Nanoparticles and Functional Materials
The importance of nanoparticles as materials of the future is unquestionable. MCRL works on various types of nanoparticles including metal nanoparticles, core@shell nanoparticles, quantum dots and also nanocomposites. From finding efficient new ways of synthesis to studying the control of size and morphology, our work in this field is quite diverse. The development of functional materials by employing various nanoparticles such as Ag, ZnO, Au@Ag, silica, carbon quantum dots and more is one of our key research goals.
Ionic Liquids and Microemulsions
Ionic liquids are dubbed designer solvents, and have a wide range of applications which make them an attractive field of study today. We investigate the physicochemical properties and molecular level interactions in ionic liquids, its binary mixtures, and ionic liquid based microemulsions. Application based work in our lab includes dissolution of cellulose, catalysis and synthesis of nanoparticles using ionic liquid based microemulsions as nanoreactors.
Electrochemistry
The interconversion of chemical energy and electricity can open the doors for a plethora of applications. So, our research interest in electrochemistry is perhaps the most diversified. Starting from the development of supercapacitors, works are ongoing with polyoxometalates and composites of MnO2 and polymers or carbon materials. Treatment of saline water and wastewater by electro-catalytic pathway is another area. Electrochemical switching and micellar shuttle also add up to the list. Studies on electrochemical splitting of water using various catalysts is also a research interest of ours.
Much work has been done and still ongoing in the field of electrodeposition. Reverse microemulsion and different surfactants are utilized for the electrodeposition of various metals and their alloys.
Polymers and their Composites
The development of functional polymer materials for applications in smart materials, has garnered immense interest from the scientific community, and MCRL is no exception. We have investigated the fundamental properties of multiple polymers such as poly(vinylidene fluoride), polyaniline-NiO, poly(vinyl alcohol)-MnO2. The development of functionalizable nanocomposite polymeric materials by employing various nanoparticles, and studying the interaction between the elements involved, are one of our key research interests.
Water Structure Modification
Modification of structure and dynamics of liquid water in presence of different additives such as salts, sugars, amides, supramolecular complexes is investigated by both experiments and computational studies in our lab/by our group. We are particularly interested in the effect of these additives on different features of aqueous system for example structure of water cluster, nature of hydrogen bonding and micellization behavior of surfactants in this system. We focus on the mechanism of the molecular level interactions due to the perturbations by varying temperature of the system and concentration and structure of these additives.
Research areas
- Physicochemical properties of ionic liquids and their applications
- Ionic liquid-based microemulsions
- Nanomaterials and polymer composites
- Microemulsions as nanoreactors for preparation of metallic, metallic oxide, core@shell nanoparticles and polymer nanocomposites
- Molecular level interaction in ionic liquids, both protic and aprotic, and their binary mixtures with molecular solvents and physicochemical properties
- Electrodeposition from reverse micelles and ionic liquids
- Electrochemistry in organized media, electrochemical switching, and micellar shuttle
- Self association of surfactants and supramolecular interactions – polymer-surfactant, ionic liquid-surfactant and other promising systems
- Nanostructured and mesoporous silica for structural color, dielecric enhancement and drug carrier
- Functional and smart materials and their applications
- Development of supercapacitors
- Electrochemical splitting of water
- Water structure-modification by different perturbations
- Electrochemical treatment of textile effluents
