Research area: Advanced materials and interfaces
This cluster is leading the development of novel materials and engineered interfaces to enhance performance and sustainability of technologies for applications in energy, water and health.
Advanced characterization techniques
Development of tools to discover structure-properties relationships. Examples are in situ and in operando confocal microscopy, active and passive micro-rheology in bulk and at interfaces, small angle light scattering coupled with microfluidics, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation coupled with in-situ electrochemistry.
Materials for biomedicine
Design and production of nanoparticles for drug deliveries, quantum dots for biomedical images, biocompatible hydrogels for bioglues and tissue engineering.
Materials for chemical separation
Design of Membranes, Aerogels, Janus nanoparticles for wastewater, CO2 capturing and energy applications.
For example: Self-assembly of colloidal particles can be performed via a photonic approach.
Materials for electro/photo chemical energy conversion and storage
A range of innovative materials are being developed for application such as batteries, fuel cells and electrolyzers. This includes development of catalysts, quantum dots, and electrolytes, as well as the study of electrochemical interfaces, and electrode structures.
Faculty members: Edward Roberts, Kunal Karan, Mayank Sabharwal, Md Kibria, Milana Trifkovic
For example: Two dimensional materials such as Mxene and graphene can be used to enhance the performance of flow batteries, suitable for large scale energy storage.
Multifunctional nanomaterials for emerging technologies
Fabrication methods to tailoring nanomaterials for application-specific functionality. Examples include: 2D materials synthesis (electrochemical exfoliated graphene, MXene), nanocomposites for EMI shielding, and 3D printing of hybrid materials.