TITLE : The Advent of New Non-Van der Waals Solids: A Paradigm Shift in the Realm of 2D Materials
ABSTRACT :
The successful extraction of graphene from Graphite by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov opened up new areas in the realm of materials science. The subsequent investigations led to the discovery of new 2D materials namely hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), layered transition metal oxides, inorganic graphene analogues such as silecene, germanene and phosphorene and many others. One of the attributes of all the above materials is that they are layered in their bulk form wherein the individual layers are held together by van der Waals forces of attraction. This is considered as a precursor to the development of Van der Waals (VdW) solids. Exfoliating atomically thin layer from non-layered precursors was not attempted much as evident from literature. We embarked on an investigation into extracting atomically thin layers from their non-layered precursors. In this talk, we will discuss the exfoliation of two new 2D materials namely Hematene and Ilmenene from their naturally occurring ores. The talk will also cover some of the recent investigations that we have carried out on their applications, especially, on their magnetically ordered ground state as well as fabrication of a heterojunction with titania nanotubes for enhanced visible light photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. These results will be presented here.
1. Puthirath Balan, A. and M. R. Anantharaman et al. Exfoliation of a non-van der Waals material from
iron ore hematite. Nature Nanotechnology 13, 602-609, (2018).
2. Puthirath Balan, A. and M. R. Anantharaman et al. A Non-van der Waals Two-Dimensional Material
from Natural Titanium Mineral Ore Ilmenite, ACS Chem. Mater., 2018, 30 (17), pp 5923–5931.
3. Puthirath Balan, A. and M. R. Anantharaman et al. Magnetic Properties and Photocatalytic
Applications of 2D Sheets of Nonlayered Manganese Telluride by Liquid Exfoliation. ACS Appl.
Nano Mater., 2018, 1 (11), pp 6427–6434
ABOUT THE SPEAKER :
Prof. Anantharaman has over four decades of experience in research, development, and teaching in the areas of materials science, solid-state physics, polymer physics, and the carbon black industry. He also possesses four years of industrial experience as Assistant Manager (R&D) at Carbon and Chemicals (India) Ltd. (presently Philips Carbon, Cochin). His primary research interests span nanomagnetic materials, magnetic nanocomposites, amorphous magnetic thin films, magnetic elastomers, ferrofluids, and conducting polymers.
He has been actively engaged in developing carbon-black-based composites for stealth and aerospace applications, and is well-versed in the production processes and quality control of various types of carbon black, including feedstock and finished products. Dr. Anantharaman has published over 200 research papers in reputed national and international journals (H-index: 49),delivered more than 200 conference presentations, and holds four Indian patents. With more than 40 years of teaching experience, he has mentored 35 Ph.D. scholars, 7 postdoctoral researchers, about 70 M.Phil. Candidates, and numerous M.Sc. students.
He obtained his M.Sc. in Physics from the University of Bhopal (1979) and Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (1985), followed by postdoctoral research at the Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands, under the Government of India’s BOYSCAST Fellowship. Dr. Anantharaman has held visiting professorships at several prestigious institutions including Rice University (USA), UANL Monterrey (Mexico), University of Konstanz (Germany), Technical University of Chemnitz (Germany), University of Augsburg (Germany), Toyo University (Japan), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Fermilab (USA), and Sultan Qaboos University (Oman).
His recent research interests include nanoscience and nanotechnology, polymer physics, and bionanomaterials. He has served as a member of the Syndicate (Governing Council), Senate, and Academic Council of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). He has also chaired the Board of Studies in Nanoscience at CUSAT and served on several academic boards, including those of the Universities of Calicut and Kerala. Dr. Anantharaman continues to lead multiple sponsored research programs in solid-state physics and materials science.
MEETING DETAILS :
Speaker: Prof. Anantharaman M.R, Department of Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin
Venue: A4 Conference Room, South Campus, IIT Mandi
Date and Time: 6th November 2025, Thursday, 4:00 pm