The Research and Postgraduate Centre congratulates Asst. Prof. Dr. Kua Yin Leng and two postgraduate students from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Chew Zhi Ling and Koh Qi Qi, for contributing a book chapter titled DESs Gel Materials: Applications in Green and Sustainable Chemistry in the recently published book Deep Eutectic Solvents by Elsevier.

Their chapter explores the latest advancements in deep eutectic solvent (DES) gel materials, also known as eutectogels, a novel class of supramolecular gels formed by the gelation of DESs using a gelator. The chapter focuses on the green chemistry and unique properties of eutectogels, along with their applications in smart sensors, flexible wearable electronics, batteries, and supercapacitors. Thanks to their tunable physicochemical properties, these materials offer new opportunities for designing innovative, low-cost, and sustainable multifunctional soft gels with high environmental adaptability and practical applications. 

With their inherently safe and eco-friendly characteristics, eutectogels have significant potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Although further studies are needed to explore their additional properties and novel applications in green and sustainable chemistry, the vast design possibilities of DES and polymer combinations suggest promising future developments. The distinctive recyclability and self-healing properties of eutectogels also open new avenues for the development of next-generation smart materials and engineering applications.

This book features contributions from researchers worldwide, addressing key topics related to DES sustainability and its significance across multiple disciplines.

Image

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21962-7.00014-6 

Image

Chew Zhi Ling, it is my pleasure to contribute a chapter to the book Deep Eutectic Solvents, published by Elsevier. This book reflects the growing interest in the green solvent properties of DESs and their sustainable advancements in various applications. With the publication of this chapter, I hope readers will gain valuable insights into these unique soft gel materials and explore new research directions to develop eco-friendly and task-specific materials.

Image

Dr. Kua Yin Leng received her master degree (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham Malaysia in 2011, then worked as an Engineer at Shin-Etsu Chemical company in the electroplating & inorganic coating industry. In 2017, she obtained her PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from the same university. Dr. Kua is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at Xiamen University Malaysia. She is interested on the research of palm phytonutrients, natural deep eutectic solvents, green extraction technologies and food waste valorization.