Research

Research Theme

Stimuli-responsive structure-function correlations and multifunctionality in electronically and magnetically switchable and Lanthanide-based luminescent Materials.

Research Summary

Our research primarily targets the development and physical properties of the transition metal-based inorganic molecular materials with switchable electronic and magnetic functionalities and lanthanide-based luminescent materials that give rise to suitable photophysical, photochemical, chemical, electronic, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties and their structure-property correlation. Incorporating functionality in inorganic materials is an essential focus of research and is capable of exhibiting diverse physical responses when subjected to various external conditions and has become very topical concerning technological applications, for instance, in displays, memories, switches, spintronics, magneto-optics, thermometry, storage, and sensors. 

Our research aims to develop and exploit this exciting frontier of functional materials in different forms of structure and dimensions. The following research directions have been undertaken in our group: 

(a) Probing stimuli-responsive molecular and nanoscale spin state switching

(b) Stimuli-responsive switchable functional networks

(c) Hybrid switchable materials involving magnetic and/or luminescent functionalities

(d) Electronically switchable functional nanoscale/hybrid nanoscale materials for biomedical, photonic and electronic device application

(e) Luminescent lanthanide-based materials for persistent phosphor, up/down conversion for photonic and electronic device application

Our research heavily involves inorganic materials' synthesis, design, and physical characterizations. We are mainly focused on synthesis in combination with structural, magnetic, and spectroscopic measurements to investigate the physical property (or functionality) of particular interest. However, the synthesis often requires novelty, leading to new insights into fundamentally interesting and technologically useful properties. We use various spectroscopic, structural, and microstructural techniques to explore the physical properties of the synthesized materials. Our techniques include temperature-dependent static and time-resolved optical absorption and luminescence, temperature-dependent magnetic response and photo-magnetism, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and photo-crystallography, Transmission Electron Microscopy in combination with Energy-dispersive X-ray, spin-coating, and drop-casting. In collaboration, these studies are further integrated with theoretical modelling and electronic structure analysis to understand the mechanistic insights of the switching phenomenon. The combination of novel synthesis and state-of-the-art characterization offers an exclusive opportunity to discover, develop, and ultimately harness the properties of functional materials.