Wednesday, 25 October 11:00am – 12:00pm

This seminar will be delivered in Chemistry Lecture Theatre 4

Speaker: Dr Torben Daeneke, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Host: Dr Kaye Kang

Title: Liquid metal colloids – A unique type of chemistry is coming

Abstract: Liquid metals are an emerging class of compounds that are liquid close to room temperature yet exhibit metallic conductivity [1]. Liquid metals have found application in the design of flexible and reconfigurable electronics and more recently emerged as a platform for the synthesis of nano-structures [2] as well as a unique class of catalysts that is extraordinarily resilient towards deactivation [3]. In comparison to other liquids such as covalent solvents and ionic liquids, comparatively little is known about the chemistry that occurs inside molten metals. This talk covers the emerging picture of liquid metal chemistry and will report our most recent results for solid-metal-in-liquid-metal colloidal systems. The interfacial chemistry of liquid metal colloids was studied using in situ TEM techniques revealing surprisingly dynamic interfaces. In a second part of the talk, our recent results in the area of CO₂ reduction to graphene and NH₃ synthesis will be covered.[4]

References:

[1] T. Daeneke, K. Khoshmanesh, N. Mahmood, I. Alves De Castro, D. Esrafilzadeh, S. Barrow, M. Dickey, K. Kalantar-Zadeh, Chem. Soc. Rev,. 2018, 47(11), 4073-4111.

[2] S. Idrus-Saidi, J. Tang, S. Lambie, J. Han, M. Mayyas, M. Ghasemian, F. Allioux, S. Cai, P. Koshy, P. Mostaghimi, K. Steenbergen, A. Barnard, T. Daeneke, N. Gaston, K. Kalantar-Zadeh, Science, 2022, 378, 6627, 1118-1124

[3] K. Zuraiqi, A. Zavabeti, F. Allioux, J. Tang, C. Nguyen, P. Tafazolymotie, M. Mayyas, A. Ramarao, M. Spencer, K. Shah, C. McConville, K. Kalantar-Zadeh, K. Chiang, T. Daeneke Joule, 2020,4,11, 2290-2321

[4] K. Zuraiqi, A. Zavabeti, J. Clarke-Hannaford, B. James Murdoch, K. Shah, M. Spencer, C. McConville, T. Daeneke, K. Chiang, Energy. Enviro. Sci. 2022, 15, 2, 595-600

Bio: Dr. Torben Daeneke is an Associate Professor within the School of Engineering at RMIT University. His early research focussed on charge transfer processes in dye sensitised solar cells, with an emphasis on transient laser spectroscopy. After joining RMIT he shifted his attention towards the synthesis and application of two-dimensional materials. His current research is focused on liquid metal chemistry, where he is exploring fundamental phenomena as well as applications in synthesis, electronics and catalysis. Dr Daeneke currently leads a research group of 17 HDR students and 4 postdoctoral fellows, mostly investigating various aspects of liquid metal chemistry. He has published over 140 peer reviewed journal articles.