The researchers of Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed a graphene-based superhydrophobic materials that can separate oil and water from both oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions respectively.

IIT Guwahati research paper has been authored by Dr. Uttam Manna, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Guwahati along with his research scholars Mr. Avijit Das, Mr. Kousik Maji, and Mr. Sarajit Naska.

The IIT Guwahati research team has shown the efficacy of hierarchically structured graphene oxide nanosheets in removing oil or aqueous contaminates from respective emulsions, thereby effecting separation of oil and water.

Superhydrophobic materials – materials with extreme water repellence – are considered the best materials for removing oil from water, and they are being extensively studied for applications such as water purification and self-cleaning surfaces.

The problem with superhydrophobic materials is that they are generally not scalable, or use environmentally toxic products such as fluorinated polymers/small molecules, or have poor mechanical and chemical stability.

Moreover, the conventional spongy superhydrophobic materials are inherently less appropriate for separating oil-in-water emulsion due to poor accessibility of the dispersed oil droplets to the oil absorbing superhydrophobic interface.

Speaking about IIT Guwahati research Dr. Manna said the hydrophobicity of materials is largely governed by the physical architecture and the chemical composition, and so such materials can be rationally created by combining low-surface-energy materials with hierarchical roughness.

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This is exactly what the IIT Guwahati research group has done in its quest for oil-water separating materials. The IIT Guwahati research team have manipulated graphene, a form of carbon, to have superhydrophobic properties suitable for separation of oil from water in emulsions.

The study of graphene for such applications is not unprecedented. Since the award of the Nobel prize to its creators in 2010, graphene – two dimensional structures of carbon – has been extensively studied for a variety of applications.

Composed of pure carbon, graphene is similar to graphite but with characteristics that make it extraordinarily light and strong, giving it a moniker of “wonder material” in present day materials science research.

Research all over the world have attempted to engineer the structure and composition of graphene to get surface roughness and low surface energy, suitable for use in applications that require superhydrophobicity. Such engineering is challenging and complicated.

The IIT Guwahati team has developed a facile method to produce graphene oxide-polymer composite with hierarchical topography and low surface energy chemistry in the confined space.

Such graphene oxide species showed ‘confined-super- water-repellence’. They further deposited iron oxide nanoparticles on the two dimensional nanosheets, which made the entire material magnetically active.

Dr. Manna further said their graphene oxide composites were able to separate oil from water in emulsions with high efficiency.

The uniqueness was that the separation could be brought about even under extremes of pH, salinity, surfactant contaminations etc. as is seen in real life scenarios.

The IIT Guwahati research team’s graphene oxide species was capable of selectively soaking up tiny crude-oil droplets in oil-to-water emulsions with high absorption capacity (above 1000 wt%), as well as coalescing larger oil droplets of emulsions from water-in-oil emulsions.

Further functionalization of this chemically/magnetically active 2D-nano-interface could help in the development of functional interfaces for various applications related to energy, catalysis and healthcare, said Dr. Manna.

IIT Guwahati research work has so far covered areas like theoretical and applied aspects of core science physics, chemistry and mathematics), social sciences, information and communication technology, electronics, artificial intelligence.

Material science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, alternative energy, environment, water resources, structural and earthquake engineering, geotechnical engineering, chemical engineering, heat transfer, machine design, manufacturing, product design and others are also covered as a part of research.

IIT Guwahati research (sponsored) in the institute has contributed in terms of development in knowledge and technology. It has also helped to bring the academia closer to the industry.

In addition, it has added to the infrastructure of the Institute through acquisition of modern equipment for the research projects.

The IIT Guwahati research projects have also acted as the training ground for the young post-graduates just out of the universities.

IIT Guwahati Research and Development Office is the wing of the Institute which facilitates, channelizes, records and regulates as per the Institute rules all the sponsored research projects and consultancy works in the Institute.

The Research and Development Section is administered by the Dean of Research and Development.

The schedule to submit applications for JEE Advanced 2025 has been announced along with that of AAT 2025 registration,

Application process for AAT starts after result declaration of JEE Advanced. This year too, the trend is no different.

Who will conduct AAT 2025?

AAT 2025 will be conducted by IIT Kanpur and is expected to see a participation in impressive numbers. The same institution is conducting JEE Advanced 2025.

Details about the exam are available on the official website mentioned above. Students who pass AAT 2025 will be able to study BArch in IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur and IIT (BHU) Varnasi.

Who can take up AAT 2025 registration?

Students who have passed JEE Advanced 2025 with required qualifying marks can take up AAT 2025 registration. Applying for JEE Advanced requires a pass in JEE Mains.

Candidates who have passed plus two with maths, physics and chemistry as subjects will be able to take up JEE Mains registration. The process to take up JEE Advanced AAT 2025 registration is online.

1. The URL has to be typed into the browser and the webpage has to be allowed to download.

2. Once the website is available, students should click the link for JEE Advanced AAT 2025 registration and enter JEE Advanced 2025 registration number, their date of birth, mobile number and email address.

3. Post providing the above details, applicants will be asked if they are interested in AAT. Students have to answer ‘Yes’ to take up JEE Advanced AAT 2025 registration.

4. Candidates have to provide the required information and choose the centers where they wish to write the exam and submit the form.

5. They will receive message indicating successful completion of JEE Advanced AAT 2025 registration.

The message has to be downloaded and a printout of it has to be taken and preserved for use in future. This could be of use during the admission process.

Website for JEE Advanced 2025/AAT 2025 Registration is Here

Exam pattern

Candidates who have completed JEE Advanced AAT 2025 registration must also know the exam pattern if they are to score good marks.

Those who have taken up AAT 2025 registration can take up the exam which will be held in offline mode, as a pen and paper mode test.

Candidates will have three hours time to answer all the questions. The medium of the test is English.

The sections in the question paper are – Imagination and aesthetic sensitivity, three dimensional perception, Geometrical drawing, Freehand drawing and Architectural Awareness.

Syllabus for AAT 2025

The next thing to do after completing AAT 2025 registration is focus on preparing for the test.

The subjects to be studied while preparing for AAT 2025 are mentioned below. Candidates can also refer the official website for more information on syllabus when the registration for the exam begins:

Geometrical Drawing

Exercises in geometrical drawing containing lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, circles, etc. Study of plan (top view), elevation (front or side views) of simple solid objects like prisms, cones, cylinders, cubes, splayed surface holders, etc.

Freehand Drawing

This would comprise of simple drawing depicting the total object in its right form and proportion, surface texture, relative location and details of its component parts in appropriate scale.

Common domestic or day-to-day life usable objects like furniture, equipment, etc., from memory.

Three dimension perception

Understanding and appreciation of three-dimensional forms with building elements, colour, volume and orientation. Visualization through structuring objects in memory.

Architectural Awareness

General interest and awareness of famous architectural creations – both national and international, places and personalities (architects, designers, etc.) in the related domain.

Imagination and Aesthetic Sensitivity

Composition exercise with given elements. Context mapping.

Creativity check through innovative uncommon test with familiar objects. Sense of colour grouping or application.

The medium of the test is English. The sections in the question paper are – Imagination and aesthetic sensitivity, three dimensional perception, Geometrical drawing, Freehand drawing and Architectural Awareness.

The admit cards obtained for JEE Advanced 2025 can also be used to gain entry into the test centers for AAT 2024.

Point to remember

Candidates can visit the official website of JEE Advanced exam for more information on JEE Advanced AAT 2025 registration and other related topics.

The students have to quickly take up the AAT 2025 registration as the time left would be very short.

Like JEE Advanced exam where the registration is open for a longer duration, that of AAT 2025 registration is open for only a short period.

The details about AAT 2025 registration provided above are for general understanding purpose of the students.

There could be some changes in the exam, students can visit the official website of the exam at regular intervals to receive updates.

More information could be provided as the time for AAT 2025 registration would commence, till that time, students can refer other sources also.

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