Dr. Shweta Sharma

Future aircraft and spacecraft must become lighter, safer, and more efficient while withstanding demanding mechanical, thermal, and radiation environments. Conventional approaches often meet these needs through separate structural and functional components, adding weight and complexity. Nanocomposites offer a route to integrate multiple functions within a single material. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one-dimensional nanostructures with exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, while related nanomaterials such as boron nitride nanotubes combine high strength with radiation-shielding capabilities. Embedded within polymer matrices, these nanomaterials form lightweight composites that provide structural reinforcement while enabling sensing, energy storage, and radiation protection. This colloquium will highlight how CNTs and related nanomaterials can be engineered into multifunctional composites for next-generation aerospace technologies