Postdoc Times
Exploring India’s Untapped Energy Reservoirs
Is there an untapped source of energy beneath our feet? According to Dr Md Salim Akhtar, a postdoctoral fellow at IITGN’s REEFS Lab, the answer is yes. There are vast reservoirs of heat under the Earth’s surface, generated from the gradual breakdown of rocks containing radioactive elements and the Earth's internal heat. This heat manifests as geothermal energy, interacting with subsurface pressurized water to give rise to natural geysers and hot springs.
Tiny Molecules, Big Impact: Tuning Solar Cell Performance
Rooftops often feature glinting photovoltaic panels comprising numerous solar cells that convert solar energy into electricity. Despite their renewable nature, organic solar cells (OSCs) suffer from energy losses. The module’s active layer, a blend of materials that donate and accept charged particles, helps conduct electricity. Non-radiative energy losses from the acceptor material impact the efficiency of OSCs. “We envision finding potential small molecule acceptors to be used in OSCs,” says Dr Rudranarayan Khatua, a postdoctoral fellow designing novel OSC materials that aim to enhance their performance.
From waste to worth: Using banana peels for sustainable agriculture
Banana peels, which we discard, could hold the power to redefine the fertilizer industry! Dr Himarati Mondal has created a nutrient-capturing composite by combining dried and crushed banana peels with chitosan, a natural biodegradable polymer. The fusion resulted in a product with banana peels’ ion-adsorption capabilities and chitosan’s stability and pH sensitivity. But where would such a composite be of use?
Shining a light on Quantum Dot Blinking
What connects vibrant LED displays, efficient solar cells, and precise medical imaging? Quantum Dots (QDs). These tiniest of nanoscale crystals emit distinct colours when exposed to light, and by adjusting their size, the emitted light changes! This is the USP of QDs. “Despite their remarkable properties, QDs suffer from ‘blinking’,” says Dr NVS Praneeth.
Beneath the Surface: What impacts carbon storage within soil?
The soil beneath our feet, a mineral-rich blend of air, water, and organics, plays a vital role in the carbon cycle by acting as a vault for carbon storage and greenhouse gas cycling. This delicate balance is susceptible to human activity and climatic fluctuations. Dr. Niharika Sharma's research, centered in the Banni grassland region of Kutch, Gujarat, investigated the intricate ways such stressors impact long-term carbon storage in the soil.
Tuning metals to understand the symphony of water-vapor condensation
Why do we see beads of water on chilled glasses? The answer lies in condensation, where the physical state of water changes due to the transfer of heat energy. Thus, when humid air comes in contact with a cold glass, it cools and condenses into tiny water droplets. Dr Chayan Das is studying the process and factors impacting this phase change process.