Saturday, 12 September 2015

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.   

Thursday, 30 July 2015

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.
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Thursday, 21 May 2015





On behalf of Walk With a Scholar Programme in SN College Punalur, an one day external mentoring sessions has been organized wherein Dr. J. Dinakarlal, former Dean of Arts, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil and  Mr. D. Arun Gladwin, Lecturer, Lord Jegannath College of Engineering and   Technology, Nagercoil are addressing the students on the topic "Motivation, Value Inculcation,Self Evaluation, Self Esteem and Self Confidence". The WWS programme is funded and supported by  Directorate of Collegiate Education, Govt. of Kerala in connection with the new initiatives in Higher Education to cater the needs of under graduate students such as value inculcation, self confidence, to bridge the gap between education and employment etc. The programme for the plan scheme 2014-2015 has been successfully completed in our college.

Wednesday, 4 March 2015

Invited talks, Conferences/Seminars/workshops and organizational experience


Invited Talks


  1. Magnetically Functional synergic High K Polymer Dielectrics for High Density Data and Power Storage Media (Got Invitation)
First International Conference on Advanced Materials for Power
Engineering (ICAMPE-2015) at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

  1. Conducting polymer coated nickel iron chromate
Second International Conference on Nanostructured Materials (ICNM-2014), IIUCNN, MG University, Kottayam (December 2014)

  1. Some Rare Earth (RE) Substituted Potential Low-Tc Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle System for Self-Controlled Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia Based Therapeutic Applications.
 DCMPMS Seminars, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, on (13th April 2010)

  Conferences & Workshops attended

  1. National Nodal Center Conference on Virtual lab, supported by MHRD, Govt. of India, at Amrita University, Kollam (2015)
  2. Workshop on Virtual lab (VALUE@AMRITA), supported by MHRD, Govt. of India as a follow up of IEEE events, at Amrita University, Kollam (2014)
  3. Second International Conference on Nanostructured Materials (ICNM-2014), IIUCNN, MG University, Kottayam (2014)
  4. Workshop of co-ordinators and mentors of Walk With a Scholar Programme organized by the Office of New Initiatives under Collegiate Education Department, Govt. of Kerala at Mar Ivaniose College, Thiruvananthapuram (2014)
  5. The Grant Launch of ICT Academy of Kerala at Taj Vivanta, Thiruvananthapuram (2014)
  6. UGC sponsored national seminar on “Material Science and Modern Analytical Techniques”, MPMMSN Trusts College, Shoranur, Palakkad (2014)
  7. Workshop on MSc Syllabus Revision, Organized by Board of Studies in Physics, University of Kerala at Govt. Women’s College, Trivandrum (2013)
  8. 55th DAE Solid State Physics Symposium, Manipal University (2010)
  9. 22nd Kerala Science Congress”, KFRI, Peechi(2010).
  10. “National symposium for materials research scholar (MR08)” I.I.T Bombay
    (2008)
  11. 19th Kerala science congress (Contest paper, chemical science)” CWRDM
    Kannur (2007).
  12. National Conference on Thermo physical Properties of materials (NCTP ‘07) held at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, Kerala (2007)
  13. International conference on structure and dynamics: from macro to micro”, Univ.of Culcutta (2006).
  14. “National conference on recent advances in materials science (NCMS-2006)”
    Periyar University, Salem (2006).
  15. Workshop on functional oxide materials” IUAC New Delhi (2006).
  16. National Conference on Organic electronics, held at S. N. College, Kollam, Kerala (2006)
  17. 18th Kerala science congress, CESS, Trivandrum (2006) 
  18.   National Seminar “Jyothirgamaya”, S. N. College, Kollam (2005).
  19.  DAE sponsored National Seminar on Environmental Impact on Human health, Christian College, Chengannur (2004).

Organizational experiences:


  1.    Organized (Coordinator) a half day external mentoring session on Life Skill Enrichment and Positive Attitude on behalf of the WWS Programme at SNC Punalur, sponsored by the office of New Initiatives in Higher Education, Directorate of Collegiate Education, Government of Kerala, TVM (2015)
  2.    Joint Secretary, Local coordination committee, National Conference on Thermo physical Properties of materials (NCTP ‘07) held at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, Kerala (2007) under the joint collaboration with department of Physics, S. N. College, Kollam and Thermo-physical society of India
  3.      Executive member, Local coordinating committee, National Conference on Organic electronics, held at S. N. College, Kollam, Kerala (2006)