Prof. Paul Topham of Aston University was invited to lecture Research in Nanotechnology to graduate students of AISMST online from August 26th to 28th. He carried on six lectures from polymer synthesis, structure and properties, to applications, such as “Introduction & Microphase Separation”, “X-ray Scattering and Microwave Annealing” and “Glass Transition Temperature and Superhydrophobic Fabrics”.
Prof. Topham give vivid lectures on the synthesis of block copolymer and mechanism of micro phase separation, the principle and application of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique, and a variety of homemade experimental devices for time resolved in-situ SAXS.In addition, he also expounded on the controllable synthesis of block copolymer and the relationship between the structure and glass transition temperature, as well as the relevant work on preparation of uniform block copolymer microspheres by using the microphase separation of block copolymer in electrospinning solution which achieved by the cooperation with Prof. Linge Wang.
Prof. Topham is the Director of the Aston Institute of Materials Research. His research focuses on the synthesis, development and application of ordered polymer materials, including “smart polymers”, highly biocompatible and degradable materials, and polymer brushes. Prof. Topham had given short-term lectures for the third time since 2018 and 2019, and had been rated as the most favorite visiting professor by graduate students of AISMST.
