Research at AFML
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Overview of Research at AFML
AFML focuses on highly interdisciplinary research encompassing the design and synthesis of nanoscale functional materials, elucidation
of the fundamental magnetic, electronic, optical and other physical properties of these materials, and the development of processes that
lead to multifunctional objects for specific applications. We use the 'bottom-up'paradigm of nanotechnology as the underlying approach in
the interlinked research at AFML. The current research topics are:
Metal-halide Perovskites
Our focus is to unravel new structures, phase transformations and self-assembly of perovskite systems having different strutural
dimensionalities. In the case of 2D perovskites, a particular attention is devoted to the choice of the organic spacer molecules. We
synthesize the perovskite systems by wet-chemical methods in the form of nanostructures and single crystals. The structure-property
correlation of these perovskite phases are investigated in terms of their optical properties and application in solar cells, photodetectors and
photo-rechargeable batteries.
Electrocatalysis
We apply the solid-state chemistry principles to design electrocatalysts, mainly consisting of metal alloys and metal oxides having
earth-abundant elements. These nanostructures are investigated for their structural inhomogeneity, defect chemistry, coordination of
metal-centers, charge transfer, and their behavior as a function of pH. The electrocatalysts are applied for water splitting to produce green
hydrogen, and carbon dioxide reduction. The catalytic activities are further tested with the large-area electrodes of industrial relevance. Our
allied interests are in the fabrication of zinc-air batteries by suitable design of bifunctional catalysts for oxygen evolution and reduction
reactions.
In both the above research areas, AFML has strong collaborations with the computational research groups in India, namely,
Prof. Swapan K. Pati (JNCASR), Prof. Priya Mahadevan (SNBNCBS), Prof. Bidisa Das (RISE, TCG-CREST), and Prof. Priya Johari (Shiv
Nadar University).