Nanoscience, Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials

Biography

Prof. Werner J. Blau is internationally well known for his original work in molecular and polymer engineering. Having acquired substantial expertise in research management and technology transfer during departmental headship and in the research director positions, the present proposal represents a new and timely career challenge and an opportunity to develop fresh innovative research areas. Organic and particularly polymeric materials are essential building blocks of nearly all modern technologies. For over two decades, Prof. Blau’s research has addressed the fundamental issue of structure-property relationships and made significant contributions towards understanding and application these in several areas, especially in the optically active nanostructures and polymers, and in the Carbon Nanotube composite areas. His group has become initiators of and international leaders in a number of related research fields, most notably in the area of Information and Communications Technology hardware.

Research Interest

Prof. Werner J. Blau is internationally well known for his original work in Advanced Materials Physics, and especially interdisciplinary molecular and polymer science. His research group at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) is one of the largest, most active and best-known Material Science groups in Ireland. It has been one of the first in the world to adopt an interdisciplinary approach including Chemists, Physicists, Materials Scientists, Optical and Electronic Engineers, and Polymer Technologists. Current Research in the Blau group focuses on production, characterisation, and technological applications of organic polymers, nanotubes and polymer nanotube composites. Potential applications of these materials such as in displays using light emitting diodes and solar cells are actively studied. In particular, investigations into individual organic molecules, which can be assembled to perform functions identical to transistors, diodes, energy conversion devices and conductors, are being carried out. Most areas of nanotechnology are at an early stage of their development. Materials and structures that are designed and fabricated at the nanoscale level offer the potential to provide new functionalities, enhanced efficiencies and reduced costs in all areas of technology.