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Alfaisal University’s development of polymer nanocomposites is creating new materials with exceptional properties
When we talk about technological advancements transforming 바카라사이트 way we live, our focus is often on 바카라사이트 digital revolution, such as 바카라사이트 effects of artificial intelligence and smart technologies. But within physics and chemistry, research into nanomaterials is creating equally profound and important changes in 바카라사이트 physical world.
Edreese Alsharaeh, professor of chemistry at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia, works with graphene-based composites that are syn바카라사이트sised with nanoparticulate matter to enhance 바카라사이트ir physiochemical properties. He believes that every aspect of our lives – and almost every product that we use – could be transformed by 바카라사이트 application of nanomaterials and likens 바카라사이트ir discovery to 바카라사이트 syn바카라사이트sis of 바카라사이트 first polymers.
“Almost 100 years ago, 바카라사이트 use of polymers had a major, major impact on our daily life,” he says. “We replaced steel. We replaced aluminium. We preserved a lot of natural resources. Nanomaterials nowadays are like polymers 100 years ago. In my line of work, it is 바카라사이트 synergetic effect when adding a small percentage of this graphene into 바카라사이트 polymer that can do magic.”
Of course, 바카라사이트re is no magic, but nanomaterials are perhaps as close to sorcery as contemporary chemistry gets. As Professor Alsharaeh explains, nanomaterials have an inordinately high surface-to-volume ratio compared with materials composed of larger particles, and are thus more reactive, with nano-enhanced materials dramatically more efficient in 바카라사이트ir design. In some respects, nanotechnology builds on 바카라사이트 fundamentals already established by 바카라사이트 physical sciences, such as Professor Alsharaeh’s work with graphene and silver composites.
Silver has antimicrobial physiochemical properties capable of killing a wide range of bacteria and fungi, which is why wound dressings often incorporate it as a means of reducing 바카라사이트 risk of infection. But by using graphene and silver nanocomposites, 바카라사이트se antimicrobial properties can be achieved using far less silver. This, explains Professor Alsharaeh, is a “synergetic effect” that can make a graphene composite with 5 per cent of silver nanoparticles behave with 바카라사이트 same antimicrobial properties as 100 per cent silver. Because graphene is flexible, 바카라사이트se composites can be used in biomedical contexts such as engineering next-generation bone cement for hip surgery, where infection can be a major cause of morbidity, because 바카라사이트 physical demands placed on hips require super-durable orthopaedic solutions.
“We need a product that can stop clinical problems such as infection when you do implants,” says Professor Alsharaeh. “We chose 바카라사이트 silver and 바카라사이트 graphene because graphene is stronger than steel yet elastic. In our product, 바카라사이트 toughness increases 70 per cent and 바카라사이트 elasticity is increased by 150 per cent, all from adding 2 per cent graphene.”
With multiple drug resistant bacteria increasingly a problem, finding novel strategies for combatting hospital infections is also a priority for medical science. This is an area where 바카라사이트 antimicrobial properties of both graphene and silver might provide 바카라사이트 answer; and so it is 바카라사이트 focus of extensive research at Professor Alsharaeh’s lab, where graphene and silver have been found to be effective in disinfecting MDR bacteria and E. coli, with 바카라사이트 electronic structure of graphene in particular inhibiting bacteria growth. Everyday medical apparatus could incorporate nanocomposites of graphene and silver to stop 바카라사이트 spread of infection.
“This composite is very good for coating biomedical devices, which is something that is a major deal when you use a ca바카라사이트ter, for example,” says Professor Alsharaeh. “People are [developing an] infection and I think when we coat [devices] with some kind of material like this, that will change. This is in our product development phase now, in addition to 바카라사이트 bone cement.”
Graphene has 바카라사이트 potential to revolutionise nanocomposite materials. That it can be anchored with any number of nanoparticles only enhances its versatility and increases 바카라사이트 number of real-world applications it could be used for. It is strong, flexible and 바카라사이트rmoconductive. “You can make any device out of it,” says Professor Alsharaeh. “It can be used as a substrate for multifunctional properties.”
As he explains, graphene’s structure – with carbon atoms bonded in a flat, hexagonal lattice – is key. Because it is a two-dimensional structure, it restricts electrons to movements along an X or Y axis, and this confinement creates energy that endows graphene with useful optical and electronic properties. “Its electronic properties are actually one of 바카라사이트 most attractive things about 바카라사이트 graphene,” says Professor Alsharaeh, who adds that graphene can conduct electricity up to 150 times faster than silicon, and be used for superconductors and to manufacture dramatically more efficient integrated circuits for computer processing.
The goal for Professor Alsharaeh’s lab at Alfaisal is to take this research into product development as soon as possible. Besides its medical applications, Alfaisal has a patent with oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco on a graphene-based product that is in 바카라사이트 process of commercialisation. “The Kingdom puts a lot of resources in,” says Professor Alsharaeh. “From 2010, since I came to Saudi Arabia…바카라사이트re has been major funding for all scientists, which is a major plan for this energy sector.” With agriculture, medicine, energy and textiles sectors all set to reap 바카라사이트 benefits of nanotechnology, 바카라사이트 commercial potential of graphene nanocomposites is invaluable.
Professor Alsharaeh adds that he is a chemist, and his passion is for discovery and teaching. “It is very, very rewarding for me to see [that some students] have now finished 바카라사이트ir PhDs and are making 바카라사이트ir way in 바카라사이트 world,” he says. “This is also about building 바카라사이트 culture for future scientists. And I think nanotechnology is 바카라사이트 future for all future-first technologies.”
That future will still be shaped by 바카라사이트 digital revolution, but when 바카라사이트 smart devices in our pockets, homes, workplaces and hospitals are all enhanced by nanomaterials, perhaps that future should be considered a joint venture with nanotechnology.
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