Nanosciences and Engineering

Supercapacitors

Nanocomposites of oxides/hydroxides of Mn, Ni, Co, Ru and mixed metal oxides/Ni, Co and Ni/Co metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and activated carbons, derived from biowaste materials like banana stem, pigeon pea stem, Pongamia pinnata seed oil extract cake & milkweed, have all been developed as positive and negative electrode materials respectively for hybrid supercapacitors. The synthesized electrode materials, studied for high performance supercapacitors, are subjected to predictive and validation process via DFT (Density Functional Theory) and Machine learning approach to design an efficient hybrid supercapacitor materials. Asymmetric and symmetric coin cells have been fabricated in the lab and tested for their supercapacitance performance. Low cost, ecofriendly, easily and abundantly available biowaste have been efficiently converted into activated carbon and used in the fabrication of coin cells which have proven to be high-performance supercapacitors with practical applications.

Flexible Solid-state Supercapacitors

Flexible solid-state supercapacitors (SCs) are of considerable interest as mobile power supply for future flexible electronics because they can provide substantially higher specific/volumetric Energy density compared to conventional capacitors. Additionally, flexible solid-state SCs are typically small in size, highly reliable, light-weight, easy to handle, and have a wide range of operating temperatures. In this regard, solid-state SCs hold great promise as new energy storage devices for flexible and wearable electronics compared to SCs using liquid electrolytes. Especially, mixed metal oxides of Ni, Co & Mn with MWCNTs nanocomposites have been narrowed down for fabrication of flexible solid state supercapacitors.

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Development of solid, acid–base or redox catalysts for organic transformations or synthesis of organic fine chemicals under environmentally benign conditions is one of the active fields of research in heterogeneous catalysis. A number of bulk and fine chemicals are manufactured using heterogeneous catalysts such as metals, metal oxides, zeolites, clays, etc. Metals/metal oxides are used either in their native form or, very often, supported on an inert material. Currently, carbon nanotubes and mesoporous carbon are being developed as new environmental benign supports for solid supported catalysts, especially in transition metal oxide/s composites, and are applied in the synthesis of organic fine chemicals via amidation, hydrogenation, esterification and transesterification. Organic fine chemicals are derived from these reactions and are industrially important. They find applicationin polymer, agrochemicals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

Thermal Interface Materials

Nanofluids of MWCNTs with transition metals /metal oxides and appropriate base fluids have been developed in the lab as thermal interface materials. These materials are inserted between heat producing and heat dissipating devices (heat sink) for efficient heat transfer. The enhanced heat transfer observed is due to unique properties of nanoparticles dispersed in the base fluids. Further, these nanofluids were effectively used in LEDs, electronic cooling systems and heat exchangers.