主讲人简介：Dr. Meifang Zhoureceived her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering  from The University of NewSouth Wales, Australia in 2004.

As a researchfellow, she joined the Advanced Porous Materials research group  (2004 - 2008)and Sonochemistry research group (2008 - now) at The University of  Melbourne,Australia.

Meifang is a sonochemist and materials scientist who has developed anumber of  novel techniques to facilely synthesize and characterize nano-/micro-bubbles and  spheres using acoustic cavitation. Recent research also involvesthe sonochemical  synthesis of functional nano- and biomaterials includingprotein/polymer  microspheres that can be used in diagnostic and therapeuticmedicine. She has  made major contributions of applied sonochemistry to the foodindustry.  Herresearch interests also include sol-gel templated porous  nano-structuredmaterialsand sonochemical synthesis of polymer or metal/polymer  composite nano- andmicro- bubbles/spheres for photocatalytic, antimicrobial and  drug or flavourdelivery applications.She has been a reviewer for more than 15  internationaljournals and a member of organising committee for  InternationalWorkshop on Sonochemistry and Photocatalysis in 2008.

内容摘要：Thesynthesis of functional materials is one of the active research areas  as thesematerials are found useful in a variety of potential applications, such  as,energy production, therapeutic and diagnostic medicine, etc.A number of  advanced synthetic techniqueshave been developed for synthesizing metal and  polymer particles andbiomaterials. Sonochemistry is found to be a useful  technique for synthesizing avariety of nano- and micro- materials possessing  specific physical andfunctional properties.

Sonochemistryrefers to the chemical reactions that could be induced when  sound waves interactwith gas bubbles in liquids. The interaction between  (ultra)sound waves anddissolved gas nuclei results in a phenomenon known as  acoustic cavitation,which involves the growth of existing gas nuclei by  rectified diffusion andinertial collapse of resonance-sized microbubbles.The  near adiabatic collapse generates veryhigh temperatures and pressures within the  cavitation bubbles leading to theformation of highly reactive radicals.In  addition to generating these primary radicals, acoustic cavitation isalso  accompanied by a number of physical effects, such as agitation,microstreaming,  enhanced mass transport, etc. The reactions between the primaryradicals and  solutes adsorbed at the bubble/solution interface may generatesecondary  radicals. The primary and secondary radicals and the physical effectsgenerated  during acoustic cavitation have been found useful in the synthesis ofa variety  of nano- and micro- materials.

We have developed anultrasonic methodology for controlling the size and size  distribution of metalnanoparticles. Recently, we have developed a simple and  efficient technique forthe encapsulation of magnetite nanoparticles within host  latex particles andsemiconducting nanoparticles within polymer microcapsules.  This ultrasoundinitiated procedure represents an effective means ofproducing a  range of nanocomposites consisting of multiple combinations ofdifferent polymers  and encapsulation materials. We have also developed aversatile method to  synthesize protein and polymer microspheres that havepotential applications in  therapeutic and diagnostic medicine. An overview ofthe sonochemical synthesis of  functional nano- and micro- materials will bepresented.