Latest news with #MXene
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
‘One material, many solutions': IIT Guwahati develops hybrid aerogel to clean wastewater, remove oil spills, and sense strain
Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati research team has developed multi-functional aerogel with significant potential to address some of today's most pressing environmental challenges—including wastewater treatment , industrial pollution , and oil-water separation . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India's Rafale-M deal may turn up the heat on Pakistan China's support for Pakistan may be all talk, no action India brings grounded choppers back in action amid LoC tensions Led by Prof. P. K. Giri, Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, IIT Guwahati , the study introduces a cutting-edge material engineered to tackle industrial waste in multiple ways. Aerogels are ultra-lightweight, highly porous materials with a large surface area and exceptional adsorption properties, making them ideal for a wide range of environmental and industrial applications. The findings of this research have been published in the international journal Carbon and are co-authored by Prof. Giri along with his research scholars, Koushik Ghosh, Sanjoy Sur Roy, Sirsendu Ghosal, and Debabrata Sahu. GIF89a����!�,D; 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Audiologists Are Calling This Hearing Spray a Game-Changer Hear Clearly Again Learn More Undo With rapid industrialisation and agricultural expansion contributing to the release of diverse pollutants. ranging from soluble organic compounds like antibiotics and industrial dyes to insoluble oils—effective wastewater treatment has become a global priority. Compounding the issue is the growing scarcity of clean water, which underscores the need for advanced, efficient, and sustainable solutions. While conventional methods such as membrane filtration and chemical precipitation are widely used, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have gained increasing attention for their effectiveness in degrading pollutants. Particularly, Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activated AOPs stand out for generating highly reactive sulfate and hydroxyl radicals, capable of breaking down complex organic molecules even at low concentrations. Live Events In this context, the IIT Guwahati team has developed a hybrid aerogel by combining MXene, a two-dimensional material known for its high conductivity and chemical reactivity, with carbon foam. By introducing phosphorus doping into the MXene framework, the researchers significantly improved its PMS activation capability, enabling the efficient breakdown of persistent organic pollutants in wastewater. Beyond wastewater treatment, the aerogel also exhibited excellent performance in oil-water separation. Its porous architecture selectively absorbs oil while repelling water, making it highly effective for cleaning up oil spills and treating industrial effluents. This separation process is not only efficient but also environmentally friendly. Highlighting the significance of the research, Prof. Giri said, 'This study demonstrates how a single engineered material can offer multiple solutions to environmental challenges . The hybrid aerogel we developed shows promising results in wastewater purification, oil-water separation, and strain sensing, combining environmental sustainability with practical versatility.' Additionally, the developed aerogel also functions as a flexible strain sensor. Its electrical resistance changes in response to mechanical stress, opening applications in wearable electronics, smart devices, and structural health monitoring systems. This multi-capability material represents a significant advancement in sustainable materials science , offering scalable solutions for cleaner water, pollution control, and next-generation sensing technologies. Although the Ti3C2Tx-based hybrid aerogel demonstrates excellent performance, its conventional HF-based synthesis raises significant environmental and toxicity concerns. To address this, the research team is exploring acid-free synthesis routes for large-scale applications. Additionally, they are working on introducing a co-catalyst layer to enhance the performance and durability of MXene-based aerogels by preventing the direct degradation of MXene nanosheets during catalysis.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
IIT Guwahati researchers create breakthrough material that tackles pollution, powers gadgets
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati ( IIT-G ) scientists have created a breakthrough material that can clean industrial wastewater, separate oil spills, and possibly power wearable sensors . This low-cost, sustainable material could transform pollution control and clean tech, with efforts underway to scale it for industry use, the team said. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Nuclear Power! How India and Pakistan's arsenals stack up Does America have a plan to capture Pakistan's nuclear weapons? Airspace blockade: India plots a flight path to skip Pakistan The study introduces a cutting-edge material – aerogels, engineered to tackle industrial waste in multiple ways. Aerogels are ultra-lightweight, highly porous materials with a large surface area and exceptional adsorption properties, making them ideal for environmental and industrial applications. IIT-G researchers said that while conventional methods such as membrane filtration and chemical precipitation are widely used, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have gained increasing attention for their effectiveness in degrading pollutants. 'Particularly, peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activated AOPs stand out for generating reactive sulfate and hydroxyl radicals, capable of breaking down complex organic molecules even at low concentrations,' IIT Guwahati said. The team developed a hybrid aerogel by combining MXene, a two-dimensional material known for its high conductivity and chemical reactivity, with carbon foam. By introducing phosphorus doping into the MXene framework, the researchers improved its PMS activation capability, which could break down organic pollutants in wastewater. The aerogel also exhibited excellent performance in oil-water separation. Its porous quality selectively absorbs oil while repelling water, making it highly effective for cleaning up oil spills and treating industrial effluents. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories PK Giri, Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, said, 'The hybrid aerogel we developed shows promising results in wastewater purification, oil-water separation, and strain sensing, combining environmental sustainability with practical versatility.' The research team added that the aerogel also functions as a flexible strain sensor. 'Its electrical resistance changes in response to mechanical stress, opening applications in wearable electronics, smart devices, and structural health monitoring systems,' they said. Although the Ti3C2Tx-based hybrid aerogel demonstrates excellent performance, its conventional HF-based synthesis raises significant environmental and toxicity concerns, the study highlighted. Researchers are exploring acid-free synthesis routes for large-scale applications.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Cleaning oil-spilled water now easier with IIT Guwahati's indigenous aerogel
A group of scholars at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has introduced a strange material that can potentially cure most ailments of our era. Headed by Professor PK Giri of the Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, the team has formed a new type of aerogel - light, porous, and full of new compound, created through the combination of a material known as MXene with carbon foam, has been very proficient in purifying waste from water and demixing oil from researchers enhanced the power of the MXene by adding phosphorus to it, which broke down toxic substances that are commonly present in water utilized by industrial or agricultural use. These substances are dyes, antibiotics, and oils that do not dissolve in published their results in the journal Carbon, and four young researchers - Mr. Koushik Ghosh, Mr. Sanjoy Sur Roy, Mr. Sirsendu Ghosal, and Mr. Debabrata Sahu - assisted in the pure water in short supply and contamination on the increase, most seek improved methods of treating wastewater. Although older technology is available, utilising strong chemical processes like the Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system is gaining new aerogel can awaken this chemical to work more intensely and only does this substance purify water, but it also performs as a suitable oil remover. Its small pores absorb oil without allowing water through, so it's helpful when cleaning spills and cleaning factory to many, this aerogel also adjusts its electric resistance when bent or compressed, finding application in wearable devices and construction the process employed to produce this aerogel is problematic because of the use of concentrated acid, the group now looks for safer methods to produce it and aims to strengthen it by incorporating another assisting one material can soon replace many—cleaning, separating, and sensing—providing a cleaner future in plain Watch
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
New sustainable solution from IIT Guwahati to treat wastewater, oil spill
Guwahati: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a novel, multi-functional aerogel with significant potential to address pressing environmental challenges like wastewater treatment, industrial pollution, and oil-water spills. Aerogels are ultra-lightweight, highly porous materials with a large surface area and exceptional adsorption properties, making them ideal for a wide range of environmental and industrial applications. While conventional methods such as membrane filtration and chemical precipitation are widely used, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have gained increasing attention for their effectiveness in degrading pollutants. Particularly, Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activated AOPs stand out for generating highly reactive sulfate and hydroxyl radicals, capable of breaking down complex organic molecules even at low concentrations. The team developed a hybrid aerogel by combining MXene -- a two-dimensional material known for its high conductivity and chemical reactivity, with carbon foam. By introducing phosphorus doping into the MXene framework, the researchers significantly improved its PMS activation capability, enabling the efficient breakdown of persistent organic pollutants in wastewater. Beyond wastewater treatment, the aerogel also exhibited excellent performance in oil-water separation. Its porous architecture selectively absorbs oil while repelling water, making it highly effective for cleaning up oil spills and treating industrial effluents. This separation process is not only efficient but also environmentally friendly, said the team. 'This study demonstrates how a single engineered material can offer multiple solutions to environmental challenges. The hybrid aerogel we developed shows promising results in wastewater purification, oil-water separation, and strain sensing, combining environmental sustainability with practical versatility,' said Prof. P. K. Giri, Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, IIT Guwahati. In addition, the developed aerogel also functions as a flexible strain sensor. Its electrical resistance changes in response to mechanical stress, opening applications in wearable electronics, smart devices, and structural health monitoring systems. This multi-capability material represents a significant advancement in sustainable materials science, offering scalable solutions for cleaner water, pollution control, and next-generation sensing technologies. Although the Ti3C2Tx-based hybrid aerogel demonstrates excellent performance, its conventional HF-based synthesis raises significant environmental and toxicity concerns. To address this, the research team is exploring acid-free synthesis routes for large-scale applications. In addition, they are working on introducing a co-catalyst layer to enhance the performance and durability of MXene-based aerogels by preventing the direct degradation of MXene nanosheets during catalysis.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists unveil groundbreaking air filter technology that could change the way we breathe: 'We are just scratching the surface'
The importance of quality air filters has been known for quite some time now. Air filters perform a number of functions, including improving air quality, reducing indoor pollution, and helping systems run more efficiently. The major drawback is that air filters need to be regularly replaced in order to work at their best. That means for homeowners, an air filter should typically be replaced every three months. However, a team of researchers has made a breakthrough in the development of revolutionary air filter technology. In a study published in the C Journal of Carbon Research, a team based out of Drexel University presented what they call a "viable alternative to produce high-performance air filters for real-world applications." Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The study showcased the effectiveness of MXene-coated polyester textiles in efficiently filtering nanoparticles. Discovered in 2011 at Drexel University, MXenes are a family of two-dimensional materials made up of atomically thin layers of transition metals, carbon, and nitrogen. According to Michael Waring, a professor at Drexel's College of Engineering and co-author of the study, regular filters struggle to filter the smaller particles in the air. "It can be challenging for common filters to contend with particles less than 100 nanometers, which include those emitted by industrial processes and automobiles," Waring told The team of researchers also concluded that "MXene textiles for nanoparticle filtration" could offer the possibility of "producing high-efficiency and self-cleaning filters for gas and virus filtration," the study noted. With a substantially higher rate of efficiency, air filters designed with MXene textiles could prove to offer a longer lifespan. With greater durability, users will not only see more value, but they could throw away fewer air filters. Since most household air filters are not recyclable, a majority end up in our landfills. The majority of air filters are also made from synthetic materials, which means that they are not considered biodegradable. Fortunately, many MXene particles are biodegradable. Yury Gogotsi, co-author of the study, spoke about the multi-purpose function of MXenes. "The fact that this highly conductive nanomaterial is also hydrophilic means that it can be dispersed in water to produce a coating that can easily be applied to virtually any substrate, including air filters," Gogotsi said. "We are just scratching the surface of its capabilities." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
