Department of Physics
National Institute of Technology Calicut
We are proud to announce that our research project has been awarded a Core Research Grant (CRG) from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India.
Welcome to the world of optics, interface, fluids, soft matter, smart surfaces and nature
Welcome to Optofluidics and Interface Science Lab. We are a family of motivated young scientists working on stimuli-controlled particle patterning, optofluidics and all-optical switching using nanostructured surfaces. Interface phenomena involves self assembly, transport, patterning, wetting etc. Integration of optics with interfacial phenomena has the capability of developing remote controlled as well as smart systems. We have already ventured into droplet microfluidics, liquid marbles and optofluidics with quality contributions in each field. OISL has an interdisciplinary background consisting of physicists, chemists, mechanical engineers and material scientists. We blend our expertise to explore problems which require knowledge and experience from different disciplines. At present we focus on stimuli-controlled transport and assembly of particles/droplets, smart liquid marbles and optical modulators.
Breaking the limits - light guided colloidal crystals in Physical Review E, titled “Flow field induced crystallization of multicomponent colloids".
(Accepted: March 16, 2026)
C. M. Ragisha, N. Medina, N.M. Habeeb, T. Vo, and S. N. Varanakkottu
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/qdk7-931s
We are proud to announce that our research project titled “Optically Controlled Large-Area 3D Multicomponent Colloidal Architectures as High-Performing Electrocatalytic Materials for Clean Energy Applications” has been awarded an Advanced Research Grant (ARG) by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), India. This three-year project, with a total funding of ₹87,90,883, focuses on developing light-mediated, tunable multicomponent colloidal crystals to enhance electrocatalytic performance for key clean energy reactions, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR).
A five-day GIAN course titled “Soft Matter in Physics, Biology and Materials Sciences: Programmability, Actuation and Reconfigurability” was successfully conducted at the Department of Physics from 24–28 November 2025, featuring lectures and hands-on sessions by Prof. Damien Baigl (École Normale Supérieure, Paris) and Dr. Subramanyan Namboodiri Varanakkottu (Department of Physics, NIT Calicut), with participation from faculty members, research scholars, and students across India.
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Our PhD student Ms. Ragisha C M successfully defended her thesis titled "Optically Controlled Colloidal Lithography: Patterning of Single and Multi-Component Colloidal Systems"
The Department of Physics, NIT Calicut, is excited to announce a five-day GIAN course titled "SOFT MATTER IN PHYSICS, BIOLOGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCES: PROGRAMMABILITY, ACTUATION AND RECONFIGURABILITY", scheduled to be held from November 24 to 28, 2025.
International Faculty:
Exceptional class Professor (PR EX2, IUF senior) at Department of Chemistry, Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris
We invite students, researchers, and professionals to register and participate in this interdisciplinary program that brings together insights from physics, biology, and materials science.
We are delighted to announce that our work, entitled "Method for Simultaneous Fabrication and Collection of Ultra-Low Volume Janus Liquid Marbles and Pristine Liquid Marbles", has been granted a patent.
Our contribution as a cover image in Soft Matter
Our PhD student Ms. Lekshmi B S successfully defended her thesis titled "Development of Droplet-impact Driven Microfluidic Platforms For Liquid Marble Fabrication and Particle Extraction"
We are delighted to share that patent granted for our work entitled "System for inscribing patterns on metallic nanoparticles layer at Liquid-Liquid Interface and method thereof."
We are proud to announce that our research project has been awarded a Core Research Grant (CRG) from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India.
Our latest research work titled "Moving Meniscus-Assisted Template-Free Optothermofluidic Nanoparticle Patterning and Its Application in Optothermoconvective Particle Trapping" got published in Langmuir. Congratulations Ragisha, Nihal and Grace!
Our PhD student Ms. Ragisha C M, won the best poster award at "International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology" organised by Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. Congratulations!
We are delighted to announce that our Ph.D. alumnus Dr. Lekshmi B S joined as post-doctoral researcher at Queen Mary University of London, UK.
Our Ph.D. alumnus Dr. Lekshmi B S won the Best Presentation Award at the 5th "International Conference on Soft Materials" (ICSM-22) held at MNIT Jaipur, India.
Congratulations to her
Our Ph.D. alumnus Dr. Lekshmi B S won the Best Poster Presentation Award in 16th Complex Fluids Symposium (ComFlu 22), an international symposium held at IIT Kharagpur Research Park, India.
Congratulations to her
Our B.Tech alumnus Mr. Suryasaradhi receiving second prize in Dare to Dream 3.0 Contest from honorable Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh ji
Convocation Ceremony of Vinay T V and Farzeena C Receiving Doctoral Degree
Receiving Kerala State Young Scientist Award from Hounarable Chief Minister
