UNIT - 1
Research Methodology:
Introduction, Meaning of Research, Objectives of Research, Types of Research, Research Approaches, Significance of Research, Research Methods versus Methodology, Research and Scientific Method, Research Process, Criteria of Good Research, Problems Encountered by Researchers in India. Defining the Research Problem: Research Problem, Selecting the Problem, Necessity of Defining the Problem, Technique Involved in Defining a Problem.
UNIT - 2
Reviewing the literature:
Place of the literature review in research, Bringing clarity and focus to research problem, Improving research methodology, Broadening knowledge base in research area, Enabling contextual findings, Review of the literature, searching the existing literature, reviewing the selected literature, Developing a theoretical framework, Developing a conceptual framework, Writing about the literature reviewed. Research Design: Meaning of Research Design, Need for Research Design, Features of a Good Design, Important Concepts Relating to Research Design, Different Research Designs, Basic Principles of Experimental Designs, Important Experimental Designs.
UNIT - 3
Design of Sample Surveys:
Design of Sampling: Introduction, Sample Design, Sampling and Non-sampling Errors, Sample Survey versus Census Survey, Types of Sampling Designs. Measurement and Scaling: Qualitative and Quantitative Data, Classifications of Measurement Scales, Goodness of Measurement Scales, Sources of Error in Measurement, Techniques of Developing Measurement Tools, Scaling, Scale Classification Bases, Scaling Technics, Multidimensional Scaling, Deciding the Scale. Data Collection: Introduction, Experimental and Surveys, Collection of Primary Data, Collection of Secondary Data, Selection of Appropriate Method for Data Collection, Case Study Method.
UNIT – 4
Data Preparation:
Data Preparation Process, Some Problems in Preparation Process, Missing Values and Outliers, Types of Analysis, Statistics in Research. Descriptive Statistics: Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Dispersion, Measures of Skegness, Kurtosis, Measures of Relationship, Association in case of Attributes, Other Measures.
UNIT - 5
Sampling and Statistical Inference:
Parameters and Statistic, Sampling and Non- Sampling Errors, Sampling Distribution, Degree of Freedom, Standard Error, Central Limit Theorem, Finite Population Correction, Statistical Inference.
UNIT - 6
Testing of Hypotheses:
Hypothesis, Basic Concepts Concerning Testing of Hypotheses, Testing of Hypothesis, Test Statistics and Critical Region, Critical Value and Decision Rule, Procedure for Hypothesis Testing, Hypothesis Testing for Mean, Proportion, Variance, for Difference of Two Mean, for Difference of Two Proportions, for Difference of Two Variances, P-Value approach, Power of Test, Limitations of the Tests of Hypothesis. Chi-square Test: Test of Difference of more than Two Proportions, Test of Independence of Attributes, Test of Goodness of Fit, Caution in Using Chi Square Tests.
UNIT – 7
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA):
The ANOVA Technique, Basic Principle of ANOVA, One way ANOVA, Two way ANOVA, Latin – square Design, Analysis of Co- Variance, Assumptions in Co-Variance.
UNIT – 8
Linear Regression Analysis:
Dependent and Independent Variables, Simple Linear Regression Model, Multiple Linear Regression Model, Problem of Multicolinearity, Qualitative Explanatory Variables. Factor Analysis: The Mathematical Basis, Important Methods of Factor Analysis, Rotation in Factor Analysis, R – Type and Q – Type Factor Analysis, Merits and Demerits of Factor Analysis.
UNIT – 9
Probability:
Random Experiments, Sample Spaces, Events, The Concept of Probability, The Axiomsof Probability, Theorems on Probability, Assignment of Probabilities, Conditional Probability, Theorems on Conditional Probability, Independent Events, Bayes’Theorem. Random Variables, Discrete Probability Distributions, Distribution Functions for RandomVariables, Distribution Functions for Discrete Random Variables, Continuous Random Variables, Graphical Interpretations, Joint Distributions Independent Random Variables, Change of Variables, Probability Distributions of Functions of Random Variables, Convolutions, Conditional Distributions.
UNIT - 10
The Binomial Distribution, Properties of the Binomial Distribution, The Normal Distribution, Properties of the Normal Distribution, Relation Between Binomial and Normal Distributions, The Poisson Distribution, Properties of the Poisson Distribution, Relation Between the Binomial andPoisson Distributions, Relation Between the Poisson and Normal Distributions, The Hypergeometric Distribution.
Reference Books:
(1) Research Methodology Methods and Techniques, C.R. Kothari, Gaurav Garg, New Age International Publishers,4th Edition, 2019.
(2) Research Methodology a step-by-step guide for beginners, Ranjit Kumar, SAGE Publications Ltd, 3rd Edition, 2011. [For Unit -2, Reviewing the Literature]
(3)Probability and Statistics, Murray R. Spiegel, Schaum’s Outline Series, McGraw-Hill, 4th Edition, 2013.[For Unit -9 and Unit – 10]
Part II
Unit 1
Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:
- Importance and interdisciplinary nature of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 0D, 1D & 2D nanomaterials, size effects: surface to volume ratio, atomic, molecular & crystal structure, classification of phases & properties of materials, density of states & electronic energy bands- conductors, semiconductors and insulators, quantum effects in nanoscale materials. Properties of materials at Nanoscale:- Physical properties: Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical, Electronic, Magnetic and Superconducting, Optical properties & Coupled properties (Electromagnetic, ferroic properties, etc.)
Unit 2
Principles in Nanomaterial synthesis:
- Bottom-Up and Top-Down approach, Mechanisms involved in nano-synthesis: Fundamentals of thermodynamics: Laws of thermodynamics (zeroth, first, second & third laws). Statistical processes, diffusion (Fick’s laws), Heat capacity. Phase transformation, Nucleation processes (Homogeneous & Heterogenous). Basics of chemical kinetics, Catalysis.
Unit 3
Synthesis methods for nanomaterials:
Chemical precipitation, Sol-gel, Chemical reduction, Sonochemical synthesis, Hydrothermal, Solvothermal, Solution combustion, Super-critical fluid. Spin coating & Ball milling. Lithography techniques and Nanofabrication. Biological methods- Synthesis using micro organisms, Synthesis using plant extract, use of proteins and DNA templates.
Unit 4
Sofisticated methods for thin film deposition:
Physical vapour deposition (PVD): Thermal evaporation, Electron beam evaporation, Sputtering & electric arc, Laser ablation, Atomic layer deposition. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD): Closed/open reactor CVD, High & low pressure CVD, High & low Temperature CVD, Metal organic (MO) CVD, Hybrid Methods.
Unit 5
Structure and morphology Characterization Techniques:
- Structural characterisation: X-ray, Neutron & Electron diffraction. Surface & interface characterization techniques- Optical microscopy. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM), Adsorption-desorption isotherms.
Unit 6
Elemental and compositional Characterization Techniques:
- Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), Thermal characterisation: Thermo Gravimetric Analysis, DTA & Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), photoluminescence, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).
Unit 7
Spectroscopy and other special techniques:
Spectroscopy: Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Raman, UV-Visible, EPR, NMR & Moessbauer Spectroscopy, Electrical characterisation: Four probe I-V characterisation, scanning tunneling spectroscopy, Mechanical testing: using Universal Testing Machine. Impedence spectroscopy, Contact angle measurement, Zeta potential. SQUID magnetometry.
Unit 8
Advanced Smart Nanomaterials:
- Carbon Based Nanostructures: Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), Graphene, Fullerenes, Carbon clusters. Smart fluids (magneto-and Electro-rheological fluids), Polymeric materials, Metal & Metal oxide naomaterials, Core-Shell nanostructures, Meta (Electromagnetic) materials, Nanocomposite materials, Glasses, Glazes & other ceramics.
Unit 9
Applications of nanomaterials:
applications based on anisotropic, Giant & Colossal magneto-resistance and Super-paramagnetism; Spintronics, Dielectric, Piezoelectric, Pyroelectric, Multiferroics. Ferromagnetic & Ferroelectric memory devices. P-N junctions, Lasers, Photodectctors, Field Effect Transistors, High Electron Mobility Transistors. Energy Systems: Photovoltaics (Solar cells), Batteries & Fuel cells, Supercapacitors, catalysts. Powder metallurgy & processing, Mechanical alloying, Anti-corrosion coatings & Super hydrophobic surfaces.
Unit 10
Biological nanomaterials:
Proteins, DNA, Nanomedicine, Nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery, biological imaging and therapies (cancer therapy, etc).
Text Books and References
1. T. Pradeep , “NANO The Essential , understanding Nanoscience and Nanotechnology”. Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, 2007.
2. Introduction to Nanotechnology, Chareles P.poole jr. and frank J.Owens, wiley inter science.
3. Nanotechnology Principles and Practices by Sulabha K. Kulakarni.
4. The Chemistry of nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications, Vol-I by C.N.R. Rao, A. Muller and A.K. Cheetham
5. Introduction to Solid State Physics, C. Kittel, Wiley Eastern
6. Fundamentals of Nanoelectronics by George W. Hanson (Pearson Education,New delhi)
7. Nanotechnology and Nano Electronics – Materials, devices and measurement Techniques by W. R. Fahrner – Springer
8. NanoBiotechnology-BioInspired Devices and materials of the Future by Oded Shoseyov, Ilan Levy.
9. Bio Nano Technology by Good Sell, Wiley Liss
10. A practical approach to X-Ray diffraction analysis by C.Suryanarayana
11. Electron Microscopy and analysis by P.J. Goodhew and F.J. Humpreys
12. Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray microanalysis by J.I. Goldstein
13. Characterization of nanostructured materials by Z.L. Wang
14. Modern Raman Spectroscopy: A practical approach by E. Smith and G.Dent
15. Principles of Instrumental analysis by D.A. Skoog, F.J. Hollen and T.A. Niemann
16. Nanocomposite Science & Technology by P.M. Ajayan, L.S. Schadler and P.V. Braun, Wiley-VCH GmbH Co.