Silica Aerogels
Neha Hebalkar, S. Sudhakar Sharma and Tata Narasinga Rao
Different forms of Silica aerogels are being developed for insulating clothing, paints and other novel applications. The ultra low density is near to 0.05 g/cc. These are highly porous having large surface are such as 1,600 m2/g. These can be made either hydrophobic or hydrophilic.
Carbon Aerogel Nanospheres
Neha Hebalkar
Nanoporous carbon aerogels are technologically very important having unique properties like large surface area, good electrical conduction, low density, biocompatibility etc. These have wide range of applications like fuel cell electrodes, electrochemical supercapacitors, carrier for drug molecules, catalysis, water purification etc. Highly monodispersed nanospheres of carbon aerogel have been prepared in the large size range of 50 nm to 12 μm. The highly porous nature is evidenced by measured surface area of ~ 800 m2/g.
Silica-Silver core shell particles for antibacterial application
Neha Hebalkar and Tata Narasinga Rao
A simple method for the synthesis of silica-silver core shell particles has been developed for antibacterial textile application. The silica particles have a 2-3 nm silver shell. Fabric coated with these particles did not produce any yellowing of the fabric at room temperature. No bacterial growth observed on and below the fabric for 103 CFU bacterial concentrations.
Titania Nanoparticles for Photocatalysis
Neha Hebalkar J. Revathi and Tata Narasinga Rao
Highly stable suspensions of titania nanoparticles have been prepared in aqueous medium. The particles are of ~ 10 Nm diameter. The photocatalytic activity is found to be excellent. These are prepared by simple, quick, non-expensive, scalable synthesis process.
Nanosilver-candle filter technology has been successfully transferred to a company and the product is in the market with the brand name of PURITECH.
