Jan Maurycy Uszko, a PhD student in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing, has published a cover article in Nanoscale Advances (doi.org/10.1039/D3NA01110K), alongside supervisors from Bristol Composites Institute and the School of Chemistry. The study was also featured in Nature Research Highlights (doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00316-0), and an article in Chemistry World.
The research sought to discover why fulminating gold produces a purple cloud when it detonates. Fulminating gold, the first high explosive material, was discovered by alchemists more than 400 years ago. It fascinated scientists through the ages and they studied it intensively. But why, when it detonates, does it produce a purple cloud?
Jan explained: “Our paper proves for the first time that the colouration of the smoke is a result of heterogeneous spherical gold nanoparticles being created in the detonation. The heat and rapidity of the creation gives the particles some interesting properties.”
Jan shared the findings on a poster at the 2024 Bristol Composites Institute Doctoral Research Symposium, where he won the student vote for best poster. Delegates at the Symposium were fascinated by the research and findings.
Jan concluded: “The research opens up further possibilities which are currently being investigated.”
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