Our Research

The Sustainable Dye Chemistry Laboratory is dedicated to advancing science through both fundamental research and real-world applications by investigating dye-structure property relationships and dye-substrate interactions of bio-based and synthetic dyes.

We are particularly interested in studying the molecular, excited-state, and structural properties of dyes, as well as key dye-substrate interactions such as dye affinity and absorption within polymeric materials.

Our research strikes a balance between applied and fundamental science, ensuring that each project contributes to the broader understanding of molecular and material interactions and/or drives practical advancements.

Research Thrust Areas

$Diagram of CO2 infusion to reduce/replace wastewater processing. Illustration credit: Jie Sun, Engineering Communications$

Sustainable Coloration Approaches

We are designing and developing dyes to advance sustainable coloration technologies across multiple applications. This includes optimizing dyes for supercritical carbon dioxide dyeing, a waterless dyeing process that minimizes wastewater production, chemical discharge, and energy consumption, as well as creating dyes for sustainable permanent hair coloration to address the toxicity concerns of conventional dyes, such as skin sensitization.

View latest research publication here

$Artistic rendering of the world inside a flask. Three gears turn nearby Illustration credit: Jie Sun, Engineering Communications$

Green Dye Design and Synthesis Methods

We are exploring innovative methods to design and synthesize dyes that prioritize green chemistry/sustainability. This includes leveraging computational approaches such as cheminformatics to guide dye design, enabling the prediction and optimization of dye properties before synthesis. By integrating these tools with experimental methods, we aim to streamline the development of dyes that meet both performance and sustainability criteria.

We are also investigating green synthesis methods that utilize mild reaction conditions, such as lower temperatures and the use of bio-based or renewable reagents, to reduce the environmental impact of dye production.

$Functional Dyes Illustrated. Illustration Credit: Jie Sun, Engineering Communications.$

Functional Dyes

We are exploring innovative approaches to enhancing the photostability of dyes by leveraging their functionality beyond color. Our goal is to design novel dyes that exhibit exceptional photostability, paving the way for advanced applications.

Collaborations

Our laboratory collaborates with academic, industrial, and governmental partners who share our vision for advancing sustainable dye chemistry. If your interests align with ours, we welcome opportunities to collaborate.