Surface Science and Technology Group : School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne

Surface Science and Technology Group

Research Projects

Superhydrophobic Films

This project involves functionalising surfaces with extreme water repellent properties through novel chemical and physical treatments at the nano scale.

TiO₂ Nanocrystalline Thin Films and its Photocatalytic Effect

Photocatalytic technology using titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanocrystalline particles for cleaning of interfaces is rapidly moving into the marketplace due to an environmentally friendly process. TiO₂ is capable of oxidizing a wide range of organic compounds under UV irradiation into H₂O and CO₂ and such a process is renewable. This project will focus on the research of the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO₂ at solid-solid interface. The research involves (1) the mechanistic pathways of degradation; and (2) surface study of pure titanium dioxide films with oxidation.

Silica Nanotubes & Nanowires

This project involves preparation and characterization of silica nanotubes & nanowires. Sol-gel technology will be used and other technologies will also be compared. Characterisation involves a number of surface sensitive analytical techniques such as X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS), synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS).

The Potential Impact of Nanomaterials on Environment

Since nanotechnology is at an early stage of development, and very little data has been collected for evaluating the severity of nano-pollution, the assessment of the potential impact of the nanostructured particles and devices on the environment is of vital importance for future strategic and regulatory implications. This project will investigate the process of harmful chemicals transported to living organisms through nanomaterials. The research is composed of two independent projects:

Part I – The Behavior of Harmful Chemicals Absorbed onto Nanomaterial Surface

Part II - The Behaviour of Nanoparticles and Nanotubes Adsorbed onto Surfaces of Living Organisms

For more information about any of the above projects please contact:

Dr Hua Zhang
School of Chemistry
University of New South Wales
Ph: (02) 9385 4678
Fax: (02) 9662 1697
Email: hua.zhang@unsw.edu.au

Cell Adhesion on Biomaterials Surfaces

Dr Jennifer Russell¹ and Dr Laura Poole-Warren²
¹ School of Chemistry, ² Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering

Orthopaedic implants have a very limited lifetime; currently approximately 15 years. This makes them unsuitable for use in young patients, particularly those under 55. In order to improve the quality of life for thousands of people each year the implant lifetime must be extended. The biggest cause of implant failure is loosening which occurs because the surrounding bone has not integrated into the implant.

There are two approaches to improving implant fixation. The first involves altering the surface chemistry of the implant so that it is received better by the bone tissue; the second involves roughening the surface to provide a greater surface area for cell attachment. In this project these two approaches are combined.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a calcium phosphate ceramic which is also the mineral component of bone. HAp can be made via a simple sol-gel reaction. Adding polymers to the sol allows coatings to be templated to achieve a specific roughness. The aim of this project is to study cell adhesion on these surfaces and will include synthesis of the coatings under various conditions as well as some cell studies.

For further information about this project please contact:
Dr Jennifer Russell
School of Chemistry
University of New South Wales
Ph: (02) 9385 5729
Fax: (02) 9662 1697
Email: jen.russell@unsw.edu.au

Research Groups