Exploring Materials, Expanding Possibilities
At Materials Innovations and Sustainable Technologies Lab (MIST), we delve into the intricate science of materials, ranging from the atomic level to real-world applications. Our cutting-edge research encompasses four primary themes: Alloy Development, Surface Engineering, Hydrogen Energy, and Sustainable Materials. We remain receptive to pioneering frontiers in materials science and engineering, paving the way for sustainable innovations and advancements in the field.
Seeing the Invisible: Designing Alloys from the Inside Out
From the wings of airplanes to the pins in medical implants, alloys are the quiet workhorses of modern life. But their real story lies deep inside in the way atoms arrange themselves and move under pressure. As materials scientists, we explore these hidden worlds, zooming in to the atomic scale to watch how materials respond when they are stretched, bent, or stressed.
This inner dance of atoms, known as deformation mechanisms, decides whether a material will bend or break, last for years or fail too soon. And here's the twist: the way a material is made, whether through high-tech 3D printing or traditional casting, changes its internal architecture or microstructure. By understanding how this internal structure controls performance, we design alloys that are stronger, lighter, and perfectly suited for aerospace, biomedical, and energy applications.
Building the Technology for the Clean Energy Revolution
The future of energy is clean, renewable, and abundant, and hydrogen is a key player in that vision. But producing green hydrogen efficiently requires smart engineering at the smallest scale: the catalysts and electrodes that make water split into hydrogen and oxygen.
We develop next-generation catalysts by controlling their shape, surface, and composition, we make them faster, longer-lasting, and cheaper than existing options. The goal? To help make hydrogen production cost-effective and scalable, powering everything from fuel-cell cars to industrial processes without polluting the planet.
Nano-Micro Lett. 17, 186 (2025)
Guardians of the Surface: Coatings that Protect and Perform
Met. Mater. Int. 30, 1441–1458 (2024)
While a material’s strength comes from the inside, its first line of defense is always the surface, the part that meets the world. Surfaces face harsh conditions: salty seas, scorching heat, corrosive chemicals, and constant wear. Left unprotected, even the toughest metal can lose the battle.
We create protective coatings that act like invisible armor. Using advanced techniques like pulse electrodeposition, we design layers that fight off rust, resist oxidation at high temperatures, and withstand wear from friction. These coatings extend the life of components in ships, power plants, cars, and aircraft, making technology more reliable, efficient, and sustainable.
Treasure from Trash: Recovering Precious Metals Sustainably
Our phones, laptops, and batteries are full of valuable metals, but when they’re thrown away, those resources often end up lost. Meanwhile, mining new metals takes a heavy toll on the environment. What if we could mine above the ground, turning waste into treasure?
We develop eco-friendly ways to recover precious and critical metals from e-waste, spent batteries, and industrial waste. We develop technologies using processes without harmful chemicals or excessive energy use. This work closes the loop in the materials life cycle, creating a more circular and sustainable economy.