Environmental Protection
Materials and process strategies for acid-mist suppression, air filtration, water purification, and contaminant removal.
K-O-S-M-O-S
Kakoria's Lab for Optimization
of Sustainable Materials and Systems
Pioneering structured polymeric and nanostructured materials for Air/water purification, AI/ML for functional material discovery, energy storage safety, EV battery safety, Copper electrowinning, and circular resource recovery.
At a Glance
Research Focus Areas
A snapshot of our work at the intersection of functional materials, environmental protection, and energy safety. Each area features one representative publication; visit the Research tab for the detailed scope, methods, and broader research portfolio.
EV Battery Fire & Safety
Research on lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, fire hazards, toxic off-gases, and safer incident response.
Functional Materials & Nanofibers
Engineering polymer nanocomposites and fibrous structures for high-performance filtration and sustainable applications.
Thermal Engineering & Fire Dynamics
Exploring heat-transfer performance, thermal processes, fire behaviour, and engineering approaches to improve safety.
Explore the research in detail
Read about the research questions, approaches, and application areas on the dedicated Research page.
Dr. Ashish Kakoria
Lead Principal Investigator / Lead Scientist
Former Postdoctoral Fellow (Missouri University of Science & Technology, USA)
About PI
Over 7+ years across Missouri S&T, USA, IIT Mandi, IIT Delhi, NIT Kurukshetra, and CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, I have developed nanofiber-based materials for environmental pollution control and clean energy. Using electrospinning and solution blowing, I engineer scalable, low-cost filtration solutions for air and water. I have led research projects funded by the EPA, NIOSH, DST, MHRD, and the Ministry of Power, India, translating nanomaterials science into applied industrial and public health solutions, including acid mist suppression systems for copper electrowinning, air filters derived from waste cigarette butts, and face masks manufactured from waste plastics. These works have resulted in 2 patents (1 granted, 1 provisional), 15 Q1 publications, and 400+ citations in materials science and environmental engineering journals, including research on gallium oxide nanofibers for hydrogen evolution and biopolymer fiber applications. I'm currently seeking a postdoctoral or research faculty position where I can lead independent projects at the intersection of nanomaterials, environmental sustainability, and green energy, ideally with opportunities to mentor graduate researchers and pursue extramural funding. Open to connecting with PIs, department chairs, and researchers working in nanomaterials, filtration, electrospinning, solution blowing, or environmental engineering.
Work Experience & Education
Research faculty
Chitkara University, Punjab (2026 – Present)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA (2023 – 2026)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (2022 – 2023)
Ph.D. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi (2017 – 2022)
M.tech in Material Science and Nanotechnology
National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra (2015 – 2017)
B.tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering
Lingayas University, Faridabad, (2011 – 2015)
Research & Innovation
Research Focus Areas
Our research integrates advanced materials engineering, environmental sustainability, energy-storage safety, and data-driven process development to address challenges in industrial pollution control, clean energy, resource recovery, and functional material design.
Environmental Engineering
Advanced Materials
Energy Safety
Sustainable Manufacturing
🌱
Research Area 01
Environmental Pollution Control & Water Stewardship
Developing materials, interfacial control strategies, and separation technologies to mitigate industrial emissions and improve environmental protection. Research addresses acid mist suppression in copper electrowinning, heavy-metal removal, acid mine drainage, wastewater treatment, and air and water purification.
Acid Mist Mitigation
Water Treatment
Heavy Metals
Air Pollution
Selected Publications
-
Optimizing Acid Mist Suppression: Unraveling Surfactant Effects
on Bubble Formation and Bursting Dynamics in Copper Electrowinning
Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, 2025
-
Sulfuric Acid Mist Generation, Calculation and Suppression
Mechanism and Methods in Electrowinning: A Review
Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2026
-
Industrially Scalable Chitosan/Nylon-6 Nanofiber-Based
Reusable Adsorbent for Efficient Heavy-Metal Removal
Polymer, 2021
🔋
Research Area 02
EV Battery Fire Safety & Thermal Runaway
Investigating the thermal degradation, fire behavior, mechanical failure, and chemical hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries. Research examines battery thermal runaway, toxic gas emissions, off-gas characterization, and the effects of battery chemistry and state of charge on fire hazards and emergency response.
Thermal Runaway
Fire Dynamics
Toxic Off-Gases
Battery Safety
Selected Publications
-
Comparative Fire Hazards of Lithium-Ion Battery Chemistries:
Linking Thermal Behavior, Gas Toxicity, and State-of-Charge
to Composite Risk Profiles
Journal of Power Sources, 2025
-
Underground Mine Tunnel Fire Dynamics: Experimental
Investigation and AI-Driven Characterization of Flame Behavior
Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2026
-
Explore Related Research on Battery Thermal Runaway,
Gas Emissions, and Fire Risk
Additional publications and research records
🧬
Research Area 03
Advanced Functional Fibers & Nanomaterials
Designing and manufacturing functional polymeric fibers, nanocomposites, and porous membranes using electrospinning, solution blowing, supersonic nanoblowing, and related processing technologies. Research explores filtration efficiency, electroactive surfaces, structure–property relationships, and scalable materials for environmental and energy applications.
Nanofiber Manufacturing
MXene Composites
Functional Membranes
Filtration
Selected Publications
-
Novel Supersonically Solution-Blown Nanofibers from Waste
PET Bottles for PM0.1–2 Filtration: From Waste to Pollution Mitigation
Polymer, 2021
-
Electroactive PVDF/Ti3C2Tx MXene Functionalized Nanofiber
Mats with High Surface Potential for High-Efficiency
Indoor and Outdoor Submicron PM Filtration
Environmental Pollution, 2026
-
Ultrafine Nanofiber-Based High-Efficiency Air Filter
from Waste Cigarette Butts
Polymer, 2022
♻️
Research Area 04
Circular Economy & Sustainable Resource Recovery
Transforming waste streams into useful materials and exploring resource-efficient industrial processes. Research includes polymer waste valorization, recycled-material filtration, hydrometallurgical processes, copper recovery, and the development of materials that support more sustainable manufacturing and resource utilization.
Waste Valorization
Plastic Recycling
Copper Recovery
Circular Materials
Selected Publications
-
Waste PET Bottles as Feedstock for Functional
Nanofiber Filtration Media
Related publication: Polymer, 2021
-
Nanofiber from Waste Plastic Bottles
Granted Indian Patent No. 482026, 2023
-
Reuse of Cigarette Filters for Energy Applications
Conference book chapter, 2020
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Research Area 05
Data-Driven Materials Discovery & Process Modeling
Integrating experimental materials research with computational modeling and machine learning to understand material performance and process behavior. Research capabilities include artificial neural networks, property prediction, multiphase transport modeling, filtration analytics, and data-driven process optimization.
Machine Learning
Artificial Neural Networks
Transport Modeling
Python / MATLAB
Selected Publications
-
Advancements in Fibrous Aerosol Filtration Across
Experimental Analysis, Numerical Modeling, and Fabrication Technologies
Journal of Materials Science, 2026
-
Efficiency Comparison of Reduced Graphene Oxide
Composite-Incorporated Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous
Filters for Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust and Coal Dust
ACS Omega, 2026
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Research Approach
From Materials Design to Real-World Applications
Our approach connects materials synthesis, scalable manufacturing, experimental validation, and computational analysis. The objective is to develop technically sound solutions for environmental protection, safer energy systems, and sustainable industrial processes.
Research Collaboration
Interested in collaborative research, funded projects, technology development, or student research opportunities in advanced materials, environmental engineering, and energy safety?
Research Output
Publications & Patents
Explore our research contributions in advanced functional materials, nanofiber manufacturing, environmental pollution control, aerosol filtration, energy storage safety, and sustainable materials engineering.
15
Published journal articles
5
Conference and chapter records
2
Patents
2
Manuscripts under revision
Counts reflect the records listed below. The two conference records for the MXene filtration work are retained separately because they appear as separate entries in the CV.
Section 01
International Journal Articles
Peer-reviewed journal publications, listed in reverse chronological order.
2026
Review Article
Sulfuric Acid Mist Generation, Calculation and Suppression Mechanism and Methods in Electrowinning: A Review ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Guang Xu.
Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 173, 073502 (2026).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2026
Research Article
Efficiency Comparison of Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) Composite-Incorporated Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous Filters for Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust and Coal Dust ↗
Mahsa Moradi, Ashish Kakoria, Lina Zheng, Guang Xu.
ACS Omega, 11(12), 18915–18922 (2026).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2026
Research Article
Underground Mine Tunnel Fire Dynamics: Experimental Investigation and AI-Driven Characterization of Flame Behavior ↗
Jingmin Xu, Rui Tian, Ashish Kakoria, Aamir Iqbal, Tao Yang, Lina Zheng, Guang Xu.
Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 174, 107719 (2026).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2026
Review Article
Free Surface Unconfined Melt Electrospinning: An Emergent Approach ↗
Neelam Sheoran, Elnaz Shabani, Ruby Priya, Jitendra Adhikari, Ashish Kakoria.
Journal of Materials Science (2026).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2026
Research Article
Electroactive PVDF/Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene Functionalized Nanofiber Mats with High Surface Potential for High-Efficiency Indoor and Outdoor Submicron PM Filtration ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Aamir Iqbal, Mahsa Moradi, Lina Zheng, Guang Xu.
Environmental Pollution, 392, 127659 (2026).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2025
Research Article
Optimizing Acid Mist Suppression: Unravelling Surfactant Effects on Bubble Formation and Bursting Dynamics in Copper Electrowinning ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Aamir Iqbal, Ellen Amoako Afful, Guang Xu.
Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, 11, 4693–4704 (2025).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2025
Research Article
Comparative Fire Hazards of Lithium-Ion Battery Chemistries: Linking Thermal Behavior, Gas Toxicity, and State-of-Charge to Composite Risk Profiles ↗
Aamir Iqbal, Ashish Kakoria, Syed Talha Riaz, Jingmin Xu, Robert Illango Pushparaj, Guang Xu.
Journal of Power Sources, 655, 237914 (2025).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2024
Research Article
Advancing Occupational Health in Mining: Investigating Low-Cost Sensors Suitability for Improved Coal Dust Exposure Monitoring ↗
Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Nana Amoah, Ashish Kakoria, Yang Wang, Guang Xu.
Measurement Science and Technology, 35(2), 025128 (2024).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2022
Research Article
Enhancement in Pool Boiling Heat Transfer of Ethanol and Nanofluid on Novel Supersonic Nanoblown Nanofiber Textured Surface ↗
S. S. Thakur, S. S. Chandel, Ashish Kakoria, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Experimental Heat Transfer, 35, 516–532 (2022).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2022
Research Article
Ultrafine Nanofiber-Based High-Efficiency Air Filter from Waste Cigarette Butts ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Polymer, 255, 125121 (2022).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2021
Research Article
Novel Supersonically Solution-Blown Nanofibers from Waste PET Bottles for PM0.1–2 Filtration: From Waste to Pollution Mitigation ↗
Ashish Kakoria, S. S. Chandel, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Polymer, 234, 124260 (2021).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2021
Research Article
Industrially Scalable Chitosan/Nylon-6 (CS/N) Nanofiber-Based Reusable Adsorbent for Efficient Removal of Heavy Metal from Water ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Polymer, 213, 123333 (2021).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2018
Research Article
Gallium Oxide Nanofibers for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Bandhana Devi, Abhishek Anand, Aditi Halder, Rik Rani Koner, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2, 64–74 (2018).
View Publisher Article / DOI
2018
Review Article · Open Access
A Review on Biopolymer-Based Fibers via Electrospinning and Solution Blowing and Their Applications ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Fibers, 6(3), 45 (2018).
Read Open-Access Article
2026
Review Article · Open Access
Review: Advancements in Fibrous Aerosol Filtration Across Experimental Analysis, Numerical Modeling, and Fabrication Technologies ↗
Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Ashish Ranjan Kumar, Ashish Kakoria, Lina Zheng, Guang Xu.
Journal of Materials Science, 61, 26747–26782 (2026).
This article appeared under the revision-submitted section of the CV dated June 2026; the publisher subsequently recorded it as published.
Read Open-Access ArticleSection 02
Conference Papers & Book Chapters
Conference and book-chapter contributions documented in the CV. Select a title to open the available publisher, proceedings, or scholarly search record.
PVDF-Ti₃C₂Tₓ (MXene) Ultrafine Nanofiber Membrane for Effective Fine Particulate Matter Filtration ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Aamir Iqbal, Guang Xu.
North American Mine Ventilation Symposium, 2025.
The link opens the symposium schedule; a separate full-text proceedings link was not verified.
PVDF-Ti₃C₂Tₓ (MXene) Ultrafine Nanofiber Membrane for Effective Fine Particulate Matter Filtration ↗
Ashish Kakoria, Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Guang Xu.
International Mine Ventilation Congress, 2024.
Nanofibers for Sustainable Filtration: A Waste to Energy Approach ↗
Prakash Giri, Ashish Kakoria, Sahil Verma, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Machines, Mechanism and Robotics: Proceedings of iNaCoMM.
View Book Chapter / DOIReuse of Cigarette Filters for Energy Applications ↗
Prakash Giri, Ashish Kakoria, Sahil Verma, Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Functional Textiles and Clothing 2020.
View Book Chapter / DOIUnderground Mines Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process ↗
Syed Talha Riaz, Aamir Iqbal, Ashish Kakoria, Guang Xu.
Listed in the CV under Mine Ventilation, Environment, Safety, and Health / North American Mine Ventilation Symposium.
A direct publisher record and publication year were not established from the available CV information.
Section 03
Patents & Technology Development
Intellectual property related to sustainable nanofiber manufacturing and waste-derived filtration materials.
⚖️
Granted
Nanofibers from Plastic Bottles
Inventors listed in the CV: Sumit Sinha-Ray, Sheshang Singh Chandel, Prakash Giri, and Ashish Kakoria.
Indian Patent No.: 482026
Grant date: 13 December 2023
Status in CV: Granted in India
💡
Pending
Nanofiber Air Filter Derived from Waste Cigarette Butts and a Method for Preparing the Same
Inventors listed in the CV: Ashish Kakoria and Sumit Sinha-Ray.
Indian application No.: 202131046249
Status in CV: Pending in India
Section 04
Manuscripts Under Revision
The following two manuscripts were listed under revision in the CV dated June 2026. They are separated from published work and should not be counted as published journal articles unless their status changes.
Laboratory Investigation of Various Extinguishing Agents on Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Batteries with Nickel Manganese Cobalt and Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Cathode Chemistries
Aamir Iqbal, Ashish Kakoria, Syed Talha Riaz, Jingmin Xu, Robert Illango Pushparaj, Guang Xu.
Journal of Energy Storage (2026 CV listing).
The CV lists this manuscript as revision submitted. No public publisher article link was verified.
Check for an Updated Publication Record ↗Characterizing Surface Potential Distributions of Electrospun and Supersonic Solution-Blown Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanofiber Membranes by Full-Area Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy for Submicron Air Filtration
Mirza Muhammad Zaid, Syed Talha Riaz, Guang Xu.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2026 CV listing).
The CV lists this manuscript as revision submitted. No public publisher article link was verified.
Check for an Updated Publication Record ↗Explore the Complete Research Record
Access additional publications, citations, co-authored work, and research records through Google Scholar and ORCID.
Join the Research
Openings & Collaboration
We welcome motivated students, researchers, and collaborators interested in advanced functional materials, environmental sustainability, filtration, and energy safety.
🎓
Student Research & Projects
Potential project themes include nanofiber manufacturing, air and water treatment, industrial acid-mist mitigation, sustainable materials, and battery fire safety. Availability of formal student positions depends on university approvals and current funding.
- Materials fabrication and performance testing
- Environmental monitoring and filtration
- Thermal analysis and battery safety
- Literature reviews, data analysis, and modelling
🤝
Research & Industry Collaboration
We are interested in discussions with academic groups, industrial partners, and public-sector organisations working on pollution prevention, material performance, sustainable manufacturing, and energy safety.
Discuss a Collaboration ↗How to express interest
Email a short introduction, CV, research interests, relevant skills, and the specific project area you would like to discuss. Please note that this page does not indicate a currently funded vacancy unless one is explicitly announced.
Email your enquiry →Get in Touch
Contact the Lab
For research enquiries, potential collaborations, student projects, speaking invitations, or questions about our publications, please use the contact details below.
✉️
For direct academic and research correspondence.
akakoria@gmail.com🔬
Research Profiles
Explore publications and researcher identifiers.
🏛️
Institution
KOSMOS Lab
Chitkara University, Punjab, India
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