Department of Materials Science and Engineering Fall Seminar Series: Mary Ryan

Description

Mary Ryan, the vice provost for research and enterprise and the Armourers and Brasiers' chair in materials science at Imperial College London, will give a talk titled "Function and Stability in Nanostructured Materials" for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Abstract:

Our work centers around understanding nanoscale electrochemical interfaces in a range of materials systems across biological and energy sectors. This includes designing manufacturable nanomaterials for controlled properties – optical, catalytic, solubility, mechanical – and developing new tools to study these materials and properties in operando. In this talk I will focus on 2 systems: the development of plasmonic biosensors – where shape control allows tuning of both optical properties and cellular interactions (including at the blood brain barrier); and the use of nanoporous gold to enhance catalytic properties and as a tool for studying electrolyte confinement effects. The talk will include a brief overview of our recent developments in the application of cryomicroscopy tools (TEM and APT) that allow pseudo-operando approaches towards atomic resolution for light and sensitive elements.