Page 18 - CFM-Annual Newsletter 2021

National Workshop

We invited three distinguished scientists Dr. Anuj Shukla, Scientist, ‘F’ Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur;

the first talk was delivered by Dr. Anuj Shukla, Scientist F, Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, followed by
Dr. A. R. James Scientist F, DMRL, DRDO, Hyderabad, and Dr. A. Pandikumar Scientist, Central
Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi. The event was held on March 3 , 2021.
rd
Dr. Anuj Shukla introduced two different classes of functional materials: (i) nanomaterials such
as iron oxide nanoparticles, core-shell nano alloy, carbon nanoballs, graphene, and their defense
application; (ii) metamaterials as absorbers, metamaterials in the form of quick response (QR) code,

which can carry information such as texts/image, metamaterials for health monitoring of polymer
composites.
While Dr. A R James described the physics of such materials from the structural and electrical

point of view and then gave details of how such materials can be synthesized in the bulk ceramic and
thin-film forms, with emphasis on a very recent technique called Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), also,
he presented prototypes of various materials both in the bulk and thin film forms fabricated in his

lab.
Dr. A. Pandikumar discussed the advances in the development of efficient
photoelectrocatalytic materials. First, he elaborated, the fundamentals involved in the

photoelectrocatalytic water splitting followed by the critical properties of photoelectrocatalytic
materials such as light absorption, charge separation, charge transportation, and photoelectrocatalytic
reactions. He illustrated the importance of heterointerfaces in photoelectrodes in conjunction with
functional interlayer materials. Also, some strategies involved in material screening and optimization

for the construction of highly efficient photoelectrochemical devices for water splitting were
discussed. Finally, the talk gave highlights of the recent developments with the graphitic carbon

nitride-based hybrid materials in these areas. It indicated some specific examples for improved
photoelectrocatalytic water splitting performance.

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