School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Sustainable Materials and Renewable Technologies

Sustainable Materials and Renewable Technologies (SMART) Group focuses on developing innovative materials, sustainable electronic systems, and clean energy technologies. Our research integrates biocomposite structures, stretchable electronics, additive manufacturing, and renewable energy systems including biohydrogen, microalgae-wastewater treatment, and desalination. By combining materials science, structural design, and green energy, the group aims to create efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible solutions. SMART group promotes a circular economy and sustainable manufacturing through interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing challenges in energy, environment, and advanced production. We are committed to innovation, impactful research, and training future leaders in sustainable technologies for a cleaner, resilient future.
  • Renewable Energy Systems: Development of clean and sustainable energy solutions through waste resources including hybrid desalination techniques, bioreactor development, nano enhanced biolubricants, Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs) semiconductor materials, and thermodiffusion processes.
  • Innovative, Biological and Bioinspired Materials: Design and development of sustainable, high-performance materials including bioinspired composites and polymers for structural and functional applications and study of biological material systems.
  • Sustainable Electronic Systems: Research on stretchable, flexible, and energy-efficient electronic systems for integration into smart and eco-friendly technologies.
  • Additive & Reverse Manufacturing: Technology Development using Reverse Engineering, Automotive Technologies, Sensors, Actuators, Data Acquisition Systems and System Integration, System Modeling and Simulation, Vehicle Dynamics and Control, System Integration and Test Rig designs according to OEM requirements.
  • Multifunctional Research: Integration of advanced materials for soft-robotic applications and sustainable solutions.

Our Team

Meet Our Research Team

    
Dr Asad Javed
Group Lead – PhD Biohydrogen Production

 

 


Dr Sana Zulfiqar
PhD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Dr Shahbaz Mahmood Khan
PhD Bioinspired Materials

 

 

 


Dr Mian Ashfaq Ali
PhD Automotive Engineering

SMART

 

1.     S Zulfiqar, AA Saad, Shahbaz Khan. Analysis of Cyclic and Dynamic Behavior of Silver-based Conductive Ink for Stretchable Electronics. July 16, 2025 - Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences – Submitted

2.     Z Bachok, AA Saad, S Zulfiqar, A Abas, M Marzuki. Thermal characterization of silver-based conductive polymers for flexible electronics. January 2025 - Scientific Research Journal (SRJ), Vol. 22, Pages: 1-18

3.     Z Bachok, AA Saad, S Zulfiqar, A Abas, MD Shafiq, MFIA Malik. Structural Assessment of Silver Conductive Ink using Nanoindentation. May 02, 2025 - Journal of Current Science and Technology, Vol. 14(2), Article 7, Pages: 1-11

4.     Ali M, Shakaib M, Zaidi AA, Javed MA, Khan SZ, Aly Hassan A. Performance and Environmental Sustainability of Fish Waste Biodiesel on Diesel Engines. Sustainability 2025;17:5385.

5.     Qadeer MU, Ayoub M, Nazir MH, Javed MA*, Zulqarnain, Zahid I, et al. Interesterification of waste cooking oil via microwave irradiation for glycerol-free biodiesel production. Biomass and Bioenergy 2025;197:107739.

6.     Shahnawaz, S., Mufti, R. A., Ali, M. A., Zahid, R., Aslam, J., Siddiqui, M. R., & Bhutta, M. U. (2025). A novel approach to measure rotational dynamics of valvetrain components in production engines using miniature GMR chip. Measurement, 256, 118455.

7.     S Zulfiqar, AA Saad, IA Huqqani, Z Ahmad, F Yusof, Z BachokHyper-Elastic Characterization of Polydimethylsiloxane by Optimization Algorithms and Finite Element Methods. November 2024 – Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Vol. 49, Pages: 14965-14987

8.     A Munir, MF Razali, AS Mahmud, C Ng, S Zulfiqar. Optimizing ageing conditions for commercial NiTi archwires: Insights from thermal phase transformation and tensile deformation analysis. March 30, 2024 - Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, Vol. 18(1), Pages: 9845-9852

9.     A Munir, S Zulfiqar, JJ Mathavan, A Sohail. Understanding the force deflection behavior of NiTi archwire at distinct bending configuration: A narrative review in vitro Studies. February 29, 2024 - Engineering Journal, Vol. 28(2), Pages: 15-27

10.  Zidan A, Javed MA, Hassan AA. Optimization of hydrogen production using a coculture of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and activated sludge bacteria. Chemosphere 2024;369:143789.

11.  Zahid I, Nazir MH, Javed MA*. Extraction of bioactive components from date palm waste, various extraction processes and their applications: A review. Biomass and Bioenergy 2024;190:107433.

12.  Javed MA, Alyammahi SMA, Alshehhi FAA, Aljneibi SAA, Alketbi SAO, Aly Hassan A. A novel two-stage immobilized bioreactor for biohydrogen production using a partial microalgal-bacterial (Chlorella vulgaris and wastewater activated sludge) co-culture. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 2024;62:103624.

13.  Haider, N., Butt, M. M., Zahid, R., Ali, M. A., Aslam, J., Mufti, R. A., & Bhutta, M. U. (2024, October 1). Friction and Wear Properties of Phosphonium Based Ionic Liquid Used as Additive in Synthetic and Bio Based Lubricants. | EBSCOhost.

14.  Siddiqui, M. R., Ali, M. A., Mufti, R. A., Aslam, J., Bhutta, M. U., Zahid, R., & Khurram, M. (2024). Measurement of frictional torque of a directacting valvetrain using a shaft-to-shaft torque transducer to study the effect of Laser Surface Texturing on friction reduction. MATEC Web of Conferences, 398, 01002.
  1. Continuous flow reactor for conversion of wastewater to biohydrogen using activated sludge and microalgae. Aly Hassan, A., Javed, M.A., (2025). United States - Patent Application Publication No. US 2025/0109414 A1. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250109414A1/en. Status: Published; Pub. Date – April 03, 2025. (Dr. Asad Javed)
  2. Development of engine blow-by meter RAM-BB2, Patent Application No: 854/2011. (Dr. Mian Ashfaq Ali)