Advanced Materials by Re- and Self-assembly
Exploring the properties of biopolymers, such as proteins and polysaccharides, unveils ample opportunities to develop bio-based or biomimetic materials by hierarchical re- or self-assembly of nanoscale building blocks into architectures with highly ordered micrometer-scale periodicities. My research focuses on developing diverse advanced materials, including films, hydrogels, and aerogels with tunable functionality from the extracted biocolloids by architecting supramolecular networks.
Materials for Environment and Energy
High-performing renewable materials with low or even net-zero carbon emissions are the prerequisite for a global transition from the fossil fuel era towards a sustainable future. I design hybrid biopolymeric materials engineered for environmental remediation and energy. The areas of particular interest are materials for water purification, CO2 capture, biodegradable bioplastics, as well as bioelectronics and energy storage and conversion devices.
Materials Sustainability and LifeCycle
The pursuit of materials sustainability needs a detailed quantification through the entire material’s life cycle, encompassing extraction, upcycling, fabrication, application, and disposal as interconnected systems. I use LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) as a powerful tool to quantify the environmental impact of materials with the aim of understanding the environmental burdens and avoiding shifting them from one process to another or from one environmental threat to the next.
Agri-food Waste Valorization
To mitigate the existential threat posed by global issues, it has become clear that a shift is required from a linear economy of take-make-waste in the agriculture and food sector to a circular economy in which waste is minimized and used as a resource. My research is on agri-food biomass valorization for developing new materials and chemicals within a biorefinery concept. I focus on the upcycling, and conversion of proteins, polysaccharides, and polyphenols to high-added-value bioproducts.