Professor Adam Boies

My research focuses on the evolution, dynamics and impacts of gas-phase nanoparticles. The applications of my research extend from engineered nanoparticles for energy applications to transportation emissions and air quality.

My laboratory activities seek to understand aerosol phenomena within complex reacting flows in order to synthesize unique nanomaterial structures. Currently a major research effort within my laboratory is the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from floating nanoparticle catalysts in a continuous high-throughput process for purposes of fibre spinning and mat production. The resulting CNT materials have unique thermal, electrical and structural properties, which are applied to a number of industrial areas. This work is conducted as a part of an international network based at Cambridge known as the Advanced Nanotube Applications and Manufacturing (ANAM) Initiative,  www.anam.eng.cam.ac.uk.

Other laboratory efforts include the production of nanoparticle catalysts by means of controlling charging behaviour with applications in the automotive catalyst sector. Additionally, I lead projects in developing new particle detection and synthesis techniques. 

I am affiliated with other networks at the University of Cambridge, including the Centre for Sustainable Freight (www.csrf.ac.uk), the Cambridge Particle Meeting (www.cambridgeparticlemeeting.org) and Energy Efficient Cities initiative (EECi, www.eeci.cam.ac.uk), which focus on developing analysis tools that demonstrate achievable reductions in energy use and emissions. Prior to this appointment (2010), I was a 3M Fellow at the University of Minnesota where I also received my PhD.