Abhirup Basu

abasu4@ncsu.edu M.Tech, Chemical Engineering, 2017 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay Mumbai, Maharashtra, India B.Tech, Chemical Engineering, 2015 Jadavpur University Kolkata, West Bengal, India Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhirupbasu/ Google Scholar- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VLhyl70AAAAJ&hl=en

My current research focuses on establishing the fundamental principles of the self-assembly of soft magnetic microbeads in the presence of magnetic field. The microbeads are composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix with internally embedded magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The distribution of the MNPs within the PDMS bead matrix is controlled by an external magnetic field during the synthesis process, thus allowing for the preparation of anisotropic PDMS microbeads with internal magnetically aligned nanoparticle chains. Owing to the confined geometry of the PDMS microbeads, we believe that the nanoparticle chains can split into multiple chains and can form soft micromagnets with unique  anisotropic properties.  Finally, we will attempt to investigate the magnetic field directed self-assembly of these colloidal magnets by applying magnetization, demagnetization, and re-magnetization cycles that will lead to formation of 2D percolated networks and their subsequent break-up and reformation. Our work will find application in designing novel magnetic gels, which can switch from fluid-like properties to gel-like properties upon magnetization and demagnetization.