National Institute of Technology, Calicut, Kerala

1. National Institute of Technology, Calicut, Kerala School of Nano Science and Technology

2. Profile SNST was established as an independent School at NITC in 2009 The School functions in collaboration with the other departments of the institute through academic courses, interdisciplinary student research projects and collaborative research with faculty members. The school has ongoing collaborative research with prominent universities and institutes at the international level. The School of Nano Science and Technology (SNST) at National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC), India, fosters a scientific community dedicated to higher learning and research in Nanotechnology.

3. Academic Programs Doctoral Degree Program Candidates with Master’s degree in various streams of science and engineering can perform research leading to Ph.D. degree at the School. The Doctoral research scholars are Master’s degree holders in different Engineering branches, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Physics and Chemistry. Being an interdisciplinary School, there is large flexibility in the background disciplines of the candidates. All selected research scholars are entitled to fellowships from the Government of India. Master of Technology Program The Master of Technology (M.Tech.) program in Nanotechnology is designed to impart state-of the art knowledge, and has an objective of training the students to make them capable of addressing the challenges of the emerging technological field of Nanotechnology. The program consists of two semesters of course work and two semesters of project work. The study materials include subjects such as Physics of Materials, Thermodynamics of Nanomaterials and Systems, Microscale and Nanoscale Heat Transfer, NanosizedStructures, Experimental Techniques in Nanotechnology,Computational Nanotechnology and MEMS. Laboratory courses dealing with production, characterization and application of nanoparticles, nanofluids and nanocomposits as well as giving exposure to discrete computational analysis of nanoscale phenomena are also offered as part of the curriculum.

4. Laboratories and Facilities Nanotechnology Research Laboratory: Focuses on Nanofluids, Thermal engineering applications, Thermophysicalproperty measurement, Carbon Nanotechnology. NanoscienceResearch Laboratory: Involved in research on Bio-sensors, Targeted drug delivery systems, Environmental problems. Fuels and Combustion Research Laboratory: Dedicated to research on the application of nanotechnology in fuels, leading to efficient combustion and reduction of emission, Nano lubricants, Nanocoolants. Nano and Display Research Laboratory: Carries out research in nanopatterning, Non-linear optics applications and Liquid crystal Displays. Computational Nanotechnology Laboratory: Focuses on discrete computational methods for the simulation and analysis of nanoscale phenomena. The Microscopy Center Microscopy Center houses a high resolutionScanningElectron Microscope and an Atomic Force Microscope.

5. Nanotechnology Research Laboratory Nanofluids and Engineering Applications Measurement of thermal conductivity of nanofluids Research involves studies on convection loops with nanofluids, application of nanoparticlesin lubricating oils and refrigerents, measurement of thermophysical properties of nanofluids, preparation of stabilized nanofluids and their characterization,heat transfer phenomena in nanofluids . Molecular dynamic simulation and multi-scale modeling of thermal phenomena Optical measurements Microchannelsand micro heat pipes, Carbon Nanotube Synthesis • The research work is primarily focused on optimizing the process of CVD synthesis, based on the results of the theoretical model. • Chemical kinetics modeling to predict the deposition parameters, • Molecular modeling to simulate the deposition process of CNT. Chemical Vapor Deposition Of CNT

6. Nanoscience Research Laboratory Development of Biosensors using Engineered Nano particulate Systems • Research work is in progress to develop sensitive, reproducible, selective and low cost biosensor surfaces using different nanostructures like gold nanoparticles, gold nanorods, silver nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. • A novel electrochemical sensor surface with enhanced sensitivity for the detection of hydrogen peroxide based on the layer-by-layer assembly of mercaptopropionic acid cyclic bisureas, gold nanoparticle and Horseradish peroxidase has been developed. Gold nanoparticles Targeted Drug Delivery • Tumor targeting strategies, to target tumors and deliver therapeutics to specific locations in the body, are being developed and investigated, focusing on gold nanoparticle as vectors for drug delivery. • 3 different sized gold nanoparticles suitable for drug delivery applications, ranging from 10-60 nm, have been obtained . Photocatalytic degradation of a textile dye using titanium oxide nanoparticles under ultraviolet radiation

7. Fuels and Combustion Research Laboratory Application of Catalytic Nanoparticles in Hydrocarbon Fuels • The aim of the research is to obtain results that will help in understanding the effect of nanoparticle additives on Diesel and Biodiesel in improving the energy conversion capability and reducing the level of harmful emissions from the engine. • The use of certain oxide catalysts in the nanopowder form is found to enhance the combustion phenomenon, while considerably reducing emissions. • The extensive investigation involves preparation of the catalytic nanoparticles by chemical and physical synthesis methods, their characterization, blending and stabilization in fuels, quantification of the modified fuel in engines, fundamental analysis of the combustion flames using optical measurements, study on impact on engine parts, and toxicological effects on the emissions. • Major Equipment : Dynamic Light Scattering system Flame Pyrolysis of catalytic nanoparticles Dynamic Light Scattering system

8. Nano and Display Research Laboratory Investigations on Micropatterning and Liquid Crystals The key areas of work in the laboratory are: • Berkovich nano-indentation on polymer- CNT nanocomposites to study the stress strain behavior of thin films. • Miropatterning of transparent electrodes using laser ablation for in-plane switching liquid crystal displays • Development of thermotropic liquid crystals for non-linear optics. • Investigations on pressure sensor based Piezoresistive behaviour of Polysilicon film on Si <100> for MEMS devices. Polarized optical microscopy images of different liquid crystals Simulated results for stress analysis on the diaphragm and fabricated array of bulk micromachined diaphragms on silicon

9. Computational Nanotechnology Laboratory Simulation of Nanoscale Phenomena Our main area of work is to understand the phenomenon occuring at nanoscale by employing atomistic simulation techniques like Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo. This helps in the design and optimization of functional systems at the molecular scale. • Direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) analysis of solid rocket motor (SRM) exhaust • Thermal modeling of carbon nanotube based electronic devices • Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation of gas-surface interaction at nanoscale • Molecular Dynamics simulation of transport properties, and transport through nanostructures • MD simulation of gas-surface interactions MD simulation of Nanojets MD simulation of gas-surface interactions

10. Scanning Probe Microscopy Centre The centre is equipped with Park XE-100 Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Specifications: • Decoupled XY & Z Scanners • Scan range of XY-scanner: 5 μm and 100 μm • Working distance of Z-scanner: 12 μm or 25 μm • Sample size:Up to 100 mm × 100mm, 20 mm thick, and up to 500 g Supported Modes  True Non-Contact Mode  Contact Mode  Force - distance Spectroscopy/F-d volume imaging  Phase imaging of True Non-Contact, FMM, MFM  Conductive AFM  Scanning Tunneling Microscopy  Magnetic Force Microscopy  Electric Force Microscopy  Scanning Thermal Microscopy  Nanolithography  Nanoindentation

11. Scanning Electron Microscopy centre The centre is equipped with Hitachi SU6600 Variable Pressure Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope THE MAIN FEATURES OF SU 6600-FESEM • Electron gun: Tungsten Schottky emission electron source • Resolution: 1.2 nm/30 kV, 3.0 nm/1 kV • Probe current: 1pA~200nA • Specimen chamber pressure : 10-4Pa (high • vacuum), 10~300Pa (low vacuum) • Specimen Size: Max 150 mm dia.×40 mm H • Magnification: 500,000 x • IMAGING TECHNIQUES • Secondary Electron Imaging (SE) • Backscattered Electron Imaging (BSE) • Environmental Secondary Electron Detector (ESED) • Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (Horiba, EMAX, • 137 ev) For analysis, mapping & Point ID • The ESED mode allows the operator to change • Vacuum conditions in the sample chamber from high vacuum to low vacuum.

12. Major Equipments/Facilities • Dynamic Light Scattering System (DLS) • UV-VIS Spectrophotometer • Vacuum coating Apparatus • Chemical Vapour Deposition Apparatus (CVD) • Electrochemical Workstation • Rotek Fume exhaust hood • Trinocular Research Microscope • KD2 –Thermal Property Analyzer • Rheometer • Fluke Infrared Thermometers • Deep freezer, Centrifuge,Oven • Interferometric/Schliern set up

13. Funded Research Projects Holographic Studies on Mini Channels for Optimal Thermal Design of Microelectronic Systems”, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India [20 lakhs] - Completed Experimental studies on convective heat transfer performance of water-based nanofluids in liquid loops, Board of Research in Nuclear Science, Government of India [20 lakhs] - Completed Design, development and optimization of miniature and micro heat pipes for thermal management of avionic devices, Aerospace Research and Development Board, Government of India [10 lakhs] - Ongoing Development and application of waterbasednanofluidsas coolants for steel industry, Tata Steel, India [20 lakhs] - Ongoing Investigations on the application of catalytic nanoparticles as diesel and biodiesel additives: Funded by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Government of India [120 lakhs] - Ongoing Multifunctional PlasmonicNanoparticles and Nanocomposites for Targeted Drug Delivery: Synthesis, Evaluation and Toxicological Studies, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India [45 lakhs] - Ongoing Enhancement of the sensitivity of peptide nanotube based biosensors using metal nanoclusters, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India [19.14 lakhs] - Ongoing DSMC Simulations of Solid Rocket Exhaust Plumes, Government of India, Aerospace Research and Development Board, Government of India. [20 lakhs] - Ongoing

14. Recent Publications

15. Patents filed 1. Title of the patent applied : A system for determining Material surface erosion caused by impingement of Nanofluids on pipes carrying Nanofluids. Inventors : • Mr.Gibin George, NIT Calicut • Mr.Shijo Thomas, Asst. Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Dr.C.B.Sobhan, Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Dr.Sajith.V, Asst. Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Mr.Hanas T, Asst. Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Mr.KrishnaSabareesh. R, TATA Steel Ltd, , Jamshedpur. • Jamshedpur.Mr.Sumitesh Das, TATA Steel Ltd, Jamshedpur.

16. Patents filed 2. Title of the patent applied : A process for determining Lubricant composition in Vapour Compression Refrigeration System to enhance the Coefficient of Performance. Inventors : • Mr.Gopinath, NIT Calicut • Dr.Sajith.V, Asst. Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Mr.Shijo Thomas, Asst. Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Dr.C.B.Sobhan, Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Mr.Hanas T, Asst. Professor, SNST, NIT Calicut. • Mr.KrishnaSabareesh. R, TATA Steel Ltd, , Jamshedpur. • Jamshedpur.Mr.Sumitesh Das, TATA Steel Ltd, Jamshedpur.

17. Faculty Development Programmes 1. "Trends and Techniques in Nanotechnology", July 4-17, 2010Sponsored by MHRD-AICTECoordinators: Dr.C.B.Sobhan, Hanas T., Shijo ThomasNo: of Participants: 402. "Advanced Nanomaterials: Process, Characterisation and Applications", July 6-12, 2011Sponsored by MHRD-AICTECoordinators: Dr.NSandhyarani, Dr. Soney VargheseNo: of Participants: 70

18. Faculty C. B. Sobhan, Ph. D., Professor Coordinator, Nanotechnology Research Laboratory Ph. D. Mechanical Engineering (Heat Transfer), IIT Madras, India Post Doctoral Research: Purdue University, USA Visiting Fellowships/Visiting Faculty Positions: NTU Singapore, University of Wisconsin, USA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA, University of Colorado, USA, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA Research Areas: Microscale and Nanoscale Heat Transfer, Thermal Phenomena in Nanofluids, Optical Measurements, Molecular Dynamics modeling, Carbon Nanotubes N. Sandhyarani, Ph.D., Associate Professor Coordinator, Nanoscience Research Laboratory Ph. D. Chemistry (Nanomaterials), IIT Madras, India Post Doctoral Research: University of Notre Dame, USA, Cornell University, USA Visiting Fellowship : Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea Research Areas: Surface Chemistry, Bio-nanotechnology, Nano-enabled Sensors, Targeted Drug Delivery Systems Sarith.P.Sathian, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Coordinator, Computational Nanotechnology Laboratory Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras, India Visiting Fellowships: RWTH, Germany, Russian Academy of Sciences Research Areas: Micro flows and nano flows, Rarefied gas flows, Multiscalemodelilng

19. Faculty Soney Varghese, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Coordinator, Nano and Display Research Laboratory Ph.D. Chemistry (Nanofabrication) University of Eindhoven,The Netherlands Research Areas: Characterization, Nanopatterns, Liquid Crystal Display, Conducting Polymers V. Sajith, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Coordinator, Fuels and Combustion Laboratory Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering (Optical Measurements), NIT Calicut, India Visiting Assignments: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA Research Areas: Optical Measurements, Microchannel flows, Nanofluids, Nanotechnology in Combustion and Fuels, IC Engines T. Hanas, Assistant Professor Ph.D. Materials Science (ongoing), NIT Calicut, India Research Area Polymer Nanocomposites Shijo Thomas, Assistant Professor Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering (ongoing), NIT Calicut, India Research Areas: Heat Transfer in Nanofluids, Carbon Nanotube Synthesis

20. Contact us@ Dr.C.B. Sobhan Head, School of Nano Science and Technology E mail : csobhan@nitc.ac.in