MATERIALS THAT DIDN’T EXIST. INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES

Marco Beghi, Professor of Solid-State Physics, Politecnico di Milano; Silvia Gross, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, Università di Padova; Liberato Manna, Senior Scientist in NanoChemistry, Istituto italiano di Tecnologia. Moderated by Francesco Mambretti, Postdoctoral Researcher in Atomistic Simulations, Istituto italiano di Tecnologia

Historical eras have often been defined by a particular material that marked a revolutionary shift from the past — consider bronze, copper, or iron. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, recent centuries have seen an explosion in the number and variety of materials, both purposefully invented and accidentally discovered. In recent decades, humans have begun to manipulate matter at the atomic level — the so-called nanoscale — offering a revolutionary tool for creating new materials tailored to specific needs (a drug, a catalyst, a superconductor…) and for observing matter at scales invisible to the naked eye. Three researchers will guide us through the details and history of some of today’s most innovative materials.