Overview
Addressing the escalating issue of plastic waste, this ANRF-funded PAIR project at Kumaun University, in collaboration with IISc Bangalore, is driven by a vision to transform waste into high-value added advanced materials. In its early phase, the project is establishing a robust and forward-looking base for sustainable, application-driven materials research, integrating environmental responsibility with advanced technological innovation.
The study focuses on transforming plastic waste into carbon nanomaterials such as graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and carbon nanotubes, followed by their integration with advanced 2D and ferroelectric materials to enhance electrical, mechanical, and electrochemical performance.
Ongoing efforts are focused on preparing and improving advanced carbon nanomaterials for use in high-performance hybrid supercapacitors, with emphasis on better conductivity, stability, and energy density for lightweight electric mobility. Alongside this, work is also being carried out to develop efficient EMI shielding materials by combining upcycled carbon nanostructures with transition metal oxides. In addition, the project also explores sustainable multifunctional nanoformulations based on graphene oxide, green-synthesized metal nanoparticles, and chitosan, incorporating Himalayan medicinal extracts for targeted delivery, improved stability, enhanced therapeutic efficacy, safety evaluation, and controlled drug release. The overall goal is to enable translation of these developments into scalable solutions that contribute to sustainability and a circular materials economy.
Principal Investigators
Prof. Nanda Gopal Sahoo
Professor
In charge-PRS-Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Centre, & Head of the Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002, Uttarakhand, India
Co-Principal Investigators
Prof. Archana Negi Sah
Professor
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sir J. C. Bose Technical Campus, Bhimtal, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
Prof. Geeta Tewari
Professor
Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital (263001), India
Prof. Mahendra Rana
Professor
Department of Pharmaceutical, Sir J. C. Bose Technical Campus, Bhimtal, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
Prof. Sanjay Pant
Professor
Department of Physics, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002, Uttarakhand, India
Prof. Santosh Kumar
Professor
Department of Geology, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, India
Dr. Deepak Kumar Arya
Associate Professor
Zoology Department, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand
Prof. Mahesh Chandra Arya
Associate Professor
Department of chemistry, DSB Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital- 263001, India
Prof. Penny Joshi
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry, DSB Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand-263001
Prof. Santosh K. Upadhyay
Associate Professor
Department of Biotechnology, Sir J. C. Bose Technical Campus, Bhimtal, Kumaun University, Nainital, India
Staff
Dr. Kundan Singh Rawat
Research Associate - III
PRS-NSNT Centre, Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital (263001)
Dr. Satish Chandra Sati
Research Associate - III
PRS-NSNT Centre, Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital (263001)
Ganesh Chandra
Junior Research Fellow
PRS-NSNT Centre, Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus Kumaun University, Nainital (263001)
Akshay Kamboj
Research Assistant
PRS-NSNT Centre, Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus Kumaun University, Nainital (263001)
Kunal Joshi
Research Assistant
PRS-NSNT Centre, Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital (263001)
Pankaj Pant
Research Assistant
Department of Physics, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263002, Uttarakhand, INDIA
Prabhat Pant
Research Assistant
PRS-NSNT Centre, Department of Chemistry, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital (263001)
Priyanka Tewari
Research Assistant
Department of Chemistry, D. S. B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand
Rahul Anand
Research Assistant
Department of Biotechnolog, Bhimtal Campus, Kumaun University, Uttarakhand- 263136
Shreya Jukaria
Research Assistant
Department of Chemistry D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital (263001)
Tanisha Joshi
Research Assistant
Department of Biotechnology, Bhimtal Campus, Kumaun University, Uttarakhand-263136