Research Projects

This project aims to develop chemically reactive, mechanically durable, and substrate-independent coatings using naturally derived and abundant ingredients. The approach involves rationally integrating readily reactive chemical functionality on selected nanomaterials, resulting in various wettability properties such as adhesive, non-adhesive superhydrophobicity, underwater superoleophobicity, underwater superoleophilicity, underwater aerophobicity/aerophilicity, etc., following strategic post covalent modifications with a diverse range of adequate small molecules. A spatially selective and orthogonal post covalent modification process will be introduced for designing patterned interfaces with contrasting wettability and tuneable adhesion behavior for no-loss manipulation and guided transport of liquid-droplet/air-bubble. Naturally derived hollow nanomaterials will be adequately decorated with different and confined liquid wettability for repetitive separation of oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions. By optimizing different and selective liquid wettability, both water-filtrating and oil-filtrating membranes will be independently developed through strategic post covalent modification of the chemically reactive coating on fibrous substrates for gravity-driven filtration based simultaneous separation/collection of oil or oily phases from their aqueous mixtures under harsh practical settings. Durable and extremely water-repellent coatings will be integrated with anti-corrosive agents to tackle corrosion-related challenges. The strategic derivation of chemically reactive interfaces through the judicious choice of naturally derived and abundant ingredients following a facile fabrication process ensures the development of mechanically durable, environment-friendly, various anti-wetting materials for practically relevant different applications.