Scratchproof eyeglasses, crack-resistant paint, fabrics that repel stains — these high-performing materials have all been developed thanks to nanoparticle research. Yet there’s still so much that nanoparticles and nanomaterials can do for a variety of industries.
WKU professors Sanju Gupta, Lawrence Hill and Ali Oguz Er are in the midst of nanoparticle research that’s poised to have potentially significant impacts on medicine and renewable energy. All three researchers often work with undergraduate, graduate and Gatton Academy students on their projects.
Nanoparticles provide an ideal research focus because their small size has big potential.
Gupta’s current research projects include using graphene to create engineered electrodes for energy conversion, storage and harvesting and for scalable membranes used for water detoxification. Some of Hill’s research is similar to Gupta’s in that it examines nanoparticle-based applications to help generate renewable energy. In Er’s on-campus lab, powerful lasers are at work to help produce tangible results that guide the creation of new procedures and processes. Once the nanoparticles are produced, a variety of applications can be explored.
