Chemical Synthesis Unit

The Chemical Synthesis Unit of R-Nano supports the undergraduate instruction and research while providing a practical work experience for students and researchers in the core areas of nanomaterials synthesis and functionalisation, catalytic processes, as well as polymerization reactions (bulk, suspension, solution, emulsion and chain growth polymerizations). Wet chemical processes take place from lab scale to pilot scale, able to synthesize a variety of nano-/micro-materials: polymeric capsules, core-shell particles, magnetic nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, graphene oxide and graphene derivatives; chemical vapour deposition processes are also designed and carried out for the growth of carbon nanomaterials (e.g. carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres, depositions of carbon nanomaterials on various substrates) in horizontal and vertical reactors. Application based experiments are also developed, in order to incorporate the nanomaterials into different matrices (e.g. polymeric, cementous, etc). Pyrolysis processes also take place for the valorisation of the reinforcing fibres (carbon and glass fibres) from composites, for recycling purposes.