student profile: Ms Joy Jiang

Thesis work

Thesis title: A Study towards Weakly-Structured Fluids -- From Controlled Self-Assembly to Functional Materials

Supervisors: Gregory WARR , Girish LAKHWANI

Thesis abstract:

Nanoscale liquid structures formed by surfactant self-assembly have been well studied. Traditional aggregates have well-defined structures. Their nanostructures depend on the effective molecular shape of the surfactant, or the so-called surfactant parameter. However, this concept fails in weakly structured systems. Amphiphiles without a packing parameter are classified separately as cosurfactants, or hydrotropes.

We realize a gap in understanding of this essential class of surface-active compounds. And yet diverse examples of nano-structured fluids are not strongly self-assembled. From food and beverage to personal care and pharmaceutical formulations, hydrotrope is highly appreciated in modifying performance, utility or physical properties of a product. A structural insight of this new type of soft matter enables economic designs of industrial processes.

This project is designed to gain new understanding of weakly-structured self-assembly fluids, typically hydrotrope systems. We aim to distinguish their nanostructures from conventional models. With controlled construction at the nanoscale, we optimise solvent properties for targeted reactions, catalysis processes and treatment of natural products. Further, we utilise structural properties of weakly structured fluids, creating the future generation of functional materials.

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