Co-oligomer Surfactants |
Surfactant Oligomerization and Polymerization (Dr Paul FitzGerald, Ms Minh Thu Lam, Dr Katy Wood (ANSTO))In this project we are examining the self-assembly of short, amphiphilic block co-polymers or "co-oligomers" into micelles and liquid crystals. These novel molecules could replace many current surfactants and detergents, and can be made form a massive library of monomer starting materials. Using the RAFT polymerisation techniwue we can control their degree of polymerisation well enough to study how chail lengths affect self-assembly structure and dynamics. In a related project we've been studying the polymerisation of surfactants within micelles and other phases and then looking at their structure and rearrangement dynamics to create new kinds of soft nanoparticles. |
|
| Emulsions |
Complex Fluid Emulsions (Dr Suraj Chandra Sharma)This project aims at improved understanding of hierarchically structured emulsions, in which one or both phases are nanostructured, such as lyotropic phases, microemulsions, or ionic liquids.
|
|
Ionic Liquids
|
Self-Assembly in Ionic Liquids (Dr Paul FitzGerald, Dr Andy Nelson, Ms Joy Huang, Dr Suraj Chandra Sharma, Dr Rob Atkin (Newcastle Uni.))In this project we are examining the self-assembly behaviour of surfactants in room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) like ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). The formation of liquid crystals in a number of ILs is being characteristed by optical microscopy, and micelle formation examined using Small Angle Neutron Scattering. In particular we are currently examining the formation of wormlike micelles in ILs, which exhibit unusual flow behaviour and structuring. ILs themselves have amphiphile-like behaviour, forming oriented layers at interfaces as well as bicontinuous, microemulsion-like structures in the bulk. |
|
| Ferrofluids |
Ionic Liquid Ferrofluids (Dr Nirmesh Jain, Dr Xiaoli Zhang)In this project, undertaken in collaboration with Dr Brian Hawkett, we are examining using our understanding of interfacial structure in ionic liquids to create stable ionic liquid ferrofluids with high water tolerance. By understanding surface structure, we can manipulate interactions between the magnetic nanoparticles to stabilise them in a variety ofliquid salts. |
|
|
Surfactant Membrane Phases |
Surfactant Templating of Biominerals (Connie Liu)In this project we are investigating how surfactants with biomineral precursors as counterions may be induced to preserve their amorphous structure on precipitation and thus template complex structures using surfactants. |
Dr John Morgan |
The Kinetics and Selectivity of Ion Flotation , PhD 1994, now at Silverbrook Research | Dr Marta Cassidy |
The Effect of Counterion and Polymer Additives on Cationic Surfactant Self-Assembly, PhD 2000, now teaching at the Shore School |
Dr Heather Patrick |
Surfactant Self-Assembly at the Solid-Liquid Interface, PhD 1998, now at Reckitt Benckiser | Dr Miles Page |
Non-Aqueous Self-Assembled Gels, PhD 2003, now at the Weizmann Institute, Israel, following a fellowship at the Max Planck Insitute for Colloids and Interfaces, Germany |
Dr Paul FitzGerald |
Solution Behaviour of Nonionic Gemini Surfactants, PhD 2002, now back at the University of Sydney after postdocs at Tohoku Universty and Uni. Newcastle. | Dr Tim Davey |
Gritton Postdoctoral Research Fellow, now at Dulux Australia. |
|
Dr Jamie Schulz |
Interfacial Structures in Thin Surfactant Films, PhD 2000, now at the ANSTO Bragg Institute, Lucas Heights. | Dr Franck Duval |
ARC Postdoctoral Fellow , now at Unilever, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
Dr Lela DeCampo |
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, now at the Australian National University | Dr Annabelle Blom |
Structure of MIxed Surfactant Films at the Solid-Liquid Interface PhD 2005, now at BHP Billiton |
Dr Scott Buckingham |
B.Sc.(Hons) 1991, now at Rio Tinto | Dr Chris Garvey |
MSc 1994, now at ANSTO, Lucas Heights |
Dr Vanessa Haverd |
B.Sc.(Hons) 1998, now at the University of Wollongong | Dr Kristen Bremmell |
B.Sc.(Hons) 1993 , now at the Ian Wark Research Institute |
Dr Catherine Whitby |
Gritton Postdoctoral Research Fellow, now Future Fellow at The Ian Wark Research Institute, UniSA | Dr Kathryn Topp |
Cationic Oligomeric Surfactants: Novel Synthesis and Characterization PhD 2006, now at ANU and Merici College |
Ms Joanne Kleydish |
B.Sc.(Hons) 2005 , now studying law at The University of Sydney | Dr Robert Chan |
Postdoctoral Fellow, now at UNSW Chemical Engineering |
Dr Chris Fellows |
Postdoctoral Fellow, now Senior Lecturer at The University of New England | Dr Rob Atkin |
Postdoctoral Fellow , now Senior Lecturer at The University of Newcastle |
Ms Sophie Bobillier |
B.Sc.(Hons) 2005, now teaching in Singapore | Dr Jen O'Donnell |
Postdoctoral Fellow , now Assistant Professor at Iowa State University |
Mr Stephen Bernard |
B.Sc.(Hons) 2010 | Mr Andrew Danos |
B.Sc.(Hons) 2010, now studying for his PhD at Sydney University |
Ms Natalie Baptista |
B.Sc.(Hons) 2010, now studying medicine at Griffith Uni. | Dr Xiaoli Zhang |
Postdoctoral Fellow , now at BASF in Shanghai |
Dr Khwanrat Chatjaroenporn |
Self-Assembled Structures of Polymerizable Cationic Surfactants , PhD 2011, now at Monash University. | Dr Connie Liu |
IMRE, Singapore |