Understanding structure, property, composition relationship for electromagnetic absorbing materials made in flow reactors

The research will investigate how the structure and composition of nanomaterials affects the properties in industrial applications for radiation absorbers (RFID security taggants, stealth coatings for wind turbines etc). These nanomaterials will be synthesised using UCL's continuous hydrothermal flow reactors. The nanomaterials will be designed with specific compositions and surface coatings in order to affect their properties in the desired applications. The work will be principally experimental, involving synthesis and the use of key analytical methods for inorganic materials and importantly to measure the relevant magnetic and dielectric properties that will allow some view as to their likely performance for radiation absorbers in the future. The lead materials that are obtained will be scaled up and then tested as coatings with support from the industry partner. To find out more about research at UCL in Clean Materials Technology Research Group see http://chemb125.chem.ucl.ac.uk/

Key objectives
Develop a novel synthesis approach to manufacture libraries of nanomaterials of various metals and metal oxides that can be used to absorb electromagnetic radiation
Develop faster screening methods to characterise the dielectric and magnetic properties of the materials
Define the applications space for the materials according to the above properties
Try to elucidate general design rules and build structure, property, compositional relationships.
Coat nanoparticles to alter their properties and enhance electromagnetic absorption at specific frequencies.
Scale-up of lead materials and coating of them onto artefacts to assess if they are capable to absorb the relevant frequencies (e.g. radar waves, i.e. microwaves in a certain region)

Novelty
In the approach for synthesis of large number of nanomaterials using flow hydrothermal reactors
Novelty is to bring understanding and knowledge of any rules for designing radiation absorber materials that are enhanced in specific wavelengths
Adding coatings to the particles to improve their absorbing properties
Novelty will be in the ability to manufacture larger amounts of materials and retaining the same properties as materials made on the lab scale.
Other novelty will arise from the control of the process and the ability to control quality of materials from batch to batch which is currently a problem.