Latest news with #CentreforNanoandSoftMatterSciences
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Bengaluru researchers develop durable sensor to detect explosives
Bengaluru: A team of researchers from the city has developed a sensitive and durable sensor that can detect explosives such as TNT and RDX at trace levels, offering new possibilities for real-world use in security and pollution monitoring. As per the department of science and technology (DST), the innovation — based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) — overcomes long-standing limitations in the field by improving both sensitivity and long-term stability. The breakthrough was achieved by Jil Rose Perutil, S Prashanth, Channabasaveshwar V Yelamaggad, Pavan Nukala, and Neena S John from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of DST. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "The team engineered a multilayer nanomaterial combining reduced graphene oxide (rGO), silver nanoparticles, and cerium oxide on a glass substrate — each layer serving a distinct role in improving performance," DST said. Silver, though excellent at amplifying molecular "fingerprint" signals essential for SERS, tends to degrade in humid or warm environments. A protective coating of cerium oxide solves this by shielding the silver layer from environmental wear while enhancing charge transfer, further boosting signal clarity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo The rGO layer, meanwhile, suppresses unwanted background fluorescence from silver, allowing the actual detection signal to stand out. "The researchers demonstrated the system's high sensitivity using 4-mercaptobenzoic acid as a model analyte and achieved detection limits as low as 10 nanomolar. More significantly, the same platform could detect explosives like TNT and RDX at similar nanomolar levels," DST said. Tests in environmental chambers confirmed that the sensor maintained high performance even in extreme conditions — 90% humidity and 7 °C — showcasing its potential for rugged, field-ready deployment. "Developed using a physical vapour deposition technique, the sensor's fabrication process is uniform and scalable, suggesting commercial promise. With its combination of durability, simplicity, and precision, the team says the platform could be used in airport screening systems, defence applications, or even environmental monitoring where detecting trace contaminants rapidly is critical," DST added.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
CeNS researchers develop multi-layer nanomaterial to help detect harmful chemicals and explosives
Researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) have developed an innovative multi-layer nanomaterial that can help detect harmful chemicals, including explosives like TNT and RDX, at trace levels. This innovation is expected to boost airport security and environmental pollution monitoring. According to the Department of Science and Technology, noble metals like gold and silver have traditionally been vital for signal enhancement. However, the high cost of gold and the poor long-term stability of silver remain significant obstacles to their commercial viability. The department said that in recent years, numerous methods have emerged to detect harmful chemicals that impact our daily lives. Among them, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has stood out for its exceptional sensitivity and reliability. 'SERS works by amplifying the molecular fingerprint signals of chemicals, allowing for precise identification even at extremely low concentrations,' it said. Now the CeNS researchers have developed an innovative multi-layer nanomaterial combining reduced graphene oxide (rGO), silver nanoparticles (Ag), and cerium oxide (CeO₂) on a glass substrate. The department said that each layer contributes a specific function, and the CeNS team fabricated the composite material using physical vapour deposition techniques, resulting in a uniform and scalable sensing platform. 'While silver nanoparticles are excellent at amplifying Raman signals, they are highly prone to oxidation, especially in humid or warm conditions—reducing their effectiveness over time. The coating of a thin layer of cerium oxide brings two key advantages. It enhances charge transfer between the material and the analyte, further boosting the fingerprint Raman signal of the analyte molecule and also acts as a protective barrier, shielding silver from humidity and temperature-induced degradation and ensuring long-term stability,' the department said. Environmental chamber tests revealed that the substrate maintained its high performance even under extreme conditions—90% humidity and 70 °Celsius—proving its exceptional stability and reliability. 'Meanwhile, the rGO layer plays a crucial role, effectively quenching the overwhelming fluorescence emitted by silver nanoparticles, which would otherwise drown out the distinct Raman fingerprints of the analyte. This clever suppression ensures that the true detection signals shine through with clarity and precision,' it added. The researchers demonstrated the material's high performance using 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) as a model analyte, achieving a detection limit as low as 10 nM. 'More impressively, the substrate demonstrated the ability to detect a wide range of explosives, including TNT and RDX, at nanomolar concentrations, highlighting its broad potential for trace-level contaminant detection,' the department said.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
CeNS scientists develop pocket-sized sensor to detect toxic sulfur dioxide
Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) have developed a pocket-sized sensor that can help detect toxic Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), which is responsible for respiratory irritation, asthma attacks, and long-term lung damage, even at extremely low concentrations. According to the Department of Science and Technology, SO2 is a toxic air pollutant commonly released from vehicles and industrial emissions, and even minute exposure can cause serious health issues and long-term lung damage. It is said that SO2 is hard to detect before it has an adverse effect on health. 'Monitoring SO2 levels in real-time is crucial for public safety and environmental protection, yet existing technologies are often expensive, energy-intensive, or unable to detect the gas at trace levels,' it said. To overcome this, the CeNS scientists have fabricated a sensor by combining two metal oxides, Nickel Oxide (NiO) and Neodymium Nickelate (NdNiO3), through a simple synthesis process. 'While NiO acts as the receptor for the gas, NdNiO3 serves as the transducer that efficiently transmits the signal, enabling detection at concentrations as low as 320 parts per billion (ppb), far surpassing the sensitivity of many commercial sensors,' the department said. To demonstrate the capabilities of this material, the team led by S. Angappane developed a portable prototype that incorporates the sensor for real-time SO2 monitoring. The prototype features a straightforward threshold-based alert system that activates visual indicators, green for safe, yellow for warning, and red for danger, allowing easy interpretation and response, even by users without scientific expertise. Its compact and lightweight design makes it suitable for use in industrial areas, urban locations, and enclosed spaces where continuous air quality monitoring is necessary. 'With its high sensitivity, portability, and user-friendly operation, this sensor system offers a practical solution to monitor and manage SO2 pollution, supporting public health and environmental safety. This work demonstrates the potential of material science to create accessible technologies for real-world challenges,' the department added.
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Indian Scientists Unlock Secret To Clean Fuel Using Only Sunlight. Here's How
In a significant breakthrough, scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru have developed a revolutionary device that harnesses solar energy to produce green hydrogen. This innovative technology has the potential to power homes, vehicles, and industries while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The Science Behind the Breakthrough Led by Dr Ashutosh K Singh, the research team designed a state-of-the-art silicon-based photoanode using an n-i-p heterojunction architecture. This device splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using only solar energy and earth-abundant materials. The materials were deposited using magnetron sputtering, a scalable and industry-ready technique that ensures precision and efficiency. This thoughtful engineering approach allowed better light absorption, faster charge transport, and reduced recombination loss, key ingredients for efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion. Key Features of the Device High Efficiency: Achieved an excellent surface photovoltage of 600 mV and a low onset potential of around 0.11 VRHE. Long-Term Stability: Operated continuously for over 10 hours in alkaline conditions with only a 4% performance drop. Scalability: Demonstrated successful performance at a large scale with a 25 square centimetre photoanode delivering excellent solar water-splitting results. Implications and Future Prospects This breakthrough aligns with India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, aiming for carbon neutrality and energy independence. The technology could fuel hydrogen-based energy systems, powering everything from homes to heavy industries sustainably. "By selecting smart materials and combining them into a heterostructure, we have created a device that not only boosts performance but can also be produced on a large scale," said Dr Singh. "This brings us one step closer to affordable, large-scale solar-to-hydrogen energy systems." The work has been published in Journal of Materials Chemistry A, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the researchers believe this is just the beginning. With further development, the technology could fuel hydrogen-based energy systems, from homes to factories, all powered by the sun.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
India's rare-earth doping breakthrough hints at future of energy storage
New Delhi: Indian scientists have engineered a new energy storage material that demonstrated 118 per cent energy retention and 100 per cent coulombic efficiency , marking a major development in supercapacitor performance. The breakthrough has been achieved by researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, in collaboration with Aligarh Muslim University. The research team, led by Dr Kavita Pandey at CeNS — an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology — used silver niobate (AgNbO₃), a lead-free material, as the base and introduced lanthanum doping to improve performance. According to the findings, the addition of lanthanum, a rare-earth element, improved the electronic conductivity of the material and reduced particle size, increasing surface area available for energy storage. The doped material retained 118 per cent of its initial capacity after repeated use and achieved 100 per cent coulombic efficiency, with no loss of energy during charge-discharge cycles. A prototype asymmetric supercapacitor developed using the new material was able to power an LCD display. The research has been published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 'This research demonstrates the potential of lanthanum doping as a method to tailor silver niobate for high-performance supercapacitors,' the research paper stated. The study highlights the role of rare-earth doping in improving the properties of silver niobate nanoparticles for electrochemical energy storage. The team said future research would explore doping strategies in other perovskite materials and focus on scaling up lanthanum-doped silver niobate for commercial use.
