Abstract: This talk will describe the collaborative endeavours of materials chemists and chemical engineers in the field of chemical and process engineering and nanomaterials discovery.  A novel and green supercritical (sc-) continuous system will be described for making inorganic nanoparticles. Due to the exotic reaction conditions, this synthesis method enables the manufacture of nanomaterials that are difficult or impossible to make using more conventional synthesis  techniques; directly giving highly crystalline doped nanopowders with very high surface areas (typically up to 300 m2g-1). The process also allows rapid fabrication of nanomaterial libraries via a high throughput serial approach. The precise control of conditions in the flow system allows influence over product characteristics (e.g. size, shape, etc) for use in a variety of applications from solid oxide fuel cell materials, battery materials, doped titanias (dielectrics and photocatalysts) and dispersible ceramics.

The talk will begin with a discussion of some of the amazing properties of supercritical water as well as engineering design principles to develop a new patented confined mixer for the continuous process (which allows smooth operation and efficient mixing) as well as guiding principles for scale-up to a pilot plant capable of Kg/h production of nanoparticles.  A few case studies will be provided to show current and future applications of such materials, some of which could have early commercial potential.

Bio: Dr. Jawwad A. Darr is Professor of Materials Chemistry at University College London. He joined UCL in 2007 and was vice dean enterprise for MAPS faculty at UCL until 2021.