Two sciences are better than one
Issued: Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:47:00 GMT
Nanotechnology at Glasgow brings together the expertise of more than 70 academics to influence the emergent technologies of the 21st century.
The University has been pushing the frontiers of nanofabrication forward for more than 30 years. Transcending the traditional subject boundaries of physics, chemistry, engineering, biology and earth science, our work is highly interdisciplinary and has established a number of world records in nanofabrication technology and device performance.
At Glasgow we specialise in five key areas:
- nanotechnology for engineering systems
- nanotechnology for biomedicine
- tools for nanotechnology
- nanotechnology for structural and functional materials
- nanoelectronics.
Nanotechnology works at the nanometre level, where a nanometre is a billionth of a metre. Much has been made of the potential applications of technology this tiny. It is estimated that over 450 commercial nanotechnology products have been launched, including plasters containing silver nanoparticles to kill bacteria and sunscreens with titanium dioxide nanoparticles that are designed to help scatter the sun’s rays.
Staff at Glasgow have a few of their own ideas as to how to make the most of the possibilities provided by nanotechnology and they are discovering that often two sciences are better than one.
Just a flavour of some of the collaborations currently active in the University include partnerships such as Professors Lee Cronin (Chemistry) and Richard Cogdell (Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology), who are working towards improving the photosynthesis ability of plants. This could potentially create a powerful, hybrid solar cell that could provide a solution to fuel shortages.
Dr Nikolaj Gadegaard (Engineering) and Dr Matthew Dalby (Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology) have research council follow-on-funding to investigate creating smart biodegradable implants that encourage bone formation. These could be used in, for example, hip replacements or as ‘bone plasters’ to patch up cheekbone fractures.
Professor Maggie Cusack (Geographical & Earth Sciences), Dr Andy Freer (Chemistry) and Dr Huabing Yin (Engineering) are investigating how the properties of humble molluscs can be used to create materials that can function at high pressures. ‘My central focus on biomineralisation sits at the interface of several subject areas,' says Professor Cusack. ‘We are basically exploiting what nature is good at and then improving upon it.’
This culture of collaboration, combined with the University’s excellent facilities such as the recent multi-million pound James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, means that the future of nanotechnology at Glasgow is set to be big.
Find out more
- Professor Lee Cronin
- Professor Richard Cogdell
- Dr Nikolaj Gadegaard
- Dr Matthew Dalby
- Professor Maggie Cusack
- Dr Andy Freer
- Dr Huabing Yin
Nanotechnology
- Our facilities: James Watt Nanofabrication Centre