Research in brief:

Multifunctional glass nano/microcrystal composites:

The current research activities of Varma's group encompass nanocrystallization of various oxides belonging to Aurivillius family of perovskite materials in compatible host glass matrices and demonstrating their multifunctionalities. The materials that were nanocrystallized in borate based glass matrices include Bi2WO6, Bi2VO5.5, SrBi2Nb2O9, SrBi2Ta2O9, BaTiO3, LiNbO3, K3Li2Nb5O15, LiTaO3 etc. Nanocrystallization of various other interesting borate materials in their own glass matrices has been demonstrated.

The nanocrystals of the above materials embedded in various glass matrices were proved to be promising from their dielectric, pyroelectric, ferroelectric, optical and non-linear optical device based applications point of view. The nanocrystals that were embedded in various glass matrices were found to be interesting from their Bragg optical diffraction based devices point of view.

Functional polar ceramics:

Research work has been also centered on the design, synthesis, fabrication and characterization of novel compositions corresponding to the above family of oxides. Towards this end a few new compounds - K0.5La0.5Bi2Nb2O9 and K0.5La0.5Bi2Ta2O9 were synthesized and demonstrated to be exhibiting relaxor characteristics.