Establishment of a Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE) at IIT Kanpur

Soft Nanofabrication and Nanofabrication with Soft Matter:Soft Matter:

with Applications in Energy, Environment and Bio-platformsBio platforms

Nanofabrication with Soft Matter & Use

Ashutosh SharmaAshutosh SharmaSri SivakumarPrashant BhattacharyaNishith VermaNishith VermaAnimangsu Ghatak(Chemical Engineering)

Aswani Thakur (Biological Sciences and Bioengineering)

Sandeep Verma (Chemistry)

Ashish GargBikramjit BasuVi k VVivek Verma(Materials Engineering)

Shantanu Bhattacharya (Mechanical Engineering)Shantanu Bhattacharya (Mechanical Engineering)

Krishnacharya (Physics)

UnderstandingFabrication/ManufacturingFabrication/ManufacturingUse

of

Small scale structuresSmall scale structuresIn Soft materials & using S ft t& using Soft routes

MAJOR OBJECTIVES

(A) State of the art facility and resources for research and development(A) State-of-the-art facility and resources for research and developmentactivities in the areas of soft nanofabrication.

(B) New methods and creative combinations of ‘top down’ and ‘bottom(B) New methods and creative combinations of top-down and bottom-up’, ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ and ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ to push the boundaries of sub-100nm fabrication with an emphasis on multi-scale materials and devicesi th t t f energy environment and biologicalin the context of energy, environment and biologicalapplications.

ft f b i ti(C) Applications of soft nanofabrication routes to fabrication ofdevices and structures in other final materials of use such as ceramicsand carbon.

(D) Collaborations and training with other institutions & corporateR&Ds in this emerging area, thereby creating an expert base which doesg g , y g pnot currently exist in our country.

Themes Themes Self-organized nano-fabrication in soft materials

New and creative combinations of top-down and bottom-up for large area functional interfaces for

f fcontrol of wetting, adhesion, friction, optical, recognition, ……properties.

Nano- mechanics of soft confined materials

Stability of soft nanostructuresStability of soft nanostructures

DNA fractionation using surface electrophoresis on nano-patterned surfaceson nano-patterned surfaces

responsive surfaces with tunable nanopatterns

Functional carbon multiscale structures from polymers: MEMS to NEMS; remediation to batteries

Micro/nano carbon capsules for actives delivery, imaging, synthesis of high temp nanoparticles g g y g

Mesoporous carbon based; Functional porous electrospun nanofibers: for environment, health andelectrospun nanofibers: for environment, health and energy applications

Nanostructured organic solar cellsNanostructured organic solar cells

Nanocomposites: polymer, carbon, metal, oxides .

cell-material interaction on nanotextured polymer and carbon bioactive surfaces

Lanthanide-doped nanomaterials in solid state lighting & solar cells.

carbon nano-tube/CNF based dry adhesivesy

Protein aggregate based nanomaterials & surfaces:surfaces:

Peptide self-assembling nano-structures

Large surface areas, rapid nano-patterning of soft interfaces & films by self-organization:

Functional interfaces for control of wetting adhesionFunctional interfaces for control of wetting, adhesion, friction, optical properties………

1. Controlled dewetting on physically and chemically heterogeneous surfaces: Miniaturization of length scales

2. Electric field as a tool of nanofabrication3. Ultrafast micro-patterning of polymeric and metal films using laser3. Ultrafast micro patterning of polymeric and metal films using laser

irradiation4. Patterning in soft solid-state: elastic instabilities5 Nanophase seperation5. Nanophase seperation

2 µm2 µm

98 nm98 nm

2.0µm

500 nm500 nm

78 nm78 nm78 nm78 nm

Example: Fabrication of responsive surfaces with tunable nano-roughness and study of thenano roughness and study of the

wetting/adhesion/friction transitions.

Key aspects of the methodology

Fabricating surfaces with dual scale roughness.Fabrication of first generation roughness by topographic substrates with different patterns (rectangular and triangular array of pillars) of varying height, width and periodicity (from hundreds of micron to tens of

nanometer).Fabrication of second generation roughness by grafting thermo-responsive

l b h ( l l l d ( ))polymer brushes (poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm)). Vary the temperature around lower critical solution temperature (LCST ~ 320C) of PNIPAAm to tune the nano-roughness. Study the wetting transitions and its dynamicsStudy the wetting transitions and its dynamics.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) (LCST ~ 320C)

Behavior of PNIPAAm polymer brushes below and above the LCST; showing b h lik d b dl d t t lti i diff t hbrush like and bundled structures resulting in different nano-roughness depicting different wetting morphologies.

T ~ 25oC T > 40oC

θ = 63.5o θ = 93.2o θ = 86.6o θ = 169.4o

Wettability characterization of a polished silicon substrate grafted with

Wettability characterization of a rough (sand blasted) silicon

T. Sun et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 43, 357 (2004)

polished silicon substrate grafted with PNIPAAm

rough (sand blasted) silicon substrate grafted with PNIPAAm

Example: Surface Electrophoresis of ds-DNA on nanopatterned surfacesnanopatterned surfaces

1. Fabrication of nanopatterned topographies and hydrophilic and hydrophobic patterns on PDMS and other Polymeric surfaces.

2. Understanding of the DNA mobility and fractionation due to patterned surfaces.patterned surfaces.

3. Fabrication of a device to monitor real time data on molecular motion.

4 To develop a model by the help of the Molecular dynamic4. To develop a model by the help of the Molecular dynamic simulations for the interaction between pattern surfaces and molecules.

Nanostructured surfaces

SEM image of a Teflon surface doped with SiC Nanoparticles

Example: Directed self-assembly on nanopatterned surfaces: Patterning of proteins at nanoscale using Biotin-Avidin

• Use of nanoscale neutravidin templates for directed self assembly of biotinylated molecules esp. proteins

– Biotin-avidin bond is strongest non-covalent bond (Ka ~ 1015 M-1) known to biochemists

Bi ti idi b d d t i l i i fl– Biotin-avidin bond used extensively in immunoassays, flow cytometry, affinity chromatography etc.

• Versatile technique:q

Any biotinylated protein could be immobilized specifically precisely in nanoscale regime. Will help in:

– Manipulation of proteins at nanoscale to understand cell division

– Developing protein arrays for sensing

• Directed self assembly• Directed self assembly– Biotinylated cellulose was bound to the microtubules

via biotin- neutravidin link

• Manipulation of proteins at nanoscale– Microtubules and kinesin proteins linked using biotin-

avidin and allowed to self organize on surfaceg– Studied time dependent growth dynamics of

microtubules

P tt i f i t b l d t ifi Overlapping of• Patterning of microtubule seeds at specific locations desirable

Overlapping of proteins and

cellulose

Scale bars:

t = 10 t = 40 t = 130 min

bars: 10 μm

MethodologyMethodology• Spin coat resist

GlassResist

• Partially expose resist (UV or ebeam) Scale bar:

10 µm

• Develop resist10 µm

Neutravidin patterns on glass slide via photo-lithography

• Incubate neutravidin

• Strip neutravidin

• Biotinylated proteins, microtubules e.g., can be immobilized on patterned • Strip neutravidin

• Flow biotinylated

pneutravidin via directed self assembly• Microtubule dynamics

protein studies can help manipulate cell division in cancer cells

Fabrication of Multiscale Carbon-structures from C-MEMS to C-NEMS

Carbon micro-nano multiscale structures and nanocomposites with controlled porosity in the

form of devices wires networks scaffoldsform of devices, wires, networks, scaffolds, particles, fibers, films…..are required for

sensors, micro-battery electrode arrays, bio-sensors, micro battery electrode arrays, bioMEMS, supercapacitors, bioplatforms,

nanoreactors, active delivery……

CARBON cannot be easily and inexpensively shaped onmicro and nanoscales over large areas by the currentsilicon technology (FIB E-beam photolithography )silicon technology (FIB, E-beam, photolithography…..)

We propose fabricating meso-structures in anappropriate precursor polymer and then pyrolizeappropriate precursor polymer and then pyrolize

The meso-structures will be hierarchal (10 nm to 100micron scales) and fractal to maximize transport &) psurface area and minimize transfer losses

Novel combination of “top-down” and self-organization gto fabricate precursor polymeric micro- and nano-structuresControl of carbon propertiesControl of carbon propertiesCreation of hierarchal and fractal carbon structures (maximize transport & surface area)( p )

Example: Biocompatibility of Nano patterned and nanofibrous scaffolds  

UV, Oxygen Plasma T t t

Different Surface Features TreatmentFeatures

Random AlignedRandom , AlignedHydrophobic, Hydrophilic

Electrospinning

200nm

Process parameters• Electric field; Viscosity/flow rate; Material parameters• Distance between nozzle and

collector• Fiber orientation• Fiber size

Fib iti

Fibers ‐ 104° Thin Film ‐ 80°

• Fiber composition• Surface

wettability

Lanthanide-doped or coated or imbedded nanoparticles White light through up-conversion; solar cellsWhite light through up conversion; solar cells

NIR lightNIR light Matrix:Yb3+/Tm3+/Er3+

Porous and Hollow Polymeric and Carbon particles: For growth of high temperature nano-materials, actives

delivery and imagingdelivery and imaging

Catalytic Micro-Nano Hierarchal Webs and Composites of Activated Carbon:

Platforms for control of gaseous and aqueous phasePlatforms for control of gaseous and aqueous phase systems; high area electrodes; filters

Objectives:Synthesis of metals incorporated polymeric nanofibers, nanobeads &porous gels; carbonization and activation; growth of carbon nano-fibers(CNF) within the macro-pores by chemical vapor deposition (CVD),l t i ielectrospining…….

Characterization of hierarchal micro/nano porous structures by by varioustechniques, including SEM/XRD/TGA/DSC/BET and pore-size distribution(PSD) l(PSD) analyzers.Adsorbents and catalysts for the control of contaminants such as volatileorganic compounds (VOC) and SOx/NOx in air, and arsenic and fluoridei i t t Th t i l l b d d b t f thions in wastewater. The materials may also be used as adsorbents for theremoval of bioactive substances such as amino acids and Vitamin B-12from process fluids.

Biotic‐Abiotic Interface at the Nanoscale 

Objectives:

• Identification and synthesis of metal binding peptide segments• Introduction of functionalities supporting metallization reaction•Metalization and peptide immobilization on surfaces• Detection of metal ion driven conformational changes 

Approach:

Scheme 1. Self‐assembly of triple bond containing peptide fragments (synthesis), click reaction, and metallization (abiotic label).

Sandeep Verma

Metalized peptide/protein fibers:

Microscopypy

Assembly mechanisms

lMaterial aspects

Detect changes in conformation

Sandeep Verma

Fabrication of protein aggregate based nanomaterials& surfaces: Some applications of proteins in soft

t i l f timaterial formation

Self assembling peptide nanofiber ff ld f 3 D ll lt

Insulin fibers for sustained treatment f t 1 di b t llitscaffold for 3-D cell cultures of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Plos One 2006 Dec 27 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010

Peptide/ protein design, synthesis/expression, purification and characterization

– Solid phase peptide synthesis– Recombinant techniques– Recombinant techniques– Chromatography and mass spectrometry

Basic self assembly of protein nanofiber formation: Monitoring of self bliassembling process

– Chromatography based assays– Fluorescence based assays

Characterization of nanofibersC a acte at o o a o be s– TEM, SEM, AFM– Circular dichriosm, FT-IR– Dynamic light scattering

Engineered nanomaterials and scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

– Curlin, chaplins, polyglutamine sequencesCu , c ap s, po yg u a e seque ces

Supramolecular biopharmaceuticals– Therapeutic monoclonal antibodiesp– Growth factors

Budget

No Item Budget Total (in Rupees)

1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year 5th year

A Recurring

1 Salaries/wages 31,56,000 33,19,200 34,82,400 36,45,600 38,08,800 1,74,12,000

2 Consumables 25 00 000 25 00 000 25 00 000 25 00 000 25 00 000 1 25 00 0002 Consumables 25,00,000 25,00,000 25,00,000 25,00,000 25,00,000 1,25,00,0003 Travel 2,50,000 2,50,000 2,50,000 2,50,000 2,50,000 10,00,0004 Contingencies &

Maintenance*25,00,000 25,00,000 25,00,000 25,00,000 25,00,000 1,25,00,000

B Equipment 8,52,00,000 8,52,00,000

Grand Total 8,69,00,000 85,69,200 87,32,400 88,95,400 90,58,800 12,46, 56,000

Overheads DST norms

Total

Budget for man power

Designation & number of personsMonthly Emoluments (including 30% HRA)

Budget Total (in Rupees)

1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year 5th year(including 30% HRA)Sr. Project Scientist (2) Rs. 30,000 per month with Rs. 1800 yearly increments

7,20,000 7,63,200 8,06,400 8,49,600 8,92,800 40,32,000

Project Scientist (6)Rs. 20,000 per month with Rs. 1000 yearly increments

14,40,000 15,12,000 15,84,000 16,56,000 17,28,000 79,20,000

Sr. Project associate/Project associate (5)Rs. 15,000 per month

9,00,000 9,48,000 9,96,000 10,44,000 10,92,000 49,80,000

with Rs. 800 yearly incrementsProject Technician (1) Rs. 8000 per month

96,000 96,000 96,000 96,000 96,000 4,80,000

Total 31,56,000 33,19,200 34,82,400 36,45,600 38,08,800 1,74,12,000

Total 1,74,12,000

S Generic name of the equipment along Imported/ Estimated Spare time for

Budget for equipmentS. No

Generic name of the equipment along with make and model

Imported/ indigenous

Estimated Costs (in Rupees (INR))

Spare time for other users (in

%)

1 Confocal laser scanning microscope Imported 100 00 000 40%1 Confocal laser scanning microscope with UV and NIR Laser

Imported 100,00,000 40%

2 Nanomanipulator nanowork station Imported 100,00,000 30%3 Maskless Lithography with 1 micron

l tiImported 80,00,000 40%

resolution4 Laser patterning tool Imported 60,00,000 30%5 Furnace for high temp pyrolysis (~

1800 oC-3000 oC)Imported 65,00,000 30%

6 AFM with electrical and magnetic properties mapping

Imported 40,00,000 20%

7 TGA/DSC Imported 35,00,000 40%8 Flo c tometr Imported 25 00 000 20%8 Flow cytometry Imported 25,00,000 20%9 Nanoparticle viewing unit: Imported 20,00,000 20%

10 Wettability contact angle goniometer imported 25,00,000 30%11 Reflection mode attachment for Imported 12 00 000 30%11 Reflection mode attachment for

existing near field and Micro-Raman setup

Imported 12,00,000 30%

S. No Generic name of the equipment Imported/ind Estimated Spare time for

Budget for equipmentS. No Generic name of the equipment

along with make and modelImported/ind

igenousEstimated

Costs (in Rupees (INR))

Spare time for other users

(in %)

12 Laser for raman 532 nm Imported 14,00,000 For Raman; 0%p13 Laser Nano Particle Size Analyzer Imported 20,00,000 50%14 Stylus Profilometry Imported 15,00,000 40%15 High speed cameras (3) Imported 20,00,000 50%16 High speed low intensity camera for

cell trackingImported 15,00,000 30%

17 Protein purification system Imported 20,00,000 20%18 Fuel Cell Test Kit Imported 37 00 000 30%18 Fuel Cell Test Kit Imported 37,00,000 30%

Electron probe microanalyzer Imported 15,00,000 For SEM19 FTIR Imported 10,00,000 40%20 Furnaces (2 numbers) for low temp Imported 20,00,000 20%( ) p

pyrolysis (~ 1200 C)p , ,

21 High power UV/Plasma chambers with Sources (2)

Imported 10,00,000 20%

22 Gel Doc Imported 8 00 000 25%22 Gel Doc Imported 8,00,000 25%23 Fluorescence attachment Imported 8,00,000 25%

S. No Generic name of the Imported/indigenous Estimated Spare time for

Budget for equipment

equipment along with make and model

Costs (in Rupees (INR))

other users (in %)

24 Dip Coater, hot plate, l b t

Imported 6,00,000 00%glove box, vortexers,

centrifuges, dispensing pipettes,

electrophoresis benches

25 UV collimated source Imported 5,00,000 20%26 E-beam evaporation

attachmentImported 5,00,000 20%

2 f 00 000 0%27 Deep freezer Imported 5,00,000 0%28 PCR Imported 3,00,000 30%29 Milipore water

purification systemImported 3,00,000 25%

p y30 CCD cameras for existing

microscopes (2)Imported 4,00,000 30%

31 Weighing balance Imported 1,00,000 00%32 Vib ti i l ti t bl I t d 2 50 000 00%32 Vibration isolation table Imported 2,50,000 00%33 Vibration generator Imported 50,000 00%

Budget for equipment

S. No Generic name of the equipment along with

make and model

Imported/indigenous Estimated Costs (in Rupees (INR))

Spare time for other users

(in %)(INR))

34 load cell, amplifier and Data acquisition

system

Imported 3,00,000 00%

36 N iti I t d 3 00 000 25%36 Nano-positioner Imported 3,00,000 25%37 Electroluminescence

attachmentImported 3,00,000 40%

38 Mass flow controller Imported 3,00,000 00%39 Cell counter for cell

viabilityImported 3,00,000 20%

40 Thin film deposition unit Imported 4,00,000 25%41 Bench top Mini lathe Imported 6 00 000 25%41 Bench top Mini lathe Imported 6,00,000 25%42 Wire bonder Imported 9,00,000

Total 8,52,00,000

National Advisory Committee:National Advisory Committee:

Prof. Ajay K. Sood

Prof. G. Sundarrajan

Prof. Arup K. Raychaudhuri

Prof. Dipankar D. SarmaProf. Dipankar D. Sarma

Prof. Milan K. Sanyal