Nanosized materials for environmental and energy related applications

Byline: Sadhana S. Rayalu, Nitin K. Labhsetwar Efforts are being made to develop nanomaterials for addressing issues related to energy, environment and resource conservation. In this connection, research is being conducted at Environmental Materials Unit in the area of development of nanosized structural analogues related to molecular sieves and zeolites, surface functionalised zeolites, pervoskite based catalytic materials, multifunctional metals/metal oxide materials, carbon and photocatalytically active materials. Several environmental and energy technologies have emerged with substantial benefits from nanotechnology, which include reduction in waste and improved energy efficiency, environmentally benign composite structures, waste remediation and energy conversion. Some of the key research areas include carbon capture, water-splitting reaction for hydrogen generation, biomimetic sequestration of CO2, and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) regeneration.