XXVI ANNUAL REPORT GOA UNIVERSITY

Major Thrust Areas of Research and Achievements
JAED – Structural, optical and transport properties of various oxide glasses, hydrogels,
polymer solutions and porous materials have been examined by X-Ray and Neutron
Diffraction, Ultra- and Small Angle Neutron Scattering, UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy,
rheology, porosimetry, DSC, DTA and other methods.
US – Preparation of wide band gap materials including nano materials and their
characterization using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS are done. Luminescence, optical
absorption,dielectric and electrical conductivity properties are studied.
RBT- Extensive work is being carried out in nanomaterials. The work includes:
(i) Preparation of various types of nanomagnetic materials like Mn-Zn , Ni-Zn, Co-Zn
spinel ferrites, more complex materials like hexa-ferrites using innovative chemical
techniques.
(ii) Preparation of metallic nanoparticles using microbes.
(iii) Structure, grain size and magnetic Characterization, using modern techniques via
XRD, EDS, TEM, SPM, SEM, Mossbauer, VSM, SQUID, Neutron Diffraction etc.
(iv) Study of electrical transport properties in nanoparticles and bulk material made
from nanoparticles.
(v) Studies on Genotoxicity of Magentic nanoparticles (mnps) in Mammalian Cells.
In the process of this investigations the department could successfully develop
magnetic nanoparticles exhibiting superparamagnetism at room temperature.
RVP – Analysis of various quantum phases of ultracold bosonic atoms in a periodic onedimensional
optical superlattice. Studies have been performed using the finite-size
density-matrix renormalization group method in the framework of the Bose-Hubbard
model. Calculations have been carried out for a wide range of densities and the energy
shifts due to the superlattice potential. At commensurate fillings, we find the Mott
insulator and the superfluid phases as well as Mott insulators induced by the superlattice.
At a particular incommensurate density, the system is found to be in the superfluid phase
coexisting with density oscillations for a certain range of parameters of the system.
KRP - Efforts have been made to understand (a) magneto-structural coupling in Shape
memory alloys (b) the complex magnetic ordering observed in Double Perovskites (c)
Catalytic and ionic conductivity in ceria based compounds and (d) mechanism of long
lasting luminescence in biomarkers. EXAFS, XAS and XMCD are being deployed as main
techniques. Experience gained on understanding Shape memory alloys will be extended
to other materials like Antiperovskites and Fe based Superconductors.
Visiting Scholars
• A. V. Rao, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Aerogels and Applications, 31 st March,
2011.
• K. Narasimha Rao, I.I.Sc., Bangalore, Thin Films Preparation and Characterization,
31 st March, 2011.
• Alok Banerjee, UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Indore, Phase
Coexistence and Functionality in Materials of Current Interest, 31 st March, 2011.
• V. M. Kenkre, Distinguished Professor of Physics, University of New Mexico, USA,
Theory of Abrupt Transitions in Biological/Ecological Systems: Interplay of
Nonlinearity and Inhomogeneity, 22 nd December, 2010.
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