The Postgraduate Virtual Open Days will be taking place this year 1-14 November. During the Open Days you will be able to access webinars, videos and resources from departments and Colleges. These sessions and resources will help you to learn more about the courses on offer, hear from students about life as a postgraduate student at Cambridge, discover funding opportunities and explore the Colleges and other University facilities using the 360 photography and videos on the Virtual Tour. We look forward to welcoming you!

Further details on the Postgraduate Open Days and to register for the event see: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/openday

Dr Jen Hollingsworth, Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Despite their humble origin, colloidal quantum dots (QDs) and other nanocrystalline semiconductors prepared in simple laboratory flasks are finding real-world applications in demanding technologies from displays and lighting to photovoltaics and photodetectors, and in the future they may be the basis for single-photon devices in quantum networks. Beyond quantum size control, we pursue an expanded “structural toolbox” to synthetically engineer this class of nanomaterial to realize specific novel and optimal photophysical properties. Here, I will describe our efforts to understand the synthesis-nanostructure-properties correlations that lay the groundwork for a materials-by-design approach to the next generation of useful semiconductor nanocrystals, as well as the opportunity to further enhance and transform nanomaterial properties by integration with other synthesized or fabricated materials.

For more information on attending this talk:  http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/index/98965

Dr Stefan Michalik, Diamond Light Source

In the talk I will present the high energy X-ray 12-JEEP beamline situated at Diamond Light Source, the UK national synchrotron facility, as a versatile instrument for material science combining X-ray scattering and imaging techniques. X-ray diffraction presents a unique non-destructive technique for strain /stress mapping inside materials or enables to follow in-situ and in-operando phase transformations during materials processing. X-ray total scattering analysis represent a tool to reveal a short-range order in highly disordered systems and amorphous materials. X-ray imaging can visualise a crack formation under external stresses or help to track particles formation during solidification. I will give some examples based on the recent research carried out by users and as in-house on I12 -JEEP to demonstrate the powerfulness of X-ray scattering and imaging techniques and the I12 -JEEP beamline.

For more information on attending this talk:  http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/index/98965

Prof. Tanvir Hussain, University of Nottingham

Suspension thermal spray is an emerging ceramic coating process to develop bespoke microstructure and compositions from a range of nanoparticles—even precursor solutions. We will explore a range of ceramic coatings for aerospace and energy applications. Cold spray is a promising technology that allows rapid building up of layers without any melting for metallic coatings. The talk will capture the latest innovation in powder modification and its impact on microstructure.

For more information on attending this talk:  http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/index/98965