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সিএসআইআর-কেন্দ্রীয় কাঁচ ও সেরামিক গবেষণা সংস্থা
सीएसआईआर-केंद्रीय काँच एवं सिरामिक अनुसंधान संस्थान
CSIR-Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute

Functional Materials & Devices
Overview

The advent of smart materials, structures and systems on the one hand and the fear of burgeoning terrorism across the globe on the other hand have led to an extensive demand of sensors and actuators having tailor-made properties. Amongst different sensors, gas and vapour sensors are increasingly needed for safety, environmental monitoring and process control and find applications in diverse areas, e.g. monitoring of toxic gases like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, combustible gases like methane, LPG, CNG, hydrogen, automobile exhaust pollutants like SOx, NOx, hydrocarbons and measuring and controlling humidity for industrial, nuclear and domestic sectors. Also gas sensors in the form of array or e-nose are of paramount importance for detection of explosives, nerve gas, freshness of fruits and fish, monitoring tea aroma and in medical diagnostics like breath alcohol analyzer, diabetes detection etc. Presently our activity includes development of solid state sensors for detection of methane, LPG, CNG, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, trace moisture, alcohol (breathalyzer) and acetone(biomarker of diabetes in breath).
Basically, a smart structure consists of sensors, actuators and control circuit. An actuator is a transducer capable of transducing an input energy into mechanical energy (displacement/force). Piezoelectric materials are currently used in a variety of applications as sensors and actuators and they play a pivotal role in the arena of smart materials and structures. Ultrasonic structural health monitoring (SHM) is an area where piezoelectric materials in the form of wafers/patches can act as both actuators and sensors. Our present activities include development of multilayer piezoelectric actuators, piezoelectric wafers, and lead-free piezoelectric materials. We have also initiated work on energy harvesting devices using piezoelectric materials.
Recently, to boost collaboration so as to get a tangible outcome, “Sensor Hub” has been formed at CGCRI under the patronage of DST and CSIR. Presently, in the Hub, along with CGCRI, other Institutes in and around kolkata, who have been involved in sensor and related activities for a long time, viz., Jadavpur University, Calcutta University, Bengal Engg. & Science University and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata have joined hands to develop, fabricate and test electronic nose for tea aroma, MEMS-based battery operated methane and carbon monoxide sensors and arsenic detection kits. The Hub will provide pilot production and testing facilities of sensor and sensor array modules for food, agriculture and environmental applications so that the developed technologies can be transferred directly to the interested parties.
Areas of Research
- Sensors for detection of toxic and combustibles gases like methane, carbon monoxide and LPG.
- Sensors for tea aroma electronic nose
- Semiconductor sensor based breath analyzer for noninvasive monitoring of diabetes
- Humidity sensors for high temperature nuclear applications
- Trace moisture sensors for different applications
- Piezoelectric wafers for NDE of structures
- Non-lead based piezoelectric materials and multiferroic materials
- High block-force packaged multilayer piezoelectric actuators for aerospace applications
- Energy harvesting devices using piezoelectric materials
Technology Developed
- LPG leakage alarm
- Trace moisture sensors
- Piezoelectric wafers for NDE of structures
- Packaged multilayer piezoelectric actuators ( Under Development )
List of Patents
Patent granted /filled/Technology developed /transferered
Sl No. | Patent Name & Number | Inventor | Filling date | Country |
1. |
A process for preparation of thin film moisture sensor for determination of trace moisture in gaseous phase. Number: 0154NF2019. |
P.Sujatha Devi, Sagnik Das, Debdulal Saha | October,2019 | India |
2. |
A green process for fabricating low cost alumina tubes as substrates for various sensor development. Number: 0231NF2019 |
P.Sujatha Devi, Sagnik Das, Debdulal Saha
|
December, 2019 | India |
3 |
A Novel Metal Oxide-Polymer Nano Composite for Ammonia Sensing at Temperatures below ambient including Sub-Zero Temperatures”, Number.: 202111015506 |
Swastik Mondal, Nirman Chakraborty | 31.03.2021 | India |
4 |
A Novel Metal Oxide-Polymer Nano Composite for Ammonia Sensing at Temperatures below ambient including Sub-Zero Temperatures”. PCT/IN2022/050309 |
Swastik Mondal, Nirman Chakraborty | 26.03.2022 | |
5 | A Smartphone-interfaced Point-of-Care Sensor Device for Rapid and Label-Free Detection of Biomolecules” |
Somenath Roy, Siddhartha Shankar Bhunia, Preetam Guha Ray
|
Under process |
Projects
List of Ongoing National Projects
Sl. No. |
Name of the project |
Role |
Sponsored Agency |
Tenure |
Budget |
01. |
Development of Flexible Piezo – Sensor Platforms for Engineering Critical Application.
|
P.I Dr. Shrabanee Sen Co P.I Sayantani Lala
|
CSIR |
2020- 2023 |
94.70L |
02. |
Structural Health & Condition Monitoring of Metallic airframe. |
P.I. Dr. Shrabanee Sen Co PI Dr. Somenath Roy
|
CSIR |
2022- 2025 |
107L |
03. |
Development of low ppm moisture sensor and digital meters for online measurement of moisture present in transformer oil (SSP-0314).
|
P.I Dr. Debdulal Saha
Co PI Dr. Sagnik Das |
NTPC |
01/09/2018- 30/11 2021 Waiting for extension up to30 September, 2022.
|
47.02L +18% GST |
04. |
Development of Graphene-Metal Oxide Nanocomposite Sensor-based Hand-Held Electronic Nose for the Detection of Formalin Adulteration in Fish (GAP 0375).
|
P.I Dr. Debdulal Saha
Co PI Dr. Sagnik Das |
ASEAN-India, SERB |
16/08/2021- 15/08/ 2023 |
21.82L |
05. |
Development of nanocomposite moisture transmitter for monitoring ppm moisture in transformer oil through wireless communication system.
|
P.I Dr. Debdulal Saha
Co PI Dr. Sagnik Das |
CPRI, Ministry of Power |
Approved. Waiting for MOU sign. |
36.58L |
06. |
Development and performance characterization of crosslinked b- cyclodextrin polymer based thin-film composite nanofiltration ceramic membrane.
|
P.I Dr. Arnab Mukherjee Co-PI: Dr. Ganesh C. Sahoo Dr. Priyanka Mondal, DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellow
|
DST-SERB, Govt. of India |
2021-2024 |
~35 Lakhs |
07. |
Novel boron-rich B-C, B-O and B-P phases for sensing applications in harsh environment: establishing correlation between charge-density distribution and sensing property.
|
PI: Dr. Swastik Mondal
Co PI: Dr. Mrinal Pal
|
DST-SERB |
2020-2023
|
Rs. 21.86 lakh |
08. |
Advancing Technological Leads for Assuring Safety of Food (ATLAS): W.P. 1.2: Solid-solid phase change materials (SS-PCMs) for applications in cold storage for efficient food preservation.
|
PI: Dr. Swastik Mondal
Co PI: Dr. Ambarish Sanyal |
CSIR-MISSION
|
2021-2023 |
Rs. 130.7 lakh |
09. |
Development of WO3/Graphene nanocomposite thin films for electrochromic display (HCP0030 (W.P.1.1)
|
P.I Dr. Susmita Kundu
Co-P.I Dr. Arnab Mukherjee |
CSIR Mission |
2020-2023 |
73.7 Lakhs
|
10. |
Development of IoT enabled Point – of- Care Sensors for Non-invasive detection of Neurotransmitters.
|
P.I Dr. Somenath Roy
Co-P.I Dr. Arnab Mukherjee |
SERB, Govt, of India |
2022-2025 |
~47.02 Lakhs |
Divisional Facilities
![]() Dew point Meter & Chilled Mirror Hygrometer [Shaw Moisture Meter, England & Edge Tech, USA] |
![]() Ceramic Multilayer Actuator Test Bench [aixACCT Systems GmbH, Germany] |
![]() Wire bonder [West Bond Inc. USA |
![]() Lamination Press [Washbash Indiana, USA] |
![]() Wire bonding station [Developed at CGCRI] |
![]() Screen Printer [Skyhill, Taiwan] |
![]() Tape Caster [Haiku Tech Inc, USA] |
![]() Zeta Acoustic Particle Sizer [Matec Instrument Companies, Inc, USA] |
Scientists
- Dr. Mrinal Pal, Chief Scientist and Head
- Dr. Swastik Mondal, Senior Principal Scientist
- Dr. Somenath Roy, Principal Scientist
- Dr. Shrabanee Sen, Principal Scientist
- Dr. Susmita Kundu, Principal Scientist
- Dr. Debdulal Saha, Principal Scientist
- Mr. Anshuman Seal, Senior Scientist
- Dr. Arnab Mukherjee, Principal Senior Scientist
- Dr. Subhajit Das, Scientist
Technical/Support Staff
Name | Designation | Expertise |
![]() Mr. Shankar Biswas |
Senior Technical Officer (3) | Electrical Engineering, Maintenance of electrical equipments, Clean room etc |
![]() Dr. Sagnik Das |
Senior Technical Officer (1) | Material preparation, sensor coating, sensor characterization. |
![]() Md. Jalaluddin Mondal |
Senior Technician(2) | Operation & maintenance of sophisticated instruments and maintenance of gas measurement set up |
![]() Sk. Md. Mursalin |
Technician (2) | Synthesis of sensor materials, processing of sensors & actuators, chemical stock maintenance. |
![]() Mr. Raju Manna |
Technician (1) | Instrumentation (Maintenance & handling of sophisticated instruments ) and fabrication of sensor platform. |
Scholars/Students
Sl. No. | Student Name | Designation | Area | Tenure |
01. |
Subhajit Mojumder Supervisor: Dr. Mrinal Pal |
INSPIRE-SRF |
“Gas sensor for breath analysis”
|
October, 2019-October, 2024 |
02. |
Sanjib Dash Supervisor: Dr. Mrinal Pal |
INSPIRE-JRF |
“Photocatalytic activity of nanostructured materials”
|
January, 2022-January, 2026 |
03. |
Epsita Kar Supervisor: Dr. Shrabanee Sen |
CSIR-RA | Electronic Skin | September, 2021-September, 2024 |
04. |
Shewli Pratihar Supervisor: Dr. Shrabanee Sen |
INSPIRE-SRF | Nanogenerators | June, 2017-June, 2022 |
05. |
Puja Ghosh Supervisor: Dr. Shrabanee Sen |
INSPIRE-SRF | Gas Sensors | May, 2017-May, 2022 |
06. |
Sourav Maity
Supervisor: Dr. Shrabanee Sen |
INSPIRE-SRF | Nanogenerators | April, 2019-April, 2024 |
07. |
Pounomi Bera
Supervisor: Dr. Shrabanee Sen |
INSPIRE-JRF (Provisional) |
Self powered Gas Sensors | February, 2022-February, 2027 |
08. |
Tania Chatterjee Supervisor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjee
|
INSPIRE-SRF | BiFeO3 and graphene based multiferroic systems | July, 2017- July, 2022 |
09. |
Shaibal Sahoo Supervisor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjee
|
INSPIRE-JRF
|
Optical fiber based Hydrogen sensing | Dec, 2020- Dec, 2025 |
10. |
Debal Ghosh Supervisor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjee
|
SERB Project Fellow |
Development of Ceramic -polymer composite membrane for removal of organic micropollutants.
|
Sept., 2021- Dec., 2023 |
11 |
Nirman Chakraborty
Supervisor: Dr. Swastik Mondal |
INSPIRE –SRF | Investigations on the effects of surface structures on pollutant sensing properties of metal oxide sensors |
Till February, 2023
|
12 |
Pratyasha Rudra
Supervisor: Dr. Swastik Mondal |
INSPIRE –SRF | Structure-property correlation in functional materials with sensing applications |
Till February, 2024
|
13 |
Anagha Ghosh
Supervisor: Dr. Swastik Mondal |
INSPIRE –JRF | Synthesis, characterization and development of solid-solid phase change materials for efficient thermal energy storage |
Till October, 2026
|
14 |
Soumik Kar
Supervisor: Dr. Swastik Mondal |
Project Associate I (HCP0031) | Solid-solid phase change materials (SS-PCMs) for applications in cold storage for efficient food preservation |
Till March, 2023
|
15 |
Mamunoor Rahaman
Supervisor: Dr. Swastik Mondal |
JRF (GAP0374) | Novel boron-rich B-C, B-O and B-P phases for sensing applications in harsh environment: establishing correlation between charge-density distribution and sensing property |
Till February, 2023
|
16 |
Sovandeb Sen
Supervisor:
Dr. Susmita Kundu
|
Inspire-SRF |
Gas Sensor
|
2019-2024 |
17 |
Saheli Bhattacharya
Supervisor: Dr. Susmita Kundu |
Project Associate-II |
Electrochromic Coating
|
2021-2023 |
18 |
Ankita Dutta Chowdhury
Supervisor: Dr. Somenath Roy |
SERB Project Fellow |
Development of IoT-enabled Sensors for Detection of Neurotransmitters |
April 2022-March 2025 |
Contact
Dr. Mrinal Pal,
Chief Scientist & Head
Phone: (033) 24838083
Fax: +91-33-24730957
E-mail: palm@cgcri.res.in
Last Updated on March 1, 2023