Biography:

Dr Youssef Belmabkhout has a PhD in applied Science from the University of Mons in Belgium. He hold also a chemical engineering degree (oil and gas technologies) from the “Gubkine” Russian State University of oil and gas in Moscow (Russia). Prior to his appointment as a research scientist at the King Abdullah university of Science and technology (KAUST, KSA) in Prof Eddaoudi group, Dr Youssef Belmabkhout spent few months in ICPET-NRC (Ottawa, Canada) in 2010 working on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. He occupied a research associate position in the department of chemistry at the university of Ottawa (Canada) with Prof Sayari from 2007 to 2010 and one and half year in the prestigious French Institute of Petroleum (IFP) in Lyon, France from 2006 to 2007. During his short research career, Dr Youssef Belmabkhout explored the use of several classes of materials for applications related to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Abstract:

The Molecular Building Block (MBB) approach is a powerful strategy that permits the fabrication of tailored MOF materials for specific applications. The key factors for development of advanced new materials is the deep understanding of their structural-chemical properties in relationship with their properties in real applications.

 In my talk I will illustrate the power of MBB in the development of tunable platforms with a variety of interesting properties. The perfect structural control at the molecular level of these particular platforms led to the discovery of advanced materials with potential for many gas/vapor separations such as gas storage, H₂S removal, paraffin-branched paraffin separation and air conditioning. In particular, I will discuss the structural properties of separation agents, from the family of MOFs with relation to the CO₂ capture capabilities from ppm level to high concentrations. These properties have direct and/or indirect relation with other attributes such as type of pore (channels, cavities or combination of both), pore size, and energetics…etc. One of the crucial parameter, is the uniformity of suitable adsorption sites over a wide range of CO₂ adsorption loading. Uniform and enough strong CO₂ interaction (adsorption energy level) distribution is one of the strict requirements to ensure maintaining high selectivity over a broad range of CO₂ adsorption loading. This uniform high charge density in addition to narrow pore size (close to CO₂ molecular size) led to unveil, for the first time, a model of MOF adsorbent with a combined mechanism involving optimal thermodynamics (energetics) and kinetics for CO₂ capture at intermediate, low5 and traces6 CO₂ concentration. This unique combination of high and uniform charge density and optimal pore size allowed to push the boundaries of CO₂ energetics to the upper limit of physical reversible adsorption (45-60 kJ/mol) combined with highly favorable CO₂ adsorption kinetics.

Biography:

Anton Liopo earned his PhD degree from the Institute of Physiology the National Academy of Science (NAS) of Belarus. He later went on to join the Institute of Biochemistry of NAS of Belarus as Senior Scientist, Associate Professor, and eventually the Director of Government Program. After moving to the United States, Dr. Liopo obtained trainings in molecular biology in Department Internal Medicine and nanotechnology in Center for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas, Medical Branch at Galveston.  He was invited and many years worked in TomoWave Laboratories Inc., where he was Lead Scientist for nanobiotechnology program.  Now Dr. Liopo continues his investigations in Center for Radiation Oncology Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is aiming on novel nanocomposites for enhancement of cancer radio-therapy and he is also a visiting scientist in Department of Chemistry of Rice University. Dr. Liopo is a regular reviewer and member of several editorial boards of scientific journals. Dr. Liopo has more than 75 peer-reviewed publications, including monograph, book chapters and patents. 

Abstract:

Gold nanoparticles of different shape and size have been designed and applied as contrast-enhancing agents for various imaging techniques: optical coherence tomography, fluorescence imaging, optical microscopy, photoacoustic imaging and sensing; and recently, for experimental cancer therapy as enhancers of thermal and radiation modes. In the current presentation, we are focusing on different sides of gold nanorods (GNRs) applications, as well as their synthesis, functionalization, and specific targeting. The role of GNRs in comprehensive cancer diagnostics and treatment was analyzed. We have created the novel GNRs’ modifications of wide-ranging aspects ratio and size with high yield and quality. The GNRs were assessed by their toxicity for altered categories, such as amount of gold, surface area, optical density of their solutions and number of particles.  GNRs have been reviewed as contrast agents with near-infrared absorption as highly efficient transformers of light energy into heat. Here we present the use of GNRs as plasmonic nanoparticles for selective photothermal therapy of human acute and chronicle leukemia cells using a near-infrared laser. We have investigated GNRs as potential enhancers of radiotherapy. We have demonstrated high impact of external surface chemistry, role of molecules size and thickness of surfactant layer for damage of cancer cells by electromagnetic radiation. GNRs were evaluated as theranostic agents for imaging, photothermal and radiation modalities. The results may impact pre-clinical GNRs’ applications, molecular imaging, and quantitative sensing of biological analytes.  

Biography:

Dr. Jingyang Wang is the distinguished professor and division head in the High-performance Ceramics Division at the Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, China. He has been internaitonally recognized for his sustained contributions to innovative technology in processing bulk, low-dimensional and porous ceramics, and to fundimental understanding of multi-scale structure-property relationship of advanced structural ceramics. His works have extensively covered fundemental and technological developments of carbides, nitrides, oxynitrides, silicates, and hafnates for extreme environment applications. He has published 185 peer-reviewed SCI papers (WoS H-index factor 38), hold 18 registered patents, and has delivered more than 50 keynote/invited lectures. Dr. Wang was the recipient of Acta Materialia Silver Medal (2016) and National Leading Talent of Young and Middle-aged Scientists (China, 2015), and served as the Chair-elect (2016) of Engineering Ceramic Division of The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) and the program chair of 41st ICACC hosted by ACerS in Florida. 

Abstract:

The critical challenge of current nanoscale oxide super thermal insulation materials, such as SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ nano-particle aggregates and their composites, is the critical trade-off between extremely low thermal conductivity and unsatisfied thermal stability (nanostability typically below 1100^oC). It is crucial important to modify current materials and further discover novel candidates which could balance the two key properties. This presentation shows progresses on optimal thermal stability of modified Al₂O₃ nano-paticle aggregate; and in addition, new candidates of super thermal insulation materials, such as nano-Si₃N₄ and nano-SiC, which are commonly believed as excellent heat conductors. Especially, the new nano-systems exhibited good nanostability up to 1500°C. The striking results incorporated superior sintering stability of structural ceramics as SiC and Si₃N₄ with multiple phonon scattering mechanisms in nano-materials. It is possible to put forward this novel concept to design and search new types of high temperature thermal insulation materials through nano-scale morphology engineering of structural ceramics with excellent thermal stability, regardless their high intrinsic lattice thermal conductivities. 

Biography:

Dr. Moon-Ho Ham is an associate professor in the department of Materials Science and Engineering at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), South Korea. Professor Ham received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering at Yonsei University, South Korea. He was a postdoctoral associate in Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on nanomaterials including nanocarbon and 2D materials for nanoelectronic and energy applications.

Abstract:

Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and transition metal dichacogenides (TMDCs) have unique physical and electrical properties. There is currently interest in taking advantage of these properties for future electronic applications. In this talk, I first introduce a modified chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique for the production of large-area, high-quality continuous monolayer graphene films from benzene on Cu at 100–300 °C at ambient pressure. In this method, we extended the graphene growth step in the absence of residual oxidizing species by introducing pumping and purging cycles prior to growth. Further, Cu/graphene stacked interconnects are fabricated by directly synthesizing graphene onto Cu interconnects using this method, which show the improved electrical properties compared to Cu interconnects. In the second part, I present a simple and facile route to reversible and controllable modulation of the electrical and optical properties of WS₂ and MoS₂ via hydrazine doping and sulfur annealing. Hydrazine treatment of TMDSs improves the field-effect mobilities and photoresponsivities of the devices. These changes are fully recovered via sulfur annealing. This may enable the fabrication of 2D electronic and optoelectronic devices with improved performance.

Biography:

Dr. Ken Bosnick is a Research Officer with the National Research Council (NRC) at the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) in Edmonton, Canada. He is currently leading or contributing to a number of projects involving nanocomposites. He is leading a large cross-NRC collaborative project through NINT aimed at producing high-performing barrier films, such as for food packaging and anti-corrosion coating applications, by processing graphenic and cellulosic nanomaterials with polymers. He is also leading a smaller project at NINT concerned with producing smart materials capable of sensing meat spoilage. For the Security Materials Technology Program, he is developing new carbon nanotube / ceramic hybrids for processing into ceramic composites for armour applications, including conformal metallic catalyst deposition by atomic layer and chemical vapor techniques.

Abstract:

Nanoscale allotropes of carbon, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), show a great deal of promise as functional fillers in nanocomposite materials. The extreme linear aspect ratios, strong sp2 carbon bonds, and high chemical stability all contribute to making CNTs ideal reinforcement fillers for mechanical applications. Conversely, the high aspect ratio planar nature of graphene and GNPs, along with their high impermeabilities, suggest applications as barrier materials. In this talk, we discuss our work on CNT – aluminum oxide (AO) composites for mechanical applications, including as ballistic armour, and GNP – polymer composites for high barrier applications, including oxygen barriers for food packaging and anti-corrosion coatings. CNT – AO hybrid structures are produced by depositing CNTs as conformal coatings on various AO materials, including powders and fabrics (see Figure 1(a)). The deposition is carried out in a large-volume chemical vapor deposition reactor, following a conformal catalyst deposition from solution or via an atomic layer deposition process. The CNT – AO hybrids are sintered into composite materials under high pressure and characterized for mechanical enhancements. Increases in fracture toughness of as high as 71% have been found from these CNT – AO composites. GNP materials are melt-processed with polyethylene (PE) and extruded into packaging films (see Figure 1(b)), which are characterized for their oxygen transmission rates. It is found that the GNP – PE films show comparable oxygen transmission rates to the neat PE films, indicating that further processing will be necessary to realize the desired enhancements. The GNP materials are also solution processed with epoxy (EP), cast onto steel substrates, and cured to form coatings. The efficacy of these coatings as anti-corrosion barriers is established by electrochemical and salt-fog corrosion tests. Early results suggest that the GNPs are enhancing the anti-corrosion performance of the EP films.

Biography:

Dongling Ma is a full professor at Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Canada. Her main research interest consists in the development of various nanomaterials  (e.g., quantum dots, catalytic nanoparticles, plasmonic nanostructures, and different types of nanohybrids) for applications in energy, catalysis, and biomedical sectors. Before joining INRS in July 2006, she was awarded Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Visiting Fellowships and worked at National Research Council of Canada from 2004 to 2006. She received her Ph.D. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA) in 2004.

Abstract:

Efficiently harvesting visible and near infrared (NIR) photons represents an attractive approach to improve the efficiency of solar-to-electricity conversion, solar-to-fuel conversion and photocatalysis. Plasmonic nanostructures with unique surface plasmon resonance have recently been explored for enhancing solar energy harvesting in the visible and NIR regimes. On the other hand, NIR quantum dots (QDs) with size tunable bandgaps and high potential for multiple exciton generation represent a class of promising materials for new generations of solar cells. In this talk, I will present our recent work on the synthesis of plasmonic nanostructures, NIR QDs, and related assemblies as well as their applications in solar cells, solar fuel and photocatalysis. Acknowledgement: The speaker would like to acknowledge the financial support from NSERC, FQRNT, and NanoQuebec. The presenter sincerely thanks all co-authors in the following publications

Biography:

Lin Jiang received her B.Sc. and Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Jilin University, Jilin, China, in 2000 and 2005, respectively. She was awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship in 2006 and worked at Physical Institute of Muenster University in Germany from 2006 to 2009. Then she became a senior research fellow in 2009 at the school of materials science and engineering in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Currently, she is a professor at Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, China since 2012. Mainly focused on the self-assembly of novel nano-structured materials, and optoelectronic complex devices. She has Published over 50 SCI papers in high quality journals, such as Acc. Chem. Res., Adv. Mater., Energy enviyon. Sci., ACSNano, Adv. Funct. Mater., etc. 

Abstract:

Plasmonics confine the light into nanoscale dimensions much beyond the diffraction limit by coupling the light with the surface collective oscillation of free electrons at the interface of the metal structure and the dielectric. The resonant collective oscillations give rise to an enhanced electron-magnetic field correlate with high density optical states.It modifies the light-matter interaction which results in enhanced absorption, emission or energy transfer. Hence, this photo-response mechanism makes the plasmonic structures to be an attractive study candidate to enhance the function of the optoelectronic devices, such as photodetector, solar cell, and light emitting diodes (LEDs). So far, it is still desirable to develop more unique plasmonic structures and explore their plasmon effects on devices performance to develop new-generated optoelectronic devices. Herein we introduced the research results of plasmon enhanced optoelectronic devices (photo detector, organic light emitting diode, sensors, etc.) by incorporation with different plasmonic nanostructures (zero-dimension,  one-dimension or two-dimensional multiplexed plasmopnic nanostructures) and revealed the involved effective photon-management enhancement mechanism. The remarkable performance enhancement of the devices will guide the potential applications of plasmonic structures in next high-speed and high-density integrated optoelectronics and other plasmon assisted advanced devices. 

Biography:

Shao-Chin Tseng has completed his PhD from department of materials science and engineering, National Taiwan University. He is the assistant scientist of National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. He studies on Nanotechnology, X-ray nanoprobe, Optoelectronic Materials, Semiconductor Process, Biomedical Sensing.  He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals.  

Abstract:

The X-ray nanoprobe (XNP) will open to all professors and researches since 2017. The XNP provides versatile X-ray-based inspection technologies, including diffraction, absorption spectroscopy, imageology, and so on. Also it will improve the analysis scale of imhomogeneous materials, tiny and diluted samples to the nanoscale. Moreover, the high- transmitted XNP can be used to inspect the “Nano World” like atomic arrangements, chemical and electronic configurations, which are widely adopted in the physics, chemistry, materials science, semiconductor devices, nanotechnologies, energy and environmental science, and earth science. Beside to the opening to the researchers, it is also important to improve the inspection and research strength of the XNP in the nanomaterials field, in order to increase the academic influence of the XNP and the Taiwan Photon Source. The primary experimental technique of XNP includes X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (for the analysis in the depth-of-field distribution of elements), extended X-ray absorption spectroscopy (for the analysis in the electronic configuration and the atomic or molecular bonding length), excitation X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (for the analysis in the recombination and transport of carriers), in-phase scanning X-ray imageology (the Fourier phase transform calculation can improve the space resolution down to 3nm to 5nm, and detect the stress distribution inside the nanostructures). The design XNP and the experimental applications will be reported.

Biography:

Ganesh Kumar Mani is a researcher at Micro/Nano Technology Center, Tokai University, Japan. He completed his Ph.D. in Nano Sensors Lab @ Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials (CeNTAB), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India. He published over 40 research papers in reputed international journals with the cumulative impact factor over 70 with a few papers under review. He is also one of the inventors in two patents titled “Low Concentration Ammonia Vapour Sensor” & “Acetaldehyde Sensor Using ZnO Nanoplatelets”. He has also delivered several keynote lectures, organized national and international conferences in various countries. His current research interests are fabrication and development of nanostructured (Nanospheres, Nanorods, Nanowires, Nanoplatelets, Nanosheets) thin film based gas/chemical sensors for predicting food quality, developing microfluidics based solid state pH/temperature/bio-sensors for biomedical applications and developing painless microneedles for healthcare applications, etc.

Abstract:

Acid–base homeostasis and pH regulation inside the body is precisely controlled by kidney, lungs and buffer systems, because even a minor change from the normal value could severely affect many organs. Blood and Urine pH tests are common in day-to-day clinical trials without out much effort. Still, there is great demand for in vivo pH testing to understand more about body metabolism and to provide effective treatments during diagnosis. The detection of pH at the single-cell level is hoping for the great level of clinical importance for the early detection of many diseases like cancer, diabetes, etc. In this research work, we have fabricated a micro region pH sensors by series of processes like electrolytic polishing to create needle structure, deposition of electrode materials using RF magnetron sputtering for pH measurements and finally testing in various biological mediums. Working and reference electrodes were Ag/AgIO₃ and Sb/Sb₂O₃ deposited on microneedles under optimized deposition parameters. The structural, elemental and morphological properties were analyzed using XRD, XPS, EDS and FE-SEM. The fabricated tip of the microneedle probe is around 5µm analyzed by FE-SEM which size is comparable with the biological cells. pH testing was initially begin with using fish egg and various biological cells. The obtained pH sensing results were adequate with theoretical values. Since the sensor works at micro region, the potential difference is easily disturbed by atmospheric anomalies. Hence, many steps have been taken to improve the stability of the sensor. Besides that, fabricated microneedle sensor ability is proved through in vivo testing in mice cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and bladder. The pH sensor reported here is totally reversible and results were reproducible after several routine testing.

Biography:

Swayamdipta Bhaduri is a PhD Candidate in engineering at the Ingenuity Lab in the University of Alberta, Edmonton. He has been working on the several biological, chemical and physical aspects of the micro-scale fluid transport associated with Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) mediated by S. pasteurii. His expertise lies in the areas of nanofabrication, biomicrofluidics, and experimental fluid mechanics. He has an MS and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in India, respectively.

Abstract:

A class of bacterium, S. pasteurii can mediate the precipitation of calcium carbonate crystals under the right chemical environment. These crystals can actually enter a network of pores in a porous medium and cause clogging. As a result, the structure may gain significantly in strength and exhibit superior mechanical properties. This is characterized by reduction in porosity, physical pore blockage and increase in elastic moduli. This concept may be extended to a wide array of applications like underground carbon storage and repairing fractures in fragile structures. In the present study, open foam sponges of two different grades were used as porous media mimics. We performed comprehensive material testing on samples before and after bacteria treatment and drew quantitative conclusions. We tested the samples under compressive and impact loads and characterized the modification in mechanical behavior due to pore clogging. Visual observation of the actual blockage process at the pore scale was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and micro-CT scans. We noticed a significant change in mechanical properties. To conclude, this particular bacterium may be used as an agent to cause pore-clogging at the microscale and the idea applied to a range of applications.