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Center of Excellence in Emerging Materials

Welcome to Center of Excellence in Emerging Materials (CEEMS) - a TIET (Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology) and VT (Virginia Tech, USA) initiative. The center seeks to act as a catalyst to foster deep collaboration between the two academic institutes to traverse academic boundaries in exploration and discovery at the cutting edge of emerging materials. We believe that this interdisciplinary collaborative platform, virtually boundary-free, will remain as relevant in the next decade and beyond as it is today. As we transition into the second five-year phase of CEEMS, termed CEEMS 2.0 (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2029), we want to accelerate this progress, following a strategy of spiral growth. To this end, we have introduced an additional focus area: Sustainable and Smart Biosensors to complement our existing three areas of expertise, namely (i) Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment, (ii) Sustainable Construction Materials, and (iii) X-graphene + where x refers to various precursors such as coal, agricultural waste, graphite etc., and + denotes derivatives of graphene such as graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots, and graphene composites. These areas have been selected based on the recognized expertise of our faculty and their potential for large societal impact. We invite you to explore the website to learn a little about who we are and what we do. We hope you will be as excited about the center as we are and will feel part of the CEEMS family.

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Current Research

Our current research is built around multi-purpose, multi-physics materials: coal-derived graphene.

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Preamble

Welcome to the Center of Excellence in Emerging Materials (CEEMS) - a TIET (Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology) and VT (Virginia Tech, USA) collaboration. Located in the R&D quadrant at TIET, Patiala (Punjab), India, the center seeks to act as a catalyst to foster deep collaboration between the two academic institutes in exploration and discovery at the cutting edge of emerging materials. With our firm belief in the incredible transformative power of interdisciplinary research, the center seeks to bring engineers, scientists, and humanists together to move beyond the predictable and incremental advances in materials of the future. An equally important focus is on harnessing the unique properties of the emerging materials for large societal impact. We believe that this collaborative platform, virtually boundary-free, will remain as relevant in the next decade and beyond as it is today. We invite you to explore the website to learn about who we are and what we do. Your feedback and help in growing the center to global eminence will be much appreciated.

Roop L. Mahajan

Chair Professor, CEEMS

Lewis A Hester Chair Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Virginia Tech, USA

Our Research

Current Workstreams

Explore Research

Our current research is built around coal derived graphene, regarded as a wonder material. In addition to benign synthesis of graphene from different carbon sources, there are other ongoing projects in the area of hyperthermia, biotechnology, composites and many other applications of graphene.

Graphene Production

From Coal

Non-noble Catalysts

Graphene Based

Gastric Cancer Treatment

Almost one million cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed each year. This makes gastric cancer the fourth most reported cancer worldwide. It is also the second leading cancer in terms of deaths. Typically, the diagnosis of gastric cancer is delayed by the absence of early specific symptoms.

Our Vision and Mission

Vision

To be the premiere national hub for pioneering research and education in design, manufacture, and application of emerging materials for a sustainable future.

Mission

Marshal the creative talent at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) in the pursuit of interdisciplinary and collaborative research at the cutting edge of emerging materials.
Lead materials-technology transformation by nurturing a proactive, responsive and nimble research culture, ultimately positioning TIET as an agent of discovery and problem solving in the technological and scientific global environment.
Foster the exploration of opportunities for societal enhancement and preservation for future generations.
Enhance the educational and research experience of graduate and post-graduate students in emerging materials.

Goals

Increase the reputation of TIET in scholarship and transformative research.
Attract, develop, and retain distinguished faculty and staff.
Increase the quality and number of Ph.D. students and enhance the research experience of undergraduates.
Enhance the economic and social well-being of individuals, families, businesses, and communities, and engage students in outreach activities.
Establish a brand name identity for CEEMS and reach out to internal and external stakeholders.
Nurture diversity of thought, culture, gender, and ethnicity.