Research activities

The research activity is centred around the development of new technologies to make specific nano-devices that are based on single functional nanowires and their arrays as well as arrays of nanoparticles (or arrays of nano-holes) configured in such a way that specific functionalities can be achieved and the devices can be addressed electrically or optically.

The nanodevices proposed are focused on specific users in two sectors and their successful developments thus are expected to have a societal impact and will bring the communication/information hardware technology to a new level. The project proposes to have initial focus on deliverables in two user areas namely -

• high frequency and communication applications which we broadly call nano-electronics
• in areas of primary health care/diagnosis particularly where diagnosis can be at primary health care service level and address to diseases that occur in a large scale in the country.

The project initially will focus on some materials platform: Si, Ge, ZnO, metal nanowires, magnetic oxide and magnetic metallic nanoparticles and arrays made on substrates like SiO2/Si and SiNx. The detection technology will be electrical (TFT / FET) and optical addressing. The equipments asked for are around the needs for making these devices and testing them and are additions to existing facilities available with the group. The centre already has capability to produce some of the materials proposed to be used and where it does not have the capability it will network with partner group/groups that have the capability.

The nanodevices that we propose to deliver are all based on direct applications of one or more ideas of nanosciences and nanotechnology. The novelty of the work proposed is based on innovation using some of the new physics/science concepts so that the deliverables are in the focus. The devices proposed to be developed are mainly based on innovation rather than invention. Nevertheless, the proposed work has a good content of investigation of new science ideas.

The project mainly would target to deliver a prototype device. However, during the course of investigation it will network with larger fabrication facilities that can design a fabrication process with batch processing. This can be followed by exploring commercialization.

The goals are arranged in three classes:

Priority-1: To work on devices where the proof of concept has been established by the team or other groups and the prototype of working nanodevice will be developed and tested and calibrated for application at user level.

Priority-2: To work on device technology where the basic science and phenomena are known but the proof of concept needs to be established initially before a prototype can be made.

Priority-3: To work on a class of basic physics problems that have application potentials and whose proof of concept are expected to be established.