Overview

The group at IIT Jodhpur is pursuing research in Experimental and Computational aspects of Condensed Matter and Plasma Physics. The blend of young and experienced faculty members in the group has a strong R&D focus to address the cutting-edge challenges faced by the nation in the fields of energy, climate change and sustainable growth, etc. The major fields of research being pursued are Functional materials for strategic application, Materials for energy storage and harvesting, photovoltaics and solar thermal applications, Multiscale modeling of soft matter, Molecular devices for electronics, Magnetic and Multiferroic nanostructures and nanomaterials, Mechanical properties of glasses and Amorphous solids, Phase ordering kinetics, Wetting-Dewetting behavior on surfaces, Physics of active matter and Development of cold plasma technologies for health applications and surface engineering. The endeavor is to create an ecosystem to carry out interdisciplinary research by taking advantage of all the expertise and resources available at IIT Jodhpur. In order to encourage that, the group has established Thematic Research labs viz, Functional Materials Lab, Thinfilm and Plasma Devices Lab, Multiscale Characterization Lab, and Computational Lab, where various applied and fundamental research activities are carried out. The faculty members have established strong collaboration with national and international institutes and thus remain at the forefront of research via the exchange of ideas and research scholars. The group envisions to grow further embrace new members into the family and continue to strive to carve a unique path in the future for the department and the nation.

Research and Development Highlights

1. An advanced photocatalytic oxidation sterilization system based on UV-light and metal oxide nanoparticles catalyst panels for disinfecting medical accessories
2. Bipolar resistive switching in solution-processed BiFeO3 thin films
3. Molecular Memory Switching Device Based on a Tetranuclear Organotin Sulfide Cage
4. R-VAPOL-phosphoric acid based 1 H and 13 C-NMR for sensing of chiral amines and acids
5. Photo-Rechargeable Organo-Halide Perovskite Batteries

Ongoing Projects

Some of the Ongoing projects undertaken by the group are listed below

1. Photo-Rechargeable Perovskite Batteries for Future Mobility
2. Development of nanostructured Cu2ZnSn(S/Se)4 thin films and their electronic properties for next-generation solar photovoltaic applications
3. Sulphur nanoparticles Reinforced Hierarchical Assemblies of Carbon nanotubes for efficient Lithium-Sulphur Batteries
4. A UV-light Sterilization System to treat N95 Filtering Face-mask Respirators for reuse
5. Food Products Sterilization using UV Light to fight COVID-19
6. Photo-Rechargeable Organo-Halide Perovskite- Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Batteries
7. Synthesis and study of properties of electrochemically active composites based on lithium intercalated silicates of iron, manganese, cobalt, and having high electron conductivity corbosilicides of transition metal
8. Theoretical and Computational Study of Phase Separation in Binary Mixtures in the presence of Surface Fields
9. Macromolecules interactions mediated via complex ionic solution

Collaborations

1. Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, Parma, Italy
2. The University of Cambridge, UK T
3. he University of Manchester, UK
4. National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
5. Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
6. Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, ISRAEL
7. Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
8. Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer
9. CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani
10. Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar
11. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai & Vizag
12. CSIR - National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur
13. Indian Institute of Science and Educational Research, Bhopal
14. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
15. Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore
16. Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi
17. Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar
18. Chiba University, Japan
19. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
20. Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Germany
21. Université Grenoble Alpes, France
22. UDSMM–ULCO, France

Equipment

1. Scanning Tunneling Microscope
2. Quantum Design Physical Property Measurement System
3. Quantum Design SQUID Magnetometer
4. DC and RF Sputtering
5. Spin-Coater
6. Langmuire Blodgett System
7. LCR meter and Multiferroic device characterization
8. Furnaces, Ovens, and Hot plates
9. Fume Hoods
10. Probe stations
11. Source Meter
12. High-end Computer Servers and Workstations

Additional advanced equipment available via the Centre for Research & Development of Scientific Instruments (CRDSI)