Surface Engineering of Nanomaterials Course | IIT Roorkee Prof. Kaushik Pal
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 173 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Surface: A Deep Dive into the Engineering of Nanomaterials
In the rapidly evolving world of advanced materials, the surface is where the action happens. Surface Engineering (SE) has emerged as a critical sub-discipline of Materials Science, dedicated to tailoring the surface properties of solids to achieve performance unattainable by the base material alone. For nanomaterials, this is especially pivotal. A comprehensive understanding of SE is now essential for engineers and scientists pushing the boundaries in electronics, aerospace, biomedical devices, and high-performance composites.
We are excited to present a detailed overview of an expert-led course designed to build this very expertise: Surface Engineering of Nanomaterials, instructed by Prof. (Dr.) Kaushik Pal of IIT Roorkee.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Kaushik Pal
The course is guided by the distinguished Prof. Kaushik Pal, an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at IIT Roorkee since 2012. With a strong academic and research pedigree, Prof. Pal brings immense credibility to the subject:
- Ph.D. from IIT Kharagpur (2009) followed by Post-Doctoral research at Gyeongsang National University, South Korea.
- Research interests centered on the surface modification of nanomaterials for electronic, mechanical, and biomedical applications.
- An active reviewer for several international journals and a member of prestigious bodies like the National Academy of Sciences, American Chemical Society (ACS), and Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
- Recipient of the esteemed Brain Korea (BK-21) fellowship and the DAAD fellowship award.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This 8-week course is structured for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to provide a thorough grounding in both the fundamental principles and advanced practices of surface engineering at the nanoscale.
Primary Goal: To learn how to modify the surface properties of nanomaterials to enhance their electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance, and to improve their compatibility as reinforcing fillers in composite materials.
Detailed 8-Week Course Layout
| Week | Core Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Tribology: Friction, Wear, Corrosion, Lubrication, and their effects on nanomaterial surfaces. |
| Week 2 | Conventional Surface Engineering: Types of modifications (Physical & Chemical) and their applications for nanomaterials. |
| Week 3 | Deposition & Modification Methods: Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), and advanced practices. |
| Week 4 | Nano-Structured Coatings: Synthesis, processing, characterization, functional coatings, and applications. |
| Week 5 | Advanced Testing & Size Effects: Understanding how size at the nanoscale impacts electrochemical, mechanical, and physical properties of coatings. |
| Week 6 | Thin Films for SE: Sputtering, evaporation processes, and deposition via gas-phase and liquid-phase techniques. |
| Week 7 | Microencapsulation: Processes, release kinetics, plating of nanocomposite coatings, and advantages over conventional methods. |
| Week 8 | Current Trends & Challenges: Latest trends in surface modification, nanomaterials in consumer products, and key synthesis problems. |
Who Should Take This Course?
INTENDED AUDIENCE: This course is highly relevant for students and professionals in:
- Nano Science & Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Aerospace Engineering
- Material Science and Mechanical Engineering (Primary Category)
Industry Relevance & Support
The skills imparted in this course are directly applicable in the growing nanotechnology sector. The curriculum is designed with support and applications relevant to nanotech-based industries such as:
- Nanoshel
- Adnano Technologies
- Mittal Enterprises
- Ultrananotech
- Reinste Nano Ventures
Key Reference Books
To deepen your understanding, the course aligns with seminal texts in the field:
- Handbook of Thin Film Deposition Processes and Techniques – Edited by Krishna Seshan
- Nanomaterials and Surface Engineering – Edited by Jamal Takadoum
- Nanocoatings: Size Effect in Nanostructured Films – By Mahmood Aliofkhazraei
- Introduction to Tribology – By Bharat Bhushan
Conclusion
The Surface Engineering of Nanomaterials course by Prof. Kaushik Pal offers a unique opportunity to gain from the knowledge of an accomplished researcher and educator at IIT Roorkee. Over eight intensive weeks, you will traverse the complete landscape of the field—from foundational tribology to cutting-edge thin-film deposition and microencapsulation techniques. Whether you aim to advance in academia or drive innovation in industry, this course provides the critical toolkit to engineer the surface for superior material performance.
Equip yourself with the expertise to manipulate matter at its most influential level—the surface.
Enroll Now →