Research

Transition dichalogenides (TMD) are emerging class of nanomaterials, the development of synthesis methods for acquiring large area high quality TMD is very important. By synthesizing large area TMDs it is possible to fabricate the device with minimum cost, thereby, making TMDs a promising material for high speed electronic components and high strength membranes. We have explored the liquid -liquid interface method to synthesize large area thin films of 2D transition metal dichalogenides

We have synthesized various transition metal oxide nanostructures employing microwave method. This method is rapid simple and energy efficient. The synthesis time various from few seconds to few minutes. By tuning the microwave power, irradiation time, precursor concentration, substrate surface we can get desired morphology and crystal structure. The synthesized materials has immense potential towards sensing, energy generation and storage applications.

Here we have developed defect rich metal oxides substrate for surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy application. The materials are synthesised using wet chemical method with desired morphology.The availability of oxygen vacancies, surface hydroxyl groups in the nanostructures provides active sites for adsorption of analyte molecules. Moreover, the designed substrate can be reused for many cycles exploiting the photocatalytic activity of metal oxides. The developed nanostructure based SERS substrate has a great potential towards efficient detection of various dye and organic molecules.

Mo-Chalcogenide thin films have found wide applications in the field of tribology because of their favorable two dimensional morphology. It has been used as a lubricant in machine parts for some time now. Here we have explored the tribological properties of MoS₂, rGO and its composites in industrial oils. Highly efficient materials are synthesized from hydrothermal method. The synthesized material showed good antifriction and antiwear properties.

This work was funded by the Tata Steel Advanced Material Research Centre (TSAMRC) at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS).