​Registration Link
https://kaust.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4Pl4DBlkT1qBpKYiUa0rPw


ABSTRACT: Graphene is well known for its outstanding thermal conductivity. Despite the exploitation of graphene in bulk materials is still very much limited by its availability, graphene-related materials (GRM) such as multi-layer graphene and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) are currently of high interest for the exploitation in thermally conductive materials. On the other hand, there is an increasing interest and need for thermally-conductive polymer-based materials, allowing the manufacturing of a range of heat exchangers, taking advantage of the corrosion resistance and ease of processing typical of polymers. While the combination of polymers and graphene-related materials into nanocomposites is quite obvious, the performances obtained are very variable and depend, among other parameters, on nanoparticles size, defects, dispersion and processing. Furthermore, thermal conductivity in nanomaterials is strongly limited by the interfaces, each of those acting as a thermal resistance to the heat transfer. The first part of this talk will deal with recent research work in the preparation and properties of GRM polymer nanocomposites and nanopapers, as well as the functionalization of GNPs to produce molecular junctions acting as thermal bridges. On the other hand, GRM may also be used to deliver an heat shield in extreme conditions, for instance when a flame is applied onto the surface of GRM-coated polymer foams. The second part of the talk will deal with recent results on the development of coating methods and the flame retardancy performance obtained with thin layers of graphene oxide or GNP onto soft polyrethane open foams, which may find applications in upholstered furniture, building insulation and transport.


BIOGRAPHY: 

Current Position: Since October 2018, A. Fina is full professor in Chemistry at Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology. Active in scientific research and teaching (Chair in Chemistry, Bachelor degree in engineering) 

Research Activities: Starting from his PhD, A. Fina have been addressing the preparation of polymer nanocomposites using different nanoparticles (nanoclays, layered double hydroxides, Polyhedral Oligomeric SilSesquioxanes-POSS) mainly aiming at flame retardancy properties. In 2009, he enlarged my research domain to thermally conductive polymer nanocomposites. This topic soon became his main research field, mostly in terms of applied research in the frame of EU FP7 projects Thermonano and Nanocool, and recently to the fundamental aspect behind the problem of thermal conductivity in polymer nanocomposites, in the frame of the ERC starting grant project INTHERM. In particular, a great deal of research efforts have been focused on the study of heat transfer on individual nanoparticles and their networks, as well as on the design and manufacturing of interfaces between nanoparticles, via the covalent or non-covalent chemical functionalization of graphene nanoplatelets. Non-covalent functionalization included porphirines and several bis-pyrene derivatives synthesized on purpose. On the other hand, edge-selective covalent functionalizations producing molecular junctions between nanoflakes were demonstrated to enhance heat transfer in the nanoflakes network. In parallel, he have also been active in the field of flame retardancy, especially in the study of ignition of polymers and nanocomposites, in the substitution of halogenated flame retardants in ABS as well as to nanoclay-based brick and mortar structures for the protection of polymer composites during exposure to a flame. In the last years, he has been working also on layer by layer coating depositions with nanoclays and graphene related materials onto films for gas barrier applications as well as on foams for their flame retardancy. 

Alberto Fina is the leader of the Functional Polymer Nanocomposites group (http://www.disat.polito.it/it/la_ricerca/gruppi_di_ricerca/chenergy/solar_fuels_and_functional_materials_for_smart_energy_systems). Since 2010, he has been coordinating a research group composed of international researchers, including Assistant Professors, Post-Docs and PhD students. 

Alberto Fina published his first paper in 2005 and he is currently co-author of 80 papers in major international peer reviewed journals and monographs, with 4596 citations yielding an H-index of 31 (source: Scopus, 1st March 2021), 8 peer-reviewed book chapters and >70 other pubblications, including conference papers and technical papers. Full list at https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=pvpJp0cAAAAJ&hl=it.

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• CONTACTMazen E. Mero