Research Areas

Research Areas
Smart Materials

The IRC-AM has a unique and broad level of expertise in the R & D of intelligent materials. Smart materials, also called intelligent materials, can change their structures and/or chemical/physical properties in response to one or more external stimuli such as light, pH, chemicals, temperature, humidity, mechanical force, electrical fields, and magnetic fields. We aim to develop advanced self-healing coatings, smart plastic packaging, smart glass windows, smart wearable textiles, and smart sensors for explosives, gas, and leak detection.

Our Challenges & Goals include:

  • Smart packaging automatically changes to indicate food spoilage.
  • Smart glasses with light transmission tuned to vary on the voltage/heat/light application
  • Smart conversion, LBL and polymer coatings
  • Self-healing and self-cleaning superhydrophobic coatings
  • Smart wearable textiles products which can interact with the environment or wearer.
  • Chemical sensors to detect explosives and toxic gases.
  • Body sensors to monitor health and essential bodily functions.
  • Smart skin-attachable/wearable type sensors.