Tags: Materials Chemistry and Nanoscience Seminar


3D Fiber Scaffolds for use in Cultivated Seafood

With a growing population comes an increase in demand for food. However, these food sources are limited by the supply and sustainability of natural resources currently available on the planet. This study introduces edible, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and consumer appealing alternative seafood production platforms. The value of 3D scaffolding over traditional 2D cell culture is explored as well as the structural optimization and…


Formulation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Aqueous Dispersions for Paperboard Food Packaging

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been explored for use in paperboard food and beverage packaging as an environmentally friendly replacement to petroleum-based coatings like polyethylene. Paperboard coatings are primarily extrusion coated; however, extrusion coating requires the material to be processed above its melting point. The PHB homopolymer has a polymer melting transition peak around 175° C, which also coincides with the onset of thermal…


The Power of Precision – Antibody Drug Conjugates in Modern Oncology

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) provide a powerful approach for cancer treatment. Their precise targeting and potent cell-killing effects make them a hot topic in the development of anticancer drugs. Since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first ADC drug Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) in 2000, 14 ADCs have been approved for marketing worldwide. Currently, more than 100 ADC candidates are in clinical trials. The chemistry…


Application of MoS2 in Lithium Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) based on intercalation chemistry have been widely used in the past few decades. However, the overall energy density is approaching the ceiling due to the restriction of theoretical specific capacity of insertion-type oxide cathodes and graphite anodes. Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have great potential for applications in next-generation energy storage systems due to their higher theoretical capacity and energy…


Defect Management in Halide Perovskites: Enhancing γ-Ray Detector Performance through Structural, Surface, and Point Defect Control

Developing efficient, room-temperature gamma-ray detectors is crucial for medical imaging, homeland security, and nuclear safety applications. Halide perovskites have emerged as promising materials for radiation detection due to their high stopping power, defect tolerance, and cost-effective fabrication. However, the performance of perovskite-based detectors is often limited by the presence of various defects, which degrade charge collection…


Sustainable High-Performance Polymer Composites: Advancements in Recycling and Reprocessing

Carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are extensively used in aerospace and automotive industries due to their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. With global demand for CFRP tripling between 2010 and 2020, and projected to reach 200,000 tons by 2050, managing CFRP waste is becoming increasingly critical. Current recycling methods of existing composites include mechanical approaches (such as milling or grinding…


Advances in Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER): Synthesis, Mechanism, and Electrochemical Performance

The seminar will focus on recent advancements in enhancing the efficiency of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) in water electrocatalysis. Three innovative approaches will be discussed: Se-doped FeOOH electrocatalysts, which demonstrate that selenium doping significantly enhances the OER activity of FeOOH, achieving an industrial-level current output of 500 mA cm⁻² at a low overpotential of 348 mV, and showing a high solar-to-hydrogen…


Cellulose Nanocrystals: Preparation, Modification and Applications

Over the past years nanocellulose has proven to be one of the most prominent green materials of modern times. Nanocellulose is derived from the most abundant natural polymer, cellulose, from various physical and chemical processes. Even though cellulose has been widely utilized for several decades, nanocellulose has emerged as a prominent material in the last two decades. Nanocellulose can be mainly divide into three types: cellulose…


Characterization and Thermal Decomposition of Sub-allotrope Violet Phosphorus-21

Phosphorus, one of many elements that fall under the umbrella of inorganic chemistry, is currently experiencing a renaissance due to advancements in synthetic methodology. Currently, there are 4 primary allotropes of phosphorus. While red, white, and black phosphorus have been well-studied, it is only recently that a reliable synthesis of crystalline violet phosphorus has been established. Violet phosphorus, originally known as Hittorf’s…


Aerogels – Light Solids with Heavy Impacts

First discovered nearly 100 years ago when Samuel Kistler successfully dried silica gel without collapsing its structure, aerogels are a class of materials which contain some of the lightest solids ever synthesized. Today, many types of aerogels exist and can differ by the starting material or drying process, but overall, each are composed of the same interconnected nanostructured framework. Additionally, they are recognized for having…
Subscribe to Materials Chemistry and Nanoscience Seminar