IIT Madras researchers have fabricated a new sodium sulphur battery that can be operated at room temperature and not at 300 degree C as is the case now. They achieved higher charge storage capacity and 83% retention of capacity even at the end of 500 cycles. While conventionally sodium sulphur batteries require very high temperature … Continue reading IIT Madras designs room temperature sodium sulphur battery
IIT Madras
Tenure track system at IITs is a recipe for failure
Flogging a small subset of young faculty to improve research and teaching metrics using the threat of tenure track while leaving the large majority of senior faculty completely unmonitored will do very little to achieve the prime objective. In a marked departure in the way assistant professors, who are the lowest rung of the academic … Continue reading Tenure track system at IITs is a recipe for failure
IIT Madras finds an eco-friendly way to degrade plastics
IIT Madras researchers have demonstrated an eco-friendly way to degrade a few types of plastics. All that is required to degrade the plastics into molecules is continuous stirring of the plastic in water containing glucose and metal ions for about 15 days at 70 degree C. Three years ago researchers from the Indian Institute of … Continue reading IIT Madras finds an eco-friendly way to degrade plastics
IIT Madras registers initial success with iron ion battery
Researchers from IIT Madras have for the first time fabricated a rechargeable iron ion battery using mild steel as the anode. The iron ion battery is cost-effective and has 54% capacity retention at the end of 50 cycles. It has 55-60% of lithium ion battery’s performance. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras researchers have for … Continue reading IIT Madras registers initial success with iron ion battery
IIT Madras develops breath humidity sensor for wearable electronics
IIT Madras researchers have fabricated a sensor that can measure minute variations in relative humidity levels in the exhaled breath. It can detect ethanol and acetone in the oral breath of alcoholics and diabetics, respectively. The highly sensitive sensors can be integrated into wearable electronics. A nanofibre sensor capable of sensing minute variations in relative humidity … Continue reading IIT Madras develops breath humidity sensor for wearable electronics
IIT Madras converts petroleum waste toluene into useful product
IIT Madras researchers have used a green oxidant and water (instead of organic acid) for converting petroleum waste toluene into benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is used as a food preservative and medicine for fungal/bacterial infection. The yield of benzoic acid varied from 68-96% depending on whether the toluene used is electron-deficient or electron-rich. Using platinum nanocatalyst … Continue reading IIT Madras converts petroleum waste toluene into useful product
IIT Madras identifies unique biochemical pathways of retinoblastoma
Researchers from IIT Madras and Sankara Nethralaya have identified biochemical pathways that retinoblastoma (eye cancer) preferentially chooses for growth and survival. They found amino acids are a major source of energy for the tumour tissue, cholesterol synthesis is underutilised and only long and very long chain fatty acids are synthesised. They have identified 13 drug … Continue reading IIT Madras identifies unique biochemical pathways of retinoblastoma
IIT Madras produces gas hydrates by mimicking interstellar conditions
IIT Madras researchers have produced in the lab methane and carbon dioxide hydrates by simulating the low temperature and pressure conditions seen in deep space. The work raises the possibility of sequestering carbon dioxide as hydrates. IIT Madras is already collaborating with GAIL to recover methane from methane hydrate from the Krishna-Godavari Basin and simultaneously … Continue reading IIT Madras produces gas hydrates by mimicking interstellar conditions
Silver atoms of nanoparticles are mobile, IIT Madras team finds
IIT Madras researchers have discovered that atoms of nanoparticles made of two silver isotopes having just 25 atoms each rapidly exchanged their positions when the isotopes are mixed in solution. New particles composed of nearly 50% mixture of both isotopes were formed. This is akin to the exchange of hydrogen and deuterium atoms when normal … Continue reading Silver atoms of nanoparticles are mobile, IIT Madras team finds
IIT Madras’ novel technique helps detect paraffin oil contamination in coconut oil
IIT Madras researchers have used a novel approach to analyse various saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons directly from solutions. Using the novel technique, the researchers could detect paraffin oil in coconut oil. The extent of paraffin oil contamination in coconut oil bought from the local market was as high as 10%. Using a novel approach, researchers at … Continue reading IIT Madras’ novel technique helps detect paraffin oil contamination in coconut oil
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