The Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) is an autonomous research institution of

Department of Science and Technology (India) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology (India), Ministry of Science and Technology in India. It was established in May 1971 to promote new areas of science and technology an ...

, under the Society Registration Act, 1960, under the umbrella of national mission on Nano Science and Technology (NANO MISSION)", which aims to promote growth and outreach of

nanoscience Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). At this scale, commonly known as the nanoscale, surface area and quantum mechanical effects become important in describing propertie ...

and technology for the benefit of country. INST has been set up to undertake research and generate products/devices and technology in the area of Nanoscience and Technology. The institute aims to carry out research in the diverse and rapidly growing areas of nanoscience and technology with specific emphasis on the following areas: Agricultural Nanotechnology,

Nanomedicine Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology, translating historic nanoscience insights and inventions into practical application. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to n ...

, Energy and Environmental Science, Quantum Materials and Device Physics, Nano Electronics, Microfluidics Based Technologies,

Nanobiotechnology Nanobiotechnology, bionanotechnology, and nanobiology are terms that refer to the intersection of nanotechnology and biology. Given that the subject is one that has only emerged very recently, bionanotechnology and nanobiotechnology serve as blank ...

Organization and administration

The Institute of Nano Science and Technology is managed by a Board of Governors, composed of academics, researchers and administrators and headed (chairman) by Dipankar Das Sarma of Indian Institute of Science. Founding chairman of the Board of Governors was C. N. R. Rao of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bangalore. INST started its operations from 3 January 2013, under the former directorship of Ashok K Ganguli. After his tenure, from 1 Jan 2018 and 10 March 2020, Hirendra Nath Ghosh took charge as acting director of the institute. Amitava Patra is the newly appointed director, since 11 March 2020.

Campus

The institute has shifted to its new campus at Sector – 81, SAS Nagar, Mohali-140306, Punjab. Under the directorship of Ashok K Ganguli the institute started its operations (administration and research) in this campus. Land for setting up the state of the art laboratories at permanent campus of INST was allotted by Punjab Government. The site is adjacent to Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Sector 81, Mohali.

Facilities

INST has a research lab, "Faraday lab" named after British scientist

Michael Faraday Michael Faraday (; 22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the study of electrochemistry and electromagnetism. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic inducti ...

. The laboratory is equipped with

microscope A microscope () is a laboratory equipment, laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic ...

diffractometer A diffractometer is a measuring instrument for analyzing the structure of a material from the scattering pattern produced when a beam of radiation or particles (such as X-rays or neutrons) interacts with it. Principle A typical diffractometer c ...

, scattering system,

spectrometer A spectrometer () is a scientific instrument used to separate and measure Spectrum, spectral components of a physical phenomenon. Spectrometer is a broad term often used to describe instruments that measure a continuous variable of a phenomeno ...

, analyzers, surface profiler, electrochemical workstation,

fluorometer A fluorometer, fluorimeter or fluormeter is a device used to measure parameters of visible spectrum fluorescence: its intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light. These parameters ...

calorimeter A calorimeter is a device used for calorimetry, or the process of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes as well as heat capacity. Differential scanning calorimeters, isothermal micro calorimeters, titration calorimeters ...

rheometer A rheometer is a laboratory device used to measure the way in which a viscous fluid (a liquid, suspension or slurry) flows in response to applied forces. It is used for those fluids which cannot be defined by a single value of viscosity and ...

. INST also has a laboratory at

Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are a group of autonomous institutions established by the Government of India through the Ministry of Education for teaching and research in natural science and to provide collegi ...

. Sophisticated electron microscopes like SEM (Scanning electron microscope), TEM(Transmission electron microscope), AFM(Atomic Force microscope) belongs to high cost of bruker's company. Spectroscopies like UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR,

Photoluminescence Photoluminescence (abbreviated as PL) is light emission from any form of matter after the absorption of photons (electromagnetic radiation). It is one of many forms of luminescence (light emission) and is initiated by photoexcitation (i.e. phot ...

Spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy. Diffractometers like XRD(x-ray diffractometer) and also equipments like Thermogravimetric analysis,Differential Thermogravimetric analysis.

Research

Institute of Nano Science and Technology covers basic research addressing the diverse aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The major thrust areas which INST intends to explore will be the following: Agricultural nanotechnology, sensors, medical nanotechnology, Quantum materials and device physics, nanotechnology based solutions for energy and environment, nano biotechnology.

Outreach programs

INST organizes a philanthropic program called "School adoption program", launched in May 2015. Under this program, it provides necessary infrastructure, technological information and incentives to government schools in India. The institution also takes part in government programs such as Swach Bharath, Swasth Bharat, and

Make in India is an initiative by the Government of India to create and encourage companies to develop, manufacture and assemble products in India and incentivize dedicated investments into manufacturing. The policy approach was to create a conducive envi ...

References