IIT to set up Nano R&D centre
By agencies   |   Sunday, 20 March 2005, 20:30 IST
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MUMBAI:The Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, will set up a Nano research and development center to promote nanotechnology in the country. The IIT Nano Center will have fabrication facility in addition to scientific and structural characterization facilities. IIT currently has 50 faculty members working on various general areas of nanotechnology like nano electronics, nano materials, nano biotechnology, micro electro mechanic system and Nano electro mechanic system, Prof Kartik Khilar said. The details of the centre are being worked out and are expected to be ready in a couple of years. "We have been doing lot of R&D in Nano field, but when we want to transfer it to any industry, we need to translate the lab technology to the field scale and such centre will be of great use to the technologists doing research", Prof Khilar said. . Of late, Indian industry is showing interest in nanotechnology and "it is our duty to help them by improving our technology transfer skill in nanotechnology," Khilar added. He said a company has come forward to set up a unit to manufacture the nano tubes in India. "There are only 13 companies all over the world to manufacture nano tubes used in television and VCD monitors and we have been importing so far," he said. "We need more cooperation in R&D from IITs in the country, he added. Dr P N Pandit, advisor, Yashnotech carbon is one of the most versatile elements and is capable of forming endless number of compounds, because of its tetrahedral bonding characteristics. Current method for the manufacture of carbon nanotubes is to have an electric discharge between graphite rods in an inert atmosphere and this method gives both single-walled and multi-walled nano tubes, he said. Pandit also said a major application of nanostructures is seen in the form of Ayurvedic medicines. Metal oxides of gold, silver, copper and mercury are used in medicines in Ayurveda.

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