Mahesh Kumar

Bio: Mahesh Kumar is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur. The author has contributed to research in topics: Molecular beam epitaxy & Heterojunction. The author has an hindex of 29, co-authored 204 publications receiving 4864 citations. Previous affiliations of Mahesh Kumar include Indian Institutes of Technology & Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Dielectric and electric properties of donor- and acceptor-doped ferroelectric SrBi2Ta2O9

Abstract: Substitutions by aliovalent cations on the Sr2+ and Bi3+ sites of ferroelectric SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) have been carried out, which result in modified dielectric and electrical properties of SBT. The substitution of 10 mole % Fe3+ for Sr2+ shows an increase of 80 °C in TC, whereas Ca2+ substitution for Bi3+ gives rise to diffused and frequency dispersive dielectric maxima with a relaxor-like behavior. The presence of Ca2+ in the (Bi2O2)2+ layers appears to enhance the mobility of charge carriers thus increasing the bulk conduction of the sample. On the other hand, Fe3+ addition in the perovskite-like units results in a sharp dielectric anomaly at the ferroelectric phase transition, with a bulk conductance similar to that of pure SBT compound, but with a reduced space charge relaxation time. The low temperature conductivity mechanism shows a frequency dependence, which can be ascribed to the space charge mainly due to the oxygen vacancies. The dielectric and conductivity properties of the Ca2+-doped SBT make it a promising material for the fatigue resistance in device applications.

Transition metal dichalcogenides-based flexible gas sensors

Abstract: In recent years, two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, such as MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, WSe2, SnS2, etc., have gained enormous interest in sensing applications with low-power consumption owing to their unique electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Among a broad range of sensors, rapid advances in flexible and wearable sensors have paved the way for smart sensing applications, including electronic skin (e-skin), home security, air- and health-monitoring, etc. This review aims at summarizing recent progress in energy-efficient flexible gas sensors by utilizing 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) materials. Main concepts and different approaches are overviewed for optimizing the gas sensing characteristics on flexible sensing platforms. The different strategies and challenges for incorporating 2D TMDCs materials into e-skin-oriented and e-textiles gas sensors are also highlighted. In addition, this review also includes the challenges and future perspectives for TMDCs materials in emerging flexible and wearable gas sensing field.

Highly selective and reversible NO2 gas sensor using vertically aligned MoS2 flake networks.

Abstract: We demonstrate a highly selective and reversible NO2 resistive gas sensor using vertically aligned MoS2 (VA-MoS2) flake networks. We synthesized horizontally and vertically aligned MoS2 flakes on SiO2/Si substrate using a kinetically controlled rapid growth CVD process. Uniformly interconnected MoS2 flakes and their orientation were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The VA-MoS2 gas sensor showed two times higher response to NO2 compared to horizontally aligned MoS2 at room temperature. Moreover, the sensors exhibited a dramatically improved complete recovery upon NO2 exposure at its low optimum operating temperatures (100 °C). In addition, the sensing performance of the sensors was investigated with exposure to various gases such as NH3, CO2, H2, CH4 and H2S. It was observed that high response to gas directly correlates with the strong interaction of gas molecules on edge sites of the VA-MoS2. The VA-MoS2 gas sensor exhibited high response with good reversibility and selectivity towards NO2 as a result of the high aspect ratio as well as high adsorption energy on exposed edge sites.

Gas sensing performance of 2D nanomaterials/metal oxide nanocomposites: a review

Abstract: In recent years, the utilization of gas sensors has increased tremendously in daily life and industry. Importantly, appropriate material selection should be made for gas sensors in order to achieve outstanding gas sensing performance, such as high sensitivity, good selectivity, a fast response/recovery time, and long-term stability. Numerous studies have shown that neither pure metal oxide semiconductor nor individual 2D nanomaterial (graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, metal–organic frameworks, metal oxide nanosheets, MXenes, and phosphorene) based gas sensors are capable of showing excellent gas-sensing performance towards gas molecules. However, synergistic combinations of metal oxides and 2D nanomaterials have demonstrated enhanced gas-sensing performance in many studies. This review aims at providing a comprehensive summary of the current advancements in 2D/metal-oxide based heterostructures as gas sensors. Additionally, the underlying sensing mechanisms of various kinds of gas sensors are systematically described, and the device architectures and their corresponding sensing performances are summarized. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of 2D/metal-oxide nanocomposite-based gas sensors for sensing applications have been outlined.

Investigation of the magnetoelectric effect in BiFeO3-BaTiO3 solid solutions

Abstract: BiFeO3 forms solid solutions with BaTiO3, over the entire compositional range, with different crystal symmetries. Magnetoelectric (ME) measurements carried out with a superimposed alternating-current magnetic field, together with a time-varying direct-current magnetic field in isothermal conditions, indicated non-linearity. The peak observed coincided with a metamagnetic transition in the magnetization data. Rather than the spin flop reported earlier, it is a gradual reorientation of spins towards the field direction that destroys the spiral spin arrangement. With increasing content of BaTiO3, a quadratic signal was observed, indicating the structural dependence of the magnetoelectric effect. The temperature variation of the ME output in the investigation carried out for x = 0.75 indicates magnetic transitions.

Perspective on the Development of Lead-free Piezoceramics

Abstract: A large body of work has been reported in the last 5 years on the development of lead-free piezoceramics in the quest to replace lead–zirconate–titanate (PZT) as the main material for electromechanical devices such as actuators, sensors, and transducers. In specific but narrow application ranges the new materials appear adequate, but are not yet suited to replace PZT on a broader basis. In this paper, general guidelines for the development of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics are presented. Suitable chemical elements are selected first on the basis of cost and toxicity as well as ionic polarizability. Different crystal structures with these elements are then considered based on simple concepts, and a variety of phase diagrams are described with attractive morphotropic phase boundaries, yielding good piezoelectric properties. Finally, lessons from density functional theory are reviewed and used to adjust our understanding based on the simpler concepts. Equipped with these guidelines ranging from atom to phase diagram, the current development stage in lead-free piezoceramics is then critically assessed.

Room-temperature saturated ferroelectric polarization in BiFeO3 ceramics synthesized by rapid liquid phase sintering

Abstract: Single-phased ferroelectromagnet BiFeO3 ceramics with high resistivity were synthesized by a rapid liquid phase sintering technique. Saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops were observed at room temperature in the ceramics sintered at 880 °C for 450 s. The spontaneous polarization, remnant polarization, and the coercive field are 8.9 μC/cm2, 4.0 μC/cm2, and 39 kV/cm, respectively, under an applied field of 100 kV/cm. It is proposed that the formation of Fe2+ and an oxygen deficiency leading to the higher leakage can be greatly suppressed by the very high heating rate, short sintering period, and liquid phase sintering technique. The latter was also found effective in increasing the density of the ceramics. The sintering technique developed in this work is expected to be useful in synthesizing other ceramics from multivalent or volatile starting materials.

Room-temperature gas sensing of ZnO-based gas sensor: A review

Abstract: Novel gas sensors with high sensing properties, simultaneously operating at room temperature are considerably more attractive owing to their low power consumption, high security and long-term stability. Till date, zinc oxide (ZnO) as semiconducting metal oxide is considered as the promising resistive-type gas sensing material, but elevated operating temperature becomes the bottleneck of its extensive applications in the field of real-time gas monitoring, especially in flammable and explosive gas atmosphere. In this respect, worldwide efforts have been devoted to reducing the operating temperature by means of multiple methods In this communication, room-temperature gas sensing properties of ZnO based gas sensors are comprehensively reviewed. Much more attention is particularly paid to the effective strategies that create room-temperature gas sensing of ZnO based gas sensors, mainly including surface modification, additive doping and light activation. Finally, some perspectives for future investigation on room-temperature gas-sensing materials are discussed as well.