Projects (Supported Under CDRF)

In this work, we propose to develop an FPGA-based reconfigurable Smart-NIC Intellectual Property (IP) which enables dynamically hosting different hardware accelerators depending on the application requirements. Since the power consumption of FPGA-platforms are lower than pure software based platforms by more than an order, it helps in reducing the energy utilization in data centres and thus their carbon footprint. It is well aligned with India’s “Make in India” and “Digital India missions”. This project comes under the “India Semiconductor Mission” launched in 2022 which aims to emerge India as an emerging global hub for the semiconductor industry

In this project, we have proposed to develop a robust hydrogen sensor based on Ga2O3 nanostructures where Ga2O3 is an active material because of its outstanding electrical properties in extreme environmental conditions.  Here, we will study electronic band-structure and optimize the sensing material towards hydrogen adsorption/desorption, and binding energy calculations using DFT and MD simulations. Further, we will grow hierarchical nanostructures of Ga2O3 on a porous silicon substrate via LPCVD and spin coating. Eventually, we will grow MSM-type devices using shadow IDE masks.

Currently, a variety of skin diagnostic methods are accessible. In this field, electrical and chemical assays are well-established. We want to create an orthogonal diagnostic method called mechanodiagnosis, in which we examine the precise biomechanical assays of skin. In this project, we'll create a lab-on-a-chip that uses the mechanical characteristics of skin to gauge the condition of its health. We then create a microfluidic-based medication delivery device that can give localized, controlled drug delivery after measuring skin health. As a result, we now have a real-time measuring and medication delivery system, ushering in the future of medicine.

We envisage demonstrating IR detectors with good performance, a broader spectral range covering 0.9-5 𝛍m range, and a significantly lower cost than currently available. As a result, this will significantly impact military IR imaging systems for defense and environmental monitoring applications. The shortwave infrared (SWIR) range of 0.9 - 2.5 𝛍m is interesting for remote sensing, spectroradiometry, spectrophotometry, and astronomical observation. These work by detecting reflected light rather than temperature gradient, thus producing visible-like images. The mid-wave infrared (MWIR) range of 2.5-5 𝛍m detects thermal signatures or temperature gradients. This is critical, especially in defense applications like night vision, object tracking and identification, and aerial and satellite reconnaissance. This aligns with the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” mission and “Make in India” initiatives to develop indigenous systems for threat surveillance and monitoring, especially for defense manufacturing. 

Though green H2 production via electrochemical water splitting (usually termed as water electrolysis) is projected as a promising approach, however the anodic process, namely oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a bottleneck that limits the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. In this direction, the project aims at achieving enhanced H2 production by utilizing the electrons’ spin effects. The studies involve the development of magnetic/chiral semiconductors that act as (photo) electro catalysts. A magnetic and non-magnetic based approaches will be carried out to decipher the role of electrons’ spin on the efficiency of H2 evolution.   

Despite its inherent potential, the 2D semiconductor-based technology for electronic/optoelectronic applications is severely bottlenecked by the lack of reliable, uniform, and large-area growth of 2D materials with high yield on bulk substrates. In this context, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of 2D semiconductors like TMDs on bulk substrates involves a considerable challenge for ALD precursor optimization. Driven by this paradigm, the proposed research will employ ab initio calculation-driven theoretical modelling of precursor/substrate and precursor/precursor interactions for designing and experimentally synthesizing optimized novel ALD precursor for TMDs on different bulk substrates, which will offer novel and transformative contributions to the ever-growing field of 2D electronics and optoelectronics.

The proposal aims at improving the socio-economic status of farmers of Rajasthan. A simple yet robust AI based system would be developed to help the farmers in early detection of wheat rust disease and also to constantly monitor soil conditions (quality and moisture). Farmer would be able to optimize the usage of water and fertilizers using mobile application, which is pivotal in water scarce regions like Rajasthan. This would enhance crop yield and also minimize crop loss. Consequently, farmers' income would also improve. The outcomes of this project would also be creating a platform to connect farmers with agro-based industries.

The optical phenomenon, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) offers a label-free sensing platform with a very high degree of sensitivity and resolution. The technology based on SPR is widely applicable in the fields such as bio-sensing, diagnostics, point-of-care devices, pharmaceuticals for drug design and discovery. In this project, we aim to develop an optical-fiber-based SPR sensing device exhibiting multi-channels for addressing real samples. The device will be portable and hence field deployable. The fibers will be functionalized using suitable ligands and hence the developed device will be tested/calibrated for sensing biologically important ions such as Zn2+ and F-, along with heavy metals and other bioanalytes in fluid medium. The developed technology has immense application in the fields of bio-medical and pharmaceutical sciences.

The relentless efforts on the design of new materials as photocatalysts, electrocatalysts for H2 generation have been continuing from awhile. However, these studies are limited to small scale reactors and the efforts on scaleup studies are scarce. In present view of increasing trend in global energy demand and simultaneous requirement to safeguard the environment, relying on the clean energy fuels such as H2 are essential. In India, the national mission on green H2 technologies demands H2 as the feedstock. In present proposal, we are developing a non-conventional scalable reactor to produce green H2 from the abundantly available seawater feed. 

The design and development of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) waveguides show promise in the field of integrated optoelectronics. Graphitic carbon nitride exhibit quite unique properties such as broad light absorption range, high charge carrier mobility, and amazing chemical stability. Optimizing material properties, synthesis and fabrication techniques will be essential in recognizing the potential of g-C3N4 waveguides for diverse engineering and scientific applications. Exploiting the properties of g-C3N4, waveguides can be designed and investigated for intriguing observations during optical signal transmission. Planar waveguides with stripe or buried structure can be explored to achieve light guidance, and prospects for novel photonic devices.

Sensing and identification of CRP at an early stage is of paramount significance in healthcare sector. To detect CRP at an early stage one must have a highly sensitive sensing material which can detect the analyte even at ultra low concentrations (lower than picomoles). Early detection of CRP will help to diagnose cardiovascular diseases and can save human life. Such a sensor will have a global significance. Such kind of sensor can be developed using  different nano materials like graphene, silicene, arsenene,  phosphorene and MoS2 etc. 

Commonly used clinical diagnostic methods include X-ray Mammography, ultra-sound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). However, these methods are painful, harmful and time-consuming. These limitations have motivated us to develop a non-invasive and reliable low-cost diagnostic method. Ultra-wideband (UWB) microwave imaging is a promising technique for biomedical applications such as cancer detection because of their good penetration and resolution characteristics. This is possible by developing Soft Flexible Antennas and integrating it with Microwave Imaging System. In this project first we will optimize and design the flexible antenna for proper radiation properties suitable for cancer detection. Thereafter, it will be fabricated and tested. Then we will use the microwave imaging system for detecting the solid tumour. Then we shall assess the safety and efficacy of microwave radiation using in vitro cell culture models of tumour and skin fibroblast cells.

Metal electrodes are used in brain-computer interfaces (BCI) to record/stimulate brain activity. However, metal electrodes cause inflammation. In hearing loss patients, BCIs are used and are made of metal electrodes and require refinement based on neural coding patterns. This proposal aims to fabricate metal-free neural probes from edible silk proteins and investigate the brain recording capabilities in murine models. This study will be conducted in hearing loss models to evaluate the role of the cortex in thalamic coding. This data will be analyzed using information theoretics/machine learning to find the patterns in neural coding to better the current BCIs. 

P (Pilani) | D (Dubai) | G (Goa) | H (Hyderabad)

1. Design and Development of Robust Hydrogen Sensor Based on Ultra-Wide Bandgap Porous-Ga2O3 Semiconductor Nanostructures. Satyendra Kumar Mourya (SC/07/23/123) by Prof. Satyendra Kumar Mourya (P), Prof. Sarbani Ghosh (P) and Prof. Mohit Garg (P)

2. Development of FPGA-Based Dynamically Reconfigurable Smart-NIC with Accelerator IPs For Efficient Distributed Hardware Acceleration Kizheppatt Vipin (SC/07/23/124) by Prof. Kizheppatt Vipin (G), Prof. Sai Sesha Chalapathi Gattupalli (P) and Prof. Amalin Prince (G)

3. Exploring the role of electrons’ spin in enhanced hydrogen production using chiral/magnetic electrocatalysts (SC/07/23/108) by Prof. Kiran Vankayala (G) and Prof. Ram Shanker Patel (G)

4. Development of lab-on-chip diagnosis tool based on electromechanical properties of skin (SC/07/23/112) by Prof. Venkatesh KP Rao (P), Prof. Geeta Bhatt (P) and Prof. Gautam Singhvi (P)

5. Revolutionizing Data Security: FPGA Prototyping of a Cutting-Edge Cryptographic Algorithm for NIST's Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Standards (SC/07/23/128) by Prof. Subhendu Kumar Sahoo (H), Prof. Amit Kumar Panda (H) and Prof. G Geethakumari (H)

6. Precursor Design and Optimization for Atomic Layer Deposition of Two- Dimensional Semiconductors on Different Inorganic Oxide Surfaces- an Ab- initio Theoretical Calculation and Experimental Realization based Complementary Approach (SC/07/23/102) by Prof. Sayan Kanungo (H) and Prof. Nilanjan Dey (H)

7. Farmer-driven localized artificial intelligence system for early detection of wheat rust disease and nutrient deficiency (C1/23/118) by Prof. R Srinivas (P), Prof. Vinay Chamola (P) and Prof. Pratik Narang (P)

8. Development of surface plasmon resonance assisted optical fiber-based multichannel sensing device (C1/23/138) by Prof. Raj Kumar Gupta (P), Prof. Anupam Bhattacharya (H) and Prof. Subhradeep Pal (H)

9. Design of Catalysts and Reactors for Green Hydrogen via photo- and photoelectro-catalysis (C1/23/130) by Prof. Satyapaul Singh Amarthaluri (H) and Prof. Sounak Roy (H)

10. Investigations on graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) layers towards opto- electronic applications and future prospects (C1/23/146) by Prof. Rahul Singhal (P) and Prof. Mrinmoyee Basu (P)

11. Design and Development of FET-Based Sensor for Biodetection using Nano Materials (C1/23/227) by Prof. K. K. Singh (D), Prof. Vilas H Gaidhane (D) a mnd Prof. Neeru Sood (D).