Our research goal is to design polymers with new capabilities – ones that autonomously improve their performance as a response to distinct energy inputs. In the past, it was almost universally understood that excess energy degrades polymers. For example, UV rays in sunlight can degrade polymers or mechanical force can cleave polymer chains. Our research program will use mechanical energy to strengthen polymeric materials instead.
Specifically, we are designing polymers that can undergo self-strengthening when they experience mechanical force. To achieve this we will develop mechano-responsive polymers that, under mechanical activation, will promote the formation of new polymeric structures. We will use these mechano-responsive polymers to fabricate force-activated polymeric adhesives (useful in additive manufacturing), develop force-activated polymeric foams that are deployed after mechanical impact (useful in automotive and defense sectors), and promote force-activated self-healing in polymers (useful to extend lifetime of consumer plastics).
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Synergistic Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Self-Healing in Frontal Polymerized Fly Ash Reinforced Eutectogels by Kar S., Singh P. , Khatua B. B., Mohapatra H. ACS Applied Engineering Materials 4 1135-1147 (2026)
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Surface-Accessible Detection Units in Self-Immolative Polymers Enable Translation of Selective Molecular Detection Events into Amplified Responses in Macroscopic, Solid-State Plastics by Yeung K., Kim H. , Mohapatra H. , Phillips S. T. Journal of the American Chemical Society 137 5324-5327 (2015)
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Prediction of the mechanochemical reactivity of triarylmethane-based mechanophores using the constrained geometries simulate external force method by Mohapatra H. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 28 15367-15375 (2026)
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Upcycling of Waste Plastics: A Study of Injection Molded Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Rich Blend Containing Polystyrene (PS) and Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) by Sikder S., Bera S. , Mohapatra H. Polymer Engineering and Science 65 5402-5412 (2025)
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Effect of an amine-aldehyde condensate modifier on the thermal and mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced epoxy composites by Jana G.K., Bera S., Maity R., Maity T., Mahato A., Roy S., Mohapatra H., Samanta B.C. Pigment and Resin Technology 54 29-38 (2025)
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Ultrasound Promoted Step Growth Polymerization and Polymer Crosslinking Via Copper Catalyzed Azide Alkyne Click Reaction by Mohapatra H., Ayarza J. , Sanders E. C., Angelique S. M., Griffin P. J., Esser-kahn A. P. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 130 11378-11382 (2018)
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Mechanically Controlled Radical Polymerization Initiated by Ultrasound by Mohapatra H., Kleiman M. , Esser-kahn A. P. Nature Chemistry 9 135-139 (2017)
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Cooperative CO2 Absorption Isotherms from a Bifunctional Guanidine and Bifunctional Alcohol by Steinhardt R., Hiew S. C., Mohapatra H. , Nguyen D. , Oh Z. , Truong R. , Esser-kahn A. P. ACS Central Science 3 1271-1275 (2017)
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Rapid, On-Command Debonding of Stimuli-Responsive Cross-Linked Adhesives by Continuous, Sequential Quinone Methide Elimination Reactions by Kim H., Mohapatra H. , Phillips S. T. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 54 13063-13067 (2015)
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Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Film that Autonomously Translates a Molecular Detection Event into a Macroscopic Change in Its Optical Properties via a Continuous, Thiol-Mediated Self-Propagating Reaction by Mohapatra H., Kim H. , Phillips S. T. Journal of the American Chemical Society 137 12498-12501 (2015)
Co-Principal Investigator
- New polyimides and development of membranes based on them for hydrogen recovery in synthesis and decomposition of ammonia processes Department of Science and Technology (DST)
- New polyimides and development of membranes based on them for hydrogen recovery in synthesis and decomposition of ammonia processes Department of Science and Technology
Ph. D. Students
Atreyee Hazra
Area of Research: Polymeric materials
Sayantika Kar
Area of Research: Polymer Science
Subhankar Sikder
Area of Research: Polymeric materials
Sumit Bera
Area of Research: Polymeric materials
