Abstract: Green, Bio and Chemical methods have been used to synthesize the nanocomposites containing rare earth-transition metal oxides for the purpose to achieve enhanced activities for their applications in degradations of textiles pollutants, pesticides, organic pollutants, explosive materials etc. Other applications like hydrogenation reactions, slow release fertilizers, forensics, nanofiltration and solar cells have also been studied.

We have successfully synthesized more than 50 nanocompostes with variety of metals. Multiple approaches have been carried out to synthesize the rare earth-transition metal oxides nanocomposites as well as reduced reduced graphene oxide doped with metal oxides nanocomposites. Various factors e.g. change in precursors, pH, temperature, feed rate, surfactants, solvents, methods of preparation, concentration of precursors, were studied which change the efficiency of the nanocomposites. Our focus is to synthesize nanocomposites having band gap in the visible region so that they may be used for enhanced catalytic activity under sun light.

The influence of surfactants and solvents on the activities of nanocomposites for their application in waste water treatment in chemical industries was studied and nanofiltration system was developed.

The structural investigation, thermal degradation, crystallite size, morphology, surface and photocatalytic properties of synthesized samples were studied by using different characterization techniques i.e. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS).

Biography: Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh is serving as Associate Professor of Chemistry at Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Pakistan. He has been duly awarded three gold medals for his outstanding academic performance in Chemistry and five gold medals including Minister HED and Governor of the Punjab for his excellent performance in research and service to society. He has been awarded many international and national awards including Representative of Pakistan by UNESCO in Morocco, Young Chemist Award by IUPAC in Italy, Young Scientist Awards by TWAS in Egypt and IAP/GYA in Germany, Young Scientist Award by IAP/World Economic Forum in China, Young Researcher Award by the Council for Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, IUPAC-2015 Award for Chemists as an outstanding chemist from developing countries in S. Korea, Research Productivity Awards with Category A, B, and C, Productive Scientist of Pakistan with rank at 11th in Pakistan in Chemistry category Young Scientists in 2017 and 2018, SATHA Innovation Award 2018 with Gold Medal.

He has published +110 papers in international/national repute journals, published/edited 25 books, issued 07 US patents/applications, presented 49 papers in international/national conferences and gave 61 plenary/invited lectures in 25 countries around the globe. He has won 02 industrial projects and 06 major Research Grants from TWAS, USM, HEC, PSF, ORIC GCU in the area of nanotechnology, established Nano-Chemistry Lab., at GC University Lahore and has supervised 51 M.Phil./Ph.D. theses.