Seminar - Applications of functionlised nanomaterials

Seminar at the School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand

Seminar: Wednesday, 29th April 2009
Time: 11:15 am, Room C6 Humphrey Raikes Building (Also known as the Chemistry Building)
Speaker: Dr Rui Krause from the UJ
Title: "Applications of functionlised nanomaterials"

Abstract:
Over the past five years the nanomaterials group at UJ and the water treatment group have collaborated to use carbon nanomaterials and nano-structured polymers for various water-treatment applications. These nanoporous polymers, based on cyclodextrins and calixarenes, have been applied to the removal of organic pollutants and some heavy-metal contaminants in both drinking-water and industrial applications. The flexibility of the polymer-nanomaterial composites has allowed us to support metal catalysts for antibacterial action, or photocatalytic enhancement.

Recently we have started to examine doped nanomaterials and functionalised nanomaterials as chemo-sensors for specific pollutants, providing polymers that can be used for both the detection and removal of a broad range of pollutants.

These functionalised nanomaterials have recently also attracted some interest in medicinal applications such as directed drug-delivery, and in biotechnology applications.

Enquiries: Caren Billing (011 717-6768)