Surface and Nanoscience Division (SND) focuses on studies of monolithic and multilayered thin films and nanostructures using a variety of techniques such as secondary ion mass spectrometry, nanomechanical testing, Focused Ion Beam (FIB) based nanostructuring and nanopatterning, Scanning Probe Microscopy based characterization of various electrical and mechanical properties at nanoscale, nanospectroscopy with tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and Nanoscopy with near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) imaging at sub-diffraction limit using polarized light.
The division also specializes in high temperature triblological studies of structural materials as well as novel nano- and micro-crystalline diamond thin films. Furthermore, development of novel nanomaterials of 0D transition metal oxide (TMO), 1D noble metals and nitrides, 2D TMOs, and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) for advanced sensor applications is being carried out. Research activities relating to sensors based on micromachined cantilevers are also being pursued.
Achievements
Thermo-Gravimetric Analyser and Evolved Gas Analyser(TGA-EGA) systems were set up to study surface modification, by carburisation and nitridation of technologically important metals(M) like Ti, Cr, Zr among others.
Development of low temperature operable green house resistive sensors (CH4) based on SnO2 quantum dots
Resolving the conjecture (proposed by N. F. Mott made 60 years before) on role of electronic correlation preceding the metal to insulator transition (MIT) in 1D Heisenberg spin 1/2 chains of VO2
First Observation of spin-wave in VO2 using polarized tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS)
First report on Growth of Van der Waals bonded 2D bi-layer V2O5
Resolving the Phonon lifetime issue in Si by spectroscopic study of Si nanowire in the sub-diffraction limit using TERS
GEANT4 simulation for feasibility of using boric acid, depleted Uranium oxide as materials for neutron detector
Fabrication of SiO2 microcantilevers (MC) by Direct laser writer
Fabrication of vertical graphene nanostructure based symmetric supercapacitor coin cell device for energy storage
Pt free efficient photocatalyst for water splitting by band alignment and charge transfer pathway in three phase anatase-rutile-brookite TiO2 nanotubes.
Synthesis of Multilayer thin films (TiN, TiAlN, TiN/TiAlN, TiN/TiAlN graded layer) for triblogical application.
Demonstration of ultra-fast (recovery time ~ 1 s) real-time monitoring of human respiration during normal and slow inhale/exhale breathing cycles using micro-patterned MCs.
Au/Si bimaterial MCs for ultra-sensitive (~ 109 µK/pm) temperature measurements
Development of symmetric flexible supercapacitor device based on vertical graphene nanowalls
Development of high quality microcrystalline (MC), nanocrystalline (NC), MC-NC multilayer, hydrogenated, ozonated, N-doped and Vertical Graphene Nano rods for dosimetric, tribological, sensor and electronic applications.
Development of room temperature selective ammonia detector (5 to 300 ppm) with SnO2 nanoparticles
Demonstration of SnO2 quantum dots as superior photocatalyst for complete degradation of dyes such as methyl blue in visible light conditions
Synthesis of Yttrium thin films for high brilliance electron emitter photocathodes (with low work function, high melting point) applications.
Synthesis of a-axis oriented AlN thin films substrates for the lattice matched growth of GaN thin films.
Determination of anisotropic refractive index of Aluminum nitride thin films
Determination of low energy refractive indices of metallic yttrium thin films
Nanoscopy of 10 nm Au nanoparticle and GaN nanowire using Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM)
Nano-spectroscopic imaging of single GaN nanowires in the sub-diffraction limit using TERS
Single molecule detection using Au and Ag nanostructure assisted surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).
Large area growth of 2D monolayer of MoS2 by CVD technique and large area transfer for flexible and other suitable device applications
GaN and ZnO nanorod based one dimensional photodetectors successfully fabricated and Ohmic contacts are achieved using FIB-SEM
Portable alcohol sensor setup is developed a range of detection (200 ppm to 1000 ppm) at 250 oC
Synthesis of Graphene nanowalls on different substrates aimed at various applications such as detection of Sr, Pu sorption, gas sensing, and Fuelcell
Identification of Polar and Nonpolar faces in ZnO and GaN Nanostructures using Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy, and Piezo force microscopy, respectively
Size dependent surface potential studies in 1-D III-nitride nanowire
Expertise
Technology developed for alumina ceramic coating adherent on copper metallic surfaces of a DC conduction pump capable of withstanding temperatures of ~700C. The DC pump is used in FBR failed fuel location module.
Technology developed to braze SS316 duct carrying liquid sodium with alumina coated Cu bus-bars of DC conduction pumps.
Development of solid state semiconductor thermal neutron detector
Repair and retrofitting of HPGe gamma ray detectors from DAE units
Development of Hot Dip Aluminised Tritium Permeation barrier coatings for fusion reactor applications.
Infrastructure
Surface modification/Thin film synthesis tools
RF/DC magnetron sputtering
Pulsed DC sputtering
Pulsed Laser deposition technique with ND: YAG and Excimer laser
Electron beam evaporation
Resistive heating thin film deposition
Spray pyrolysis
Hot Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition technique
Direct laser writer Lithography technique
Plasma enhanced Chemical vapour deposition technique
Plasma immersion Ion implantation
Characterization tools
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer
High vacuum High temperature tribometer coupled with Raman spectrometer
Ultra low nanoindentor
Nanoindentor
Scratch testing machine
Surface profilometer
Glancing incidence X Ray spectrometer
Spectroscopic Ellipsometer
Contact angle measurement system
3D optical microscope
I-V, C-V measurement with environmental chamber
Photon induced deflection detection facility
Field Emission Scanning electron microscope
Focussed Ion Beam Scanning electron microscope
Atomic force microscope (Electrolyte and thin film)
