Fabrication of Optical Meta Material for cloaking in visible wavelength
Primary Information
Domain
Advanced Materials
Project No.
7183
Sanction and Project Initiation
Sanction No: F.No.: 3-18/2015-T.S-I(Vol.III)
Sanction Date: 21/03/2017
Project Initiation date: 21/03/2017
Project Duration: 56
Partner Ministry/Agency/Industry
Department of Science and Technology
Role of partner:DST is part funding the project, as this is a very novel material development project.
Support from partner:50% of the total project Cost.
Principal Investigator
Rabibrata Mukherjee
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
Host Institute
Co-PIs
Pallab Banerji
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Scope and Objectives
Metamaterials are artificially structured materials which are engineered to exhibit unique properties that arise out of their internal structure and geometry, leading to
Deliverables
To fabricate large area metamaterial at visible wavelength by optimizing of tri-block copolymer thin film self organization leading to double gyroid internal architecture with 10 nm size. It will then be replicated in gold by selective etching and subsequent deposition. Emphasis will be on achieving large area defect free ordering.
Scientific Output
Controlling the Texture of Liquid Crystal Thin Films by imposing Lateral confinement.


Results and outcome till date
PS-b-PMMA films were spin-coated onto a neutral flat and patterned substrate that balances the interfacial interactions toward the two blocks, where an end-functionalized random copolymer was used to generate the neutral brushes anchored to the surface. The morphology was indicative of symmetric wetting. The samples will be subject to thermal or solvent vapor annealing for subsequent morphological reorganization.

Societal benefit and impact anticipated
This is like to lead to technological breakthrough.
Next steps
We will start working on controlling and modulation of the phase separated BCP morphology by varying spin coating conditions.
Publications and reports
Palash Dhara, Nandini Bhandaru, Anuja Das and Rabibrata Mukherjee, Transition from Spin Dewetting to continuous film in spin coating of Liquid Crystal 5CB, Scientific Reports, 8, 7169, 2018.
Patents
Scholars and Project Staff
Deepanjay Nimje, working since June 2018 Trapti Mudgal, working since April 2019
Challenges faced
Identification of suitable instrument for characterization of meta materials.
Other information
Financial Information
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Total sanction: Rs. 22800000.00
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Amount received: Rs. 17434400.00
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Amount utilised for Equipment: Rs. 6540652.00
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Amount utilised for Manpower: Rs. 270494.00
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Amount utilised for Consumables: Rs. 1293299.00
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Amount utilised for Contingency: Rs. 155725.00
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Amount utilised for Travel: Rs. 322883.00
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Amount utilised for Other Expenses: 134000.00
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Amount utilised for Overheads: Rs. 2905733.00
Equipment and facilities
UV Vis Spectro Photo Meter with external DRA. (To be installed in July 2019)