BROCHURE- National Seminar @ Sree Narayana College, Punalur

NATIONAL SEMINAR (NSNME) @ SREE NARAYANA COLLEGE, PUNALUR

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=997072253690374&set=pcb.997072287023704&type=3

Photo session in 145th Orientation programme at UGC-HRDC at University of Kerala, Kariavattom

Plant mediated biogenic precipitation method for the synthesis of nanomaterial: The possibilities and Challenges

The need for eco-friendly synthesis of nanomaterials has now reached the milestone at  plant mediated Green synthesis or otherwise called biogenic precipitation of nanomaterials. It is a reduction reaction wherein the precursor salt undergo biogenic reduction in presence of a plant extract to zero valent metal or metal oxide nanoparticles. The main advantages of such synthesis techniques lie on its non-toxicity, fast rate of synthesis, in situ mode, less agglomeration among nanoparticles, biocompatibility etc. Of course, the temperature and pH can play a part of their own. In most of the cases, the challenge that prevails over the above said possibilities is the lack of yielding top quality crystals of nanomaterials so synthesised. Some times the samples become totally amorphous soon after the synthesis which need further heating at high temperatures for a long period of time depending on the composition. While the non-crystallanity limits the application of the material, the high temperature heating degrades the biogenic coating over the nanoparticles which in turn bring up further agglomeration among small particles and cut the biocompatibilty of the material. Hence the objective is, we need quality crystals of nanomaterials capped with biogenic compounds soon after the synthesis itself. Heating up to some degree of temperatures for a while can be admitted for the aging of crystals without hampering the biomaterials present. The appropriate use of plant materials as reductant, control over pH and initial concentration of samples are all decisive factors in this ride. To this mess if something new could be added, by virtue it should be an advantage.   

The God's Own Country Now Turning to be the Green Corridors of Nano

Kerala, the God's own Country is now turning out to be the green corridors for the synthesis of nano-materials. The new adjective is befitting for the Place, since the State in Indian union is a treasury of Ayurvedic medicinal plants found in almost all villages. In fact, in the current scenario, there has been a massive apprehension over nanotechnology, particularly in their synthesis which is said to be leading towards environmental pollution; the process is largely leaning towards the green route wherein hazardous reagents are being replaced by ecofriendly entities such as plant materials. Since the green model  has become recognized after the reports of Dr. Varma et al., who revealed possibilities for plant polyphenols  or similar antioxidants being an efficient substitute for hazardous reductants such as sodium borohydride in the synthesis of metallic/oxide nanoparticles, exploring various flora diversity turned out to be dutiful and historical inevitability of researchers in the field, to revolutionize the tempo. Since Kerala is the real corridor for a variety of flora, it is high time to explore the countryside knowledge about the flora diversity to obtain the reductants to synthesis high quality nanocrystals for applications in various technological, industrial, biomedical and diagnostic areas ultimately for the benefit of the construct of a healthier society. 

Fig. From left, the precursor salt, plant extract and the formation of nanoparticles after the reaction between the rest of the two

In this context, our group of researchers, including  three of our MSc students (Ms. Athira , Ms. Pooja and Ms. Jenna) are engaged in exploring the local flora at South Kerala, particularly at Kollam, Punalur, Aranmula etc., to obtain the suitable reductants to synthesis nanocrystals of top quality. One such attempt is shown in the above figure. Here the plant variety locally called kilimaram (Scientific identification of the species is under discussion) has been used. The iron based  precursor salt after reduction is supposed to be yielding  iron based nanoparticles. The detailed crystallographic analysis of the sample nanoparticles obtained is in pipeline. Your comments about this work are valuable and constructive for us and those who have the real spirit of interest can join hand in future.

-->

WORKSHOP- ACADEMY OF PHYSICS TEACHERS KERALA

ശാസ്ത്രപോഷിണി

Add caption