Research Projects

Coordination polymers will be synthesized as sensory materials for selective detection of different environmental pollutants viz. heavy metal-based oxoanions, nitroaromatics, volatile organic compounds in trace levels from aqueous medium. Metal centre like Zn2+, Cd2+, Eu3+, Tb3+ are mainly used in this regard. Organic ligands of different types which will act as spacer and linker with abundance of functional groups for analyte interaction will be prepared/procured. Though preference will be given to ligands with rigid structure, delocalized π electron system and nitrogen, oxygen as donors, ligands containing imine (C=N-) and azo (-N=N-) chromophores, different carboxylate moieties will also be used. The targeted compounds will be synthesized by reacting the respective metal ions with the selected ligands involving solvothermal method or simple stirring-refluxing procedure. Thorough characterization of the complexes will be done with the help of several analytical techniques. X-ray crystal structure of representative complexes along with SEM, TEM analysis will be determined, for unambiguous establishment of the identity of the complexes. Spectral and fluorometric properties of the complexes in presence of different analytes will be studied thoroughly. Theoretical calculations on CPs-analyte interaction provide an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of the sensing process. Attempts will be made to procure real world application and industrial waste water purification. Interesting and useful results are anticipated from this proposed research work. The new compounds are expected to show novel structural features, high sensitivity and selectivity towards different environmental pollutants.