Dr Cristina Giordano

Cristina Giordano

Reader in Chemistry

School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
www.qmul.ac.uk/spcs/staff/academics/profiles/cristinagiordano.html
Centre for Chemical Research
Centre for Experimental and Applied Physics

Research

Interests

Experimental Nanomaterial Chemistry Research, covering all relevant aspects from synthesis, characterization, processing and application.

Research in our group focuses on the design of novel/tailored pathways for the synthesis of advanced nanostructures based on metals, metal alloys and metallic ceramics. Metallic ceramics (namely transition metal nitrides and carbides) are a partially unexplored class of materials (e.g. compared to their corresponding oxides) and, as suggested by their name, they possess an intriguing combination of properties that place them between classical ceramics and pure metals. The number of envisaged applications is thus very broad and even broader going to the nanoscale (e.g. higher specific surface area, tailored properties via size- and shape- control, easier shaping and processing, etc). As “bulk” phase, metallic ceramics are mainly known for their superior mechanical properties but, due to their “dual” nature, the potentialities of these materials go far beyond. Formally produced by involving dangerous reactants coupled with needed high temperatures (up to 2000°C), these conditions were not enough appealing for a large scale production and unsuitable for nanoparticles synthesis. Our research work successfully aimed at designing novel pathways for the synthesis of metallic ceramics in order to expand their coverage in applied science.

The research performed up to now represents just the tip of an iceberg. Once the production of these materials can be made straightforward, any further modification, combination, manipulation, is in principle possible and unique systems can be designed.

Current research also focuses on multifunctional materials, colloidal dispersions and hybrids based on MN/MC nanoparticles. In particular on the design of tailored multifunctional materials (hybrids and nanocomposites) based on metallic ceramics, where solid state bridges soft matter to create unique materials for target applications.
Large part of our research is also performed through national and international collaborations.