Synthesis and characterization of various nanostructured metal oxides for different functionalities is one of her main research areas. ZnO, MgO, TiO2, LiMn2O4 are a few nanostructured metal oxides being investigated. So are doped metal oxides such as Zn1-xFexO, Zn1-xMnxO, Al2-xCrxO3, LiCo0.3Ni0.3Mn0.3Cr0.1O2, etc. These materials present a challenge in understanding their fundamental properties such as band gaps, conductivity and electrochemical activity. The functional properties of materials are dependent on their material characteristics such as crystal cell parameters, cation distributions oxidation states, bonding, etc. Some of the discoveries made are that band gaps of materials are influenced by the dimensions of crystal size, cell parameters, and ionic positions of the atoms in the crystal lattice. This in turn affects the conductivity, electrical and electrochemical activity of the materials.
Thin films and thin film devices
Another area of interest is the fabrication of nano layer metal oxides by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and their characteristics. Fabrication processes and the control of fabrication parameters affect the characteristics and quality of thin films. Heterostructures of less than 100 nm have been fabricated and thickness, smoothness, stoichiometries as well as crystal growth direction have been investigated. Metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) have been fabricated by the group giving characteristic I-V curves of the ultra-thin MOS. Thin film energy devices such as LiCo0.3Ni0.3Mn0.3Cr0.1O2 /polymer/SnO2 lithium-ion nanolayer batteries have been fabricated and currently being studied. Other devices such as nano solar cells will be done in the future.
