Highlights

Summary of Activities

• Design of materials for printed electronics

• High temperature ceramics and nanomaterials for functional coatings

• Catalysts for advanced oxidation process

• Advanced materials for LEDs, LCDs and Phosphors

• Piezo-Tribo Nanogenerators and Sensors

• Industrial wastes utilization for building materials

1.Introduction

Department of Electron Microscopy aims to strengthen the microscopy group for structure property correlation studies using TEM / SEM / EDS in terms of new knowledge and man power. Efforts are being made for holding a National Workshop in TEM, SEM, EDS and XRD. Our Department expands the research activities in the area of SOFC, semiconducting, phosphors, magnetic properties of ceramic oxides. Project proposal are already made to different grant-in aid agencies to expand the continuing research programs in the department. Also we initiate studies on ferromagnetic properties of ceramic oxides synthesized by flux method. Due efforts are made to encourage the scientists and research students to bring out high quality research publications. Seminars and presentations are organized regularly for better knowledge on current research activities. The staff members involves in planning the objectives and research activities of the department as well as we impart advanced training in the maintenance and un-interrupted operation of the major infrastructure facilities like TEM, SEM / EDS, LN2 , XRD. Our Department also helps the director in the administration and to effectively implement the objectives of the vision of laboratory.

2.Overall Activities

Our Vision is to emerge as a centre of excellence in number of research areas. Efforts are made by all scientists to perform in the areas in which they are engaged and create a congenial environment in our department to deliver the best by the individuals. The overall focus of our department is to create scientific knowledge, effective utilization of the resources, value added R&D, human resource development. Various groups are responsible for meeting the objectives by way of publications, patents, technologies, generating ECF, Ph Ds, Training the project staffs etc. Our themes of research and major R&D activities are listed below.

2.1 Themes of Research

• Solid Oxide Electrolytes for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFC). (Direct Conversion of Chemical Energy to electrical energy)

• Semi-conducting Oxides for direct splitting of water for H2 production. (Production of hydrogen through photolysis of water)

• Novel Phosphors for White Light Emitting Diodes (WLEDs). (Phosphor converted White Light Emitting Diodes free from Mercury)

• Design and Development of Environmentally Secure Rare Earth based colorants for surface coating applications

• Inclusion of Powder X-ray diffraction patterns data of the new compounds developed in the Powder Diffraction Files.

• Applications of Electron Microscopy and Micro-chemical Analysis