ABSTRACT

Silica-based nanomaterials are used in wide applications such as in catalysis, food and drug technology, biomedical materials, water purification, tyres and paints. The industrial production of silica-based nanomaterials often utilises harsh conditions and/or produce toxic wastes. In contrast, biological organisms, through biosilicification, produce elaborate and ordered biominerals under physiological conditions. Taking inspiration from such biosilicifying organisms, we have developed green routes for the controlled synthesis of silica. This presentation will demonstrate that thebiomimetic technology is scalable (suitable for industrial production) with the potential to reform current industrial processes. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that these materials, due to their green synthesis are suitable for applications environmental remediation, catalysis, biocatalysis and drug delivery(see Figure). This presentation will cover each of these applications of bioinspired silica with suitable examples.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Siddharth V. Patwardhan (SP) obtained his first degree in Petrochemical Engineering from the University of Pune, India(2000) followed byMaster of Science (2002) and PhD (2003) degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, USA. He was appointed as a Visiting Scholar and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Delaware and further as a postdoctoral researcher at Nottingham Trent University. SP moved to University of Strathclyde in 2010 as a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering. SP has over 12years of international experience in materials at biointerfaceand has pioneered bioinspired green routes to silica-based porous and nanostructured materials. This research has led to 53 publications and over 40 oral presentations at international and national conferences. In recent years, he has secured fundingfrom the Royal Society, Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization,British Petroleum andEPSRC. SP has co-organized symposia at ACS conferences and he is an associate editor of journal SILICON. Recently, he has been selected on an EPSRC forum for Manufacturing the Future.He serves on Bridging the Gaps panel at the university.