Characterisation of Nano-Particulates in Natural Systems

构成天然和合成结构的初级纳米颗粒微晶的表征在工业、生物和环境应用中越来越重要。该高级奖学金旨在建立在申请人，他的合作者和他的博士生的现有研究的基础上，并将专注于确定表面特性，这些特性似乎将自然系统（环境和生物）中的纳米颗粒矿物与合成系统中的纳米颗粒矿物区分开来。特别是基本的假设是，动态可交换（或化学不稳定）表面是自然系统中初级粒子的一致特征，然后在宏观层面上塑造物理特性，特别是解释交换，周转，机械强度和与有机分子的相互作用。该应用借鉴了物理科学中最新的分析电子显微镜技术，并具有新颖的应用，将其应用于对电子束照射非常敏感的自然系统环境。这种前沿结构分析将提供基础数据，然后用于探测系统中粒子的功能。因此，该应用程序真正有助于促进潜在的理解和跨学科的互动。

Characterisation of the primary nano-particulate crystallites that make up natural and synthetic structures is of increasing importance in industrial, biological and environmental application. This Advanced Fellowship aims to build on existing studies by the applicant, his collaborators, and his PhD students, and will focus on the determination of the surface characteristics that appear to differentiate nano-particle minerals in natural systems (environmental and biological) from those in synthetic systems. In particular the underlying hypothesis is that dynamic exchangeable (or thermodynamically unstable) surfaces are a consistent feature of primary particles in natural systems that then shape the physical characteristics at the macroscopic level, in particular explaining aspects of exchangeability, turnover, mechanical strength and interaction with organic molecules. The application draws on the latest analytical electron microscopy techniques available in the physical sciences and, with novel application, applies them to the environments of natural systems which are very sensitive to electron beam irradiation. This leading edge structural analysis will provide fundamental data that will then be used to probe the function of the particle in the system. Therefore the application truly serves to advance potential understanding and cross-disciplinary interaction.