ABOUT REACT
React for human habitat is a Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the School of engineering and applied science (SEAS) at the University of Pennsylvania, aimed at Research and Education in Active Coatings Technologies (REACT) for human habitat. This PIRE project addresses key fundamental research challenges through an international educational platform to develop Active Coating Technologies (ACTs) that divert, collect and purify water (ACT 1), suppress bacteria adhesion and proliferation (ACT 2), and convert and store solar energy (ACT 3). To enable coatings that will transform the human habitat, the three ACTs take advantage of the versatility provided by polymers, nanoparticles and their mixtures to create coatings with tailored chemistry, surface texture and function.
REACT's NSF PIRE funding ended August 2022. Research in the publication pipeline is expected to be published through 2023. Publications resulting from this program at the end of 2022 are listed here. Our NSF award page also provides research- and education-related outcomes.
One outcome that builds on REACT is a pilot project on extreme urban heat. We are excited to see where this will go.
REACT Participants
THREE ACTS
ACT 1. Hierarchical Structures for Water Management
This act aims to develop new active technologies for water purification and management. Shu Yang and Robert Riggleman are the co-leaders of this act. They collaborate with Daeyeon Lee, Randall Kamien, Kathleen Stebe, Gang Feng (Villanova), Arjun Yodh to achieve these goals. GIANT partners Michel Langlet , David Riassetto , and Celine Ternon , and Solvay partner Remi Dreyfus also participate in research and educational activities of this act.