Our projects

Project Title: Anionic Sulfonic Polyamides as Conductive Polymers and Their Metal Oxide Hybrids for Advanced Gas Sensor Materials

The development of gas-sensing materials has gained growing attention due to the need for detecting toxic/explosive gases, monitoring combustion, controlling air quality, and enabling medical diagnostics. Conducting polymers (CPs) are especially promising as sensor materials thanks to their high sensitivity, simple synthesis, stability, and environmental friendliness. We aim to design novel anionic conducting polymers by introducing ionic moieties into polymer backbones and studying their gas-sensing performance, both alone and in combination with metal oxides. Our approach focuses on covalent polymers synthesized from sulfonic monomers via SN2 condensation, as well as hybrid polymer–metal oxide systems. Incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles is expected to enhance electrical, optical, and mechanical properties through organic–inorganic interfaces, while also improving selectivity and lowering operating temperatures—major limitations of conventional oxide sensors. Polymers additionally prevent nanoparticle agglomeration. Since oxides are typically n-type and polymers p-type semiconductors, their combination forms p–n junctions that further boost sensitivity and selectivity.

Ministry of Higher Education and Science (MHES) Grant

Project duration 01.2024-12.2026

Project Title: Hydrophobic nanofiber membranes for ultrafine particulate matter removal, SPG grant from NU

Air quality is an important aspect contributing to a human health state. Particulate matter (PM), mostly caused by anthropogenic factors, especially fine and ultrafine ones penetrate lungs and cause serious health issues. Existing air filtration materials either are not able to trap ultrafine PMs or suffer from clogging. Therefore, the goal of the project is to obtain air filtration membranes (AFM) with improved filtration efficiency which will be realized by the incorporation of triboelectric electrospun nanofibers into hydrophobic electrospun polymer membrane. Electrospinning technique is the main method of nanofiber preparation. By varying electrospinning parameters, AFM with desired characteristics will be achieved.

Nazarbayev University Social Policy Grant

Project duration 01.2024-12.2026