The tiny beautiful world of nanomaterials

The reduction in size compared to everyday materials can radically alter their behaviour to make them stronger, lighter, or more conductive, for example.

Nanomaterials are already used in many things from mobile phones to self-cleaning glasses, to fridges and even clothes, and with continuing rapid advances in this area their influence is only likely to increase.

Professor Zhu said: “Nanoscience and nanotechnology are one of the most important developments in the whole of human history – they will contribute to almost all of our current and future technological advances.”

One example of a nanomaterial is the way carbon can be manipulated into nanotubes, which are tiny cylinders made up of carbon atoms. These are amazingly strong – 100 times stronger than the steel at an equivalent size, yet just 1/6th of the weight.

Carbon nanotubes also conduct electricity much better than copper, which is currently the most commonly used conducting material.

During his lecture, Professor Zhu will discuss the various methods of making nanomaterials, showing amazing electron microscope pictures of the beautiful structures they make.

Professor Zhu added: “I’ll be talking about my research in this area as well as some of the ways in which these materials have changed our lives, and how they could revolutionise them in the future.”

All are welcome to attend the lecture, which is free to attend and there is no need to book. It will be held from 6pm to 7pm on Wednesday 8 June in lecture theatre 004 in the Harrison Building, which is on the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus.

Anyone wanting more information should contact Vetri Shivakumar at the University on 01392 724061.