NARP Research Lab

Research

Our lab advances research across nanomaterials, composites, biomaterials, energy, semiconductor, environmental, and construction materials for science and engineering applications.

What we do

  • Material Development

    We develop advanced material systems, including nanomaterials, composites, biomaterials, and sustainable engineering materials, for interdisciplinary scientific and technological applications.

  • Characterization

    Using analytical and mechanical characterisation techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR analysis, and Universal Testing Machine (UTM) evaluation, we investigate material structure, behaviour, and performance.

  • Performance Evaluation

    Our research focuses on assessing material efficiency, durability, and functional properties to develop innovative solutions for energy, environmental, biomedical, and structural engineering challenges.

Research focus

Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials are engineered materials with at least one external dimension in the nanometer range (1–100 nm). They exhibit distinctive optical, electronic, magnetic, and mechanical properties that differ from their bulk counterparts, enabling advances in catalysis, sensing, and next-generation devices.

Abstract rendering of nanomaterial structures at the atomic scale

Why do we study nanomaterials?

Nanomaterials exhibit fundamentally different physical and chemical behavior than their bulk forms because a much larger fraction of their atoms lies at the surface. This leads to higher reactivity, stronger mechanical reinforcement, altered optical absorption, and unique electronic and magnetic response. Studying these effects lets us design materials with properties that simply do not exist at larger scales, opening pathways to more efficient catalysts, lighter structural components, faster electronics, and more sensitive medical diagnostics.

What are we doing to develop nanomaterials?

We synthesize nanomaterials using physical, chemical, and green biological routes, then tune their size, shape, composition, and surface chemistry to match the demands of a target application. Characterization tools such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and spectroscopy are used at every step to confirm structure and property. We also explore scalable synthesis methods so that laboratory successes can be translated into pilot- and industrial-scale production without losing quality.

Beyond synthesis, we study how nanomaterials interact with their surroundings — with polymers in a composite, with electrolytes in a battery, or with biological tissue in a medical device. This work helps us understand stability, safety, and long-term performance, and it guides the design of next-generation materials that are not only functional but also reliable and sustainable in real use.

Research focus

Composites

Composites are engineered materials made by combining two or more constituents to produce a system with properties that none of the components can achieve on their own. They offer tailored strength-to-weight ratios, corrosion resistance, and durability for a wide range of engineering applications.

Cross-section of a fiber-reinforced composite material

Why do we study composites?

Composites allow engineers to combine the best attributes of two or more materials — for example, the stiffness of a fiber with the toughness of a polymer — into a single system that performs better than any one of its parts. This makes them essential for industries that demand strength, light weight, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility at the same time, including aerospace, automotive, marine, civil infrastructure, and sporting goods. Studying composites helps us understand how the reinforcement, the matrix, and the interface between them work together, which is the key to designing safer, longer-lasting structures.

What are we doing to develop composites?

We develop composites using both synthetic reinforcements, such as glass and carbon fibers, and natural reinforcements, such as jute, flax, hemp, and bamboo, paired with polymer, metal, and ceramic matrices. Processing routes including hand layup, compression molding, resin transfer molding, and additive manufacturing are used depending on the part geometry and performance target. Mechanical, thermal, and chemical testing is performed to validate each new formulation against industry standards.

Sustainability is a growing focus: we evaluate natural-fiber composites, bio-based resins, and recyclable thermoplastic matrices that can lower the environmental footprint of composite parts without sacrificing performance. We also study the long-term behavior of composites under moisture, UV, fatigue, and impact loading so that the materials we develop are not just strong on day one but reliable across the full life of the structure.

Research focus

Biomaterials

Biomaterials are substances engineered to interact with biological systems for medical purposes, including diagnostics, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and implantable devices. They can be derived from natural sources or synthesized to be biocompatible and biodegradable.

Scaffold-like biomaterial structure used in tissue engineering

Why do we study biomaterials?

Biomaterials form the foundation of modern medicine: they are used in artificial joints, dental implants, contact lenses, vascular stents, drug-delivery carriers, and the scaffolds that help the body regenerate tissue. Their success depends on getting the right balance of biocompatibility, mechanical strength, degradation rate, and biological response. Studying biomaterials allows us to engineer materials that the body can accept, that can be tuned to release drugs on demand, and that can guide cells to form new bone, skin, or nerve tissue.

What are we doing to develop biomaterials?

We design biomaterials from natural polymers such as chitosan, gelatin, alginate, and cellulose, as well as from synthetic biodegradable polymers like PLA, PLGA, and PCL. These are processed into hydrogels, fibers, porous scaffolds, and nanoparticles, then combined with bioactive molecules, growth factors, or antimicrobial agents to give them specific medical functions. We test our materials for cell compatibility, degradation behavior, mechanical performance, and sterilization stability before moving toward preclinical studies.

Active research directions include targeted drug-delivery systems that release therapeutics at a specific site in response to pH or temperature, antimicrobial coatings that prevent implant-associated infection, and 3D-printed scaffolds tailored to a patient's anatomy for tissue regeneration. By combining materials chemistry with cell biology, we aim to create therapies that are not just replacements for damaged tissue but active partners in the healing process.

Research focus

Energy Materials

Energy materials are specialized substances developed for energy generation, conversion, and storage, including batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and solar cells. Their performance directly determines the efficiency, lifetime, and safety of modern energy devices.

Energy storage device with layered electrode materials

Why do we study energy materials?

The shift to a low-carbon economy depends on our ability to store and convert energy efficiently, safely, and at low cost. Whether it is a smartphone battery that lasts longer, a solar panel that converts more sunlight, or a fuel cell that runs cleanly on hydrogen, the limiting factor is almost always the material at the heart of the device. Studying energy materials lets us understand how ions move, how charges separate, and how interfaces degrade, so we can engineer the next generation of batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and photovoltaics.

What are we doing to develop energy materials?

We develop cathode and anode materials for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, solid-state electrolytes that replace flammable liquids, electrocatalysts for hydrogen production and fuel cells, and absorbers and perovskites for next-generation solar cells. Synthesis methods range from sol-gel chemistry and hydrothermal growth to thin-film deposition, and characterization combines electrochemical testing with structural and spectroscopic analysis to link processing, structure, and performance.

A central goal is to move beyond incremental gains: we are working on materials that enable higher energy density, faster charging, longer cycle life, and safer operation. We also focus on earth-abundant, low-toxicity chemistries so the energy transition does not depend on scarce or environmentally damaging resources. By tying fundamental materials research to device-level testing, we aim to deliver energy technologies that scale.

Research focus

Semiconductor Materials

Semiconductor materials have electrical conductivities between those of conductors and insulators and form the foundation of modern electronics, photovoltaics, and photonic devices. Their band structure and carrier behavior can be tuned through composition, doping, and nanostructuring.

Wafer-based semiconductor material under inspection

Why do we study semiconductor materials?

Semiconductors are the active layer in nearly every electronic and photonic device we use: microprocessors, memory, LEDs, laser diodes, solar cells, image sensors, and photodetectors. Their behavior is governed by the quantum-mechanical band structure, which can be precisely tuned by changing composition, doping, strain, and dimensionality. Studying semiconductors lets us engineer devices that are faster, smaller, more efficient, and capable of new functions such as emitting, detecting, or harvesting light.

What are we doing to develop semiconductor materials?

We work with both traditional inorganic semiconductors, such as silicon, III–V compounds, and wide-bandgap oxides, and with emerging families including perovskites, organic semiconductors, and 2D materials such as transition-metal dichalcogenides. Synthesis techniques span chemical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, solution processing, and thin-film coating, and we pair these with electronic, optical, and structural characterization to build a complete picture of each material's properties.

Our research targets specific device applications: high-efficiency solar cells, light-emitting diodes for solid-state lighting and displays, photodetectors for imaging and environmental sensing, and thin-film transistors for flexible electronics. We are particularly interested in heterostructures and quantum-confined systems, where combining different materials at the nanoscale produces properties that no single material can offer on its own.

Research focus

Environmental Systems

Environmental systems research addresses the use of advanced materials and processes to monitor, treat, and remediate air, water, and soil pollution. It combines materials science, chemistry, and engineering to develop sustainable solutions for environmental protection.

Water treatment system with advanced filtration materials

Why do we study environmental systems?

Access to clean air, safe water, and healthy soil is a basic requirement for human life, yet industrialization, agriculture, and rapid urbanization continue to release contaminants at a pace that natural systems cannot absorb. Studying environmental systems lets us understand how pollutants move, transform, and accumulate, and it gives us the foundation to design technologies that detect, capture, and break down these contaminants. The goal is to move from end-of-pipe treatment to prevention, reuse, and circular use of water and resources.

What are we doing to develop environmental systems?

We develop adsorbents from agricultural waste, biochar, and metal-organic frameworks to remove heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants from water. We design photocatalysts and electrocatalysts that use sunlight or electricity to degrade persistent contaminants such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals. For air quality, we work on low-cost sensor materials that can detect volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter in real time.

Beyond treatment, we study how environmental materials age and how spent sorbents and catalysts can be regenerated or recycled. Pilot-scale reactors and field tests are used to validate performance under realistic conditions, and life-cycle analysis helps us choose materials and processes that are not only effective in the lab but also affordable, durable, and sustainable when deployed in communities and industries.

Research focus

Construction Materials

Construction materials are the substances used in building and infrastructure, including cement, aggregates, steel, polymers, and emerging composites. Improving their performance, durability, and sustainability is essential for resilient and resource-efficient built environments.

Modern construction site showcasing advanced building materials

Why do we study construction materials?

Buildings, bridges, roads, and tunnels shape the quality of everyday life, and their safety depends almost entirely on the materials they are made of. Conventional materials such as ordinary Portland cement and structural steel are responsible for a large share of global carbon emissions, and they can be vulnerable to cracking, corrosion, and long-term degradation. Studying construction materials helps us develop alternatives that are stronger, longer-lasting, and significantly more sustainable, while also improving the resilience of infrastructure against natural hazards and climate change.

What are we doing to develop construction materials?

We develop supplementary cementitious materials from industrial by-products such as fly ash, slag, and silica fume to partially replace ordinary Portland cement and reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. We work on geopolymer binders that activate aluminosilicate precursors under alkaline conditions to produce concrete with lower CO₂ emissions. We also engineer fiber-reinforced concretes and mortars, self-compacting mixes, and ultra-high-performance concrete with tailored strength, durability, and workability.

Durability is a key focus: we study how concrete and composites respond to sulfate attack, chloride penetration, freeze–thaw cycling, and carbonation, and we design mixes that resist these mechanisms. Recycled aggregates from demolished concrete and reclaimed asphalt are evaluated as a way to close the loop in construction. The end goal is infrastructure that is not only stronger and longer-lasting but also produced with lower energy, less waste, and a smaller environmental footprint.

Explore our publications

Read the latest peer-reviewed reports and results of our experiments in the published literature.