Research Laboratory of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials

Scientific Supervisor: Azat Seitkhan, PhD, Professor

Objective — to develop and implement innovative technologies for the processing and utilisation of mining-metallurgical and industrial waste to create new materials, including semiconductors, polymers, nanomaterials, and composites.

Laboratory tasks:

1. To study methods for the processing and utilisation of waste with the aim of creating nanomaterials with unique properties;
2. To synthesise and characterise semiconductor materials based on processed waste for application in electronics;
3. To develop and study polymers and composites with improved mechanical and thermal properties, created from secondary resources;
4. To create nanomaterials for environmental applications, including nanostructures for water and air purification;
5. To apply nanotechnologies for the surface and structural modification of materials, improving their operational characteristics;
6. To collaborate with industrial partners for the implementation of laboratory developments in real production and for addressing environmental challenges.

Clients: Mining and metallurgical enterprises; manufacturers of polymer and composite materials; companies in the fields of electronics and ecology.

Laboratory's uniqueness — the first laboratory in Kazakhstan focused on the processing of mining-metallurgical and industrial waste using nanotechnologies to create a wide range of innovative materials. The laboratory is equipped with advanced instruments for the synthesis and analysis of nanomaterials, enabling the development of materials with unique properties for various industrial sectors.

Effectiveness: The implementation of the developed nanomaterials is expected to significantly reduce raw material costs and improve the environmental performance of enterprises. The commissioning of new equipment — in particular, a pilot-scale installation for the production of activated carbon and composite materials — will significantly expand the laboratory's production capabilities and strengthen its scientific potential. The installation will be capable of processing mining-metallurgical waste, which will not only reduce the environmental burden but also enable the production of high-quality activated carbon and composites at a semi-industrial scale. This will open new opportunities for the commercialisation of laboratory developments, increase revenue from commercial contracts, and accelerate the process of bringing innovative materials to market. Additionally, other procured equipment holds the potential for rapid return on investment through the provision of paid analytical services such as porosity analysis, Raman spectroscopy, material hardness measurement, conductometry, and high-temperature testing.

Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SDG 4 — Quality Education;

SDG 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth;

SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure;

SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production;

SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals