Queen Mary University of London spotlights UK–South Korea research links in ultrastrong & lightweight materials

Dr. Dimitrios G. Papageorgiou and Professor Nicola Pugno

The meeting brought together leading academics to discuss the latest advances in two themes:  1) Ultra-strong and Lightweight materials and 2) Nanoscience for Medicine.

The symposium was co-Chaired by Dr Dimitrios G. Papageorgiou, Reader in Functional Polymers and Composites in QMUL’s School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS), alongside Prof Philip Withers FRS, FREng (UK), Prof Robert Young FRS, FREng (UK), Prof Rodney Ruoff (Korea), and Prof Seung Min Jane Han (Korea). It also featured an invited talk from SEMS Professor Nicola Pugno, one of Europe’s most recognised voices in mechanics-based materials design. Professor Pugno’s lecture explored recent advances in bio-inspired and architected materials, with a particular focus on ultrastrong macroscopic cables made from carbon nanotubes and graphene. He emphasized how fundamental principles of mechanics, applied across materials and structural design, can drive step changes in performance, illustrated by the concept of a space-elevator cable for asteroid mining.

Across two days of presentations and discussion, delegates explored how materials can be engineered to deliver simultaneous gains in strength, toughness, and weight reduction, while remaining manufacturable and sustainable. A central theme was the importance of connecting processing–structure–property relationships with real-world constraints such as reliability, scale-up, and end-of-life considerations.

Dr Dimitrios Papageorgiou said:

“Lightweighting and mechanical performance have traditionally been optimised in parallel, often with trade-offs accepted as inevitable. What this meeting made clear is that the field is now ready to design beyond those compromises; by integrating advanced materials, architecture, interfaces, and scalable manufacturing from the outset. It was a real privilege to bring together leading colleagues from the UK and South Korea for discussions that were not only scientifically rigorous, but also genuinely future-facing and collaborative.”

Professor Nicola Pugno added:

“It was a real pleasure to contribute to this symposium. Prof. Ruoff and I have taken this opportunity to present a new fundamental rule for exploiting the nanoscale properties of 2D materials in macroscopic composites, along with its experimental verification with graphene. Meetings like this are important because they accelerate the exchange of ideas and create the partnerships needed to move from laboratory demonstrations to impact.”

Queen Mary's participation reflects the University’s growing role in Advanced Materials research, spanning advanced nanomaterials, functional polymers, composites, mechanics of materials and next-generation sustainable material systems, and its commitment to building international partnerships that support scientific excellence and translation.