Nishadi Bandara

Chemistry

Position:
PhD Candidate in Chemistry, UConn

Research Interests:

My research interests lie at the intersection of functional polymer composites, smart materials, and sustainable energy technologies, with a focus on materials for sensing, energy harvesting, and environmental remediation. I developed piezoresistive graphene-based conductive hydrogels using the Solvent Interface Trapping Method, enabling a scalable, low-cost route to elastic, conductive porous networks. These hydrogels exhibited high gauge sensitivity (GF ~13 at 5% strain) and durability for real-time motion sensing in wearables. Their dual functionality also enabled efficient extraction of dyes and metal ions via electromechanical cycling.

Another focus of my work involves polymer graphene composites for moisture-enabled electric generators (MEGs). I established a fabrication route that bypasses high-energy treatments, yielding devices with stable voltage output across a wide temperature range (–25 °C to 35 °C) and excellent power scalability. These MEGs could directly power small electronics and support self-powered tactile sensing applications. This approach advances the development of sustainable, green energy solutions by integrating low-impact materials and employing energy-efficient fabrication methods.

Additionally, I have engineered hydrophobic polymer surfaces via surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP), employing a “passing-through” strategy to achieve low polydispersity, overcoming diffusion-limited constraints typical of conventional approaches. These materials are leading anti-fouling, waterproof, and biomedical contexts. These materials show promise in anti-fouling, waterproof, and biomedical contexts. Across projects, I value cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation in sustainable materials engineering.

Education:

  • PhD, Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US, Expected 2025
  • BSc. (Hons), Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019      

Work Experience:

  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2019 -2020)

Contact Information:

 

 

 

Contact Information