Akansha Mehta

I am a materials chemist with expertise in the synthesis, characterization, and functionalization of advanced inorganic and hybrid materials. My research focuses on nanostructured materials for solar cell applications, particularly in the development of photoactive layers, charge transport materials, and interface engineering, including CO₂ reduction. My work involves the design of metal oxide nanostructures, glass-ceramic composites, and heterostructured materials with controlled morphology, porosity, and surface chemistry. I investigate structure–property relationships governing light absorption, charge separation, charge transport, and recombination dynamics to improve the efficiency and stability of next-generation photovoltaic systems.

My expertise lies in materials chemistry and nanotechnology, with a focus on:

• Photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical systems
• Energy materials for hydrogen production, batteries, and solar cells
• Additive manufacturing (3D printing) of functional materials
• Upcycling of industrial and pharmaceutical waste into high-value materials
• Surface characterization and advanced analytical techniques (XRD, SEM, XPS, ICP-MS, etc.)

I combine experimental research with sustainable design principles to develop scalable solutions for energy and environmental challenges.

• Preparation of materials for battery technologies and solar cells (Tampere University)
• Upcycling of waste medical glass for photocatalytic water treatment membranes
• Development of 3D-printed electrodes for hydrogen production and energy storage
• Functionalized glass-ceramic membranes for advanced water purification
• CO₂ hydrogenation and catalytic fuel conversion studies
• Sustainable additive manufacturing of porous ceramic materials

• Laureate of the L'Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Award (Slovakia, 2023)
• Winner of CO₂-Free Scientific Award (Framatome & French Embassy, 2025)
• Finalist for ESET Science Award (Outstanding Scientist under 35, 2025)

My primary research goal is to develop sustainable, high-performance materials for clean energy and environmental applications. I aim to:

• Advance photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical technologies for hydrogen production
• Develop next-generation materials for energy storage and conversion
• Promote circular economy approaches through waste upcycling into functional materials
• Bridge fundamental research with industrial applications for real-world impact

• Photocatalysis and environmental remediation
• Hydrogen production and water splitting
• Energy storage materials (batteries and supercapacitors)
• Additive manufacturing of advanced materials
• Glass-ceramic materials and waste upcycling
• Nanostructured catalysts and functional coatings

• Pundir, S., Kainth, S., Mehta, A., Sharma, P., & Pandey, O. P. (2026). Highly stable bifunctional MXenes/Mn₃O₄/CuO nanocomposite for improved overall water-splitting. Fuel, 415, 138447.
• Sajjadi, S., Pundir, S., Klement, R., Vlčková, S., Baráth, P., Kraxner, J., & Mehta, A. (2025). Dual-functional Fe₂O₃-decorated zeolitic catalysts for antibiotic degradation and oxygen evolution. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.
• Farooqa, R., Singh, M., Singh, J., & Mehta, A. (2025). Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of thiamethoxam using Ni-doped PbS nanoparticles. Frontiers in Materials, 12.
• Abd-Elsatar, A. G., Elsayed, H., Basak, O., Mosas, K., Nowicka, A., Kaňková, H., Mehta, A., Kraxner, J., & Bernardo, E. (2025). Plasma ion-exchanged pharmaceutical glass for precision drug delivery. Applied Surface Science Advances, 27.
• Singh, J., Mehta, A., & Basu, S. (2024). N-doped nano-casted carbon monolith for Pb(II) removal and photocatalytic degradation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
• Mahmoud, M., Kraxner, J., Mehta, A., Elsayed, H., Galusek, D., & Bernardo, E. (2024). Upcycling waste-derived glass into photocatalytic scaffolds. Heliyon.
• Mehta, A. (2023). Dye removal using magnetized nanohybrid adsorbent. In Nanohybrid Materials for Treatment of Textile Dyes. Springer.
• Mehta, A., Ozog, P., Dasan, A., Kraxner, J., Elsayed, H., Galusek, D., & Bernardo, E. (2023). Low-cost structured photocatalysts from pharmaceutical glass. Journal of the European Ceramic Society.
• Mehta, A., Colusso, E., Kraxner, J., Galusek, D., & Bernardo, E. (2022). Waste-derived glass for photocatalytic applications. Ceramics International.
• Rather, R. A., Mehta, A., Lu, Y., Valant, M., Fang, M., & Liu, W. (2021). BiVO₄-based photocatalysts for water oxidation: A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.