Advances in nanoparticles: synthesis, characterisation, theoretical modelling, and applications

Recent advances in nanoparticle synthesis, atomic-scale characterisation, drawing on insights from theoretical modelling, have opened exciting possibilities to tailor nanoparticles for many applications, e.g. in catalysis, plasmonics, sensors, magnetism, and biomedical applications.

Scope:

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been attracting much fundamental and application-oriented interest. NP properties are strikingly different from those observed in the bulk, which can be exploited in fields as diverse as biomedical applications, environmental sciences, optics, electronics, and catalysis. Important recent progress is due to advances in controlled assembly of nanoparticles (both by wet-chemical as well as by physical preparation); in the resolution of characterisation techniques (both in time and space), offering increasing possibilities for in-situ and often operando study of the formation and functionality of NPs; whilst important developments in the field of computational chemistry and physics allow enhancing our understanding on the origins of and trends in their properties.

This symposium builds on the successful symposia (2018 and 2019), and will bring together again leading experts on advanced techniques for NP synthesis, in order to promote cross-fertilisation and to inspire progresses in the control of NP size, shape, composition and functionalisation as well as in the fabrication of NPs with controlled complex morphologies and composition. Characterisation techniques with high spatial, time and energy resolution, and chemical sensitivity are an essential tool to both investigate the output of synthetic procedures and to elucidate structure-property relationships of NPs. This interdisciplinary forum will attract the participation of renowned experts in theoretical modelling of NPs structures and properties, which is crucial both for understanding atomic and electronic structures, and to predict non-trivial unexpected behaviours and unprecedented phenomena. The symposium will include also a few selected experts on functionality and practical applications of these nanomaterials. Given the “hot topic” nature of the symposium and the unique interdisciplinary discussion opportunities it will provide, we expect a numerous and high quality attendance.

Hot topics to be covered by the symposium:

1. Recent development in nanoparticle synthesis techniques

• Wet-chemical: colloidal preparation, emulsions, impregnation 
• Gas phase preparation: ALD, spark discharge, size-selected nanoclusters
• Templating in porous materials

2. Structural / chemical analysis of nanoparticles

• Electron microscopy: high resolution/in-situ/acquisition and detection methodology
• Advanced spectroscopy
• Advanced diffraction and scattering techniques (X-rays, neutrons…)

3. Theoretical modelling of nanoparticles

• Atomic ordering and electronic structure
• Dynamical processes, excitations, reactions

4. Applications of nanoparticles

• Structure-property relationships
• Theoretical predictions vs experiment
• Optical, catalytic, electronic, magnetic, sensing, biomedical