Home

The optimization of electron transport layers to improve the performance of the solar cell devices has been performed through simulations and experiments

The simulations were performed by using GPVDM package. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) can be ramped up by adjusting the active layer thickness, and optimum active layer thickness was found to 500 nm for formamidinium based PSCs. Five different types of electron transport is used and among all, SnO2 has been found as an efficient electron transport layer material to increase the PCE further. PCE of 24.41% has been obtained for formamidinium tin iodide- based PSC against 27.49% for formamidinium lead iodide - based PSC.

We have also simulated the comparison of organic and inorganic Sn-and Pb-based active layer thickness on photovoltaic parameters and it has been found that with the increase in thickness up to 600 nm, PCE and other photovoltaic parameters increase with maximum PCE of 24.68 %, 23.23 %, 19.22 %, and 17.51 % for MAPbI3, CsPbI3, MASnI3, and CsSnI3 PSCs, respectively. But with further increase in thickness results in more charge recombination, resulting in a decrease in PCE and photovoltaic parameters. Thus, for different architecture of PSCs used in this study, an optimum active layer thickness was found to be 600 nm. Experimentally, we have investigated the effect of doping and co-doping on optical, structural, and electrical properties of SnO2 nanoparticles using different microscopic and spectroscopic tools. The UV-Vis DRS spectroscopy results revealed that the optical band gap reduced from 2.90 eV for pristine SnO2 to 2.26 eV for co-doped 1 weight % Ni-Zn-SnO2 nanoparticles and can be tuned with a variation of weight % of Ni. Further, the photoluminescence emissions of all SnO2 nanoparticles in the range of 307 to 494 nm are related to oxygen vacancies or defects. The electrical conductivity studies confirm that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibit excellent ohmic contact behavior and show a notable increase in electrical conductivity for 1% Ni-doped Zn-SnO2 nanoparticles.

1. Enigmol, a known anti-cancer 1-deoxyshingolipid and its stereo isomers have been synthesized by a new route starting from the chiral pool using both isomers of L-alanine via Stereoselective Grignard reaction and Cross metathesis reaction as the key steps.
2. The Enigmol analogues have been synthesized by varying chain lengths and an additional additional hydroxyl group on the C-4 position of Enigmol and its chain analogues. The key reaction involved the installation of different lipophilic chain lengths via stereoselective cross metathesis reaction followed by mCPBA epoxidation, Red-Al ring opening and deprotection for the chain analogues and OsO4/NMO mediated dihydroxylation for the 4-hydroxy substituted analogues on the earlier synthesized 1-deoxysphingosines.
3. The butyrate ceramides of the 1-deoxysphingosines have been synthesized using the oleic acid and butyric acid, a known chemo-preventative agents via N-Acylation using p-nitrophenyl oleate and butyrate respectively.
4. A library of peptidomimetic 1-deoxysphingosine ceramides by Multi Component UGI Reaction have been synthesized using different aldehydes, cyclohexyl isocyanide and butyric acid with the previously synthesized 1- deoxysphingosine
5. The in-vitro biological evaluation has been done on the PC-3 and HCT-116 cell lines and the IC50 value have been calculated giving the encouraging results

1) A new series of Energetic Ionic Liquid based salts were prepared with good oxygen balance based on urotropine, tetrazolium and triazolium.
2) A library of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazolium based salts by using aminotriazolone, nitrotriazolone, dinitrotriazolone and tetrazolone was synthesize.
3) EIL 3-amino-1,2,4-triazolium perchlorate was found to be highly sensitive towards impact and friction.
4) A new series of EIL/salts were prepared which exhibited good oxygen balance using 5-Aminotetrazolium perchlorate synthesized and showed excellent
5) A library of 1-H-2,3,4,5-tetraazolium based salts in combination with aminotriazolone, nitrotriazolone, dinitrotriazolone and tetrazolone was synthesized.
6) The impact and frictional sensitivity measurements was investigated at DRDO-TBRL and the as synthesized salts were found to be highly explosive in nature.

The conjugate was found to be QS inhibitor. It also showed potent in vitro inhibitory activity against biofilm formation due to reduction in twitching, swimming, and swarming motilities of P. aeruginosa. In silico molecular docking studies suggested that PZC 4 binds with the FptA, the outer membrane receptor of pyochelin indicating delivery of conjugate hence zingerone, inside the target organism. PZC possess therapeutic value as a ‘Trojan Horse’ entity and conjugate is transported inside the bacterium effectively through iron transport system after binding with siderophore receptor. PZC has been shown to have hepatoprotective potential in P. aeruginosa induced peritonitis mice model Therefore, this represents an innovative approach against multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacterium P. aeruginosa. Hence, this study opens a path to employ PZC as potential drug candidate to suppress P. aeruginosa mediated infections. It can help in overcoming resistance.

The project aimed to develop and optimize Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) technology for use in the agricultural and automotive industries in India. The objectives included studying the mechanical properties of ADI, developing cost-effective production processes, and evaluating its potential applications in Agricultural and Automotive Industry in India.

Two types of bone plates have been designed and developed from ZM21 Mg Alloy for the forearm of an adult- non-perforated bone plate and perforated bone plate. The WEDM (for machining contours of bone plate) and EDD processes (for creating interconnected micro-holes in bone plate) used in the development have been optimized for better surface integrity, low degradation rate and apatite formation rate in biological fluid over the expected bone healing period. A comprehensive study on the mechanical integrity loss (i.e, elastic modulus, compressive strength, fatigue strength, bending strength and fracture toughness) of perforated and non-perforated bone plates at regular intervals during complete degradation test period. Correlation between processing parameters (WEDM & EDD) have been established with surface characteristics, degradation rate, apatite formation rate and mechanical integrity of ZM 21 Mg-alloy to predefine the life span of bone plate.

The project form TRRL was undertaken the development of PDE combustor with flow control system, fire control system and data acquisition from the no of tests. The development was undertaken successfully and the firing proved to be consistent every time. The data w.r.t pressure and thrust was captured for the tests and the performance curves were obtained.

The project form ARDB was undertaken for analysis and optimization of pulse detonation engine parameters experimentally. The combustion tube length, diameter, Schelkin spiral dimensions were optimized for maximum thrust obtained from the PDE. Flow control and fire control systems were developed and used for the purpose. The installation of PDE as a sustainer in a missile was also undertaken and found that it can be integrated.

The aim of this proposal is to develop high Curie temperature lead free piezoceramics with superior piezoelectric properties. It is of our national importance to design, develop and scale up high Curie temperature lead free piezoceramics with superior piezoelectric properties. PI and his group will contribute to this through improvements, reliability and by improving the understanding of high Curie temperature lead free piezoceramics. Further impact derives from the training of early career researchers, employed in this project, who will provide the skills to transfer high Curie temperature lead free piezoceramics based technologies from academia to industry.

In this project, we will achieve the following goals:

• Curie temperature upto 450°C in chemically modified lead free BiFeO3-BaTiO3 solid solutions
• piezoelectric coefficient upto 200 pC/N in chemically modified lead free BiFeO3-BaTiO3 solid solutions
• A prototype piezoelectric vibration sensor (demonstration only) will be designed in consultation with domain scientist.

The project will also be benefitted from applicant’s existing links and joint research activities with Dr. O.P. Thakur, SSPL-DRDO, Prof. Rajeev Ranjan, Materials Engineering, IISc Bangalore, Prof. Ashish Garg, Materials Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur and Dr. A.R. James, DMRL-DRDO.

The aim of this proposal is to develop lead free relaxor ferroelectric materials with enhanced power density, very short discharge time, high breakdown strength for possible pulsed capacitor applications.

Materials with high power density and energy density are becoming gradually significant due to swift growth of advanced pulsed power systems for applications such as hybrid electric vehicles, high frequency inverters, space vehicle power systems, medical devices, electromagnetic rail guns etc, Energy storage devices mainly comprise of Fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, electrochemical capacitors and electrostatic capacitors. Batteries possess enormously high energy density but their output power is limited by the low mobility of charge carriers, which further restricts their application in pulsed power systems. Due to fast polarization response under an applied external electric field, dielectric materials exhibit very high charge/discharge speed which further results in a huge output power density of the order of MW.

From the last decade, relaxor ferroelectrics possess negligible Pr (remnant polarization), low coercive field and high Pmax (maximum polarization) due to their characteristic polar nano regions (PNRs), which further results in high energy density and efficiency. Therefore, the relaxor ferroelectrics are appreciated candidates in the field of energy storage applications. It is experimentally evidenced that DBS of bulk ceramic is associated with the microstructure, such as grain size, grain boundary condition, porosity etc. Among these, grain size contribution is quite prominent. Tunkasiri calculated the effect of grain size on DBS of the ceramic; E_DBS∝1/√G where, EDBS is the DBS of the ceramic and G is the grain size of the ceramic. To achieve our goal, the proposed research will concentrate on the following specific objectives:

• To optimize the composition for the lead free (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–BaTiO3 [NBT-BT] based solid solutions to achieve high value of breakdown strength > 200 kV/cm and recoverable energy density > 2 J/cm3.
• To study the effect of aging on power density and energy storage efficiency.
• To design and develop a pulse power capacitor with capacity ~1000 pF, operating temperature range -30 to +100°C, Vmax (DC) ~30kV.