WESIC News and Events
Structural and Chemical Transformations of Advanced Materials: A Key Metric Towards Safe and Sustainable by Design
Environment & Ecology Seminar
Date/Time: Thursday 1st of May 12:00- 13:00
Location: MRI room
Speaker: Swaroop Chakraborty, University of Birmingham
Title: Structural and Chemical Transformations of Advanced Materials: A Key Metric Towards Safe and Sustainable by Design
Abstract
Advanced materials, particularly nanomaterials and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) show great promise for applications ranging from energy storage to catalysis, yet their transition to large-scale implementation is often curtailed by concerns around durability, ecological safety, and end-of-life management. My research highlights the pivotal role of monitoring structural and chemical transformations as a basis for designing robust, next-generation materials guided by a Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) paradigm. Transformations are categorised into primary (atmospheric), secondary (aqueous or mildly corrosive), and tertiary (biological) stages, enabling precise identification of the thresholds where performance degrades, or unintended environmental risks arise. In addition to fundamental stability considerations, my research also involves environmental applications such as heavy metal removal and rare earth element (REE) extraction using advanced materials under SSbD framework.
To evaluate potential hazards and bio-interactions comprehensively, the blood–brain barrier transwell model (for human toxicity) are employed alongside zebrafish embryo and Daphnia magna assays (for ecotoxicity), offering valuable insights into toxicity, bioavailability, and lifespan. Characterisation tools such as synchrotron-based techniques and in situ electron microscopy reveal how pore architectures, metal–ligand interactions, and surface chemistries evolve across diverse operational conditions. These findings inform practical design strategies, including greener synthetic routes and enhanced recycling or safe disposal protocols, that allow advanced materials to fulfil their technological potential while adhering to circular-economy values and ensuring minimal ecological impact.