Abstract
Seminars
Exploration and computation of free energy surfaces of chemical reactions are pivotal to computationally predict reaction mechanisms, reaction pathways, and kinetics. Computing free energy surfaces of complex reactions, especially in soft matter system, requires advanced molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques. Although, tremendous progress has been made in the recent years in this direction, several limitations are yet to be addressed to make the computations efficient and more accurate.
The one-cell embryo is a deceptively simple entity during the early part of its life. From this one cell, a multicellular, three-dimensional animal eventually emerges through the process of embryogenesis. Decades of forward and reverse genetics have yielded a fairly clear view of the evolutionarily conserved molecular pathways that are essential for normal embryonic development. Yet, an unambiguous understanding of how complexity emerges in a multicellular embryo as development proceeds after fertilisation remains poorly understood.
Catalysis is one of the oldest branches in Chemistry. This field primarily deals with the speed of chemical reactions and ways of manipulating them. Right from living systems to large-scale production of fine chemicals like pharmaceuticals and plastics, the science and technology of catalysis plays a pivotal role. I will introduce the chemistry aspects of catalysis at a general level and proceed to discuss on the increasing relevance of this science in sustainability. I will draw a few examples from my research as well as others during the discussion.
Abstract
In this talk starting from a pre-defined problem, how certain bottlenecks encountered resulted in the above work – where we demonstrated a low cost method to synthesis a carbon based material – Graphene oxide. The work demonstrated that high quality synthesis of graphene oxide can be achieved without expensive filtration methods for carbonaceous and metallic residues. I will also outline some of the practical applications of this material which we are working on at present.
Advances in the synthesis of nearly monodisperse colloidal nanoparticles have made it possible
to fabricate crystalline arrays of nanoparticles (known popularly as Colloidal Nano Crystalline
Arrays (NCAs)) with lattice parameters close to the wavelength of light. Light travelling through
such crystals experiences a period variation of refractive index, analogous to periodic potential
energy of an electron in an atomic crystal. This variation in refractive index in three dimensions
Semiconductor nanocrystals, also called quantum dots, with uninterrupted and bright photoluminescence are expected to bring groundbreaking advancements to luminescent displays, solar cells and biological imaging. Although highly-luminescent quantum dots based on cadmium and lead chalcogenides have been developed, stochastic fluctuation of photoluminescence intensity, also called blinking, continues to be a major challenge in the applications of these tiny crystals to single molecule imaging and single photon devices.
