Professor Chiara Neto
Professor of Physical Chemistry
- BSc (Hons), University of Florence, Italy, 1998
- PhD, University of Florence, Italy, 2001
- Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Ulm and Saarland University, Germany, 2002-2003
- Australian Research CouncilPostdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University, 2003-2006
- Lecturer, University of Sydney, 2007-2010
- Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney, 2011-2014
- Associate Professor, University of Sydney, 2015-2019
- Australian Research Council Future Fellow, 2019 - 2023
- Chief Scientific Officer,Dewpoint InnovationsPty Ltd, 2022 - 2024
- Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Sydney, 2020 - present
Professor Chiara Neto’s research on the physical chemistry of interfaces takes inspiration from nature, seeking ways to replicate natural phenomena to apply to such diverse challenges as developing self-cleaning paints, increasing the energy efficiency of commercial shipping and alleviating water scarcity in arid climates.
“I am fascinated with natural patterns and surfaces, their functionality and beauty, and how they can be mimicked to develop functional materials that everyone can experience in everyday life.
“One area of my research involves working with superhydrophobic (extremely water-repellent) surfaces that mimic the way a lotus leaf repels water. Water rolls rather than slides off a lotus leaf, taking with it any dust particles and keeping the leaf dry and clean. Such self-cleaning coatings could have many applications, from the paint to the automotive to the food industries.
“Another area of interest is the investigation of fluid flow against solid surfaces. By finely controlling the chemistry and topography of surfaces, we are able to induce ‘interfacial slip’, thus reducing hydrodynamic drag. This technology could be applied to coating a ship’s hull to enable it to move more quickly through water, reducing energy input and pollution.
“I am also working to develop functional surfaces that harvest water from humid air. I collaborate with colleagues from across the Univeristy of Sydney on "Advanced Capture of Water from the Atmoshpere". We are working to develop a low-cost surface coating that can be used to capture atmospheric water from humid air with no energy inout, to alleviate water scarcity."
“I love my job. I cannot imagine doing anything that interests and challenges me more.
“I joined the University of Sydney in 2007, and I find it stimulating and extremely rewarding. I am surrounded by people who are ambitious but also collegial and collaborative, who take great pride in their research but also in their service to the community and to their students. Sydney Uni has brought out the best skills and attitude I had to offer.”
See the Neto Research Group website https://neto.sydney.edu.au/
Australasian Colloids and Interface Society, Director (2012-2018) and President (2015-2018 )
Australasian Colloids and Interface Society
International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists (IACIS) (member of the Council, 2022-)
Royal Society of New South Wales (2021 - )
-
2022:Launched start-up company Dewpoint Innovations Pty Ltd as co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
-
2022:Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Langmuir
-
2022:Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
-
2021:Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW
-
2020:Member of the Editorial Board of Advanced Materials Interfaces
-
2018: Awarded an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (2019 -2022).
-
2018: Awarded a University of Sydney Research Accelerator Fellowship (SOAR) (2018 -2019).
-
2016 -2018: Leader of the Domain Molecular Nanoscience within The University of Sydney of Sydney Nano Institute
-
2016: Chair of the 30th Australian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference, Kioloa NSW.
-
2015 - 2018:President of the Australasian Colloid and Interface Society (ACIS)
-
2014: Brown Fellowship of the DVC-Research, the University of Sydney
(University of Alberta) Part of Discovery Project DP230100555 “Gas-enriched slippery surfaces" | |
(University of Toronto) Awarded an Ignite Grant to conduct research on slippery covalenty-attached liquid surfaces | |
(Costa Rica Institute of Technology) Study of flow and gas accumulation at interfaces | |
(Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research) Part of joint work on slippery-covalently attached liquid surfaces | |
(University of Rostock) Fluorine-free hydrophobisation of microstructured metal surfaces | |
(The University of Rome La Sapienza) Part of Discovery Project DP230100555 “Gas-enriched slippery surfaces" | |
(University of Edinburgh) Explaining the slippery properties of thin PDMS grafted layers |
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Thermophoretic fabrication of gradient hydrogels for cell mechanobiology applications | Shin Wei CHONG |
| Study of Drag Reduction by Lubricant Infused Surfaces | Leo JAMES |
Publications
Book Chapters
- Duong, H., Nguyen, D., Neto, C., Hawkett, B. (2018). Synthesis and applications of polymeric Janus nanoparticles. In Zhiqun Lin and Bo Li (Eds.), Soft, hard, and hybrid Janus Structures: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Applications, (pp. 31-68). London: World Scientific Publishing. [More Information]
Journals
- Gresham, I., Neto, C. (2023). Advances and challenges in slippery covalently-attached liquid surfaces. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 315. [More Information]
- McHale, G., Ledesma-Aguilar, R., Neto, C. (2023). Cassie’s Law Reformulated: Composite Surfaces from Superspreading to Superhydrophobic. Langmuir, 39(31), 11028-11035. [More Information]
- Stuart-Fox, D., Ng, L., Barner, L., Bennett, A., Blamires, S., Elgar, M., Evans, A., Franklin, A., Hölttä-Otto, K., Hutchison, J., Neto, C., et al (2023). Challenges and opportunities for innovation in bioinformed sustainable materials. Communications Materials, 4(1). [More Information]
Conferences
- Badiola, K., Bartimote, K., Bridgeman, A., George, A., Hudson, T., Neto, C., Schmid, S. (2013). Using Interactive Lecture Demonstrations to Invigorate Chemistry Lectures. 19th Annual UniServe Science Conference: Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (ACSME 2013), Canberra: University of Sydney.
- Telford, A., Neto, C. (2009). Conformal nanometric surface patterning using polymer film dewetting. Future - Science of Today, Radical Polymerization - The Next Stage Conference, N/A: N/A.
- Neto, C. (2009). Flow and stability of liquid films (Invited talk). National Measurements Institute Workshop on SPM, N/A: N/A.
Patents
- Beattie, J., Djerdjev, A., Hawkett, B., Neto, C., Priyananda, P. (2021). Use of NO/NO2 scavengers to increase sleep time for AN based emulsion explosives. Patent No. 2016314774, 2018/02843, 2018/02843. , Turkey, Turkey.
Magazine / Newspaper Articles
- Motion, A., Neto, C., O'Reilly, C. (2019). Looking through the Nano Lens. The University of Sydney: Muse, 23.
2023
- Gresham, I., Neto, C. (2023). Advances and challenges in slippery covalently-attached liquid surfaces. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 315. [More Information]
- McHale, G., Ledesma-Aguilar, R., Neto, C. (2023). Cassie’s Law Reformulated: Composite Surfaces from Superspreading to Superhydrophobic. Langmuir, 39(31), 11028-11035. [More Information]
- Stuart-Fox, D., Ng, L., Barner, L., Bennett, A., Blamires, S., Elgar, M., Evans, A., Franklin, A., Hölttä-Otto, K., Hutchison, J., Neto, C., et al (2023). Challenges and opportunities for innovation in bioinformed sustainable materials. Communications Materials, 4(1). [More Information]
2022
- Hong, J., Mathur, K., Ruhoff, A., Akhavan, B., Waterhouse, A., Neto, C. (2022). Design Optimization of Perfluorinated Liquid-Infused Surfaces for Blood-Contacting Applications. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 9(10), 2102214. [More Information]
- Peppou-Chapman, S., Vega-Sanchez, C., Neto, C. (2022). Detection of Nanobubbles on Lubricant-Infused Surfaces Using AFM Meniscus Force Measurements. Langmuir, 38(33), 10234-10243. [More Information]
- Hong, J., Ruhoff, A., Mathur, K., Neto, C., Waterhouse, A. (2022). Mechanisms for Reduced Fibrin Clot Formation on Liquid-Infused Surfaces. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 11(21). [More Information]
2021
- Fenati, R., Quinn, M., Bilinsky, H., Neto, C. (2021). Antifouling Properties of Liquid-Infused Riblets Fabricated by Direct Contactless Microfabrication. Advanced Engineering Materials, 23(1), 2000905. [More Information]
- Beattie, J., Djerdjev, A., Hawkett, B., Neto, C., Priyananda, P. (2021). Use of NO/NO2 scavengers to increase sleep time for AN based emulsion explosives. Patent No. 2016314774, 2018/02843, 2018/02843. , Turkey, Turkey.
- Baeckens, S., Temmerman, M., Gorb, S., Neto, C., Whiting, M., van Damme, R. (2021). Convergent evolution of skin surface microarchitecture and increased skin hydrophobicity in semi-aquatic anole lizards. Journal of Experimental Biology, 224(19), jeb242939. [More Information]
2020
- Hong, J., Gao, L., Singh, J., Goh, T., Ruhoff, A., Neto, C., Waterhouse, A. (2020). Evaluating medical device and material thrombosis under flow: Current and emerging technologies. Biomaterials Science, 8(21), 5824-5845. [More Information]
- Scarratt, L., Zhu, L., Neto, C. (2020). Large Effective Slip on Lubricated Surfaces Measured with Colloidal Probe AFM. Langmuir, 36(21), 6033-6040. [More Information]
- Peppou-Chapman, S., Hong, J., Waterhouse, A., Neto, C. (2020). Life and death of liquid-infused surfaces: a review on the choice, analysis and fate of the infused liquid layer. Chemical Society Reviews, 49(11), 3688-3715. [More Information]
2019
- Katselas, A., Motion, A., O'Reilly, C., Neto, C. (2019). Chemical curiosity on campus: An undergraduate project on the structure and wettability of natural surfaces. Journal of Chemical Education, 96(9), 1998-2002. [More Information]
- Tonelli, M., Peppou-Chapman, S., Ridi, F., Neto, C. (2019). Effect of pore size, lubricant viscosity, and distribution on the slippery properties of infused cement surfaces. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 123(5), 2987-2995. [More Information]
- Vuellers, F., Peppou-Chapman, S., Kavalenka, M., Holscher, H., Neto, C. (2019). Effect of repeated immersions and contamination on plastron stability in superhydrophobic surfaces. Physics of Fluids, 31(1), 1-10. [More Information]
2018
- Chiu, M., Wood, J., Widmer-Cooper, A., Neto, C. (2018). Aligned droplet patterns by dewetting of polymer bilayers. Macromolecules, 51(15), 5485-5493. [More Information]
- Ahmed, A., Smith-Palmer, T., Gentle, A., Neto, C. (2018). Influence of long-range forces and capillarity on the function of underwater superoleophobic wrinkled surfaces. Soft Matter, 14(32), 6627-6634. [More Information]
- Peppou-Chapman, S., Neto, C. (2018). Mapping depletion of lubricant films on antibiofouling wrinkled slippery surfaces. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 10(39), 33669-33677. [More Information]
2017
- Scarratt, L., Steiner, U., Neto, C. (2017). A review on the mechanical and thermodynamic robustness of superhydrophobic surfaces. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 246, 133-152. [More Information]
- Telford, A., Thickett, S., Neto, C. (2017). Functional patterned coatings by thin polymer film dewetting. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 507, 453-469. [More Information]
- Zhu, L., Nguyen, D., Davey, T., Baker, M., Such, C., Hawkett, B., Neto, C. (2017). Mechanical properties of Ropaque hollow nanoparticles. Polymer, 131, 10-16. [More Information]
2016
- Al-Khayat, O., Hong, J., Geraghty, K., Neto, C. (2016). "The Good, the Bad, and the Slippery": A Tale of Three Solvents in Polymer Film Dewetting. Macromolecules, 49(17), 6590-6598. [More Information]
- Charrault, E., Lee, T., Easton, C., Neto, C. (2016). Boundary flow on end-grafted PEG brushes. Soft Matter, 12(6), 1906-1914. [More Information]
- Al-Khayat, O., Geraghty, K., Shou, K., Nelson, A., Neto, C. (2016). Chain Collapse and Interfacial Slip of Polystyrene Films in Good/Nonsolvent Vapor Mixtures. Macromolecules, 49(4), 1344-1352. [More Information]
2015
- Lee, T., Hendy, S., Neto, C. (2015). Control of nanoparticle formation using the constrained dewetting of polymer brushes. Nanoscale, 7(7), 2894-2899. [More Information]
- Ghezzi, M., Wang, P., Kingshott, P., Neto, C. (2015). Guiding the dewetting of thin polymer films by colloidal imprinting. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2(11), 1-10. [More Information]
- Wong, I., Teo, G., Neto, C., Thickett, S. (2015). Micropatterned surfaces for atmospheric water condensation via controlled radical polymerization and thin film dewetting. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 7(38), 21562-21570. [More Information]
2014
- Lee, T., Charrault, E., Neto, C. (2014). Interfacial slip on rough, patterned and soft surfaces: A review of experiments and simulations. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 210, 21-38. [More Information]
- Ghezzi, M., Thickett, S., Telford, A., Easton, C., Meagher, L., Neto, C. (2014). Protein Micropatterns by PEG Grafting on Dewetted PLGA Films. Langmuir, 30(39), 11714-11722. [More Information]
2013
- Telford, A., Pham, B., Neto, C., Hawkett, B. (2013). Micron-sized polystyrene particles by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization in air: Synthesis and mechanism. Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 51(19), 3997-4002. [More Information]
- Telford, A., Hawkett, B., Such, C., Neto, C. (2013). Mimicking the wettability of the rose petal using self-assembly of waterborne polymer particles. Chemistry of Materials, 25(17), 3472-3479. [More Information]
- Lim, S., Perrier, S., Neto, C. (2013). Patterned chemisorption of proteins by thin polymer film dewetting. Soft Matter, 9(9), 2598-2602. [More Information]
2012
- Ghezzi, M., Thickett, S., Neto, C. (2012). Early and intermediate stages of guided dewetting in polystyrene thin films. Langmuir, 28(27), 10147-10151. [More Information]
- Lee, T., Hendy, S., Neto, C. (2012). Interfacial flow of simple liquids on polymer brushes: Effect of solvent quality and grafting density. Macromolecules, 45(15), 6241-6252. [More Information]
- Thickett, S., Moses, J., Gamble, J., Neto, C. (2012). Micropatterned substrates made by polymer bilayer dewetting and collagen nanoscale assembly support endothelial cell adhesion. Soft Matter, 8(39), 9996-10007. [More Information]
2011
- Thickett, S., Neto, C., Harris, A. (2011). Biomimetic Surface Coatings for Atmospheric Water Capture Prepared by Dewetting of Polymer Films. Advanced Materials, 23(32), 3718-3722. [More Information]
- Telford, A., Thickett, S., James, M., Neto, C. (2011). Competition between dewetting and cross-linking in poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)/polystyrene bilayer films. Langmuir, 27(23), 14207-14217. [More Information]
- Zhu, L., Attard, P., Neto, C. (2011). Reliable measurements of interfacial slip by colloid probe atomic force microscopy. I. Mathematical modeling. Langmuir, 27(11), 6701-6711. [More Information]
2010
- Willmott, G., Neto, C., Hendy, S. (2010). An experimental study of interactions between droplets and a nonwetting microfluidic capillary. Faraday Discussions, 146, 233-245. [More Information]
- Thickett, S., Harris, A., Neto, C. (2010). Interplay between dewetting and layer inversion in poly(4-vinylpyridine)/polystyrene bilayers. Langmuir, 26(20), 15989-15999. [More Information]
- Joseph, K., Neto, C. (2010). On the superhydrophobic properties of crystallized stearic acid. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63(3), 525-528. [More Information]
2009
- Telford, A., Neto, C. (2009). Conformal nanometric surface patterning using polymer film dewetting. Future - Science of Today, Radical Polymerization - The Next Stage Conference, N/A: N/A.
- Neto, C. (2009). Flow and stability of liquid films (Invited talk). National Measurements Institute Workshop on SPM, N/A: N/A.
- Huyang, G., Canning, J., Gibson, B., Khoury, T., Sum, T., Neto, C., Crossley, M. (2009). Focused ion beam processing and engineering of devices in self-assembled supramolecular structures. Nanotechnology, 20(48), 485301-1-485301-6. [More Information]
2007
- Neto, C. (2007). A novel approach to the micropatterning of proteins using dewetting of polymer bilayers. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 9(1), 149-155. [More Information]
2006
- Neto, C. (2006). Micropatterning of proteins using dewetting. 2006 International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology - ICONN2006, Brisbane, Australia: No Publisher - CD-ROM only.
2005
- Neto, C., Evans, D., Bonaccurso, E., Butt, H., Craig, V. (2005). Boundary slip in Newtonian liquids: A review of experimental studies. Reports on Progress in Physics, 68(12), 2859-2897. [More Information]
- Seemann, R., Herminghaus, S., Neto, C., Schlagowski, S., Podzimek, D., Konrad, R., Mantz, H., Jacobs, K. (2005). Dynamics and structure formation in thin polymer melt films. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 17, S267-S290. [More Information]
- Neto, C., Bonini, M., Baglioni, P. (2005). Self-assembly of magnetic nanoparticles into complex superstructures: Spokes and spirals. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 269(1-3), 96-100. [More Information]
2004
- Neto, C., Jacobs, K. (2004). Dynamics of hole growth in dewetting polystyrene films. Physica A, 339(1-2), 66-71. [More Information]
- Henry, C., Neto, C., Evans, D., Biggs, S., Craig, V. (2004). The effect of surfactant adsorption on liquid boundary slippage. Physica A, 339(1-2), 60-65. [More Information]
2003
- Neto, C., Jacobs, K., Seemann, R., Blossey, R., Becker, J., Grun, G. (2003). Correlated dewetting patterns in thin polystyrene films. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 15, S421-S426. [More Information]
- Neto, C., Craig, V., Williams, D. (2003). Evidence of shear-dependent boundary slip in newtonian liquids. European Physical Journal E. Soft Matter, 12(Supplementary 1), S71-S74. [More Information]
- Neto, C., Jacobs, K., Seemann, R., Blossey, R., Becker, J., Grun, G. (2003). Satellite hole formation during dewetting: experiment and simulation. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 15, 3355-3366. [More Information]
2002
- Bonini, M., Bardi, U., Berti, D., Neto, C., Baglioni, P. (2002). A new way to prepare nanostructured materials: Flame spraying of microemulsions. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 106, 6178-6183. [More Information]
2001
- Neto, C., Craig, V. (2001). Colloid probe characterization: Radius and roughness determination. Langmuir, 17(7), 2097-2099.
- Ambrosi, M., Dei, L., Giorgi, R., Neto, C., Baglioni, P. (2001). Colloidal particles of Ca(OH)2: Properties and applications to restoration of frescoes. Langmuir, 17(14), 4251-4255.
- Craig, V., Neto, C. (2001). In situ calibration of colloid probe cantilevers in force microscopy: Hydrodynamic drag on a sphere approaching a wall. Langmuir, 17(19), 6018-6022.
Selected Grants
2024
- RES: Silicone-based slippery covalently attached liquid coatings for CBRN protective garments - DIN Project Number: PP24.01.01, Neto C, Gresham I, NSW Department of Industry/Defence Innovation Network Project
2023
- Gas-enriched slippery surfaces, Neto C, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)
In the media
Article in ANSTO Website, September 2023 "Nanostructure explains the behaviour of molecules with liquid-like properties"
Article in Cosmos Magazine, June 2022 “On the surface”
Article in Phys.org, Jan 2022 Nanobubbles provide pathway to build better medical devices
Features on ABC Episode 4 of “The Great Acceleration” – Food, Water, Waste, in August 2020 (at minute 35).
Article on Forbes Magazie, February 2018"Nanowrinkles In The Sea"
Article in EurekAlert!, January 2018 "Nanowrinkles could save billions in shipping and aquaculture"
Article in ABC Science Online, September 2013"Rose petals inspire nano-raspberry surfaces"
Interview on ABC Science Program 'Catalyst', June 2011
