09:10 – 09:40 | Plenary: Nanocarbon Aerogels as Multifunctional Support Materials in Adsorption and Catalysis Robert Menzel, University of Leeds (UK) Directed self-assembly of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) into porous 3D structures, such as aerogels, provides unique opportunities to optimise important application-relevant materials parameters, such as porosity, mechanical robustness and electro-thermal conductivity. Here, we explore polymer-assisted nanocarbon assembly, based on hydrothermal methods and emulsion-templating, to produce three-dimensional CNT and GO support frameworks (aerogels) with diverse and well-controlled microstructures. Different chemical methodologies (e.g. in-situ precipitation, sublimation-deposition) are explored to uniformly decorate the aerogel frameworks with catalyst and adsorbent nanoparticles (metal nanoparticles, anionic clays, h-BN). Supporting these functional nanoparticles within the well-structured nanocarbon aerogel networks results in considerable improvements in their activity, kinetics and recyclability in important adsorption (adsorptive desulfurisation, CO2 capture)1,2 and heterogeneous catalysis (cross coupling reactions)3 applications. In order to exploit the benefits of nanocarbon aerogels further, the electrical conductivity of the cross-linked nanocarbon frameworks is utilised for direct resistive heating, enabling energy-efficient and very fast temperature control of the supported nanoparticles.4 [1] R. Menzel, D. Iruretagoyena et al. Fuel, 2016, 181, 531; [2] M. DeMarco, R. Menzel, MSP Shaffer et al Carbon, 2017, 123, 616. [3] R Menzel; M Mokhtar et al J Solid State Chem., 2017, 246,130; [4] R. Menzel, S. Barg, MSP Shaffer et al. Adv. Funct. Mater., 2015, 25, 28. |
11:25 – 11:50 | Keynote: Multifunctional Structural Energy Storage and Stiffening of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites Through Aerogel Addition David B Anthony, Imperial College London (UK) Structural Power Composites, structures that store electrical charge will impact daily-life as we create, store, & consume energy differently. |