Functional and Hybrid Colloids for Advanced Applications
We integrate biobased monomers and colloidal synthesis strategies to generate functional systems with tuneable properties, oriented towards non-conventional applications in energy, environment and sustainable technologies.
We develop colloids through emulsion polymerisation and controlled assembly techniques, incorporating organic and inorganic components in hybrid architectures. We use these colloids as building blocks for the fabrication of graphene aerogels and advanced adsorbents for CO₂ capture, as well as multifunctional environmental catalysts combining photocatalytic nanoparticles, enzymatic biocatalysts or magnetic Fenton-type systems. Furthermore, we design polymeric colloidal dispersions for desalination processes and synthesise ionomeric nanogels with controlled ionic conductivity for their application in proton exchange membranes of hydrogen fuel cells. All of this is underpinned by the use of sustainable monomers and interface engineering to optimise stability, reactivity and functionality.
