- The Indian Defence Ministry has awarded a $2 million research project to Ajayan Vinu to develop carbon nitride nano materials for clean energy system requirement in the defence sector.
- Building an ultimate clean energy vehicle – one that combines atmospheric carbon dioxide with sunlight and water to produce fuel while leaving no harmful emissions.
- Indian scientist based in Australia on nano materials and his discovery of carbon nitrides with unique properties.
- It is probably the first time that an Indian defence research requirement has been awarded to an Indian researcher based outside India.
- The carbon nitride nano materials discovered since 2005 by Ajayan Vinu – who is also associated with IIT Bombay, the Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai and IISc Bangalore – has resulted in the production of sodium ion batteries for vehicles at his lab at the University of Newcastle and the prospect of development of an ‘ultimate clean energy vehicle’ a reality in the next three to four years