Research Projects
Reversible storage of hydrogen in titanium dioxide nanotubes
2006
Supervised by Dr Alexei Lapkin (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath) and Prof. Steve Parker (Department of Chemistry, University of Bath).
Sol-gel and microwave processing of titanium dioxide for dye-sensitised solar cells
2002-2005
Supervised by Prof. Yi-Bing Cheng (Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University), Dr Leone Spiccia (School of Chemistry, Monash University) and Prof. George Simon (Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University).
The aims of this work were to enhance fundamental understanding of microwave processing of nanostructured TiO2 films, improve the manufacturing process for a new generation of solar cells and allow the production of flexible, solar cells on polymer substrates, whilst maintaining good solar cell efficiencies.
Molecular dynamics modelling of the dielectric properties of titanium dioxide
2003-2005
The aim of this work was to determine the dielectric properties of bulk and nanostructured TiO2 and to explore the possibility of using this modelling technique to explain and predict the behaviour of materials during microwave heating.In collaboration with Prof. Simon de Leeuw at the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.
Finite element modelling of the thermal behaviour of thin films of titanium dioxide on glass substrates
2004-2005
In experimental work, it was observed that glass, coated with a conductive layer of tin oxide, cracks easily during microwave heating; the aim of this modelling work was to investigate this phenomenon. Through the use of modelling, it was possible to explain the experimental observation that the presence of a TiO2 film on the glass substrate raises the temperature at which the cracking occurs.
Synthesis and characterisation of hydroxy-fluorapatite materials
2001-2002
The aim of this work was to assess the potential of these materials as biomaterials, by investigating the effect of various concentrations of fluoride on the synthesis and crystal structure of these apatites. It was shown that the presence of fluoride improves the stability of the apatite structure, indicating that these fluoride-substituted materials may be useful for biomedical applications.In collaboration with Dr Kārlis Gross and Dr Luis Rodríguez-Lorenzo at Monash University, Australia.