Research

Micro and Nanorobots

Micron or Nano size robots (or motors) that can autonomously swim in fluid medium by converting the chemical energy into motion are very interesting for a large number of applications. We are interested in designing autonomous micro and nanorobots for interesting applications at a small scale.

image courtesy: Alejandro Posada

Active Matter

Active matter is an emergent phenomenon that needs a large number of active/mobile units to come together and organize to form dynamic patterns. In addition to the large scale observations like fish schooling and bird flocking, this can be seen in many crucial systems like spreading of bacteria and migration of cells. Trying to understand, how for instance, cellular patterns form, is therefore one of the most interesting features of biological systems. Harnessing nature’s ability to actively self-organize for man made systems, can lead to the design of a new class of interactive materials. We are interested in forming artificial active matter systems to study the complex behavior of biological systems as well as to design the new dynamic materials.

Multifunctional hybrid nanostructures

Size and shape of nanostructure are very important in deciding their applications. Controlling these structural properties at the nanoscale is very challenging. We are interested in fabricating the nanostructures with precise control on shape and material structure. We use a special technique 'Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD)' to fabricate designer nanostructures with controlled size and material combinations down to sub 100 nm scale.

image courtesy: Alejandro Posada

Facilities:

  • E-beam and thermal evaporation-based Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) system.

  • Inverted fluorescence microscope (DMi8, Leica)

  • Upright microscope (Leica).

  • Microspectrometer (Kymera, Andor).

  • Plasma system (Henniker HPT100) for sample cleaning and surface activation.

  • Two-zone (100-1200 degree C) Tubular vacuum furnace.

  • Muffle Furnace 1200 C.

  • Langmuir Blodget Trough (Apex Instruments).

  • High-speed scientific CMOS fluorescent camera (Andor).

  • Laser; Blue 4 W, Green 0.5 W.

  • BOD incubator (0C - 65 C).

  • Sample preparation/storage equipment like Sonicator, Centrifuge, Vortex mixer, Shaker, Vacuum desiccators, Autoclave, Fridge, light sources, power meters, etc.

Collaborators:

International

National

IIT Bhilai / AMN Lab