| Research Group Title |
Organic Polymers and their Composites Research Group (OPCRG) |
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| Area of Research |
Synthesis of organic polymer and their composites, Catalysis, Adsorption |
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| Theme of Research / Goals |
Atom transfer radical polymerization, MOFs, COFs, polymeric composites, crosslinked polymers, Catalysis |
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| Faculty Members |
Dr. Muhammad Arif, Dr. Toheed Akhtar, Dr. Shumaila Razzak |
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| Collaborating UMT Departments |
Department of Life Sciences
Department of Mathematics |
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| Collaborating National Institutes |
Department of Chemistry, QAU, Islamabad.
School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore.
Department of Chemistry and CASE-EN, NUST, Islamabad. |
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| Collaborating International Institutes |
KIAST, South Korea.
UNIST, South Korea.
Gachon University, South Korea.
Seoul National University, South Korea.
Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland. |
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| Names of Active Senior Students |
Muhammad Maqbool, Muhammad Asif Iqbal, Sadia Ashraf, Miss Kainat |
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| Short Description of the Research Theme |
Organic photoredox catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) is a polymerization technique that uses a photoredox catalyst to control the polymerization process. In ATRP, a radical initiator is used to initiate the polymerization process, and a transition metal catalyst is used to control the polymerization. In O-ATRP, a photoredox catalyst is used instead of a transition metal catalyst to initiate the polymerization process. The photoredox catalyst is excited by light, which then undergoes a single electron transfer process to reduce an initiator to form a radical species that initiates the polymerization. The use of a photoredox catalyst allows for an efficient and environmentally friendly polymerization process, as it eliminates the need for a transition metal catalyst, which can be toxic and expensive. Additionally, organic photoredox catalyzed ATRP offers greater control over the polymerization process, allowing for the synthesis of well-defined polymers with controlled molecular weight and low dispersity. |
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| SDGs Covered |
Good Health and Well-being (SDG #3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG #6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG #7), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG #9), Climate Action (SDG #13). |
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| List of 5 Relevant Publications |
Arif, M., Raza, H., Haroon, S. M., Moussa, S. B., Tahir, F., & Alzahrani, A. Y. A. (2024) Silica@poly(chitosan-N-isopropylacrylamide-methacrylic acid) microgels: Extraction of palladium (II) ions and in situ formation of palladium nanoparticles for pollutant reduction
Catalytic reduction of nitroarenes by palladium nanoparticles decorated silica@poly(chitosan-N-isopropylacrylamide-methacrylic acid) hybrid microgels
Arif, M., Javed, M. and Akhter, T., (2024) Crosslinked polymeric networks of TiO 2–polymer composites: a comprehensive review
Arif, M., Raza, H. and Akhter, T., (2024) UV-Vis spectroscopy in the characterization and applications of smart microgels and metal nanoparticle-decorated smart microgels: a critical review
Arif, M., Raza, H., Tahir, F., Moussa, S.B., Haroon, S.M., Alzahrani, A.Y.A. and Akhter, T., (2024) Stabilized Ag nanoparticles loaded smart poly (chitosan-N-isopropylacrylamide-methacrylic acid) hybrid microgels for catalytic reduction of nitroarenes |
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