TEQIP-III sponsored one week short term course titled “Advanced Functional Materials” was organised by department of Physics NIT Jalandhar from December 30th, 2019 to January 3rd, 2020. Prof. L. K. Awasthi, the director NIT Jalandhar, inaugurated this course by lamp lighting & performing Saraswati Vandana and extended a green welcome to the guest of honour in the inauguration ceremony. Dr. Awasthi underlined the importance of functional materials and discussed how can they be applied in technology so that these materials can be beneficial for the society and nature itself. The coordinators Dr. Abhinav Pratap Singh and Dr. Kiran Singh, Assistant Professors, Department of Physics provided an insight into the theoretical and experimental aspects of Condensed Matter Physics. Prof. Dr. Ravi Kumar (NIT Hamirpur) was the guest of honour of this event. On first day Dr. Ravi Kumar delivered very impressive and informative talk on "p - type Transparent Conducting Oxides" and benefitted the audience with his wisdom and knowledge. Dr. R.J. Choudhary (Scientist, UGC DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Indore) delivered his important and knowledgeable talk on "Thin film growth of different materials and their characterization using photoemission and X- ray absorption spectroscopy". The audience appreciated both the speakers for their passion and dedication towards their research and profession.
The second day started a very knowledgeable talk from Dr. Rajendra Singh (IIT Delhi) on “Fascinating aspects of 2D materials and devices”. After that Dr. R.J. Chaudhary presented a mesmerizing talk on “Thin film growth of different materials and their characterizations using photoluminescence and X- ray absorption spectroscopy”. After that the participants took part in the lab visit session where some practical experiments were performed to make them understand that how to analyse the samples to study their various aspects. After the session to make the event memorable and to welcome the “New Year 2020” a bonfire event was organised by the Physical Science Society of the institute. All the participants including speakers also participated and welcomed the new year by poetry, shayaris and songs with pomp and show.
Dr. Ankush Vij (Associate Professor, Amity University, Haryana) gave a very useful talk on “Luminescence in wide band gap semiconductors” on the third day. In which he underlined the importance and wide applications of nanophosphor materials in radiation dosimetry, LEDs and display devices. Dr. Vinay Kumar (Central University of Jammu) gave a very important lecture on the “Potential of inorganic oxide based nanophosphors for latent fingerprint detection: a forensic application”. The course not only shed light on the recent advancements in functional materials but also gave hands-on-training experience on many useful tools of Condensed Matter Physics. Dr. Anup Thakur (Punjabi University Patiala) provided hand on training on UV-Visible spectroscopy to study the optical properties of the materials.
The fourth day started with a lecture on a very useful technique i.e. X- ray diffraction in which Dr. A.P Singh (NIT Jalandhar) acquainted the audience with “X- ray diffraction fundamentals”. Later on lab visit session was conducted. After that Dr. S. Rayapol made an insight on “Neutrons as probe for material science research”. He also took hand on training on XAS, XPS and Reitveld Refinement method and taught how to use Fullprof software.
On the last day Dr. Kiran Singh (NIT Jalandhar) gave a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable talk on “Phase transition in materials”. After that valedictory function was presided over by our worthy director Dr. L.K. Awasthi. He reminded the “Mission 2020” of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former president of India and motivated the participants to work hard to realise Dr. Kalam’s dream and for the betterment of the nation. Dr. Awasthi congratulated the participants for to take part in this knowledge enhancing event.
The course witnessed a superlative participation of around 80 academicians and researchers from almost all corners of the country including 17 reputed institutes across India like IISER Mohali, NIT Kurukhestra, MNIT Jaipur, HPU Shimla, MMC Chennai, Jammu University, Aligarh Muslim University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Kashmir University, IIT Roorkee, IIT Ropar, IIT Mandi etc. All the participants appreciated this short term course in the form of their feedback with the expectation that such events should be organised in the future also.



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