Atomic and Nanoscale Phenomena in Advanced Materials
Dravid Group Research in the News
PEARL featured on Scripps
Based on the recent publication in PNAS, Prof. Dravid, Dr. Nandwana, and PhD student Stephanie Ribet were featured in a story by Scripps regarding their revolutionary nanocomposite coating. Now, a common kitchen sponge can be used to clean water of phosphate. Click the link to view full story: LEARN MORE
Vinayak Dravid is Named Among Global ‘Highly Cited Researchers’
This annual list identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. LEARN MORE
NSF-funded researchers at Northwestern University, lead by Professor Vinayak P. Dravid, have developed a nanocomposite coating of magnetic nanostructures that attracts oil and resists water. When the coating is applied to any cheap sponge, it binds with the oil holding it in the sponge until it is squeezed out. For more information:
Stephanie Ribet wins Best Student Paper at 2021 Membrane Technology Conference
Stephanie Ribet won best student paper at the 2021 Membrane Technology conference (MTC21) hosted by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA). Stephanie shared VPD group research on the OHM sponge and PEARL membrane, nanocomposites used to sequester oil and phosphates from polluted waters, respectively. In addition to presenting on the remediation performance of these materials, she showed work done at the NUANCE center, where the team characterized the unusual architecture of these hybrid structures and their interactions with contaminants. For more information on the VPD group’s environmental research check out recent papers:
OHM sponge: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.0c01493
PEARL membrane: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2102583118
Phosphate pollution in rivers, lakes and other waterways has reached dangerous levels, causing algae blooms that starve fish and aquatic plants of oxygen. Meanwhile, farmers worldwide are coming to terms with a dwindling reserve of phosphate fertilizers that feed half the world’s food supply.
Kelly Parker was announced as the third place winner of this year's Hilliard Symposium with her presentation "Soft Microscopy: Advancing High-Throughput Characterization at Low-Voltage". Link to full story to come.
Potato Chips Inspire Novel Method for Water-Splitting
Finding clean energy sources will be a key to mitigating climate change in the 21st century. Recent work by Northwestern Engineering could be part of the solution, and the result was inspired by a lowly lunchbox treat.
