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Physics of Energy Harvesting

The Division of Electronic Materials has undertaken R & D work on several types of materials :

electroluminescent, photovoltaic and electrochromic materials, nanostructured materials, high temperature superconducting materials, advanced ceramic materials and polymeric materials, Efforts have also been made to develop devices involving these materials, in thin and thick film form as well as in bulk form, with the objective of transferring successfully developed technologies to industry. Besides, the study and characterization of surfaces and nanostructures is a major activity in this division. The division includes the following groups :

Luminescent Materials and Devices Group

Development of phosphors/nanophosphors by different synthesis routes for applications in several display devices. New down-conversion phosphors/nanophosphors for solid state lighting in conjunction with blue/ near UV LED. Synthesis of doped ZnO nanophosphor through different precursor routes to obtain p-type conductivity.

Plasma Processed Materials, Devices and Systems Group

R & D on amorphous and micro/nano silicon, and carbon, based thin films, devices and systems. Ongoing work on diamond-like carbon films. Tetrahedral amorphous carbon films deposited by filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique.

Silicon and Silicon Devices Group

Reactivation of solar cell fabrication laboratory and processing of p+-p-n+ silicon solar cell on 50 mm diameter wafers. Photocurrent Generation Technique developed for minority carrier lifetime measurement. Silica and silicon oxide nanowire processing and applications.

Nanostructured Materials and Devices and Surface Studies

Novel polymer films of PEDOT-SDS having superior electrochromic properties. Synthesis of nanocrystalline metal oxides for gas sensors. Hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Conjugated polymers for organic electronics. Surface studies of antimony on silicon, magnesium silicide, etc.

High Temperature Superconducting Materials & Devices, Advanced Ceramics and Optical Thin Films

[Bi-2223] bulk tube/rod and current leads and long lenght tapes for high current transport. Microwave furnace for preparing beta alumina ionic conductors. Optical biosensor for water pollution monitoring. Narrow bandpass filter coatings for use in fibre optic communications. Antireflection coatings on plastics for ophthalmic applications.

In the High Temperature Superconducting Materials & Devices group, the development of (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x [Bi-2223] bulk tube/rod and current leads and long length tapes for high current transport was taken up. A pair of bulk tube (L=430mm, OD=48mm, ID=46mm) joint current leads carrying transport critical current of 85% of that of the individual tube carrying >1KA at 77K in self field has been developed. Optimization of preparation parameters to improve the transport current through the joint is in progress.

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High Temperature superconductors and Advanced ceramic materials & devices.

Under the Advanced Ceramics activity, for preparing beta alumina ionic conductors, a microwave furnace was designed and fabricated for operation upto 1800 °C. The problem of thermal runaway was solved by modifying the furnace design (Fig. 4.11). For develop-ing optical biosensors, a 0.001 M solution of 3-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1-p-chlorophenyl tria-zene (fluorescent material) was prepared in acetone, pH maintained at 5.6 by ammonium acetate (5% w/v solution in H2O) and fluorescence was measured with variation of concentration of Malathion.

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High Temperature superconductors and Advanced ceramic materials & devices.

Under the Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Metal Oxides for Gas Sensors activity, nanocrystalline / mesoporous tin oxide powders were prepared using chemical techniques. The gas sensitivity of the derived sensors were investigated for various gases ethanol, acetone, TMA, DMA, ammonia, NOx, CO, LPG and CNG. SnO2 powder was prepared by precipitation route. Ammonia and NOx sensors are desired for environmental monitoring and food freshness monitoring. A systematic study was made to improve ammonia and NOx sensitivity using doped (Pt, Au, Pd) WO3 as sensitive material.

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Electrochromic, Nanostructured and Polymeric thinfilms & Devices and Surface physics.

Has been engaged in developing phosphors/ nanophosphors by different synthesis routes for applications in stratogic display devices. As luminescence quantum efficiency of phosphors play a very important role in improving the efficacy of display devices, a new experimental facility using an integrating sphere has been established for absolute quantum efficiency measurement of phosphors.

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Advanced Luminescent Materials and related devices

In the Silicon and Silicon Devices Group, the solar cell fabrication laboratory was reactivated and processing of p+-p-n+ silicon solar cell on 50 mm diameter wafers was carried out on polished and anisotropically textured silicon wafers. Open circuit voltage >600mV, short circuit current Jsc ~24 mA/ cm2 on polished and ~31 mA/cm2 on textured cells were achieved. The best conversion efficiency of 12.4% (without anti-reflection coating) on 18cm2 area was achieved.

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Silicon devices, MEMS and sensors.
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