Title: Interfaces at the Nanoscale
Time: 2026-04-14 10:00
Lecturer: Prof. Chris Blackman
University College London (UCL)
Venue: Room 202, Lu-Jiaxi Building
Abstract：
In this talk I will provide a brief introduction to the UCL Department of Chemistry, an overview of my research in fabrication of inorganic materials interfaces at the nanoscale, and a discussion of my work on advanced operando characterisation of gas/surface interfaces using near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and how the insights gained have provided a self-consistent framework for understanding changes in material electronic properties as a function of gas ambient (and application in gas sensing).
Bio of the Lecturer：
Professor Chris Blackman, deputy head of department (Head of Department Elect).At the core of my research is the development of scalable thin film deposition techniques, particularly atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (APCVD) and aerosol-assisted CVD (AACVD) for fabrication of high-quality metal oxide films with controlled morphology and crystallinity, suitable for integration into sensors, photocatalysts, and smart coatings.
A major area of interest is the design of nanostructured metal oxide materials for gas sensing. My group has pioneered the single-step synthesis of Au- and Pt-functionalized WO₃ nanoneedles, which exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity toward gases such as hydrogen and nitrogen dioxide. The materials we develop are being investigated for use in real-time air quality monitoring and environmental sensing platforms. More recently, I have expanded into using atomic layer deposition (ALD) for fabrication of ultra-thin films and multilayered heterostructures with atomic precision, which are being explored for use in microelectronics, optoelectronics, and advanced sensing devices. Emerging directions in my research include the development of 2D inorganic nanomaterials, the use of in situ and operando materials characterisation methods to gain insight into optimising functional properties and targeting the detection of hard-to-sense analytes.
