cid=22884086|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1231078}}{{Cite journal|last1=Ramirez|first1=A. P.|last2=Subramanian|first2=M. A.|date=1997-07-25|title=Large Enhancement of Magnetoresistance in Tl2Mn2O7: Pyrochlore Versus Perovskite|journal=Science|language=en|volume=277|issue=5325|pages=546–549|doi=10.1126/science.277.5325.546|issn=0036-8075}} and skutterudite thermoelectrics.{{Cite journal|last1=He|first1=Tao|last2=Chen|first2=Jiazhong|last3=Rosenfeld|first3=H. David|last4=Subramanian|first4=M. A.|date=2006-02-01|title=Thermoelectric Properties of Indium-Filled Skutterudites|journal=Chemistry of Materials|volume=18|issue=3|pages=759–762|doi=10.1021/cm052055b|issn=0897-4756}} He has worked on the synthesis of fluoroaromatic compounds.{{Cite journal|last1=Subramanian|first1=M. A.|last2=Manzer|first2=L. E.|date=2002-09-06|title=A "Greener" Synthetic Route for Fluoroaromatics via Copper (II) Fluoride|journal=Science|language=en|volume=297|issue=5587|pages=1665|doi=10.1126/science.1076397|issn=0036-8075|pmid=12215637|s2cid=32697750}}

In 2006, Subramanian joined Oregon State University as the Milton Harris Chair Professor of Materials Science, where his research is dedicated to the design and synthesis of novel functional materials for emerging applications in energy, environment, and electronics. He and his team, at Oregon State University, work on various topics such as pigments, thermoelectrics, high-temperature superconductivity, magnetoresistivity, solid fast ion conductors, high-K dielectrics, and topological insulators. In 2009, his team discovered a novel durable blue pigment, YInMn Blue,{{Cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=Andrew E.|last2=Mizoguchi|first2=Hiroshi|last3=Delaney|first3=Kris|last4=Spaldin|first4=Nicola A.|author4-link=Nicola Spaldin|last5=Sleight|first5=Arthur W.|last6=Subramanian|first6=M. A.|title=Mn 3+ in Trigonal Bipyramidal Coordination: A New Blue Chromophore|journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society|volume=131|issue=47|pages=17084–17086|doi=10.1021/ja9080666|pmid=19899792|year=2009|bibcode=2009JAChS.13117084S }} the first discovery of a new blue pigment since cobalt was discovered in 1802.{{Cite news|url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/chemist-mas-subramanian-on-the-incredible-discovery-of-yinmn-blue-973700|title=How the Accidental Discovery of YInMn Blue Changed One Chemist's Life {{!}} artnet News|date=2017-06-19|work=artnet News|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en-US}} Subramanian has given numerous public lectures all over the world on YInMn Blue, including TEDxSalem{{Citation|last=TEDx Talks|title=A new color comes from out of the blue {{!}} Mas Subramanian {{!}} TEDxSalem|date=2018-04-05|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LvFAnDAY7o|access-date=2018-05-28}} and TEDxUNC.{{Citation|last=TEDx Talks|title=YInMn Blues: The Discovery that Startled the World! {{!}} Mas Subramanian {{!}} TEDxUNC|date=2018-03-26|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdNXytuJpxA|access-date=2018-05-28}} This discovery has been featured in various international media outlets (such as The New York Times, TIME, National Geographic, Smithsonian,{{Cite news|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/crayola-debut-crayon-inspired-new-shade-blue-180963205/|title=Crayola to Debut Crayon Inspired by New Shade of Blue|last=Katz|first=Brigit|work=Smithsonian|access-date=2018-05-28|language=en}} Bloomberg Businessweek,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2018-quest-for-billion-dollar-red/|title=The Quest for the Next Billion-Dollar Color|last=Schonbrun|first=Zach|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2018-05-28}} and WBUR{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/05/14/new-blue-pigment-color-chemistry|title=Discovery Of 1st New Blue Pigment In 200 Years Leads To Quest For Elusive Red|website=www.wbur.org|date=14 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-05-28}}), and has attracted global attention from corporations and museums, like Nike, Crayola, and the Harvard Art Museum. In June 2021, Subramanian provided YInMn Blue to Sir Martyn Poliakoff for use in the Periodic Videos educational web series.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxbOQ1FhqdQ |title=Yttrium (new) - Periodic Table of Videos |date=May 19, 2022 |language=en |publisher=Periodic Videos |access-date=July 27, 2023 |website=YouTube}}

Subramanian has served as a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Materials Chemistry (1995–2001), Chemistry of Materials (2000–2006), Materials Research Bulletin (2006–present), and the Journal of Solid State Chemistry (2009–present), and is continues to serve as an editor for two international academic journals, Solid State Sciences, and Progress in Solid State Chemistry.

Honors and awards

  • American Chemical Society National Award in Inorganic Chemistry, 2025 {{cite web |title=Mas Subramanian wins prestigious national ACS award {{!}} College of Science {{!}} Oregon State University |url=https://science.oregonstate.edu/impact/2024/08/mas-subramanian-wins-prestigious-national-acs-award |website=science.oregonstate.edu |language=en |date=25 September 2024}}
  • Elected Fellow, Neutron Scattering Society of America (NSSA), 2024 {{Cite web|url=https://neutronscattering.org/prizes/nssa-fellows/ |title=NSSA Fellows|date = 14 April 2024}}
  • University Distinguished Professor, Oregon State University, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost/2019-osu-distinguished-professors|title = OSU University Distinguished Professors|date = 8 February 2021}}
  • Perkin Medal (awarded in exceptional circumstances) from the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 2019
  • Elected Fellow, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaas.org/news/aaas-honors-accomplished-scientists-2018-elected-fellows|title=AAAS Honors Accomplished Scientists as 2018 Elected Fellows|website=American Association for the Advancement of Science|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Madras, 2018
  • Oregon Academy of Science Outstanding Oregon Scientist, 2016
  • F.A. Gilfillan Memorial Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Science (OSU), 2013
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Creativity Award, 2012
  • Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) Medal, 2012
  • Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Hall of Fame, 2011
  • Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Solid State Chemistry, 2010
  • Ralf Busch Materials Science Award, OSU (2007)
  • Chair of Excellence, CRISMAT, Caen, France, (2006–2008)
  • Signature Faculty Fellow, Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), 2006–present
  • DuPont Charles Pedersen Medal Award for Excellence in Scientific and Technical Achievement, 2004

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oh150/subramanian/index.html Mas Subramanian Oral History Interview]

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Category:Living people

Category:Oregon State University faculty

Category:University of Madras alumni

Category:IIT Madras alumni

Category:20th-century Indian chemists

Category:1954 births