Nanotechnology is finding increasing usage in a multitude of fields
including the field of biomedical sciences with Infra Red beams being
used to trace objects and tracers within the human body. Biomedical
sciences also represent some of the biggest areas of applications of
nanotechnology eg. Bio-labeling and subsequent detection using Infra
Red beams can easily pass though a human body into the target area that
has been labeled.
These were some of the applications of Nanotechnology illustrated by
Prof Samy El-Shall, Director Ras Al Khaimah Centre for Advanced
Materials (RAK CAM), Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates during a
lecture on “Nanocatalysis on Novel Supports: Graphene Sheets and Highly
Porous Coordination Polymers” , at the Center of Excellence in
Nanotechnology (CoEN) at the AIT.
Prof Samy El-Shall narrated how labeling can be used to trace a single
object from the sky with the assistance of IR beams. “An airborne laser
can shoot down a beam from the sky to target any object which has been
labeled”, he remarked. He delved on the science of Nano Catalysis, and
explained how even gold, which is known to be inert turns reactive in
nanscales and can be used as a very active catalyst. This has led to
the revision of the description of gold in science textbooks as well,
he added.
Prof Samy El-Shall identified Graphene, a single hexagonally flat
layer of graphic, as an area of great potential applications in
nanotechnology. Prof Samy El-Shall is a Professor of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Director, Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology
and Associate Dean for New Development, School of Engineering and
Technology, AIT provided an overview of the research and activities at
the Center.
Prof. El-Shall further informed that joint research activities will be
started between his group and the CoEN @AIT with staff and student
exchanges.
For more details about RAK CAM visit their website www.rakcam.com/Home.aspx
Contact Prof Joydeep Dutta: Email joy@ait.asia. Tel :
+6625245617