Speaker:
Dr. Lokeswara Rao Potnuru
Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
Magnetic Resonance: From Quantum Information Science to Molecular Applications
NMR-based quantum information science (QIS) faces major challenges, including identifying suitable spin systems, scaling nuclear qubits, and optimizing the balance between coherence time and gate operation. My recent work focuses on developing molecular platforms and
encoding schemes for QIS using NMR. My research demonstrated the generation of high-order multiple-quantum coherences in two systems - prenucleation clusters (PNCs) from bone formation and phosphorylated tau peptide fibrils (P301L jR2R3 S305p, tau295-313) marking a key step toward realizing entangled states. Using 31P multiple-quantum spin-counting (MQ-SC) solid-state NMR, we achieved coherence orders up to six in PNCs and four in S305p fibrils, establishing a direct connection between molecular spin dynamics and QIS applications.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a powerful and versatile analytical technique widely used across cryopreservation, and pharmaceutical research due to its ability to provide detailed atomic-level information on structure, dynamics, and molecular interactions in a non-invasive manner. Its sensitivity to local chemical environments makes it particularly valuable for analyzing complex, non-crystalline, and heterogeneous systems common to these fields. In cryopreservation, I utilize 17O NMR to study polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with cosolutes, probing the behavior/structure of water and cryoprotectants such as trehalose and sucrose to gain insights into vitrification, molecular mobility, and preservation mechanisms. In pharmaceutical applications, solid-state NMR is used to identify and determine the local geometry around H2O/H2O2 molecules in pseudo-polymorphs of dabrafenib.
Speaker:
Dr. Apeksha Madhukar
IIT Goa
Plasma Catalysis for Decarbonized Hydrogen Production
The transition toward a carbon-neutral or fossil free energy landscape requires innovative technologies for sustainable hydrogen production. Conventional thermo-catalytic processes, while mature, are often constrained by high energy demands, equilibrium limitations, and CO2 emissions. Plasma catalysis has emerged as a transformative approach, uniquely coupling non-equilibrium plasma with catalytically active surfaces to drive hydrogen generation under mild conditions. This synergistic interaction enables the activation of stable molecules such as methane, ammonia, and water, while lowering energy barriers and enhancing selectivity toward H2. Recent advances in plasma reactor design, catalyst development, and plasma–catalyst interaction mechanisms have highlighted the potential of
plasma catalysis for decentralized, on-demand, and CO2-free hydrogen production.
The talk will transpire in three segments:
a. An overview of the fundamental principles of plasma catalysis
b. Current strategies for hydrogen generation, and discusses the role of key parameters—
including discharge type, operating pressure, and catalyst architecture—in dictating
performance.
c. Challenges such as energy efficiency, scale-up, and catalyst stability will be discussed, along
with emerging solutions involving hybrid plasma systems, nanostructured catalysts, and
renewable electricity integration.
The major take away through the talk will be to lodge a role of plasma catalysis as an enabling
technology in the global pursuit of decarbonized hydrogen economies.
