A Novel In Situ Mechanical-FTIR Setup for Combined Optical Imaging and IR Vibrational Spectroscopy
Primary Information
Domain
Nano-Technology Hardware
Project No.
7210
Sanction and Project Initiation
Sanction No: F. No. 3-18/2015-T.S.-I(Vol.III)
Sanction Date: 21/03/2017
Project Initiation date: 17/04/2017
Project Duration: 36
Partner Ministry/Agency/Industry
Department of Science and Technology
Role of partner:50% percent funding and project reviews vis a vis scientific aspects of the product.
Support from partner:50% percent of the sanctioned amount. So far, the second year amount has not been released.
Principal Investigator
Krishna Jonnalagadda
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Host Institute
Co-PIs
Manoj Neergat
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Scope and Objectives
Develop a portable state-of-the-art tensile system as an attachment for commercially available FTIR spectroscopy instrument; to perform optical imaging and IR transmission spectroscopy, on mechanically loaded nanoscale freestanding polymeric thin films as a function of accumulated strain.
Deliverables
The primary outcome for the proposed system is to extract the mechanical response combined with transmission FTIR on nanoscale films simultaneously, which is the same as that obtained separately from the two methods.
Videos
Scientific Output
A prototype of the setup has been developed and experiments have been conducted on polymer films for the simultaneous capture of optical fields and transmission IR spectra. Note: Cannot put the picture of the setup as it would give away the main idea. Please contact us directly, if you want to see or use the setup at IITB.

Results and outcome till date
New PVDF samples 4 micron were fabrication and in situ experiments were conducted.
Societal benefit and impact anticipated
The main benefit of the developed setup is that it is portable with fully integrated and interchangeable optics for use in any commercial FTIR spectroscopy for mechanical experiments with simultaneous optical imaging. So, anyone interested in understanding structure property correlations through spectroscopy can utilized this high precision setup.
Next steps
The main challenge remains now is nanoscale polymer films. This is an important addition to make this instrument study some fundamental problems in polymers and soft materials.
Publications and reports
1 inventions disclosure submission has been made and publications will follow patent filing in the coming months.
Patents
Applied for 1 patent.
Scholars and Project Staff
Kartheek Pilla (PhD)
Gowtham R. (MTech)
Challenges faced
Funding shortage for equipment to make corrections and refinements to the setup. Availability of spectrometers to test our setup in various configurations. Problems with procured equipment, their re-export and repairs taking a long time.
Other information
Request timely disbursal of funds from partner institution .
Financial Information
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Total sanction: Rs. 9427000.00
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Amount received: Rs. 6788257.00
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Amount utilised for Equipment: Rs. 2772875.00
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Amount utilised for Manpower: Rs. 1157657.00
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Amount utilised for Consumables: Rs. 1312311.00
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Amount utilised for Contingency: Rs. 128852.00
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Amount utilised for Travel: Rs. 23735.00
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Amount utilised for Other Expenses: 309121.00
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Amount utilised for Overheads: Rs. 1004140.00
Equipment and facilities
Digital cameras Optical components Linear stages and controllers Precision actuators Vacuum oven Spin Coater Load Cells