Our Ongoing Research
In fulfilment of our vision, CEEMS’ research enterprise has been organized around the following thrust areas (T1-T4), as depicted graphically in the Venn diagram below, which also shows the center’s focus on providing a platform capability in computation and simulation to serve all the thrust areas. Important considerations in selection of these areas were the strength and expertise of the faculty at TIET, and our emphasis on advancing the underlying science and engineering with an application focus on flattening the Keeling curve and serving the underserved.
The list of 16 projects (as of March 31, 2021) mapping all the thrust areas follows. An additional five seed money projects were also sanctioned. It is worth mentioning that almost all the projects are interdisciplinary in nature, engaging 26 faculty members from different schools and departments across the campus.
Figure 1: Thrust areas of CEEMS including applications
Brief descriptions of the thrust areas
T1. Coal-derived Graphene-x (graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots and other derivatives).
Lead faculty: Dr. Soumen Basu (SCBC) and Dr. Rana Pratap Yadav (ECED)
This thrust area focuses on the synthesis of graphene-x from an abundantly available precursor (coal) rather than graphite using an innovative one-pot process developed by Professor Mahajan and his team at Virginia Tech. This process is economical and environment friendlier compared to the traditional Hummer’s method of synthesizing graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide from graphite. Adapting the VT process to Indian coals, in CEEMS, would allow full exploitation of the unique properties of graphene for transformative applications in medicine, self-healing structures, imaging, computing, energy harvesting and storage , water conservation and purification, to name a few. The end goal is to be the leading graphene-based research center providing value-driven and real-world solutions, which will enable TIET-VT to acquire, manage, and execute economically large-scale production of graphene and graphene-based materials. A list of projects under this thrust area is given below:
T1.1 Synthesis of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide from coal, and scale-up of the process.
PI: Dr. Rajeev Mehta (CHED); Co-PIs: Dr. Soumen Basu (SCBC), Dr. Neetu Singh (CHED).
T1.2 Synthesis of GQD (Graphene Quantum Dots) and CQDs (Carbon Quantum Dots) from different precursors for fluorometric detection of biomolecules/metal ions: A detail comparison study.
PI: Dr. Soumen Basu (SCBC); Co-PI: Dr. Banibrata Maity (SCBC)
T1.3 Utilization of non-biodegradable wastes for development of carbon and carbon-supported nano/2D structures for sustainable energy.
PI: Dr. O. P. Pandey (SPMS)
T1.4 Synthesis of carbon dots powder and films for the evaluation of latent fingerprint.
PI: Dr. Soumen Basu (SCBC)
T1.5 Impact of surface engineering in carbon dots for detection of multiple oxidation state metal ions.
PI: Dr. Soumen Basu (SCBC)
T2. Graphene-x-Polymer Nanocomposites
Lead faculty: Dr. Rajeev Mehta (CHED) and Dr. Shruti Sharma (CED)
Powered by the significant strength of the TIET faculty in different department in composites, and the unique advantage offered by coal-graphene-x (see T1), this thrust area is currently focused on developing novel fibre-reinforced graphene-polymer nanocomposites under various aggressive environmental conditions for infrastructural systems involving civil, chemical, mechanical and transportation sector; soft materials with widely tailorable mechanical properties for the next generation of soft robotics and wearable electronics for the consumer and defence sectors of the economy; and bioactive and biocompatible polymers to generate stimuli-responsive materials for biological applications. A list of projects under this thrust area is as follows:
T2.1 Graphene Based Epoxy Coatings for Corrosion Inhibition in Reinforcing Bars in Concrete.
PI: Dr. Shruti Sharma (CED); Co-PI’s: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (MED); Co-PI: Dr. Rajeev Mehta (CHED)
T2.2 Structural Health Monitoring of Structures Retrofitted with Graphene-FRP Composites.
PI: Naveen Kwatra (CED); Co-PI: Dr. Rajeev Mehta (CHED) Dr. Himanshu Chawla (CED)
T3. Bio-x (molecular and cellular biology, and biotechnology).
Lead faculty: Dr. Bhupendrakumar Chudasama (SPMS) and Dr. Diptiman Choudhury (SCBC).
This team works at the confluence of molecular and cellular biology with nanotechnology (the so-called nano-bio interface) with an emphasis on the design, analysis, optimization, fabrication and characterization of nanoscale-based components and devices, and their deployment for improved health care and sustainable development. To this end, the team is conducting research on research topics including nano biotechnology, medical devices and biosensors, and cellular and molecular biology. A list of current projects follows:
T3.1 Design and Development of Graphene Based (Lens/Double Spiral) Antennas for RF Hyperthermia
PI: Dr. Rajesh Khanna (ECED); Co-PI: Dr. Amanpreet Kaur, Dr. Hari Shankar, Dr Mayank Agarwal.
T3.2. Treatment of gastric cancer by activation of natural immunity using helicobacter pylori coated with iron-oxide nanoparticles: in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches.
PI: Dr. Diptiman Choudhary (SCBC)
T3.3 Computational and experimental investigation for optimizing the magnetic nanoparticles hyperthermia.
PI: Dr. Neeraj Kumar (MED); Co-PI: Dr. Bhupendrakumar Chudasama (SPMS); Co-PI: Dr. Pramod K Avti (PGIMER).
T3.4 Development of Nano-bio composites as Next Generation Arsenals Against Biofilms.
PI: Dr Moushumi Ghosh ; Co-PI: Dr B N Chudasama (SPMS).
T4. Exploratory Research including Untargeted, Unencumbered research (U2R)
Lead faculty: Dr. Bonamali Pal (SCBC) and Dr. Anoop Kumar (SEE).
This thrust area is based on our strong belief that unencumbered and untargeted research (U2R) has the potential for transformative research. Its focus is not on targeted deliverables but exploring untested but potentially disruptive innovation, accompanied by unexpected and yet large and pervasive impact on many walks of our lives. It generally represents “out-of-the-box” thinking, which tends to flourish in an interdisciplinary environment. While this thrust’s emphasis is on U2R, it also invests in areas that advance applications of basic and applied research in transformative ways. The current list of projects in this thrust is:
T4.1 Chemical sequestration of carbon dioxide to yield degradable terpolymers.
PI: Dr. Rajeev Mehta (CHED); Co-PI: Dr. Amjad Ali (SCBC)
T4.2 Design and development of graphene-based microwave device for stealth applications.
PI: Dr. Hem Dutt Joshi (ECED), Co-PIs: Dr. Soumen Basu (SCBC), Dr. Anil Arora (ECED), Dr. Rana Pratap Yadav (Scientist-D, IPR, Ahmedabad)
T4.3 Development of low-cost and highly conductive carbon-nanotube/graphene sensors based physiological recording system.
PI: Dr. Mandeep Singh (EIED); Co-PIs: Dr. K.S. Sandha (ECED) and Dr. Moon Inder Singh.
T4.4 Triglyceride/glycerol transformation into value added products employing heterogeneous catalysts.
PI: Dr Amjad Ali (SCBC); Co-PI: Dr B N Chudasama (SPMS)
T4.5 Hydrogen production from water splitting and industrial waste solvents by graphene oxide coated metal TiO2nanocatalysts under solar radiation.
PI: Dr. Bonamali Pal (SCBC)
Computation and Simulation: A core capability
Lead faculty: Dr. Rajesh Khanna (ECED) and Dr. Neeraj Kumar (MED)
In recognition of the important role played by scientific computation as the third leg of learning and research (the other two being theory and experiments), the center has pooled the faculty talent in computation and simulation at TIET to establish a computational and simulation (C&S) laboratory as one of our core capabilities, impacting all the thrust areas. The vision is to utilize mathematical and computational frameworks to understand, predict and optimize bio-medical systems, new materials, and mechanical-electrical systems. To start with, it will focus on developing computational capabilities in Biomedical engineering, Thermal & Fluid flow characterization, Fuel cell simulations, and Electromagnetic field analysis. Towards this end, two servers are being purchased to be shared by all CEEMS faculty. Also, COMSOL with multi-user licenses has been purchased and it will allow modelling and simulation studies in various projects.