Fateh Mikaeili, MSE PhD student, wins best poster in NSF Nanotechnology Forum

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering congratulates fourth year Ph.D. and Graduate Research Assistant, Fateh Mikaeili, for taking top honors in the poster competition at the 2019 NSF Nanotechnology Forum. 150 elite competitors from universities around the country presented NSF-funded projects at the forum. Each were related to research conducted on six different areas of Advances in Nanomanufacturing, Biotechnology, Mechanics, Heat transfer, AI- Machine Learning and Materials.

Poster title: 3D Self Supported Nanostructured Photocatalysts

Fateh's research involves two critical aspects of materials science and engineering.

One is the high throughput manufacturing of nanofibrous ceramics through a technique called electrospinning. We have designed our own setup, in-house that allows us to use this method in much higher yields, giving us the capability of using it for ceramic nanofibers at the same time. This is a breakthrough because the process makes three dimensional, self-supported, non-woven mats of purely nanocrystalline metal oxides which are not dispersed but form continuous porous blankets that will float on water. 

Second, is the practical application of these mats. Use the visible spectrum of sunlight, these nano mats (photocatalyst) get activated and can break down pollutants in water, fully transforming pollutants to benign chemicals. Furthermore, we are working on an application using mats to separate the water into its constituents - oxygen and hydrogen – to be used as the cleanest form of a fuel. This ceramic nanotechnology maintains all the advantages of nano structure while eliminating all the disadvantages of a dispersed material.

Winning this award is especially important to me since the research results in clean water and focuses on producing earth-friendly fuels such as hydrogen. These provide a better future for everyone.

Professor Perena Gouma, Edward Orton, Jr., Chair, is Fateh's advisor. He will graduate with his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering in autumn 2020.