Milana Trifkovic, University of Calgary

Research

spinodal decomposition 4D imaging bicontinuous intraphase emulsion gels bimodal porosity CO2 capture co-continuous structures complex fluids confocal rheology

Latest papers

Cu-N-doped graphene/prussian blue interface enables molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensing of L-kynurenine.
Biosensors & bioelectronics · 2026
In situ precipitation enhances emulsifying performance of polysaccharides.
Nanoscale · 2026 · senior author
Tri-continuous polymer templates enable scalable fabrication of hierarchical nanoparticle monoliths.
Materials horizons · 2025 · senior author

All 25 publications

Latest funding

Advancing Sustainable Engineering Solutions through X-ray Fluorescence
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$150,000
Environmentally Sustainable Extraction of Critical Minerals from Alberta's Resources
NSERC · 2023 · Co-investigator
$207,000
Battery and fuel cell utilization of Innova Hydrogen's methane pyrolysis process outputs
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$150,000

All 23 grants and awards

25 publications.

01

Cu-N-doped graphene/prussian blue interface enables molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensing of L-kynurenine.

Najafi Chaleshtori S, Yasri NG, Babamiri B, Sadri R, Farrokhnia M, Mohammadi M, Trifkovic M, Sanati Nezhad A

Biosensors & bioelectronics2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2026.118901 PMID: 42263513

02

In situ precipitation enhances emulsifying performance of polysaccharides.

Firdous K, Aghajamali M, Rasaki SA, Behabtu N, Lenges C, Bryant SL, Trifkovic M

Nanoscale2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1039/d5nr05328e PMID: 42661557

03

Tri-continuous polymer templates enable scalable fabrication of hierarchical nanoparticle monoliths.

Habibiyan A, Yoshida S, Sudhir Shah R, Trifkovic M

Materials horizons2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1039/d5mh01159k PMID: 40985477

04

Leveraging Non-Radiative Transitions in Asphaltenes-Derived Carbon Dots for Cancer Photothermal Therapy.

Akakuru OU, Xing J, Huang S, Iqbal ZM, Bryant S, Wu A, Trifkovic M

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/smll.202404591 PMID: 39210655

05

Biomimetic aerogels with hierarchical honeycomb architecture for superior CO2 adsorption, selectivity, and structural integrity.

Pal S, Roberts EP, Trifkovic M, Natale G

Communications materials2025

DOI: 10.1038/s43246-025-00861-9 PMID: 40620748

06

Scale-Dependent Rheology of Synovial Fluid Lubricating Macromolecules.

Martin-Alarcon L, Govedarica A, Ewoldt RH, Bryant SL, Jay GD, Schmidt TA, Trifkovic M

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306207 PMID: 38161247

07

Unraveling Water-Based Lubrication with Carbon Dots of Asphaltene Origin.

Akakuru OU, Martin-Alarcon L, Bryant S, Trifkovic M

ACS applied materials & interfaces2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c00579 PMID: 38514399

08

Electrochemical Regeneration of Highly Stable and Sustainable Cellulose/Graphene Adsorbent Saturated with Dissolved Organic Dye.

Abuhatab S, Pal S, Roberts EPL, Trifkovic M

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03265 PMID: 38316141

09

Enhanced rheological and tribological properties of nanoenhanced greases by tuning interparticle contacts.

Soltannia B, Martin-Alarcon L, Uhryn J, Govedarica A, Egberts P, Trifkovic M

Journal of colloid and interface science2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.124 PMID: 37163802

10

Effect of polarity reversal on floc formation and rheological properties of a sludge formed by the electrocoagulation process.

Fuladpanjeh-Hojaghan B, Shah RS, Roberts EPL, Trifkovic M

Water research2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120201 PMID: 37336184

Advancing Sustainable Engineering Solutions through X-ray Fluorescence

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Trifkovic, Milana

Keywords: advanced catalyst development; biodegradable products; bionanohybrid structures; circular economy; corrosion; critical mineral extraction; geofluids; geothermal technologies; self assembly; sustainable technologies

$150,000

Environmentally Sustainable Extraction of Critical Minerals from Alberta's Resources

Co-investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Ponnurangam, Sathish P

Keywords: bioleaching; critical metals; (electro)-sorption; Lithium brines; microwave roasting; mineral separation; REEs; secondary resources; vanadium; waste sludge

$207,000

Battery and fuel cell utilization of Innova Hydrogen's methane pyrolysis process outputs

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Trifkovic, Milana M

Keywords: advanced material design; device-level performance; fuel cells; graphite; hydrogen; li-ion batteries; surface functionalization

$150,000

Optimally structured catalyst layer for PEM Fuel Cells

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Trifkovic, Milana M

Keywords: atomic force microscopy; catalyst layer; confocal microscopy; hierarchical porosity; mass transport enhancement; microrheology; pem fuel cells; spinodal decomposition; templating

$172,000

Bio-electrochemical treatment of mature fine tailings

Co-investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Roberts, Edward EPL

$70,000

Scalable method of making metal-organic framework based proton exchange membranes for fuel cells (Phase 1)

Co-investigatorNSERC2022Idea to Innovation

Principal investigators: Shimizu, George GKH

$125,000

Co-Continuous Hierarchial Porous Materials for Electrochemical Storage and Gas Separation Applications

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Accelerator Supplements

Principal investigators: Trifkovic, Milana

$120,000

Investigating enzymatic polymerized polysaccharide particles as stabilizing agents for emulsions and foams

Co-investigatorNSERC2020Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Bryant, Steven

$141,000

Co-Continuous Hierarchial Porous Materials for Electrochemical Storage and Gas Separation Applications

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Trifkovic, Milana

Keywords: co-continuous structures; complex fluids; spinodal decomposition; 4d imaging; rheology; confocal rheology; bimodal porosity; electrode manufacturing; co2 capture; bicontinuous intraphase emulsion gels

$320,000

Long-lasting solid-state Na-ion batteries for low-cost energy storage

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Trifkovic, Milana

$97,333

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical and Petroleum engineering

Co-authors at University of Calgary, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Steven Bryant

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2025

Philip Egberts

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2023

Kunal Karan

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2019

Giovanniantonio Natale

Chemical and Petroleum engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Amir Sanati Nezhad

Biomedical Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: spinodal decomposition Dear Professor Trifkovic, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Cu-N-doped graphene/prussian blue interface enables molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensing of L-kynurenine." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Advancing Sustainable Engineering Solutions through X-ray Fluorescence" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]