Research Projects

MXene, an emerging class of two-dimensional (2-D) layered transition metal carbides and nitrides, has shown potential applications in renewable energy and biomedical research. Neurotransmitters are potential biomarkers for various physiological and social illnesses, and their detection has gained significant research interest in the past decade. A project focusing on developing MXene/conductive polymer composites, which are electroactive for biomarker detection and can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, could open up vast possibilities for biomedical devices in daily life. The power generated by MXene-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) could be used to power integrated electrochemical sensors and wearable electronic devices. The project will focus on in situ polymerization and solvent blending techniques for exfoliation of MXenes from the MX phase. This procedure is attractive due to monomer intercalation between adjacent layers of the MX phase, followed by polymerization. The 2-D MXene/CP composites will possess essential features like large surface area, high porosity, single or multi-layer thickness, printability, and high mechanical strength, making them ideal candidates for real-life applications like biomarker sensors and devices. The project has resulted in seven international journal publications, including three review papers. A novel bottom-up synthesis strategy has successfully synthesized a few atom thick 2-D conducting polymers and single unit cell thick 2-D bimetallic oxides at the interface of two immiscible liquids. The device prototype developed from the 2-D nanostructures demonstrated its capability to monitor biomarker dopamine released from human neural cells in real-time.