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Research in our group focuses on the rational design of advanced (nano)materials as effective building blocks in functional membranes, adsorbents, and electrodes for water reuse, renewable energy, and environmental remediation. At the interface of physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering, we mechanistically study the fundamental physicochemical properties of organic-inorganic and soft-hard hybrid (nano)materials and their structure-behavior relationship. We couple theoretical studies with materials synthesis and (in-situ) characterization in addressing unanswered questions involving dynamical phenomena at electrolyte-solute-material heterophasic interfaces with special interests in molecular recognition; guest-host interaction; stimuli-responsive adaptability; spatiotemporal behaviors of molecules in a multispecies system, at multicomponent surfaces, and across physical domains. These unanswered questions play critical roles in advancing science not only in water remediation and separation fields, but also in energy storage, catalysts, renewable fuels, and others.