PANAJI
Dr Pranay Morajkar and Akshay V Salkar of the Goa University have been awarded an Indian patent for their invention on 'Method for synthesising tungsten trioxide nanorods.' Their research has applications in cancer diagnosis, alternative energy generation and storage systems like hybrid batteries.
According to Goa University, synthesis of nanostructured materials is largely performed using high-pressure autoclave equipment and expensive templates, which has a significant impact on the cost of production.
This innovative synthetic strategy developed indigenously at the FRL-4 Laboratory of Nanostructured Materials for Energy & Environment, School of Chemical Sciences, at the Goa University, provides a way to produce tungsten trioxide nanorods using a facile and cost-effective method.
The method utilises a novel fuel in a dual role wherein it acts as a nanostructure directing agent while simultaneously providing combustion energy for nanostructure formation.
The synthesis strategy has been optimised to produce the material in the most economical way possible and has tremendous applications in the field of catalysis, cancer diagnosis, carbon-free, alternative energy generation, and storage systems such as hybrid batteries and supercapacitors, the GU stated.
Dr Pranay Morajkar received his PhD in 2012 from the University of Lille in collaboration with University of Bordeaux (France). Since 2014, he serves as an Assistant Professor at the School of Chemical Sciences, Goa University wherein his research focuses on designing Nanostructured Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications.
He has published 33 research publications in international journals and this is his first research patent in service of Goa University and the State.
Akshay Salkar received an MSc (Physical Chemistry) in 2016 from Goa University. He is currently pursuing his PhD degree with Dr Morajkar at Goa University and his research focuses on designing nanostructured materials for energy applications. He has 13 research publications till date.
