By Crystal Carter, Texas A&M Innovation, September 10, 2024
Sarbajit Banerjee, Ph.D. is the Davidson Chair Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University. His research on developing tetrapodal textured Janus textiles technology based on low-cost materials, offers accessible alternatives for menstrual health and clean drinking water in low-income countries. Dr. Banerjee, a prolific inventor with a portfolio of licensed technologies, including innovative battery material exemplifies Texas A&M’s commitment to leveraging innovation for a better world.
Prolific Inventor Advances Technology for a Sustainable Future
Dr. Banerjee’s work on tetrapodal textured Janus textiles—tailored fabrics with dual functionality for applications such as clean drinking water and menstrual health—have the potential to provide practical solutions in resource-scarce environments. The textiles comprise a Janus fabric top layer inspired by the design of advanced filters and meshes used for oil-spill-cleanup and the separation of water/oil emulsions in the Canadian Oil Sands.
His research is advancing in the field of energy storage with new improvements in lithium-ion battery technology. As published in Nature Materials, the pre-intercalation method developed Dr. Banerjee in collaboration with former Ph.D. student Yuting Luo now an Assistant Professor at John Hopkins University, Joseph Handy now at Intel, and current Ph.D. student John Ponis as well as other students and colleagues at Dimien LLC and the Harish Chandra Institute in India focuses on the microscopic approach to alter the properties of materials, which improve the performance, safety, and sustainability of lithium-ion batteries. This research is crucial for powering the next generation of portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and home energy storage.
Dr. Banerjee’s approach to innovation goes beyond developing technologies; it is rooted in a commitment to creating solutions that contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world. “I believe in the power of science and technology to solve the challenges we face today and to improve the quality of life for future generations,” he says.
The Future of Innovation: What Excites Dr. Banerjee
When asked what excites him about the future of innovation, Dr. Banerjee paints a picture of a world on the cusp of remarkable change. “We are entering a world full of possibilities enabled by the availability of AI tools to accelerate innovation, instrumentation that is helping us understand processes at the levels of atoms and electrons, and a new dawn of manufacturing that offers unprecedented diversity of scale and design,” he shares.
Dr. Banerjee is particularly inspired by the passion of young people globally, including his students at Texas A&M University. “I am inspired by the passion that young people across the world—including our Aggies—have for leaving the world a better place and for being willing to step up to address the defining challenges of our generation in energy, sustainability, and access,” he adds.
Next 5-Year Research Goals: Driving Change in Sustainable Materials and Innovation
Looking ahead, Dr. Banerjee has set ambitious goals for the next five years. He recognizes the critical need for financial resources to tackle significant global challenges and aims to bridge the gap between innovation and capital. “One of the challenges inventors and innovators face is connecting to capital and ensuring that we have the financial wherewithal we need to work on big challenges,” he notes.
His research will focus on sustainable materials supply chains, a crucial area for the ongoing energy transition. “I am particularly concerned about and interested in working on sustainable materials supply chains because we have a lot riding on this for the energy transition,” he explains. Dr. Banerjee is dedicated to finding ways to harvest critical materials from unconventional reserves and to develop methods for recycling and upcycling materials to reduce dependency on finite resources.
Beyond his research, Dr. Banerjee is passionate about mentoring the next generation of innovators. “I am interested in training the next generation of entrepreneurs to go out and work on important problems,” he says, underscoring his commitment to fostering a culture of innovation that is not only scientifically advanced but also socially conscious.
His work with tetrapodal textured Janus textiles and lithium-ion batteries embodies this philosophy. Both technologies are designed with a focus on sustainability—from the materials used in their creation to their potential impacts on the environment and society. By optimizing performance while minimizing resource consumption and waste, Dr. Banerjee is setting new standards in sustainable innovation.
Texas A&M Innovation promotes an innovative and entrepreneurial culture among A&M’s research community and uses a rigorous process to guide projects from new innovations through market commercialization. We encourage industry partnerships, support startups and entrepreneurial commercialization, make connections to mentors, funding, and other critical resources to accelerate commercialization of System IP. Through our work we strive to promote regional economic development, and ultimately impact the lives of people locally, nationally and globally.
