IIT Guwahati researchers create breakthrough material that tackles pollution, powers gadgets

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) scientists have created a breakthrough material that can clean industrial wastewater, separate oil spills, and possibly power wearable sensors. This low-cost, sustainable material could transform pollution control and clean tech, with efforts underway to scale it for industry use, the team said. The study introduces a cutting-edge material – aerogels, engineered to tackle industrial waste in multiple ways. Aerogels are ultra-lightweight, highly porous materials with a large surface area and exceptional adsorption properties, making them ideal for environmental and industrial applications.

IIT-G researchers said that while conventional methods such as membrane filtration and chemical precipitation are widely used, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have gained increasing attention for their effectiveness in degrading pollutants.

“Particularly, peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-activated AOPs stand out for generating reactive sulfate and hydroxyl radicals, capable of breaking down complex organic molecules even at low concentrations,” IIT Guwahati said.

The team developed a hybrid aerogel by combining MXene, a two-dimensional material known for its high conductivity and chemical reactivity, with carbon foam. By introducing phosphorus doping into the MXene framework, the researchers improved its PMS activation capability, which could break down organic pollutants in wastewater.

The aerogel also exhibited excellent performance in oil-water separation. Its porous quality selectively absorbs oil while repelling water, making it highly effective for cleaning up oil spills and treating industrial effluents.

PK Giri, Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, said, “The hybrid aerogel we developed shows promising results in wastewater purification, oil-water separation, and strain sensing, combining environmental sustainability with practical versatility.”The research team added that the aerogel also functions as a flexible strain sensor. “Its electrical resistance changes in response to mechanical stress, opening applications in wearable electronics, smart devices, and structural health monitoring systems,” they said.

Although the Ti3C2Tx-based hybrid aerogel demonstrates excellent performance, its conventional HF-based synthesis raises significant environmental and toxicity concerns, the study highlighted. Researchers are exploring acid-free synthesis routes for large-scale applications.