Bright Ideas, Clean Skies: IIT Guwahati's Material Powers Progress

IIT Guwahati researchers have developed a low-cost hybrid aerogel that is solving industrial wastewater and oil spills and also energy-harvesting wearable devices. The MXene (2D conductive material) phosphorus-doped carbon foam material hybrid enables Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) to break down pollutants in the form of reactive radicals.

 

Key features:

 

Pollution control: Cleans wastewater and separates oil spills by selective absorption (water repellent, oil absorbent).

 

Tech integration: Acts as an adaptive strain sensor for detecting mechanical stress in wearable electronics and building monitoring.

 

Scalability: Researchers are optimizing acid-free synthesis to tackle toxicity concerns from existing methods.

 

The porosity and high surface area of the aerogel make it well-suited for environmental and industrial applications, with plans to scale up to commercial.

 

Sources: Economic Times, Devdiscourse, New Kerala