National Conference
on
Nanomaterials: Synthesis & Applications
Feb. 6, 2009: DAV College Jalandhar under the aegis of Post-Graduate Department of Chemistry organized 2-days UGC, DST, CSIR sponsored National Conference on Nanomaterials: Synthesis & Applications. The conference was inaugurated by Principal R S Sharma, Hon’ble General Secretary, DAV Colleges Managing Committee, New Delhi. Principal extend heartiest welcome to the Chief-Guest, Delegates, Resource Persons and participants, who have come from all parts of the country. He said Nano-science is one of the newest and most significant developments in the present scientific world with its wide-ranging applications in medicine and engineering. A few decades ago, the discovery of semi-conductors brought a technological revolution. A similar revolution seems to be on the anvil with the development of nano-technology. He congratulated the Department of Chemistry which is already a DST-FIST sponsored Department for this brave initiative.
The Chief Guest Principal R S Sharma, Hon’ble General Secretary, DAV Colleges Managing Committee, New Delhi congratulated the Principal, Member of Chemistry Department, Organising committee for this great events. He said that this conference is an effort to the introduction and the awareness of the Nano-technology and its possible impact on present and future technological and other challenges. He said, Such Conferences, also provide a platform for young inquisitive minds to interact, to brainstorm and to learn. It is also a platform to know and be known.
Key-note Address: Dr. C S Sundar, Head, Material Science Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam presented his key-note address. Speaking on the topics Nanomaterials Research - Opportunities & Challenges, he said that We are all riding a “Nano Wave” today, with enormous excitement and considerable expectations of applications in several domains. In his talk he traced, the rapid evolution of this nascent field, that is a confluence of several streams of activities in physics, chemistry, biology, Materials Science and Engineering. Research in nanomaterials is largely driven by applications, and hence is highly context dependent.
Dr. B C Ranu (Indian Association of Cultivation of Science, Kolkata presented his paper on Metal Nanoparticles as Efficient Catalysts. He said that the last decade has witnessed a tremendous growth in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The easy accessibility to nanoparticles has prompted investigations on their applications in catalysis. The recent reports showed amazing level of their performance as catalysts in terms of selectivity, reactivity and improved yields of products. He further said that an investigation to explore the potential of palladium and copper nanoparticles in organic reactions, particularly the functionalization of molecules.
Dr. L M Bhardwaj, CSIO, Chandigarh presented his paper on Bionano Materials & Devises. He said that the convergence of nanotechnology with information technology, modern biology and social sciences will reinvigorate discoveries and innovation in almost all sectors of the economy. Both science and the economy in the 21st century will require technological breakthroughs in the control of nanometer scale structure and functions, where the top-down approach of electronics manufacture converges with the bottom-up assembly of biology. At this moment, the scientific questions are being formulated, the required tools are being developed, and the possible applications of nanotechnologies could be revolutionary.
Nano-Biotechnology takes advantage of interfacing functional biomolecules with available devices for development of devices with higher performance in terms of selectivity, sensitivity and economics. The life processes and materials have been perfected by nature in billions of years. The nature has created large variety of molecular devices which are working in living system ranging from micro-organism to human beings. Nature creates these devices by self-assembly process and does not requires billions of dollar lithography based fabrication facilities used in VLSI devices.
Dr. A. K. Ganguli, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi presented his paper on Control of size and shape of nanostructures using the microemulsion method. He stressed that Nanoparticle synthesis is a challenging and interesting area of research especially for obtaining sensors and catalysts based on nanomaterials having useful properties (dielectric, magnetic, and optical).
Dr. R K Khandal, Shri Ram Institute of Industrial Research, New Delhi presented his paper on Nanoscience to Nanotechnolgoy: Scope, Challenges & Opportunities. He said that converting concepts of nanoscience into the know-how of nanotechnology has always been a challenging task, which everyone seems to be pre-occupied with, thanks to the opportunities that exist for such efforts. Inspite of the fact that the fundamental concepts behind nanoscience are quite well understood and appreciated, making nanomaterials based on these concepts have several hurdles to cross. The complexities involved in producing nanomaterials and desired products based on them are immense; to resolve them, one needs to apply interdisciplinary approaches involving multi-phase systems. The extraordinary properties exhibited by nanomaterials drive us to develop almost all devices based on nanomaterials, but this is easier said than done.
The first and foremost step in this process is to define the scope in terms of its degrees and dimensions. Then, the challenges involved at different stages of making the nanomaterials be identified and listed based on the technicalities involved. For each challenge, a path forward using the expertise and experience is determined to develop materials of desired quality. The process of development of nanomaterials, thus, be carried out in such a manner that the outcome is based on science and it is no longer considered as an art!
Similarly the other Scholars Dr. A Banerjee, Indian Association of Cultivation of Science, Kolkata presented his paper on Nanotechnology : A New horizon of Technology, Dr. Sanyog Jain, NIPER, Mohali, presented his paper on Novel Nanocolloidal Carrier Systems for Targeted Drug and Vaccine Delivery, and Dr. G S Chauhan, HPU Shimla traced the different aspects of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology. Nearly 400 delegates from all parts of the country participated in the conference.
