Three Reactions and Nano

Abstract : Pursuit of fundamental science can be considered as the key to the development of new technology. In addition, collaboration across the fields of science and engineering could potentially bring extraordinary advantage in developing new technology that is designed to serve a large populace. In the current context, nanoscale science and technology have brought new interests in working across various fields with the aim of solving important challenges in modern technology. This is especially important in addressing concerns related to communication, healthcare, energy and the environment. Thus a large number of scientists across the globe are currently competing for developing technologies, which would not only would produce smarter and efficient devices but also serve population that have traditionally been in a disadvantage. In our laboratory, we are working on the development of potential new technology and devices, which use the properties of materials at the nanoscale. We pursue the syntheses of novel materials and integrate them in fabricating efficient devices especially for potential healthcare applications. However, we put stress on understanding the properties of matter so synthesized such that we could make greater use of them in developing new technology. In the lecture, I will describe our efforts in carrying out chemical reaction based alteration of properties of nanoscale particles. I will emphasize on reactions involving gold nanoparticles, quantum dots and atomic clusters. Firstly, I will delve into the reaction kinetics and dynamics involving gold nanoparticles. Next I will discuss about our work on the molecular surface functionalization of individual semiconductor quantum dots leading to materials with potential applications in white light emitting devices and having resolution at the level of a single nanoparticle. Finally, I will talk about our latest work on zinc mediated assembly of gold nanoclusters for reversible storage of hydrogen.I would also like to talk – if time permits - about application of noble metal based photoluminescent atomic clusters in theranostics. For example, a “thumb imprint” based device for diagnosis of hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice) has been developed with the luminescence of Au atomic clusters serving as a visual marker for jaundice. We also report the development of a device for use in genes and protein analyses on a single platform, having the Au nanoclusters as the signal generating agent.

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About the speaker : Dr. Arun Chattopadhyay is a Professor of the Department of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. He has been the founder Head of the Centre for Nanotechnology (2004-2009) and Head of Chemistry from 2009-2014. Prof. Chattopadhyay obtained his M. Sc. in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (1988) and PhD in Chemical Physics from Columbia University (New York) in the year 1992. He then went on to pursue postdoctoral work at Stanford University (1992-1995). He received Swarnajyanti Fellowship Award (2003-2004) of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; Materials Research Society of India Medal (2008) and Young Career Award in Nano Science and Technology (2013), DST (Nano Mission). Prof. Chattopadhyay is in the Editorial Advisory Board of Nanoscale, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry and also in the Editorial Board of the journal Current Science. He has been elected to be the Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (2016), Bangalore and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2014). Dr. Chattopadhyay leads a group of research workers carrying out research in the frontier areas of nanoscale science and technology. His group invented the concept of submicron-scale lithography in color, introduced the concept of one-pot synthesis of nanocomposite and complexation reactions on the surface of quantum dots and involving atomic clusters. He also pioneered the spectroscopy of individual soap bubbles. He has made original contributions in nanobiotechnology. Recently his group has submitted patents on the thumb imprint based detection of hyperbilirubinemia and a nanotechnology based portable machine for pursuing gene and protein analyses.