Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Science for Women, Professor Dr. Sameera Naji Khdim, the Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with the Continuing Education Unit, held a workshop titled “Natural Nanomaterials and Their Industrial Applications”. The workshop was presented by Dr. Sahar Subaih Hassan, Dr. Suad Abd Musa, and Ms. Sura Khalil.
The objective of the workshop was to introduce natural nanomaterials—materials composed of particles, cells, or structures with nanometer-scale dimensions that exhibit unique properties strongly influenced by their small size and structural composition. These materials demonstrate exceptional mechanical, chemical, and optical characteristics, such as high strength, excellent conductivity, and the ability to absorb or reflect light in unconventional ways. They also possess a distinctive ability to interact with their surrounding environment, paving the way for advanced applications across various industrial, medical, and environmental fields.
The workshop addressed the historical significance of these materials, noting their use since ancient times in the production of dyes, due to the presence of fine particles capable of reflecting light in special ways. Furthermore, nanomaterials naturally occur in substances like clay and coal, which contain minute particles that influence their effective properties.
In contemporary applications, nanomaterials are extensively utilized in the medical field to enhance the quality of imaging technologies such as CT scans and MRI, as well as in gene therapy applications. In the electronics industry, they play a role in the manufacture of advanced touch screens, high-efficiency solar cells, and high-performance computing devices.
In the environmental sector, nanomaterials have demonstrated a vital role in the treatment of polluted water and in improving energy efficiency in various devices. Additionally, they have contributed to the development of alternative fuels and corrosion-resistant materials, thereby enhancing industrial performance.
