STATEMENT OF RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS

Work done [During 2004-2020]:

After completing M.Sc. in Physics with first rank in 2003, my starting couple of years were invested in development of research facilities & testing the solar thermal gadgets as per IS specifications at Govt’s Regional Test Centre, Pune. In next couple of years, fungus based synthesis of chemically difficult to synthesize delafossite CuAlO2 nanoparticles and TiO2 nanodisks at or near room temperature with unique water dispersing capability due to in-situ protein capping have realised. Further these nanosystems were explored for applications in photo-catalysis, hyperthermia & blue luminescence. CaCO3 NPs in purely calcite phase which otherwise does not commercially exists had also been synthesized using biological approach with egg-shell as precursor. Part of this work has published in high impact journal Adv. Mater. (IF ~ 32).

In next year Fe/Co-doped TiO2 NPs have investigated as DMS for spintronic applications. Literature shows lot of reports on thin films compare to NPs. Thus, during my PhD a detailed investigation had pursued on Fe/Co-doped TiO2 NPs to check magnetism and electronic structure variations. Absence of ferro-magnetism has observed contradicting to many literature reports. Usually doping modifies the electronic structure of the host. Explicitly Fe-doped TiO2 had investigated within and beyond the solubility limit. It had observed that upto 40% of Fe-doping in TiO2 lattice did not show any impurity phase of-course with increase in lattice disorder.

Due to research potential of TiO2 in academics & industry, investigations on surface active sites of TiO2 NPs/films are pursued in the context of catalysis & sensing in later years. Further TiO2 NPs are doped by different dopants like Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, Zn, Nb.. etc. to modify their surface activity. These outcomes had published. Main difficulty in TiO2 nanocatalysis is its UV activity and re-usability. To solve these issues, N-doping was successfully achieved using modified sol-gel method & its catalysis tests exhibited an excellent visible light activity. This work is published in reputed J. Phys. Chem. C & received nearly 500 citations. Second issue of re-usability has been tackled by magnetic composite NPs of TiO2:γ-Fe2O3 with enhanced catalytic acitivity and application of magnetic field can collect back catalyst for the re-use. TiO2 only on doping/modifying by other materials has been reported as H2S sensor. In my recent investigations, greatly enhanced H2S sensitivity by undoped defect-rich TiOx films has recorded. The sensor showed the highest response (SR%) > 100000 value best in the literature with encouraging features such as faster response, quicker recovery at lower operating temperature (100oC) with better stability and reproducibility can realise H2S sensor technology. Presently explores TiO2 nanosystems for thermoelectric applications.

After completing PhD in July 2010 & having sanction of ‘Individual post-doctoral grant, by FCT, Govt. of Portugal, I preferred to work in academics at college of engineering graduates at Pune. There I was Asst. Prof. of Physics for 3 years during 2010-2013. Also, I headed the Applied Sciences Department (Strength: Students>300 & faculty>12) successfully, in-addition represented the institute at university level as Academic & Research Co-ordinator & looked after boys’ hostel as a warden.

A short visit (during Aug-Oct 2008) as a PhD scholar has undertaken for training on design and fabrication of DSSC at Hanyang University, South Korea. Also a visit (during Oct 2017 - May2019) to National Taiwan University has undertaken.