Who are we?

We are deeply investing in advancing conductometric sensing technologies to solve critical challenges in environmental monitoring and point-of-care diagnostics. Our approach integrates material innovation, device engineering, and system-level development, allowing us to build sensors that are not only highly sensitive and selective, but also compact, low-power, and field-deployable. We focus mostly on conductometric sensors, which include (1) resistive, (2) junction-based and (3) FET-based sensors using a plethora of nanostructured receptor layers. These include 2D materials (rGO, MoS2, etc.), transition metal oxides (NiO, ZnO, CuO, etc.) and perovskites (bismuth ferrite, rare-earth doped ferrites, etc.)

Our recent portfolio features a diverse range of sensor platforms tailored for gas and ion detection. For instance, we have developed a MoS₂/MoO₃-based thin-film transistor capable of detecting trace levels of SO₂ at room temperature, demonstrating exceptional selectivity and scalability. In parallel, junctionless FinFET-based gas sensors have been engineered to exhibit robust self-heating properties and high process reliability—key attributes for real-world sensor deployment.

In the domain of heavy metal ion sensing in aqueous environment, our graded rGO/ZnO heterojunction device offers ultrafast and highly selective detection of Cu(II) ions, while a Ni₂O₃/Cu-doped bisensor array empowered by machine learning algorithms enables discrimination of Zn(II) ions in complex mixtures. For Cr(VI) ion detection, we have designed a top-gated NiO/Ni₂O₃ field-effect sensor, combining structural simplicity with electrochemical precision.

Expanding beyond traditional analytes, we have also explored unconventional materials like crystallographic nanojunctions of bismuth ferrite for detecting carbon monoxide, revealing novel pathways for gas sensing based on electron transport modulation at grain boundaries. Our conductometric sensors are designed not just to perform in controlled lab settings, but to thrive in complex, real-world environments where reliability, speed, and portability are paramount. We have active collaborations with Kansas State University, Columbia University, TU Dresden, IIT Kharagpur, University of Calcutta and Jadavpur University. The present team members are Sukanya, Sampurna, Arijit, Amit, Sanjay, Sushrutha, Anushka and Tanmoy.

The Conductance Spectroscopy team at IIT Bhubaneswar is redefining molecular detection by integrating spectroscopic analysis into simple electronic devices. Unlike traditional methods that rely on optical systems like FTIR or Raman spectroscopy, our approach extracts molecular vibrational signatures directly from the electrical response of a sensor. This is achieved by analyzing the second harmonic of the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics, allowing us to detect how specific chemical bonds interact with the sensor surface.

This technique offers bond-level specificity, enabling the identification of analytes based on their inherent vibrational energy, such as C–H, O–H, or C=O stretches, captured as distinct features in the conductance spectrum. Since the method is entirely electrical and operates at room temperature, it offers a highly compact, low-power, and non-optical alternative to traditional spectroscopic tools.

Our work focuses on designing surface-engineered nanostructures that enhance the interaction between analytes and the receptor layer, thus amplifying the spectral response. This enables not only trace-level detection, but also differentiation between chemically similar species, study of phase transitions, and real-time monitoring of reaction dynamics—all using scalable, CMOS-compatible platforms.

Our vision is to transform chemical sensing into a miniaturized, accessible, and ultraselective electronic spectroscopy platform, suitable for point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial process control. The current team includes Anuvindh, Arijit, Souradip, and Sidhartha, with active collaborations with IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, and Columbia University.

Our team is dedicated to building next-generation energy storage and generation systems tailored for wearable and portable electronics. We specialize in the design and development of perovskite-based energy generators, flexible supercapacitors, coin cells, and flexible batteries, with a strong focus on integrating energy materials into miniaturized platforms. Moreover, we also look into the design of the MEMS platforms for various sensing applications, unconventional physical sensors for various applications as a part of the main units or as stand-alone application-based systems.

At the heart of our work is the use of rare-earth-doped perovskites such as La-doped BiFeO₃ (LBF) and LaNiO₃ (LNO) —materials that offer unique electrochemical characteristics, including high ionic conductivity, tunable redox states, and remarkable cyclic stability. These materials are synthesized using solid-state and sol-gel combustion techniques, enabling controlled nanostructuring for enhanced charge transport and ion diffusion.

We have recently demonstrated high-performance asymmetric solid-state supercapacitors, achieving specific capacitances of up to 409.76 F/g and excellent energy densities (~15 Wh/kg), along with over 88% retention after 5,000 cycles. These devices utilize flexible substrates, solid-state electrolytes, and low-cost fabrication techniques—paving the way for practical applications in next-gen electronics, energy harvesting, and hybrid power systems.

Our vision is to create integrated microsystems that combine energy generation, storage, and sensing on a single flexible platform. The present team is led by Piyush, in collaboration with TU Dresden (Germany), focusing on energy-efficient and sustainable technologies for future-ready devices as well as haptic and acoustic applications.

The Interfacing Electronics team plays a critical role in transforming sensor and spectroscopy innovations into practical, real-world solutions. Our focus lies in the design of custom electronics, including low-noise readout circuits, wireless data transmission modules, signal conditioning units, and embedded control systems that enable seamless integration of sensors into portable and IoT-enabled platforms. We specialize in tailoring electronics to match the sensitivity and bandwidth demands of both conductometric and spectroscopic sensing systems, ensuring real-time, high-fidelity signal acquisition under diverse operating conditions.

To bridge the lab-to-market gap, our group has incubated Nano Semic Private Limited, a deep-tech spin-off that serves as the commercial arm of our research ecosystem. Nano Semic is actively engaged in productization, marketing, and scaling up the technologies developed within the Sensors and Spectroscopy Research (S2R) group. From prototype optimization to field deployment, the startup is committed to delivering compact, reliable, and affordable sensor-based solutions for environmental monitoring, healthcare diagnostics, and industrial safety. Together, the team envisions building a robust hardware-software ecosystem that translates cutting-edge academic research into impactful, deployable products.