Electronics & Instrumentation Section

Welcome Electronics and Instrumentation Section

We are a group actively involved in the research area of MEMS and micro sensors. We also provide innovative design solution for electronics and automation of various research and development activities in MSG.

Current research topics

Development of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer:   

MEMS based capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (cMUT) is a potential candidate for high performance ultrasonic transducers in a wide frequency range with additional advantages like higher bandwidth, non-contact, etc. over conventional piezoelectric transducers. Working principle of cMUT is similar to condenser microphone i.e. electrostatic method of generating / receiving ultrasonic waves.  At IGCAR these transducers (with 2.4 MHz as resonant frequency) are being fabricated in collaboration with IISc, Bangalore and CEERI, Pilani.  We are involved in the fabrication and characterization of these devices.                                                                 

Micro cantilever based sensors:  

Micro-cantilevers are the most simplified MEMS based device and finds wide range of applications for sensing by detecting changes in cantilever bending or vibrational frequency. These sensors have several advantages over the conventional analytical techniques in terms of high sensitivity, low cost, low analyte requirement and quick response.  We did extensively design and simulation of a nano cantilever based mass sensor using Intellisuite - A FEM based CAD tool. Using vibrational mode simulations for a poly silicon nano cantilever we found that the sensitivity of a nano cantilever based mass sensor is highly dependent on the area and the position of the loaded mass and higher modes always gives a better sensitivity.   Some other interesting aspects like thermo mechanical sensitivity of bi-material cantilevers,  Stress concentration regions in piezo resistive cantilevers were also studied. For fabrication of micro cantilevers, We use the micro fabrication facilities at INUP, IISc.  Using this facility We are currently fabricating a piezoresistive micro cantilevers as shown below.   

Apart from this we work on the possibility of various cantilever based sensors for photon detection.    In one such attempt, a piezoresistive micro cantilever configured in a Wheatstone bridge was exposed to UV light (366 nm) and it’s bending was studied.  In the observed data (see the figure below) two distinctive features were seen and are attributed to fast photo induced stress and a slow thermal effect due to bimaterial effect (see the figure below). We also study the effect of gamma radiation on AFM tips. 

PSoC based laboratory automation and Bio medical applications:

Several innovative embedded designs like Raman spectrometer automation, Positron beam automation, X-ray diffractometer automation etc., using Programmable System on Chip (PsoC) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) have been carried out.  EIS is also involved in embedded design for biomedical applications.  One such program involved in development of Programmable Delay timer design for Transcrancial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS) synchronization  for research and therapeutics in movement disorders for Shree Chitra Tirunal Institute for medical sciences and technology (SCT).  For SCT we have also developed MEMS accelerometer based wireless system for measuring severity of various moment disorders such as tremor, bradykinesia etc.       

For Further information contact: Mr.J.Jayapandiyan Head Electronics & Instrumentation Section, Surface & Nanoscience Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam – 603102. Phone: +91-44-27480500 Extn: 22504 Fax : +91-44-27480081 Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.