Porous inorganic structures as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has become an area of intense interest in recent years, spurred by a growing desire to detect analytes for water safety and bioterrorism prevention with ever-increasing speed and sensitivity. The aim of this project is to investigate how porous inorganic structures can be used as substrates for producing SERS-active surfaces... more info 

Porous hydroxyapatite materials
Bone is a complex hierarchical material which provides protection and support. The aim of this project is to prepare porous hydroxyapatite hierarchical architectures that a mechanically stable... more info

Fabrication of porous materials for dye-sensitized solar cells
Solar energy is a serious contender in our search for reliable alternative energy sources. Porous titanium dioxide electrodes feature predominantly as the working electrode in the dye-sensitized solar cell. The aim of this project is to control the microstructural properties of the titania network ensuring well sintered TiO2 electrodes... more info

Porous metal oxide beads for heavy metal sequestration
The focus of this project is the development of novel materials for the sequestration of radioactive elements; the recovery of precious metals; and, the industrial separation of metal species in general, thereby improving water quality and purity... more info

Enhanced photodegradation using novel photocatalytic materials
Novel materials with engineered properties can be fabricated using templating techniques. The control of morphology and composition of such materials can influence the characteristics and performance of the final materials in applications such as photocatalysis and catalyst supports. The aim of this project is to develop metal oxide materials that have increased efficiency in such applications along with more facile usability... more info

Porous structures for drug delivery
Drug delivery agents are increasing in complexity, with improved stability, targeted delivery and controlled release. The aim of this project is to synthesis hierarchical porous structures with tuneable pore structures and high surface areas for the purpose of drug delivery... more info