Villanova Professor and Graduate Student Awarded Patent for Versatile Solute-Assisted Assembly Method

VILLANOVA, Pa. (October 8, 2025) - Bo Li, PhD, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Villanova University's College of Engineering, along with recent doctoral graduate Liang Zhao '25 PhD, now a postdoctoral scholar at Villanova University, has been awarded a patent for a solute-assisted assembly method for forming a nanomaterial coating.

"This patent represents a significant leap forward in how nanomaterials can be integrated onto everyday surfaces," said Amanda Grannas, PhD, Vice Provost, Chief Research Officer, and professor of Chemistry at Villanova University. "Dr. Li and Dr. Zhao have developed a versatile solution to a longstanding challenge in materials science, and we are excited to see how this technology will drive real-world applications across multiple sectors."

Nanomaterials are of great interest to scientists due to their vast applications for medicine, consumer goods, clean energy and environmental protection, among other fields. However, the microscopic size of nanomaterials means they often cannot function as standalone materials, so they must be deposited onto the surface of a larger material-called a substrate-to work properly. Deposition challenges can arise when the nanomaterials and the substrate have a vastly different chemical makeup, causing adherence to be impossible.

Together, Dr. Li and Dr. Zhao designed a technique that enables nanomaterials to attach to substrates, even if the two materials have different physical properties. The secret of Villanova's technology is adding a solute, such as salt, into a water solution that contains the nanomaterials, allowing the nanomaterials to form uniform coatings on an arbitrary substrate. Previous water-based coating approaches tended to convert the surface of hydrophobic nanomaterials and substrates to hydrophilic ones through destructive chemical treatment, which often damages the materials.

"Adding a bit of salt becomes a magic ingredient to modulate the interface between nanomaterials and the substrate. They may not like each other at first, but after adding salt they start to work together," said Dr. Li.

The solute-assisted assembly method paves the way for a variety of applications for nanomaterials, including advanced textiles, flexible electronics, aerospace technologies and more.

"In the future, with artificial intelligence and the continued development of electronics, we may want clothes to be more functional-able to monitor health, block UV radiation, or even self-heat. Our technology can help enable that," said Dr. Li. The patented technology provides increased functionality for polymers in textiles, allowing electronic units to be integrated directly into the clothing for heating or monitoring purposes.

"Until now, we have not found a single nanoparticle that cannot be adapted using our method," added Dr. Zhao, describing how versatile the assembly method is.

The patent opens the door for additional partnerships and commercialization across industries. Dr. Li and Dr. Zhao are actively searching for licensing opportunities for their technology, with their next project focused on incorporating nanomaterials into homes for smart cooling.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University's Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges-the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation's top universities, Villanova supports its students' intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit https://www.villanova.edu