On January 9, 2026, it will be 90 years since the birth of an outstanding scientist in the field of physical and physico-organic chemistry, molecular materials science, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology, recipient of the V.I. Vernadsky Gold Medal of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, holder of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise III–V degrees, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Vitaliy Dmytrovych Pokhodenko.
V.D. Pokhodenko was born on January 9, 1936, in Voroshilovsk (now Alchevsk), Luhansk region. In 1958, he graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry of Kyiv State University named after T.G. Shevchenko. All his scientific activity is connected with the L.V. Pisarzhevsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, where he worked since 1959. In 1963, V.D. Pokhodenko defended his candidate’s dissertation, in 1969 – his doctoral dissertation, and in 1972 he was awarded the academic title of professor. In 1973, V.D. Pokhodenko was elected a corresponding member, and in 1985 – a full member (academician) of the NAS of Ukraine.
The scientific works of V.D. Pokhodenko cover a wide range of current problems of the theory of chemical structure, kinetics and reactivity of free radicals, theory of intermolecular interactions, electrochemistry, photochemistry, homogeneous catalysis, molecular materials science, physical chemistry of nanostructured and nanocomposite materials, 2D nanostructures, etc. He discovered and extensively studied a new class of free radical and ion-radical reactions – one-electron redox transformations, the emergence of electromotive forces in free radical reactions, the possibility of catalysis by them of photochemical, electrochemical, and chemical processes, and a number of other fundamental effects and phenomena. The results of these works largely shaped modern concepts of the properties of free radicals and the mechanisms of processes involving them.
V.D. Pokhodenko made a significant contribution to the establishment in Ukraine of a new promising field of chemistry and molecular materials science – physical chemistry of polyelectron-radicals – conjugated electrically conductive organic polymers (ECP) and composites based on them. The scientist laid the scientific foundations and developed original chemical, electrochemical, and ion-implantation methods for obtaining new ECPs and their various nanocomposites; he conducted extensive research in the field of creating chemical power sources and supercapacitors based on them.
V.D. Pokhodenko and his colleagues initiated research in new relevant scientific directions such as physical chemistry of nanostructured systems and nanocomposite materials, nanophotocatalysis, physical chemistry of 2D nanostructures, including those involving free radicals and conjugated systems – promising materials for electronics, optoelectronics, and other applications. These studies are successfully continued by the students and followers of V.D. Pokhodenko. The fundamental results obtained by him and his scientific school played an important role in the theory and practice of creating the latest scientific and technical developments, many of which have been implemented in various industries and the social sphere. The priority and originality of a number of developments have been recognized by patent offices in many countries.
V.D. Pokhodenko’s scientific output includes over 600 scientific works, including 14 monographs (among them – "Phenoxyl Radicals," "Problems of Free Radical Chemistry," "Nanophotocatalysis"), more than 85 author’s certificates and patents of Ukraine and other countries (including the USA, Europe, Japan, China). Among his students are more than 30 doctors and candidates of sciences. The large scientific school created by V.D. Pokhodenko has a high international reputation; the scientific directions he initiated are developing in various leading scientific centers, and his works are widely cited in Ukrainian and foreign scientific publications.
Alongside intensive scientific activity, V.D. Pokhodenko carried out extensive scientific and organizational work for many years. From 1982 to 2008, he headed the L.V. Pisarzhevsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine (since 2009 he was its honorary director). At the same time, from 1988 to 1998, he worked as academic secretary of the Chemistry Department of the NAS of Ukraine, from 1998 – as vice-president of the NAS of Ukraine, from 2015 – as a member of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine and advisor to the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine. He actively participated in organizing and carrying out work to eliminate the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. He actively worked as part of collegiums of various ministries and government commissions, devoting much effort and energy to the development of science in Ukraine. For many years, V.D. Pokhodenko was a member of the Committee for awarding State Prizes of Ukraine in Science and Technology, was an initiator of the creation of a number of state scientific and technical programs and targeted comprehensive fundamental research programs of the NAS of Ukraine, and chairman of the Ukrainian National Committee on Chemistry under the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine.
For more than 30 years, V.D. Pokhodenko was the chief editor of the journal "Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry," under his leadership the journal became one of the leading scientific publications in Ukraine and abroad, indexed by scientometric databases "Scopus" and "Web of Science."
The diverse, active, and fruitful activity of V.D. Pokhodenko, his significant contribution to the development of science, training of highly qualified personnel, and implementation of research results into practice have received high recognition. V.D. Pokhodenko is a laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine (1993), the USSR Council of Ministers Prize (1988), awarded the V.I. Vernadsky Gold Medal of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2022), the L.V. Pisarzhevsky Prize (1979), and the O.I. Brodsky Prize of the NAS of Ukraine (1999). He is an Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine (1996) and an honorary doctor of Kyiv National University named after Taras Shevchenko (2009).
V.D. Pokhodenko is a holder of the Orders of Prince Yaroslav the Wise III–V degrees (2003, 2008, 2021), the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1986), the "Badge of Honor" (1981), awarded the Honorary Diploma of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (2007), several medals, the badge of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine "For Scientific Achievements," the distinction of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine "For Scientific Achievements," the badge of the Union of Chemists of Ukraine "Badge of Honor for Merits to the Chemical Industry of Ukraine," and many other honors.
The heart of Vitaliy Dmytrovych Pokhodenko stopped beating on March 6, 2025.
On February 17, 2026, the General Meeting of the Chemistry Department of the NAS of Ukraine dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of academician V.D. Pokhodenko will be held in the Large Conference Hall of the NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv, Volodymyrska St., 55).
The main milestones of the life and scientific achievements of academician of the NAS of Ukraine Vitaliy Pokhodenko are dedicated to the article by academician of the NAS of Ukraine Vyacheslav Koshechko "Creator and devoted worker of science," which will be published in the January issue of the journal "Bulletin of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine."