Research group and projects
Scott Dickie (PhD student)
New dispersants for titanium dioxide based paint pigments
The titanium dioxide
pigment particles are coated with aluminium oxides to which ligands having
functional tails will be bound, and the modified pigments tested in collaboration
with Resene Paints, who have supported
this project.
Dave Warren (PhD student)
Surface
chemistry in photocatalysis and electrocatalysis
Irradiation of TiO2 with UV light
induces surface redox reactions. Proton
exchange membrane fuel cells use Pt black for electrocatalysis. Both
processes are of interest to Johnson
Matthey (UK) Ltd, who have
provided scholarship funding to probe the surface chemistry with
IR spectroscopy.
Jing Yang (PhD student)
The role of siderophores in bacterial adhesion
to metals
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria use siderophores to sequester
iron but siderophores may also facilitate bacteria adhesion
to metal surfaces. This Marsden funded project in conjunction
with Iain
Lamont (Biochemistry) and Phil
Bremer (Food Science) is on the adsorption of siderophores and bacteria to metal (oxide)
surfaces.
Hannah Heinrich (PhD student)
Sequestration
of metal ions by thermophilic bacteria
Bacteria that thrive in metal-rich environments may be able
to be utilized in bioreactors to remove heavy metals from urban
waste. The chemical nature of the metal binding is being
investigated in conjunction with Chris
Daughney (IGNS) and
Phil
Bremer (Food Science) and funded by NERF/IGNS.
Jihua Yang (research fellow)
Surface
photovoltage spectroscopy of materials
Irradiation of semiconductors with ultrabandgap light results
in contact potential differences which can reveal the nature
of charge carriers and of interbandgap states. A Kelvin probe
is used to measure the CPD over a relevant wavelength range. This project is in conjunction with Keith
Gordon (Chemistry) and supported by the MacDiarmid
Institute.
Ravi Harikisun (research assistant)
Bioadhesion
to materials
Adsorption and adhesion of water, ligands and
bacteria to metal oxide and polymer particle films. This
work is part of the programme of the Bioadhesion Group.
So-Young Kang (visiting PhD student)
Sequestration
of metal ions by bacteria
Both IR spectroscopy and zetapotential measurements will be
used to investigate the uptake of metal ions by Pseudomonas
aeruginosa bacteria. Miss Kang visits
from October 2004 until March 2005 from the Gwangju
Institute of Science and Technology, Gwanju, Korea.
IR spectrum of Pseudomonas aeruginosa attaching to ZnSe |
Kiri McComb (summer student)
Adsorption of antimonite species
to hydrous iron oxides
Arsenate and antimonite species are often found in waters derived
from gold mining and their toxicity is of environmental concern. Arsenates are adsorbed onto iron oxyhydroxides derived from pyrite
oxidation but the corresponding behaviour of antimonates species
has not hitherto been investigated. This project is jointly with
Dave Craw (Geology).
Group members in February 2004. L–R: Phil
Bremer, Scott Dickie, Pearl Swe, Dave Warren, Hannah Heinrich,
Jim McQuillan, Jing Yang
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