Suzana Nunes

Professor of Chemical and Environmental Science and Engineering

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Research Interests

Professor Nunes' research interests are new copolymers, functionalized nanofillers and organic-inorganic nanocomposites for membrane application; thermodynamics and morphology control of supramolecular assembly of block copolymers in solution, functionalized nanoparticles and complexing agents, as tools for preparing nanostructured polymer films; characterization of copolymer assembly in solution and membranes by advanced microscopy and (synchrotron) scattering methods; and membrane development for nanofiltration, forward osmosis, membrane distillation and integration of membrane and catalysis.

Selected Publications

  • Hierarchically porous electrospun nanofibrous mats produced from intrinsically microporous fluorinated polyimide for the removal of oils and non-polar solvents. Topuz, F., Abdulhamid, M. A., Nunes, S. P., & Szekely, G. Environmental Science: Nano, 7(5), 1365-1372. 
  • 2D-dual-spacing channel membranes for high performance organic solvent nanofiltration. Wang, S., Mahalingam, D., Sutisna, B., & Nunes, S. P. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 7(19), 11673-11682, (2019).
  • Artificial 3D hierarchical and isotropic porous polymeric materials
    S. Chisca, V.-E. Musteata, R. Sougrat, A. R. Behzad, S. P. Nunes. Science Advances 4, eaat0713, (2018)
  • Interfacial polymerization of zwitterionic building blocks for high-flux nanofiltration membranes
    P. H. H.Duong, K. Daumann, P. Y. Hong, M. Ulbricht, S. P. Nunes. Langmuir,35, 5, 1284–1293, (2018)
  • Porous polymeric membranes with thermal and solvent resistance
    B. Pulido, C. Waldron, M. G. Zolotukhin, S. P. Nunes. J. Membr. Sci. 539, 187-196. , (2017)
  • Functionalized nanochannels from self-assembly and photomodified poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene)
    B. Sutisna, G. Polymeropoulos, V. Musteata, R. Sougrat, D.‐M. Smilgies, K.‐V. Peinemann, Nunes, S.P. Small, 1701885, (2017)
  • Block copolymer membranes for aqueous solution applications
    S. P. Nune. Macromolecules 49, 2905-2916., (2016)

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Campinas, Brazil, 1985
  • B.Sc., Chemistry, University of Campinas, Brazil, 1981

Professional Profile

  • 1997-2009: Head of the Fuel Cell Membranes Group, and of the department of Membranes for Sustainable Energy, Helmholtz Association, Germany
  • 1987-1997: Assistant and Associate Professor, University of Campinas, Brazil
  • 1985-1986: Postdoc and Humboldt Fellow, University of Mainz, Germany

KAUST Affiliations

  • Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM)
  • Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE)
  • Environmental Science and Engineering Program