PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (September 1, 2022) The global issue of sustainability is becoming more urgent and critical. With $499,526.00 in funding, Yunxiang Gao, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and physics in the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences (BCAS), is motivated to contribute to the research that resolves the challenge. With funding from the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture – 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program, for his project, Multi-Functional Cross-linked Carbon Nanotube/Hydrogel Nanocomposites For Enhanced Fertilizer Utilization Efficiency And Drought Alleviation Gao is poised to
Yunxiang Gao, Ph.D.
Gao, a chemist, sought resources to support his chemical research to improve soil’s low fertilizer utilization rates and water retention during frequent droughts, two significant challenges facing the agricultural industry.
Gao stated, “This support made it possible. My initial reaction to the award was excitement since this was my first significant federal grant funding during the tenure-track period. Challenging research can also be joyful if it addresses problems that you love to solve.”
Gao’s research explores using hydrogels, a sort of polymer network that can absorb as much as 600 times their original volume of water. Hydrogels with high water absorption capacity have been studied as novel materials for soil water retention to alleviate the impact of drought. However, hydrogels have low mechanical strength, and their swelling is dramatically suppressed in the soil matrix, significantly inhibiting their effectiveness in water retention in soil.
“PVAMU takes pride in engaging multi-disciplinary research that addresses global problems, such as water conservation and its utilization for agriculture,” said PVAMU Vice President of Research & Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA. “Dr. Yunxiang Gao, in collaboration with Dr. Ram Ray and the TAMU faculty members, Dr. Xingmao Ma and Dr. Virender Sharma, has launched a multi-pronged project to create a novel soil conditioner for efficient uses of water and fertilizers.”
This collaborative and multi-disciplinary project will embed cross-linked carbon nanotubes (XCNT) as nano-skeletons in hydrogels to significantly increase their mechanical strength and maximize their swelling spaces in the soil after multiple wetting-drying cycles. Co-PIs include Ram Ray, Ph.D., Ph.D., P.E., ACUE associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS) at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), and Xingmao Ma, Ph.D., associate professor of civil engineering, and Virender Sharma, Ph.D., professor, and director of the Program on Environmental and Sustainability both at Texas A&M University.
“Having a great idea is not sufficient for a good proposal. We have assembled very experienced Co-PIs in the team from both PVAMU and TAMU. Throughout this process, I learned valuable knowledge needed for preparing a competitive proposal, including time management and quality control,” said Gao.
Gao’s research interests are nanomaterials and polymer science, allowing for interdisciplinary exploration for various applications.
“The biomedical focus is one application in my research. However, the direction of environmental and agricultural sustainability may substantially expand due to this USDA support,” stated Gao.
Undergraduate and graduate students from the BCAS and the CAHS will have the opportunity for involvement in the research. Gao will offer additional research training opportunities to students with related academic backgrounds, especially chemistry, biology, agricultural, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental engineering majors. Selected students will assist in the team’s highly multi-disciplinary research environment and the research platforms located both at PVAMU and TAMU.
Karen B. Cotton, MS, MA