Inkjet Printing Silver Nanoparticle Ink on Textiles for Wearable Technology
Wearable technology has attracted considerable attention from researchers and industries due to its wide potential applications. Applying conductive ink on flexible substrates for wearable technology
has shown a growing market. Textile substrates provide both strength and flexibility, and is potentially more comfortable to wear, stretchable, breathable, washable and environment-friendly. However,
textiles present considerable challenges for the printing of functional devices, because of their considerable roughness and intrinsic porosity, not present on conventional polymer film substrates. Computed
X-ray micro tomography has been used to characterise silver nanoparticle ink transport through the polyester fabric fibre architecture illustrating the influence of warp and weft. Detailed surface structure of
the fabric and the distribution of nanoparticles on the textile surface after printing and heat treatment in relation to the electrical performance have been studied.
The Importance and Significance of the Focused Ion Beam (FIB) Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Nanomaterials science aims to refine understanding of and utilise solutions at the smallest practical scale. Technological advancements are fundamentally reliant on the development of improved miniaturisation
and nanomanipulation techniques. The focused ion beam (FIB) scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a versatile tool for imaging as well as precision sculpting at the nanoscale. The FIB SEM is unrivalled in its
ability to produce high quality, site-specific lamellae at nanoscale thicknesses suitable for high resolution imaging and nanomaterial property analysis. Nanoscale electronic fabrication, the semi-conductor industry,
metallurgy and many other fields all benefit from accurate nanofabrication of a wide range of materials. Moreover, as the field of nanomaterials continues to expand, the importance and significance of FIB SEM
will certainly follow suit.
Watching Paint Dry – How to Stop Corrosion
Corrosion of metallic surfaces is estimated to cost the world US$2.5 trillion every year (3.4% of global GDP).1 From the DIY-er at home to the CEOs of BP and AkzoNobel, everyone has to deal with the damaging
costs and dangerous effects of corrosion. Paints and coatings are used to delay corrosion from eating away at infrastructure, vehicles and homes. A push for the reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has
led to an increase in the use of water-based paints. Water-based paints often comprise 50 wt% suspended polymer particles and these particles have an essential role in preventing corrosion. Excitingly, in the
past 30 years, we have a better understanding of how water-based paints dry and are working towards controlling the structure of the dried paints and coatings. As technology advances, we are able to see
into the nanoscale and gain a true insight into this important area of science.
Materials Challenges in Nuclear Fusion
Synopsis: Nuclear fusion is an attractive future source of energy that potentially offers high energy density from abundant fuels with minimal waste. However, conditions inside nuclear fusion reactors are
exceptionally hostile, involving extremes of both temperature and neutron irradiation, far in excess of those found in fission reactors. In addition to this, certain elements will transmute into radioactive
products if used in a fusion reactor, further limiting material selection if the reactor is to be safe. These restrictions necessitate the use of advanced new materials. This talk will explain the basics of nuclear
fusion, before detailing the specific materials challenges that fusion introduces and how they are dealt with.
