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Center research focuses on developing semiconducting nanomaterials and heterostructures for electrical, magnetic and optical applications. When the size of the material is reduced to a typical dimension therein, quantum confinement of charge carriers occurs and lead to unusual properties. To study the functional behavior, we focus our investigations on material growth, electronic structure, surface area and physical properties. Few of the applications taken by us are:
Nanomaterial and heterostructure synthesis: We are involved in wet chemical synthesis of nanomaterials and physical deposition of thin films by novel chemical methods and use them for electronic transport, catalytic, magneto-electric, and photoabsorption studies for various technologically relevant processes and applications. Nano-sized ferrites and composites, bismuth titanates, tin sulphides, binary and perovskite metal oxides and polymer composites are prepared by non-hydrolytic sol-gel or precipitation methods using suitable organic solvents and capping agents. For nanocomposites and core-shell structures, a two-step seeded growth approach is adopted. Templated growth of metal and metal oxide thin films and patterned multilayer structures are manufactured at the center using RF magnetron sputtering and chemical bath techniques.
Materials for energy harvesting: Metal and semiconductor nanoparticles are researched for photovoltaic and photocatalytic properties towards renewable energy harvesting and sustainable environment. Maximizing photon absorption, increase of charge separation (or minimal charge recombination) and effective utilization of the separated charges are some of the key factors for efficient solar energy utilization. An important method to address the low quantum efficiency is through use of nanocomposites of contact type and core-shell heterostructure that enable increased light absorption and minimize the recombination of charge carriers. We synthesize metal oxide and reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for this purpose and investigate their morphology, bandgap, raman and photoluminescence properties for photocatalysts and light absorb materials in mesoporous network structure.
We also explore dye-sensitized and quantum dot solar cell designs for clean energy production, nano and bulk materials for solid state lighting and supercapacitor applications.
There has been a renewed interest in exploring highly efficient, lead-free thermoelectric materials for industrial and automobile waste heat recovery. Thermoelectric generators directly convert thermal energy to electrical energy. Tin selenide single crystals has shown outstanding figure-of-merit of 2.62 and we are presently trying to increase the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline bulk SnSe by nanostructuring approach.
Optical Sensors for heavy metal detection
Complexometric absorption based optical sensing is used for heavy metal detection in water. Here, heavy metals are converted to water soluble deep-colored complexes and their light absorption is scaled for metal ion concentration. By tuning the wavelength of light shone, different metals can be detected and estimated using photodiodes and / or multipliers. As heavy metal content in water do not disintegrate into harmless end products, more conventional chemical methods to detect and remove can not be employed. The technique is highly reliable for conversion into microelectronic circuitry and tool kit using appropriate light sources, filters, color sensors and reagents.
Amperometric Biosensors: Detailed research on developing metal oxide NC and enzyme incorporated graphite-based bio-nanocomposites have been carried out at the center which is used as electrode in amperometric sensing of catechol in water. The detection proceeds through reversible oxidation of the analyte at the nanoelectrode surface through electron transfer reactions with the enzyme-oxide nanocomposite. The amperometric sensor is projected as relevant for phenolic sensing of polluted waters for clinical trials. Amperometric detection using basic electrochemical tools is projected to enable easy phenol detection and technology conversion to cost-effective product development compared to time consuming spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques.
Carbon Dioxide Sensor and adsorption: Detailed research on developing Low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly MOF-RSCA nanofiber sheet-based solution for CO2 adsorption. is going on. MOF-Rice Straw Cellulose Acetate (MOF-RSCA) nanofiber sheet is designed and being synthesized which will provide high specificity, high porosity, reusable, eco-friendly and low energy carbon sequestration solution for removal of CO2 by adsorption from industrial sources. Zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF)-based materials ar being utilized as MOF due to its high surface area, porosity and high adsorption capabilities.
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