Several PhD and master project positions are available in the Biswas research group! Highly motivated candidates having strong backgrounds in inorganic chemistry are
kindly requested to apply to those positions through our department. Please also contact Dr. Biswas by sending e-mail at sbiswas@iitg.ernet.in with your latest CV.
Selection for PhD positions will be based on interview (conducted by department) after short-listing.
Candidates having CSIR-JRF fellowship can apply to the department through Special PhD Admission Program. For details of such program, please visit the following link:
http://www.iitg.ernet.in/acad/CSIR_PhD/WebNotificationCSIR_PhD.htm
Candidates seeking post-doctoral positions are kindly requested to apply for Institute Post Doctoral Fellowship (IPDF) scheme. For details (such as eligibility criteria,
procedure and format of application) of IPDF scheme, please visit the following link: http://www.iitg.ernet.in/acad/IPDF.htm
Candidates can also apply for post-doctoral positions under the mentorship of Dr. Biswas through N-PDF scheme of SERB. Details of this scheme can be found at the following
link: http://www.serb.gov.in/npdf.php
There are different types of research projects available in the metal-organic frameworks research group of Dr. Biswas. These include:
(1) Design and synthesis of highly luminescent, stable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for fluorescence sensing applications:
In this project, highly stable, luminescent MOF materials bearing different framework topologies will be synthesized under hydro/solvothermal conditions using high
pressure-resistant glass tubes or Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclaves. The fluorescence sensing abilities of the luminescent MOF materials will be investigated towards
different classes of analytes such as metal cations, anions, biological signaling molecules, volatile organic compounds and small molecules, and nitroaromatic explosives.
The selectivity of each MOF sensor for a particular analyte will be determined, especially in presence of other competing analytes. For the analyte of interest, the limit
of detection of the MOF sensor will be evaluated and its recyclability will be examined. The mechanisms of detection of the various classes of analytes by the
fluorescent MOF sensors will be evaluated by a combined experimental and theoretical approach.
References: (i) Biswas et al., Cryst. Growth Des., 2016, 16, 842. (ii) Biswas et al., CrystEngComm, 2016, doi: 10.1039/C6CE00032K.
(2) Development of superhydrophobic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for oil spill cleanup and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal:
In this project, functionalized MOF materials bearing water-repellent functional groups attached to the organic ligands (-F, -CH3, -CF3, etc.) and possessing different
framework topologies will be synthesized under hydro/solvothermal conditions using high pressure-resistant glass tubes or Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclaves. The MOF
solids will be thoroughly characterized by a combination of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) and elemental analysis.
N2 adsorption measurements will be performed in order to determine the specific surface area and micropore volume of the porous solids. The extent of hydrophobicity
induced in these MOF materials will be determined by water adsorption experiments. The adsorption capacity of the superhydrophobic MOF solids for hydrocarbons of oil
components and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will be deduced by measuring the corresponding adsorption isotherms.
References: (i) Biswas et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 3552. (ii) Stock et al., Chem. Rev., 2012, 112, 933. (iii) Yang et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133,
18094.
(3) Development of redox-active metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for heterogeneous oxidation catalysis:
In this project, metal-organic framework (MOF) materials incorporating redox-active metal sites (e.g. Cu, Co, Mo, V, Ce, etc. ) will be prepared for applications in
heterogeneous epoxidation catalysis. The redox-active MOF solids will be synthesized by grafting homogeneous metal complexes to the organic ligands of the frameworks
through coordination with the chelating donor atoms. Moreover, redox-active metal sites will also be incorporated into catalytically inactive MOFs in order to generate
mixed-metal MOF catalysts for epoxidation of alkenes. The MOF materials will be fully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX)
analysis, FT-IR, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) and elemental analysis. The catalytic performances of the MOF solids in heterogeneous epoxidation
catalysis will be evaluated by gas chromatography (GC).
References: (i) Dalapati et al., CrystEngComm, 2016, 18, 7855. (ii) Leus et al., J. Catal., 2012, 285, 196. (iii) Dhakshinamoorthy et al., Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011,1, 856.
(iii) Ingleson et al., Chem. Comm., 2008, 2680. (iv) Kozachuk et al., Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2013, 4546.