Profile 2014 - MacDiarmid Institute · Seminar Series80 Principal ... Report Against Objectives ......

Profile 2014

© May 2015

The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology

PO Box 600 Wellington New Zealand

Email: [email protected] www.macdiarmid.ac.nz

ISSN 2324-4461 (Print) ISSN 2324-447X (Online)

PROFILE 2014 3

Contents

THEME 1 Nanofabrication and Devices 3

THEME 2 Electronic and Optical Materials 24

THEME 3 Molecular Materials 39

THEME 4 Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter 62

Outreach Activities 77

Seminar Series 80

Principal Investigators 81

Emeritus Investigators 117

4 THE MACDIARMID INSTITUTE

The MacDiarmid Institute FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY

The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology is a national network of New Zealand’s leading scientists, leveraging strength across the country and internationally. We build materials and devices from atoms and molecules, developing and applying cutting-edge techniques in physics, chemistry and engineering. We capture our diversity to create benefit and build strength. We partner with New Zealand businesses to take our innovative new technologies to export markets in sectors as diverse as health, electronics, food and fashion. We train entrepreneurial and socially-aware young scientists, many of whom go on to work in industry or start their own companies, in a culture of excellence and collaboration. Through sharing the results of our scientific research with the public and with Government, we are inspiring researchers and working to generate a nationwide culture change where science and innovation are celebrated as the keys to New Zealand’s future prosperity.

Scientific Excellence

Leadership

Inspiration

Advancement of New Zealand

Our Vision

PROFILE 2014 5

To deliver excellent scientific research and educationCreative, ambitious, innovative research in advanced materials and nanotechnology

To forge New Zealand’s future leadersScientifically astute, entrepreneurial and socially aware leaders

To inspire New ZealandersEngendering passion for science and innovation across society

To advance a new future for New ZealandDeliver and support responsible economic development

The MacDiarmid Institute is a partnership between five Universities and two Crown Research Institutes. Our Investigators are based in Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Our Mission

1

ExExcellence

2

CbCollaboration

3

CrCreativity

4

InIntegrity

5

EnEntrepreneurship

6

CgCollegiality

7

CmCommitment

Our Values


THEME 1

Nanofabrication and Devices

PersonnelUniversity of AucklandPrincipal Investigators Cather Simpson, Shaun Hendy

Postdoctoral Fellows Bryon Wright, Graham Brodie, Maran Muthiah, Michel Niewoudt

PhD Students Julie Kho, Nina Novikova, Sarah Thompson, Simon Ashforth, Xindi Wang

University of CanterburyPrincipal Investigators Maan Alkaisi, Martin Allen, Simon Brown

Associate Investigators Vladimir Golovko, Mark Staiger

Postdoctoral Fellows Giang Thai Dang*, Isha Mutreja, Shawn Fostner

PhD Students Alana Hyland, Amalraj Peter Amalthas, Amol Nande, Arunava Banerjee, Baira Donoeva, Daniil Ovoshchnikov, David Anderson, David Kim, Dijana Bogunovic, Farridah Abu Bakar, Hari Murthy, Ishan Mahajan, Jan Dormanns, Jan-Yves Ruzicka, Jeremias Schuermann, Leila Rajabi, Matheus Vargas, Max Lynam, Mokhtar Mat Salleh, Robert Heinhold, Rodrigo Martinez Gazoni, Rohul Adnan, Salim Elzawi, Sedigheh Ghadamgahi, Senthuran Sivasubramaniam, Vivek Poonthiyill

MSc Students Alex Smith, Jacob Martin, Matthew Whiteside

GNS SciencePrincipal Investigator Andreas Markwitz

PhD Student Prasanth Gupta

University of OtagoPrincipal Investigator Richard Blaikie

Postdoctoral Fellows Boyang Ding Sam Lowrey

PhD Students Levi Bourke Madhuri Kumari Noah Hensley

Victoria University of WellingtonPrincipal Investigators Michele Governale, Natalie Plank, Ulrich Zülicke

Postdoctoral Fellows Christina Pöltl, Thomas Kernreiter

PhD Students Cameron Dykstra, Conor Burke-Govey, Hani Hatami, Hanyue Zheng, Nathaniel Lund, Stephanie Droste

MSc Student Luke Pratley, Cameron Wood

*MacDiarmid Institute funded

PROFILE 2014 7

NANOFABRICATION AND DEVICES

Report Against Objectives

While nanotechnology and the development of advanced materials are tremendously diverse topics, fabrication is the key for engineering devices from new materials. Be it at the macroscale, the microscale or the nanoscale, the capability to pattern contacts or add structure to devices must be equally supported alongside materials developments and theoretical exploration of new device concepts. There are two approaches to nanofabrication each with strengths and weaknesses. Traditional “top down” methods are critically constrained by resolution limits, and new approaches are needed. Here we explore such new approaches in areas of optical nanolithography and nano-imprint lithography, and continue to work on atomic- and molecular-scale self-assembly for nanofabrication. We also apply more traditional “bottom up” micro- and nano-fabrication techniques to explore electronic, optical and magnetic materials and devices. Theory and simulation is used to inform and stimulate our experimental investigations, and indeed in many cases theoretical predictions drive the direction of the experimental programme.

Infrastructure and capability: The researchers of the MacDiarmid Institute comprise a large fraction of New Zealand’s capability in nano-science and technology and the institute’s fertile environment acts as an excellent incubator of ideas and interactions. The nanofabrication, microfabrication and processing resources include facilities for growth (PLD, ultra-high vacuum (UHV)-cluster deposition, nanowire synthesis), for processing (e-beam, optical and imprint lithography, plasma etching) and finally characterisation (transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) electrical and optical spectroscopy and electronic device characterisation). The laser machining facilities provide access to ‘standard’ nanosecond UV laser pulses as well as state-of-the-art femtosecond pulses across the UV/Vis spectrum. Theory and modelling work is supported by access to high performance computing at NeSI, the National e-Science Infrastructure. Our capital infrastructure is of high quality and, very importantly, maintained and operated by skilled technical support staff.

OBJECTIVE 1. Sub-wavelength patterning with evanescent interference lithography and high-power femtosecond laser pulses

(Blaikie, Alkaisi, Simpson)

MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Development of nano-pyramid structures

for enhanced light harvesting using Interference Lithography; and

• Determination of the role of Si and Au nanoparticles in light trapping and absorption in Si solar cells;

Techniques for manufacturing of nano pyramids on Silicon solar cells were developed and efficient solar cells made. A maskless and scalable technique for fabricating nano-scale inverted pyramid structures suitable for light management in crystalline silicon solar cells was developed. The technique utilizes interference lithography and subsequent combined dry and KOH wet pattern transfer etching techniques. The inverted nanopyramid structures suppress the total reflection at normal incidence to below 10% over the entire visible range. The result is that the overall efficiency of the solar cell has been increased by 67% with the inverted nanopyramid texturing. Figure 1 shows an example of atomic force microscope (AFM) of the fabricated pyramid structures.

8 THE MACDIARMID INSTITUTE THEME 1

The work has resulted in both journal publications and conference presentations. [Senthuran Sivasubramaniam, Maan M Alkaisi, “Inverted nanopyramid texturing for silicon solar cells using interference lithography” 2014/5/1, Microelectronic Engineering, 119, 146-150, 2014 and Senthuran Sivasubramaniam, Dhiraj Kumar, Vladimir Golovko, Maan M Alkaisi “Current Density Enhancement in Inverted Nano-pyramid Textured Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell using Gold Nanoparticles” 12/2013; DOI:10.1117/12.2033731 In proceeding of: Micro/Nano Materials, Devices, and Systems, At Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Volume: Proc. SPIE 89232F]

The role of Si and Au nanoparticles on the performance of solar cells has also been investigated and the findings were published [Senthuran Sivasubramaniam, Angelique Faramus, Richard Tilley, and Maan M. Alkaisi, “Performance Enhancement of Inverted Nano-pyramid Silicon Solar cell with Silicon Quantum Dots”, Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 6: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4828364., Jan.2014]. We found that Integration of silicon quantum dot increased the current density further but causing poor fill factor so the over all efficiency functionalizes the surface and subsequent dip-coating could improve the uniform coverage of quantum dots. The sub-wavelength

FIGURE 1. An AFM image of inverted nanopyramids.

texturing combined with quantum dot coating could be most promising approach for next generation low cost, high efficiency solar cells. A method was also established to fabricate silicon based solar cells using spin-dopant. A simple but effecient method enabled us to teach solar cells manufacturing to undergraduate students, MacDiarmid Discovery students and Nanocamp participants.

MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Design and build a new robust SILMIL

(Solid Immersion Lloyds Mirror Interference Lithography) system demonstrate 50-nm scale patterning though a fibre-based spatially filtered beam;

• Perform gap-control experiments using a red-laser based ATR gap control system;

• Characterise image quality and depth as a function of gap width using the gap-controlled system;

Continuing his near-field lithography system development and refinement, Levi Bourke (PhD student) has investigated, implemented and fully characterised the fibre-based spatial filter for the Otago SILMIL system. This is now available to use alongside the original pinhole-based system, and lithography at the 50-nm scale can be achieved with both setups. Prism redesign has been undertaken by Dr Sam Lowrey (postdoctoral fellow), with new robust prism cages implemented and a range of optical glasses identified and now in use. The system design and characterisation will form part of Levi’s PhD thesis which is due for submission in early 2016.

PROFILE 2014 9Nanofabrication and Devices

With this robust system Dr Lowrey has implemented a two-laser gapping (red laser) and exposure (blue laser) system, and has characterised gap control via application of controlled pressure to sample back-plate (milestones 2 and 3). Gap control and repeatability at sub-10 nm level has been measured, and characterised at multiple locations across 10 ×10 mm2 exposure field. Implications of residual gap on SILMIL exposures has been modelled and characterised and the results are to be presented at 2015 SPIE Advanced Lithography conference in February 2015 (the major industry conference for the semiconductor lithography community). Methods for improving gap-induced exposure variation using an index-matching layer (IML) currently have been investigated via computer modelling (Figure 2), showing greatly improved characteristics.

FIGURE 2. LHS: Reflectance curves vs. Numerical Aperture (NA) for SILMIL systems with various prism-resist gaps. RHS: Field intensity in the resist medium at an NA of 1.81 for a) and b) and an NA of 1.76 for c). a) system with air gap, b) and c) system with an IML. The dashed line on the LHS figures correspond to the exposure NA locating the position on the reflectance curve with varied prism/sample interface variation.


MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Incorporation and testing of beam

shaping optics, including spatial light modulator, to push into the nanoscale; and

• Redesign of the optical train for easier, more flexible, on-demand use of the femtosecond laser machining parameters.

In 2014, we focused upon incorporating the spatial light modulator into our ultrafast laser system, gaining control over the beam profile it could generate, and evaluating the effect of different beam shapes upon laser micromachining efficiencies. We also established our ability to machine with a variety of wavelengths using femtosecond pulses. The most useful of laser micromachining efficiency is the laser ablation threshold. We continue to build our laser ablation threshold database for a wide variety of dielectric materials, from polymers and transparent glasses to bone and ceramics. We determined the most effective way(s) to measure the laser ablation threshold for different materials, and trialled them successfully on a wide range of materials.

The methods reported in the literature thus far assume a Gaussian beam profile, so we derived new relationships for our Bessel and vortex beam shapes, and are now working on a detailed model of femtosecond laser ablation that takes in to account the nonlinear processes and provides for testing of our theoretical models by altering (or optimizing) the beam profile.

The fluence distributions for Bessel and vortex beams are given by:

and ,

respectively. Intensity maps for these types of beams are in the Figure 3.

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FIGURE 3: Intensity distributions for several Bessel beams (left) and vortex beams (right).


We have derived a method for measuring the ablation threshold using both the Bessel and the vortex beam profiles, and will accomplish those measurements in early 2015. The preliminary results indicate that Bessel beams are significantly more efficient than Gaussian beams, by a factor of 10 or more. This work is an active project with Finisar/Southern Photonics. A full report will be published in the peer reviewed literature.

At the end of 2014, we were successful in competing for strategic capital investment from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Science to obtain a state-of-the-art interference optical profilometer (Contour GT-K). The images of our ablated materials that this instrument provides are excellent; we will be able to accelerate our data analysis and improve our precision in 2015 (Figure 4). This instrument is part of the multiuser Photon Factory facility, and is available to MacDiarmid Institute researchers.

FIGURE 4: Optical profilometer images using the new Contour GT-K system in the Photon Factory: laser ablation trenches (D-scan method) micromachined in silicon with 600 nm, 100 fs laser pulses (top left); laser ablation features in graphene oxide film (volume regression method) micromachined with 243 nm, ns laser pulses (top right); the fern on a NZ one-dollar coin (bottom)


MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Develop detailed understanding of

the resistance observed in nanoscale superconducting devices;

Superconducting devices with an enormous range of normal state resistances have been fabricated and characterised. The main result is that we have been able to identify several different regimes in which the resistance is dominated by vortex unbinding, quantum phase slips and tunnelling corresponding approximately to ground states that are superconducting, metallic and insulating. This has allowed us to map phase diagrams for the various observed phenomena. Figure 5 shows a simulation representing a percolating network of super conducting particles. This work was the focus of an invited presentation at the most important cluster conference of the year: 17th International Symposium on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters (ISSPIC-XVII), September 7-12, 2014 in Fukuoka, Japan.

We have published significant papers identifying the effects of tunnelling in percolating devices and the proximity coupling in nanocomposites. [S. Fostner, R. Brown, J. Carr, and S. A. Brown, ‘Continuum Percolation with Tunneling’, Phys. Rev. B 89, 075402 (2014) and H. Wang, T. Picot, K. Houben, T. Moorkens, J. Grigg, C. Van Haesendonck, E. Biermans, S. Bals, S. A. Brown, A. Vantomme, K. Temst and M. J. Van Bael, ‘Superconducting Proximity Effect in Epitaxial Al/Pb Nanocomposites’, Superconductor Science and Technology 27, 015008 (2014)]

Our main collaboration on this work is with Prof K. Temst and M. J. Van Bael, KU Leuven, with a year long visit to UC by a Leuven-funded postdoc (Couet) 2013-14, but a visit by Prof K. Arutyunov (Moscow) in 2014 was also important in progressing this project.

OBJECTIVE 2. Nano-scale self assembly for future nanodevices

(S. Brown, Hendy)

FIGURE 5: Simulated percolating network of superconducting particles with coverage p = 0.69. (a) The ‘backbone’ (or ‘spanning cluster’) of nanoparticles that provides a current path between the contacts (left and right sides of the system) is shown in black, with other groups of connected particles in other colours. (b) Low applied currents (I < Ic): superconducting weak links in the backbone are shown in black and the ‘dead ends’ (that do not carry current) are shown in grey. (c) I = Ic: the critical weak links on the backbone have transitioned to the normal state (red). (d) I >> Ic: all connections are in the normal state, except for the dead ends. Similar behaviour is observed for all p > pc, although as the coverage is increased the number of parallel current paths increases.


Additionally we have completed simulations (MSc thesis, Smith) of our devices allowing us to understand the detail of the superconducting transition in a continuum percolating device for the first time.

We have presented posters on our work at several international conferences:

K. Houben, S. Couet, J. Jochum, D. Pérez, M. Bisht, M.Trekels, T. Picot, R. Rüffer,M.Y. Hu, S.A. Brown, F.M. Peeters, P. Lievens, A. Vantomme, K. Temst, M.J. Van Bael, ‘Probing the phonon density of states and its effect on superconductivity in Sn nanoparticles, nano-islands, and cluster-assembled films’, 17th International Symposium on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters (ISSPIC-XVII), September 7-12, 2014 in Fukuoka, Japan. (poster presentation by M.J. Van Bael)

T. Picot, H. Wang, K. Houben, A. Hillion, S. Bals, S.A. Brown, E. Janssens, P. Lievens, A. Vantomme, K. Temst, M.J. Van Bael ‘Superconducting properties of nanoparticles and small clusters’, 17th International Symposium on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters (ISSPIC-XVII), September 7-12, 2014 in Fukuoka, Japan. (poster presentation by T. Picot)

S. A. Brown, A. Nande, S. Fostner, A. Smith, A. Sattar, S. Couet, M.J. Van Bael, K. Temst, ‘Tunneling, Dissipation, and Superconductivity in Percolating Cluster Films’, International workshop on Strongly disordered superconductors and the Superconductor-insulator transition, Villard De Lans , Vercors, France, 9-14 February 2014. (poster presentation by S. Brown)

MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Conduct simulations of the self-assembly

of cluster structures on surfaces.

We have used coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to simulate cluster self-assembly during the drying of polymer brushes tethered to a surface. As the brushes dry, solute is trapped in micelles formed by the brushes on the surface. The solute eventually reaches its saturation concentration and precipitates to form clusters, Figure 6. The arrangement of clusters on the surfaces follows the pattern of the dried micelles.

A simple mathematical model was developed to describe this process and a paper has been written and has been submitted to Nanoscale [T. Lee, S. C. Hendy, and C. Neto, “Control of nanoparticle formation using the constrained dewetting of polymer brushes” Nanoscale, submitted (2014)].

FIGURE 6: A: a polymer brush (blue lines) swollen by a thin film containing a dissolved solute (red circles). B: the surface after the evaporation of the solvent, the precipitation of the solute having been confined by the pinned micelles.


MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Molecular beam epitaxial growth and

characterization of device quality zinc oxide and zinc magnesium oxide thin films with compositionally tuned band gaps;

• Room temperature growth and characterization of device quality amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin films on glass and plastic substrates;

• Establishment of a protocol for isolating single hydrothermally grown high aspect ratio ZnO nanowires in device relevant geometries;

• Establishment of a device fabrication protocol for hydrothermal ZnO nanowires on flexible substrates;

OBJECTIVE 3. Next generation semi-conductor materials and devices

(Allen, Markwitz, Plank, Zuelicke, Blaikie)

Device quality ZnO growth via ultra-high-vacuum molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has been established at the University of Canterbury (UC) with results presented at the 8th International Workshop on ZnO and Related Materials, September 2014 by PhD student Adam Hyndman. This work has then led to an invited talk at the 2015 SPIE Photonics West Conference, February 2015. High quality MBE ZnO thin films of root-mean-squared surface roughness less than 2.5 nm were grown (Figure 7) with triangular atomic level terracing and high electron mobilities (> 20 cm2/Vs). UV Schottky Photodiodes fabricated on these films showed strong environmental responses, which are now being explored for sensor applications. Zinc magnesium oxide thin films grown via compositionally tuned pulsed laser deposition in collaboration with the University of Leipzig (Germany), to complement MBE growth of zinc magnesium oxide at UC which is now underway.

FIGURE 7. (a) UC Molecular Beam Expitaxy chamber with atomic zinc source (shutter open in bottom of picture) and (b) atomic force microscopy image of resulting ZnO thin films showing atomic level terracing.


Room temperature indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) growth has been established at UC and benchmarked against complementary material from collaborators at Arizona State University (USA) and Kochi University of Technology (Japan). Device-grade IGZO material was successfully used to fabricate prototype transparent thin film transistors with improved switching stability targeted at next-generation electronic display applications using recently patented (US 8,508,015 B2) Schottky contact fabrication technology (Figure 8). This now forms part of a commercialization project funded by the Kiwi Innovation Network.

FIGURE 8. (a) On-Off switching characteristics of transparent IGZO MESFET transistors of different channel thicknesses using patented Schottky contact gates, and (b) scanning electron micrograph of MESFET transistor topology.

Single high aspect ratio ZnO nanowires have been isolated (Figure 9) and electrically characterized using electron beam lithography nanofabrication processes. Prototype nanowire photodetector and nanotransistor devices were successfully fabricated. New collaborations were established with Simon Fraser University, Vancouver and University of Swansea, Wales to share growth techniques and characterization capability. The results have been presented (oral conference contribution) by PhD student Max Lynam at 8th International Workshop on ZnO and Related Materials, September 2014.

Hydrothermal ZnO nanowires have also been investigated with a polymer assisted high aspect ratio growth process, using ZnO thin films as the nanowire seed at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). Single hydrothermally grown ZnO nanowires have been isolated and electrically characterised in collaboration with the Australian Nanofabrication facility, via collaboration with Associate Professor Adam Micolich at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). PhD student Conor Burke-Govey spent 6 weeks at UNSW to fabricate single ZnO nanowire transistors. Work is continuing to determine surface effects on nanowire electrical performance with collaboration via Burke-Govey and Plank (VUW) and Lyman and Allen (UC) using the nanofabrication facilities at UC.

FIGURE 9. Single 10 µm long nanowire MESFET transistor (note: human hair thickness is ~70 µm)


Transmission electron microscopy investigations in collaboration with Jérôme Majimel of Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) France, have shown that the ZnO nanowires grown by polymer assisted hydrothermal synthesis have distinct microstructure depending on the growth recipe. We are able to produce high quality single crystalline ZnO nanowires with low defect densities, or nanowires formed due to an agglomeration of ZnO nanoparticles (also with axial preference). The novel discovery has resulted in a more complicated yet fuller understanding of the growth mechanism and electrical characterization to date. We are currently preparing manuscripts and N. Plank has been invited to speak on the topic at the international conference on the Frontiers in Materials Processing, Applications, Research and Technology (FiMPART 15), June 2015.

ZnO nanowire hydrothermal growth process has been achieved on flexible substrates using polyimide films as the substrate. We have shown that these devices can be operated at low voltages using liquids such as water, or the biologically relevant phosphate buffer solution (PBS). These are important liquids for environment sensors, or applications in health care, as PBS can be tuned to have the same ionic strength as body fluids including blood.

FIGURE 10: The transfer characteristics of a ZnO nanowire array field effect transistor (FET) fabricated on a flexible substrate. The curve shows the hysteretic performance of the device operation in a liquid gate environment at low voltages. The right hand image shows an example of electrode structures produces on polyimide films for device applications.

MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Development of a protocol for diamond-

like carbon nanostructured surface layers (DLC) produced by low-energy ion beam deposition;

• Identification of the surface properties and bonding structure of DLC layers; and

• Designing and building an independent ion beam deposition prototype system for DLC coatings for industry.

The Coating division of Page Macrae Ltd in Tauranga has installed an ion beam system from GNS Science that is capable of cleaning metal surfaces with argon ion beams, providing shallow nitride layers and is in principle capable of depositing high quality DLC films in the plasma vapour deposition chamber that is used on a daily basis for coating industrial products with TiN and other compounds. Two detailed GNS Science client reports have been written that outline the functionality of the ion beam system and applications of this system in conjunction with the PVD coating. The functionality of the ion source system has been extensively tested at GNS Science.


Three papers have been published in 2014 that demonstrate the ability of the ion source system to produce micrometre thick DLC films. [A. Markwitz, B. Mohr and J. Leveneur, “Room temperature diamond-like carbon coatings produced by low energy ion implantation”, ECAART-2013, Namur, Belgium, September 2013, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B331 (2014) 144 – 148, A. Markwitz, B. Mohr, D. F. Carpeño and R. Hübner, “Ultra-smooth diamond-like carbon coatings with high elasticity deposited at room temperature by direct ion beam deposition”, Surface and Coatings Technology, 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2014.07.049 and Peter Paul Murmu, Konrad Suschke, John Futter, Andreas Markwitz, “A novel radial anode layer ion source for inner wall pipe coating and materials modification - hydrogenated diamond-like carbon coatings from Butane gas”, Review of Scientific Instruments 85, 085118 (2014)].

Figure 11 shows an exciting example which demonstrates that even nano-diamonds can be produced in the DLC films under some very specific conditions.

A student, Prasanth Gupta has joined the project in March 2014 and is exploring direct ion beam deposition using various ion species and implantation energy. He won a best poster award at the recent MacDiarmid Institute student and investigator meeting in Auckland.

FIGURE 11: A transmission electron microscope image of a diamond film cross section.


MILESTONES ACHIEVED:• Elucidate interaction effects in strongly

spin-orbit-coupled low-dimensional conductors, with special emphasis on spin response;

• Consider superconducting proximity effect in valence-band heterostructures and pursue study of unconventional (Majorana, fractional-electron) excitations; and

• Study the finite-time full counting statistics in hybrid normal-superconducting nanoscale devices with quantum dots.

We have obtained analytical expressions for the q-dependent static spin susceptibility of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, considering both the electron-doped and hole-doped cases. Our results are applied to calculate spin-related physical observables of monolayer MoS2, focusing especially on in-plane/out-of-plane anisotropies. These results have been published in Phys. Rev. B 90, 045412 (2014). The spin-susceptibility is then used to calculate the in-plane and out-of plane RKKY interaction and to define a collective g-factor for hole-doped MoS2 systems. Intriguingly the anisotropy of the g-factor depends on the charge carrier density.

We have developed a general theory of the superconducting proximity effect for bulk and low-dimensional hole systems. The interplay of inter-band coupling and quantum confinement is found to result in unusual wave-vector dependencies of the induced superconducting gap parameters.

OBJECTIVE 4. Theory and modelling of unconventional materials and functional nanostructures

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One particularly appealing consequence is the density tunability of the proximity effect in hole quantum wells and nanowires, which creates new possibilities for manipulating the transition to nontrivial topological phases in these systems. These results have been published in Phys. Rev. B 89, 184507 (2014).

We have completed the calculations of the finite frequency noise through a hybrid normal/quantum-dot /superconductor structure. The finite frequency noise spectrum provides information on the coherent exchange of Cooper pairs between the dot and the superconductor. These results have been submitted for publication in Physical Review B and a preprint is available from http://arxiv.org/abs/1410.6694. Furthermore, we have calculated the finite-time full counting statistics for the same system. The full counting statistics provides all the finite-frequency higher-order current cumulants. The results on the finite-time full counting statistics will constitute one chapter of the PhD thesis of Ms S. Droste and will be submitted as an article to Physical Review B.

The work has resulted in collaborartion on the magnetic properties of low-dimensional hole systems with the groups of Prof Alex Hamilton and Prof Michelle Simmons at the University of South Wales and a high-quality publication in a leading international multi-disciplinary physics journal. [L. A. Yeoh, A. Srinivasan, O. Klochan, R. Winkler, U. Zülicke, M. Y. Simmons, D. A. Ritchie, M. Pepper, and A. R. Hamilton, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 236401 (2014).]


NANOFABRICATION AND DEVICES

Outputs

SCIENCE EXCELLENCE

PUBLICATIONS

B. Sothmann, S. Weiss, M. Governale, and J. König, Unconventional superconductivity in double quantum dots, Phys. Rev. B, 90, 220501(R) (2014)

T. Ancelet, P. K. Davy, W. J. Trompetter and A. Markwitz, Sources of Particulate Matter Pollution in a Small New Zealand City, Atmospheric Pollution Research, 5(4), 572-580, (2014)

T. Ancelet, P. K. Davy, W. J. Trompetter, A. Markwitz and D. C. Weatherburn, Particulate Matter Sources on an Hourly Timescale in a Rural Community During the Winter, Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 64(5), 501-508, (2014)

T. Ancelet, P. K. Davy, W. J. Trompetter, A. Markwitz and D. C. Weatherburn, Sources and Transport of Particulate Matter on an Hourly Time-Scale During the Winter in a New Zealand Urban Valley, Urban Climate, (2014)

G. Bian, X. Wang, T. Miller, T. C. Chiang, P. J. Kowalczyk, O. Mahapatra and S. A. Brown, First-Principles and Spectroscopic Studies of Bi(110) Films: Thickness-Dependent Dirac Modes and Property Oscillations, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 90(19) (2014)

B. Ding, M. Qiu and R. J. Blaikie, Manipulating Light Absorption in Dye-Doped Dielectric Films on Reflecting Surfaces, Optics Express, 22(21), 25965-25975, (2014)

O. Fialko, J. Brand and U. Zülicke, Fragility of the Fractional Quantum Spin Hall Effect in Quantum Gases, New Journal of Physics, 16, (2014)

S. Fostner, R. Brown, J. Carr and S. A. Brown, Continuum Percolation with Tunneling, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 89(7), (2014)

H. Hatami, T. Kernreiter and U. Zülicke, Spin Susceptibility of Two-Dimensional Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 90(4), (2014)

R. Heinhold, S. P. Cooil, D. A. Evans and M. W. Allen, Stability of the Surface Electron Accumulation Layers on the Nonpolar (1010) and (1120) Faces of ZnO, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(42), 24575-24582, (2014)

J. Kennedy, J. Leveneur, F. Fang and A. Markwitz, Enhanced Reduction of Silicon Oxide Thin Films on Silicon under Electron Beam Annealing, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, (2014)

P.J. Kowalczyk, O. Mahapatra, S. A. Brown, G. Bian and T. C. Chiang, STM Driven Modification of Bismuth Nanostructures, Surface Science, 621, 140-145, (2014)

L. Lee, H. Ma, P. A. Brooksby, S. A. Brown, Y. R. Leroux, P. Hapiot and A. J. Downard, Covalently Anchored Carboxyphenyl Monolayer Via Aryldiazonium Ion Grafting: A Well-Defined Reactive Tether Layer for on-Surface Chemistry, Langmuir, 30(24), 7104-7111, (2014)

J. Leveneur, J. Kennedy, G. V. M. Williams, M. Sasase, J. B. Metson and A. Markwitz, Structural and Chemical Changes During the Growth of Fe Nanoparticles in SiO2 under Low Energy Ion Implantation, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8) 466-476, (2014)

H. Ma, L. Lee, P. A. Brooksby, S. A. Brown, S. J. Fraser, K. C. Gordon, Y. R. Leroux, P. Hapiot and A. J. Downard, Scanning Tunneling and Atomic Force Microscopy Evidence for Covalent and Noncovalent Interactions between Aryl Films and Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(11) 5820-5826, (2014)

O. Mahapatra, P.J. Kowalczyk and S.A. Brown, Growth and Electronic Properties of Nacl on Hopg, Surface Science, 620, 45-50, (2014)

A. Markwitz, Mohr, D. F. Carpeño and R. Hübner, Ultra-Smooth Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings with High Elasticity Deposited at Low Temperature by Direct Ion Beam Deposition, Surface and Coatings Technology, (2014)


A. Markwitz, B. Mohr and J. Leveneur, Room Temperature Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings Produced by Low Energy Ion Implantation, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, (2014)

A.G. Moghaddam, T. Kernreiter, M. Governale and U. Zülicke, Exporting Superconductivity across the Gap: Proximity Effect for Semiconductor Valence-Band States Due to Contact with a Simple-Metal Superconductor, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 89(18), (2014)

S, Müller, H. Von Wenckstern, F. Schmidt, D. Splith, R. Heinhold, M. Allen and M. Grundmann, Method of Choice for Fabrication of High-Quality ZnO-Based Schottky Diodes, Journal of Applied Physics, 116(19), (2014)

L. Pratley and U. Zülicke, Valley Filter from Magneto-Tunneling between Single and Bi-Layer Graphene, Applied Physics Letters, 104(8), (2014)

S. Rojek, M. Governale and J. König, Spin Pumping through Quantum Dots, Physica Status Solidi (B) Basic Research, 251(9), 1912-1923, (2014)

D. Schebarchov, T. P. Schulze and S. C. Hendy, Degenerate Ising Model for Atomistic Simulation of Crystal-Melt Interfaces, Journal of Chemical Physics, 140(7), (2014)

F. Schmidt, P. Schlupp, S. Müller, C. P. Dietrich, H. Von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann, R. Heinhold, H. S. Kim and M. W. Allen, A Dlts Study of a ZnO Microwire, a Thin Film and Bulk Material, Journal of British Studies, 1633(3), (2014)

S. Sivasubramaniam and M. M. Alkaisi, Inverted Nanopyramid Texturing for Silicon Solar Cells Using Interference Lithography, Microelectronic Engineering, 119, 146-150, (2014)

S. Sivasubramaniam, A. Faramus, R. D. Tilley and M. M. Alkaisi, Performance Enhancement in Silicon Solar Cell by Inverted Nanopyramid Texturing and Silicon Quantum Dots Coating, Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 6(1), (2014)

R.P. Tiwari, U. Zülicke and C. Bruder, Signatures of Tunable Majorana-Fermion Edge States, New Journal of Physics, 16, (2014)

R.P. Tiwari, U. Zülicke, C. Bruder and V. M. Stojanović, Neutral Edge Modes in a Superconductor-Topological-Insulator Hybrid Structure in a Perpendicular Magnetic Field, EPL, 108(1), (2014)

H. Wang, T. Picot, K. Houben, T. Moorkens, J. Grigg, C. Van Haesendonck, E. Biermans, S. Bals, S. A. Brown, A. Vantomme, K. Temst and M. J. Van Bael, The Superconducting Proximity Effect in Epitaxial Al/Pb Nanocomposites, Superconductor Science and Technology, 27(1), (2014)

L.A. Yeoh, A. Srinivasan, O. Klochan, R. Winkler, U. Zülicke, M. Y. Simmons, D. A. Ritchie, M. Pepper and A. R. Hamilton, Noncollinear Paramagnetism of a Gaas Two-Dimensional Hole System, Physical Review Letters, 113(23), (2014)

PUBLISHED CONFERENCE PAPERS

F. Schmidt, P. Schlupp, S. Müller, C. P. Dietrich, H. Von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann, R. Heinhold, H. S. Kim and M. W. Allen, A DLTS study of a ZnO microwire, a thin film and bulk material, 2013 MRS Fall Meeting, 1633, Boston, MA; United States, (2014)

G. Medina, P. A. Stampe, R. J. Kennedy, R. J. Reeves, G. T. Dang, A. Hyland, M. W. Allen, M. J. Wahila, L. F. J. Piper and S. M. Durbin, Characterization of tin oxide grown by molecular beam epitaxy, 2013 MRS Fall Meeting, 1633, Boston, MA; United States, (2014)

J. S. Hamel, R. Alison and R. Blaikie, Experimental method to extract A.C. collector-base resistance from SiGe HBT's, European Solid-State Device Research Conference, 78, 2823-2829, (2014)

P. K. Davy, T. Ancelet, W. J. Trompetter and A. Markwitz, Arsenic and air pollution in New Zealand, Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment, 15 (3-4), 249-255, Buenos Aires, (2014)

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE INVITATIONS

PLENARY SPEAKER

S.C. Hendy, Slippery issues in nano- and microscale fluid flows, ANZIAM 2014, Rotorua, New Zealand, 2-6 February 2014

S.C. Hendy, Preservation, Innovation and Collaboration, iPres 2014, Melbourne, Australia, 8-10 October 2014


INVITED SPEAKER

M. W. Allen, Zinc Oxide UV Photodetetors for use in Melanoma and Vitamin D Studies, 41st International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films, San Diego, USA, 28 April – 2 May 2014

M. W. Allen, Unipolar Devices in ZnO and Related Materials, TCO2014 Transparent Conductive Oxides - Fundamentals and Applications Conference, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, 29 September - 2 October 2014

M. W. Allen, Zinc Oxide “See-Through’ Electronic Devices: Transparent Schottky Contacts, UV Photodiodes and Thin Film Transistors, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, 12 September 2014

R.J. Blaikie, Resonant reflections to enhance depth of field in evanescent-wave lithography, Nikon LithoVision 2014 Conference, Center for Performing Arts in San Jose, California, 23 February 23 2014

S.C. Hendy, Degenerate Ising model for atomistic simulation of crystal-melt interface, CMMSE 2014, Rota, Spain 2-7 July 2014

S.A. Brown, 4th International Conference on Nanotek and Expo, San Francisco, USA, 1-3 December 2014 (did not attend)

S.A. Brown, Cross fertilising Inter-CoREs Symposium, University of Auckland, Auckland, Tuesday 25th November 2014

S.A. Brown, 3rd International Conference and Exhibition on Materials Science & Engineering (Materials Science-2014), San Antonio, USA, October 6-8, 2014 (did not attend)

S.A. Brown, 17th International Symposium on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters (ISSPIC-XVII), Fukuoka, Japan, 7-12 September 2014

S.A. Brown, 3rd Annual World Congress of Advanced Materials-2014 (WCAM-2014), Chongqing, China, 6-9 June 2014 (did not attend)

S.A. Brown, 1st International Symposium on Nanoparticles-Nanomaterials and Applications: ISN2A 2014 (http://www.isn2a2014.com), Caparica, Lisbon, Portugal, 20-22 January 2014 (did not attend)

S.A. Brown, XIXth Symposium on Atomic, Cluster and Surface Physics 2014, Obergurgl, Austria, 9-14

February 2014 (did not attend)

N.O.V. Plank, accepted an invitation to speak at Frontiers in Materials Processing, Applications Research and Technology, Hyderabad, India, 2015.

U. Zülicke, Valleytronics and pseudospintronics with chiral charge carriers in two-dimensional atomic crystals, 2014 Conference on Optoelectronics and Microelectronic Materials and Devices, Perth, Australia, 14 – 17 December 2014

U. Zülicke, Emergent electromagnetism in materials, 2014 Australasian Workshop on Emergent Quantum Matter, Dunwich (North Stradbroke Island, Queensland), Australia, 24 – 28 November 2014

M.M. Alkaisi, Bioimprinted substrates: an approach for understanding and controlling cell response”, 3rd International Conference and Exhibition on Materials Science & Engineering, San Antonio, USA, October 2014

M.M. Alkaisi, Morphology and differentiation in bioimprinted cells, LAAS, Toulouse, France, 12 September 2014

NEW GRANT FUNDS

S.C. Hendy (PI), TEC, Te Pūnaha Matatini, $13,161,000, 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2020, with Michele Governale & Ulrich Zuelicke, VUW.

N.O.V. Plank (PI), Victoria University of Wellington, Random nanowire networks for artificial neural networks, $24,488, March 2015 for five months.

M.C. Simpson (PI), Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment / MSI High Value Manufacturing Sector and Services Fund, Targeted Research: Tailored Beam Shapes for Fast, Efficient, and Precise Femtosecond Laser Micromachining, $1,426,099, 1 October 2014 – 30 September 2016, with John Harvey, University of Auckland and Southern Photonics (AI) and Neil Broderick, University of Auckland (AI)


M.C. Simpson (AI), Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment / MSI High Value Manufacturing Sector and Services Fund, Targeted Research: Food Safe Devices for Real Time Bacterial Count, $3,111,932, 1 Oct 2014 – 30 Sept 2018, with Frederique Vanholsbeek, University of Auckland (PI), Simon Swift, University of Auckland (AI) and Evgeny Bogomolny, University of Auckland (AI)

LONG TERM RESEARCH STAYS AT OVERSEAS FACILITIES (>1 MONTH)

M. Governale, Research & Study leave at Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (from 1 November 2014 to 15 December 2014). Collaboration with Prof Rosario Fazio and Dr Fabio Taddei on current fluctuations in topological materials.

M.M. Alkaisi, two weeks at the Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of System(LAAS), Toulouse, France working on the role of physical forces on cancer development , hosted by Professor Christophe Vieu and his team. During my visit, I have also acted as external examiner to one PhD thesis on cancer and mechanical forces submitted by Laurene Auon, 8-18 September 2014

M.C. Simpson, sabbatical leave for all of 2014: April 5 – May 20: Visited the USA (New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University) 1 – 8 September, Visited Colorado State University and a company that we collaborate with. 8-23 December, Visited collaborator at Case Western Reserve University and a company that we collaborate with.

VISITORS

Dr Colm Carraher, Plant and Food Research, functionalizing nanomaterial devices with biosensor receptors, 19-21 November 2014 (N.O.V. Plank)

Yi Wang, University of Auckland, Chip fabrication for neural network devices. 3-18 December 2014 (N.O.V. Plank)

Prof Reza Asgari, IPM Teheran, Iran; Collaboration on transition metal dichalcogenides, 2-21 February 2014 (M. Governale)

Prof. Ali G. Moghaddam, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Collaboration on superconductivity in Rare-earth nitrides, 4 September - 4 October 2014 (M. Governale & U. Zülicke)

Prof Konstantin Arutunov, University of Jyvaskyla (Finland), research, 11 July - 15 August 2014 (S.A. Brown)

Dr Sebastien Couet, KU Leuven (Belgium), research, 1 April 2013 to 31 April 2014 (S.A. Brown)

Prof Reza Asgari, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran, visited for collaborative research, gave one group seminar & an SCPS physics seminar, 2 – 21 February 2014 (U. Zülicke)

Dr. Catherine Mohr, Stanford U. & Intuitive Surgical (USA), Hood Fellow (sponsored by me), 13 – 24 October 2014 (M.C. Simpson)

STUDENTS & POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AT OVERSEAS FACILITIES

Conor Burke-Govey, PhD student, Australian Nanofabrication Facility at University of New South Wales, visited Associate Professor Adam Micolich’s Nanoelectronics Group to fabricate single nanowire ZnO field effect transistors. The trip allowed Conor to learn vital techniques in depositing nanowires onto device substrates and electron beam lithography, 18 August – 26 September 2014 (N.O.V. Plank)

Dr Giang Dang, Postdoc, Kochi University of Technology, Center for Nanotechnology, Kochi, Japan, Growth of transparent metal oxide semiconductors using new solution processed mist-chemical vapour deposition technique developed at Kochi, with subsequent equipment and knowledge transfer to New Zealand. Collaborating PI Prof. Mamoru Furuta. 1

November – 23 December 2014 (M.W. Allen)

Dr Boyang Ding, Postdoc, two research visits to: Prof. Min Qiu, Department of Optical Engineering, Zhejiang University Yuquan Campus, Hangzhou 310027, China, March 2014 and October 2014 (R.J. Blaikie)

Dr. Isha Mitraja postdoc, Visited University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus in January 2014 (27th Jan-31st Jan 2014) to work in collaboration with Dr. Krasimir Vasilev. The purpose of visit was to use plasma polymerization approach to chemically modify bioimprinted polystyrene surfaces to achieve different chemical functionalities. The idea was to see response of muscle cells on positive and negative bioimprints with different surface chemistries (M.M Alkaisi)


LINKS WITH OTHER CORE’S

M. Governale, Principal Investigator in Te Pūnaha Matatini

S.C. Hendy, Director, Te Pūnaha Matatini

U. Zülicke, Principal Investigator in Te Pūnaha Matatini

U. Zülicke, Associate Investigator, Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies

R.J. Blaikie, Gravida (CoRE) Board

R.J. Blaikie, Dodd-Walls (CoRE) Board

R.J. Blaikie, Brain Research New Zealand, Rangahau Roro Aotearoa (CoRE) Board

M.C. Simpson, Principal Investigator and member of Executive Committee, Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies

M.M. Alkaisi, Delivered a talk on “Bioimprint: A new cell culture platform” at the cross CoRE meeting on Nov 25 2014, MacDiarmid Institute, Medical Device Technology, Brain Research Institute and Maurice Wilkins Centre. This has led to the submission of joint proposal with Dr.Vickie Shim, Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Med Tech CoRE titled: Nanoscale imaging of cell scaffold adherence under mechanical stimulation with bioimprining and atomic force microscopy.

NEW COLLABORATIONS

N.O.V. Plank, new collaboration with Dr Jerome Majimel of the Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) to perform Transmission Electron Microscopy on our novel ZnO nanowires since mid 2014. The collaboration has been instigated through meeting at a conference in December 2013, and directly links to MacDiarmid funded PhD student Conor Burke-Govey’s PhD project.

M. W. Allen, with Dr Alex M. Lord, Centre for Nanohealth, University of Swansea, Wales – collaboration aimed at an improved understanding of the surface electronic properties of ZnO nanowires.

M. W. Allen, with Professor Simon Watkins, Department of Physics, Simon Frazer University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada – collaboration concerning the electronic properties of ZnO nanowires using samples grown via MOCVD.

M.M. Alkaisi, Visited the Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of System (LAAS), Toulouse, France 8 Sept to 18 Sept working on the role of physical forces on cancer development , hosted by Professor Christophe Vieu. A joint Marsden fund will be a submitted for this year round.

LEADERSHIP

RESEARCH STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS TALKS

Conor Burke-Govey, Physics PhD first year talk (internal assessment), “ZnO nanowires for field-effect transistors” 10 June 2014 (N.O.V. Plank)

Stephanie Droste, Poster presentation at LT27, 27th International Conference on Low Temperature Physics. Poster title: “Finite-frequency full counting statistics for transport through a hybrid superconducting-normal structure with a quantum dot”. This was one of the most prestigious conference on low-temperature Physics held in 2014. Buenos Aires, Argentina, 6-13 August (M. Governale)

Senthuran Sivasubramaniam , Maan M. Alkaisi, “fabrication of low-cost uv nanoimprint master mold by interference lithography”, International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 12th-13thAugust2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka.(Oral) (M.M Alkaisi)

Steven Banerjee, Maan Alkaisi and Stefanie Gutschmidt, “fabrication of 3D microrobotic parallel actuator architecture”, 11th Annual International Wafer-Level Packaging Conference IWLPC2014, November 11-13, 2014, San Jose, CA, USA (Oral). (M.M Alkaisi)

Li Hui Tan, John Evans, Maan Alkaisi, Peter Sykes, ”Cancer Cell Response to Culture Substrate Topography”, 5th Annual Symposium “Physics of Cancer”,University of Leipzig, Stauffenbergallee 2, 01099 Dresden, Germany, 2-5 October 2014(Oral). (M.M Alkaisi)

Cellular Response to Positive and Negative bioimprinted Polystyrene Surfaces, I Mutreja, MM Alkaisi, JJ Evans, MNE 2014, Lausanne. (Poster) (M.M Alkaisi)


NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE, BOARD OR PANEL MEMBERSHIPS AND EDITORSHIPS

N.O.V. Plank, New Zealand Association of Scientists – council member

N.O.V. Plank, AWIS conference committee, conference held 10th-11th July 2014, Wellington

N.O.V. Plank, Programme committee for EIPBN (2013-present).

N.O.V. Plank, Nanoelectronics program committee for ICONN 2016

N.O.V. Plank, International year of light New Zealand committee member 2014/15

M. W. Allen, Program Committee and Organizing Committee, 8th International Workshop on Zinc Oxide and Related Materials (September 7-11, 2014), Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

M. W. Allen, Technical Symposium Organizing Committee (Contacts to Semiconductor Epilayers, Nanowires, Nanotubes and Organic Films), 56th Electronic Materials Conference (June 25-27, 2014), University of Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

R.J. Blaikie, Universities New Zealand Research Committee

S.C. Hendy, Member of the Advisory Board for the Dragonfly Science 2013-

S.C. Hendy, Member of the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Science System Review Panel, 2014-2015

U. Zülicke, Member, International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) Commission on Semiconductors (see http://iupap.org/commissions/c8-semiconductors/members/ for details)

M.M. Alkaisi, Member of Editorial board of Micro Engineering.

M.M. Alkaisi, Member of the Editorial Board of Austin Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology.

M.M. Alkaisi, Member of the Editorial board of Nano materials & Molecular Nanotechnology.

M.M. Alkaisi, Member of the Royal Society of New Zealand (MRSNZ).

M.M. Alkaisi, International Program committee, MNE 2014, 39th International Conference on Micro- and Nano-Engineering, 17-20 September 2014, Lausanne Switzerland.

M.C. Simpson, co-Chair, NZ National Committee on the International Year of Light

M.C. Simpson, President, NZ Institute of Physics

M.C. Simpson, Immediate Past President & Vice President, NZ Institute of Physics

M.C. Simpson, Organizing committee, 13th International Conference on Laser Ablation (COLA-2015) (to be held in 2015)

M.C. Simpson, Organizing committee, AMN-7 (held in 2015)

M.C. Simpson, Smart Ideas Panel Member, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

M.C. Simpson, Member, Awards committee for major international award in my research discipline (current, and therefore confidential)

INSPIRATION

CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOVERNMENT POLICY

N.O.V. Plank, Contributed to the NZAS submission on the NSSI

N.O.V. Plank, Contributed to a written submission title” Bioelectronic detection platforms” for the National Science Challenges sandpit meeting in March 2014. I could not attend the sandpit due to teaching commitments at VUW.

R.J. Blaikie, Deep South (National Science Challenge) Interim Governance Group

R.J. Blaikie, Science for Technological Innovation (NSC) Board

R.J. Blaikie, Sustainable Seas (NSC) Interim Governance Group

R.J. Blaikie, Resilience to Natures Challenge (NSC)Interim Governance Group

R.J. Blaikie, 3× Health and Wellbeing NSCs (Better Start, Healthier Lives, Ageing Well) Establishment Oversight Group (co-chair)


S.C. Hendy, Member of the Department of Internal Affairs Digital Preservation as a Service Advisory Board, 2014-15

S.C. Hendy, Member of the Ministry of Social Development’s Data Management and Analytics Advisory Group, 2014-15

S.C. Hendy, Steering Group for National Science Challenge 10: Science for technological Innovation

S.C. Hendy, Invited article: “Point of View: Science and its privilege in the policy arena”, Public Sector 37:2, 24 (2014).

S.A. Brown, Member of Steering Group for National Science Challenge 10, Science for Technological Innovation ($116.5 million over 10 years).

M.C. Simpson, Panel Member, Research Platform 2, National Science Challenge 10 (Science for Technological Innovation)

MEDIA PUBLICATIONS

S.C. Hendy, More than two dozen media appearances, interviews or articles (Radio New Zealand, Unlimited Magazine, the NZ Herald, the Dominion Post, Radio Live).

S.C. Hendy, Finalist for 2014 Best Columnist BUSINESS & TRADE, Magazine Publishers Association Awards

ADVANCEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND

INVENTION DISCLOSURES

M.W. Allen, Japanese patent application 2010-508329 ‘Contact and method of fabrication’ for Schottky-like contacts to zinc oxide based materials: Response to second office action - instructions filed 18 December 2014.

R.J. Blaikie, Provisional Patent Application, “Anti-reflection arrangement for photolithography”, United States provisional patent application, with Levi Earl Bourke, United States patent application 61/994001, Filing date: 15 May 2014

START-UP COMPANY

M.C. Simpson, Engender Technologies

SEED INVESTMENTS IN START-UP OR SUCCESSFUL PSAF APPLICATIONS

M.C. Simpson, PSAF Novel Method of Skin Engineering: $20,000 subcontract on this grant

INDUSTRY CONSULTING

M.C. Simpson, Science Advisory Board Member, Footfalls & Heartbeats (NZ company)

M.C. Simpson, Chief Science Officer (founding), Engender Technologies

INDUSTRY LINKED PROJECT

M.C. Simpson, Engender Technologies: $600,000 contract

M.C. Simpson, Large Artificial Insemination company (identity confidential): $250,000 in-kind funding through collaboration

M.C. Simpson, Fonterra: $540,000 contract

OTHER SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY INTERACTION

A. Markwitz, The Coating division of Page Macrae Ltd in Tauranga has installed an ion beam system from GNS Science that is capable of cleaning metal surfaces with argon ion beams, providing shallow nitride layers and is in principle capable of depositing high quality DLC films in the plasma vapour deposition chamber that is used on a daily basis for coating industrial products with TiN and other compounds. This is the first ion beam system that has been installed by New Zealand Industry.

M.C. Simpson, Through our MBIE funded research, we work with Izon, Aeroqual, Intuitive Surgical (USA), Engender Technologies, Finisar (Australia), Southern Photonics, Pacific Channel, Line-5


THEME 2

Electronic and Optical Materials

PersonnelUniversity of AucklandEmeritus Investigator Jim Metson

Associate Investigators Geoff Waterhouse, Kevin E. Smith

PhD Students Akihiro Shimamura, Gordon Abenyegah, Hasini Wijayaratne, Jingjing Liu, Vedran Jovic, Wan-ting Chen, Zakiya Al-Azri

University of CanterburyPrincipal Investigator Roger Reeves Associate Investigator Aaron Marshall, Mike Reid

Postdoctoral Fellow Ian Farrell PhD Students Alexander Salkeld, Alex Neiman, Chrissy Emeny, Adam Hyndman, Calvin Lim, Diandree Padayachee, Jared Steven, Mohammad Zeidan, Rosa Hughes-Currie, Sebastian Horvath, Sophie Koster, Sophia Mellsop

Callaghan Innovation LimitedAssociate Investigators Damian Carder, Bridget Ingham, Tim Kemmitt

PhD Students Campbell McNicoll

GNS SciencePrincipal Investigator John Kennedy

Postdoctoral Fellow Peter Murmu

PhD Student Pierre Couture

Macquarie University, NSW, AustraliaAssociate Investigator James Downes

Victoria University of WellingtonEmeritus Investigator Alan Kaiser

Principal Investigators Ben Ruck, Eric Le Ru, Grant Williams, Jeff Tallon, Joe Trodahl, Nicola Gaston

Associate Investigator Bob Buckley, Chris Bumby, Franck Natali, Ruth Knibbe, Shen Chong, Simon Granville, Suresh Narayanswamy, Stuart Wimbush

Postdoctoral Fellows Eva Anton*, Doreen Mollenhauer*, Stefan Meyer, Suresh Narayanswamy*

PhD Students Anne-Helene Puichaud, Brendan Darby, Camille Arthur, Christin Gaedtke, Chang-Min Lee, Chun Cheah, Haissam Dernaika, Harry Warring, James McNulty, Jay Chan, Jethro Donaldson, Jibu Stephens, Julia Schacht, Luis Figueras, Sebastian Sambale, Shrividya Ravi, Tanmay Maity, Thomas Minnee, Tushara Prakash, Udbhav Ojha, Walter Somerville, Wayne Crump

* MacDiarmid Institute funded

PROFILE 2014 27

ELECTRONIC AND OPTICAL MATERIALS


The cutting edge of solid-state materials science is dominated by problems and possibilities associated with nano-scale inhomogeneity or electron-electron interactions. Conventional theories of the optical and electronic properties of materials assume electrons propagating independently in 3D crystals with a periodic array of atoms and uniform propagation of light. Many materials displaying novel or exploitable properties do not fit within these bounds. Examples include the optical properties of nanoparticles or nanoparticle assemblies, where light both scatters from the particles and induces excitations within them. Similarly, electrical conduction within low-dimensional conductors such as graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, is far more sensitive to disorder than more typical conductors. Conventional models of material properties also ignore the strong repulsion between the constituent electrons, but for some materials these are crucial to understanding their properties. Examples include all superconductors and magnetic materials, both of which are of substantial technological and fundamental relevance.

The Electronic and Optical Materials science theme includes strong activity encompassing both experimental and theoretical work in these areas. Most of the work is collaborative in nature, with strong links between theme members and across the MacDiarmid Institute’s science themes, and also with many international collaborators. Theory and simulation are used to inform and stimulate our experimental investigations, and indeed in many cases theoretical predictions can drive the direction of the experimental programme.

2014 MILESTONES AND REPORT• Characterization of the dose history

dependence and radiation damage in bulk and nanoparticle fluoroperovskites;

We developed a set of 1st order linear differential equations to account for gradual radiation damage and dose history.

We showed that part of the decrease in the radioluminescence with increasing dose is due to a radiation induced change in the transmittance. We have shown that we can create 2D images using our near tissue-equivalent materials. This work is for 2D dosimetry for dose verification and validation for radiotherapy applications.

We are preparing a patent on 2D dosimeter readout methods.

Support for this work by the MacDiarmid Institute has assisted us in obtaining four year MBIE funding on dosimeters and radiation imaging devices.

OBJECTIVE 1. Understanding structural, electronic and optical properties of nanoparticles and nanostructures

(Gaston, Kaiser, Kennedy, Le Ru, Reeves, G. Williams, AI-Chong)


• Completion of investigations into the validity of the Rayleigh Hypothesis (RH), which is a crucial assumption for the applicability of the T-matrix method to calculate the near field enhancements on metallic nanoparticles.

Investigations into the validity of the Rayleigh Hypothesis (RH) were completed in the important case of spheroidal particles (for which we developed the necessary new tools for accurate calculations). These investigations have led us to carry out a detailed study of the convergence properties of series arising in electromagnetic theory. A paper presenting our results has recently been published and a second one will be submitted before the end of the year:

• “Convergence of Mie theory series: criteria for far-field and near-field properties” J. R. Allardice and E. C. Le Ru, Appl. Optics 53, 7224-7229 (2014).

• “Accurate and convergent T-matrix calculations of light scattering by spheroids”, W. R. C. Somerville, B. Auguie, and E. C. Le Ru, submitted to J. Quant. Spectrosc. Rad. Transf.

To overcome the problems in the region where the RH is invalid, we have developed an alternative method to compute the near-fields based on integrals rather than series, which, albeit slower, produces highly accurate results.

• Development of analysis techniques for molecular dynamics simulations that distinguish between homotops in the case of nano-alloy clusters;

In addition, as part of work towards our 2015 objectives, we have developed our studies of AuPd clusters to investigate which of the numerous isomers are of most interest for specific catalytic reactions,

in collaboration with researchers in Japan.[1] A second paper discussing the effect of the metal-ligand interaction on the preferred structure of these bimetallic catalysts, which shows that the attachment of the ligands can be predicted based on simple model systems, is also in preparation.

• Completion of investigation of how disorder and morphology affect the electronic transport properties of graphene (single and multiple layers) and other carbon materials.

We continued our collaboration with Seoul National University on the electronic conduction in multi-layered graphene oxide and in doped co-polymers, showing the importance of hopping conduction in each material [K.H. Kim, S.J. Baek, A. B. Kaiser, Y. W. Park et al., Synthetic Metals, 2014,188, pp 30-34 and 2014, 191, pp 1-5].

We co-edited a book “Graphene: Properties, preparation, characterisation and devices” (Woodhead Publishing/Elsevier, edited by Viera Skakalova and Alan B. Kaiser, 2014, pp 400).

OBJECTIVE 2. Magnetism, electronics and magneto-electronics of nano-structured ferromagnetic semiconductors

(Ruck, Trodahl, Reeves, AI-Natali, AI-Granville)

2014 MILESTONES AND REPORT• Establish appropriate insulating and

metallic exchange blocking layers in GdN/blocking layer/SmN heterostructures, and investigate their efficacy in memory and sensing applications;

[1] C Cl Bond Activation on Au/Pd Bimetallic Nanocatalysts Studied by Density Functional Theory and Genetic Algorithm Calculations/ Bundet Boekfa, Elke Pahl, Nicola Gaston, Hidehiro Sakurai, Jumras Limtrakul, and Masahiro Ehara, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2014, 118 (38), pp 22188 22196

PROFILE 2014 29Electronic and Optical Materials

2014 MILESTONES AND REPORT• Collection of a full set of measurements

on a film containing transition metal nanoclusters on SiO2 with different electrode geometries and gaps sizes;

We have developed the detailed understanding of the origin of magnetoresistance on ion-implanted and electron-beam-annealed samples. The result have been published in international journals:

1. Leveneur, J.; Kremer, F.; Kennedy, J.V.; Ridgway, M.C.; Williams, G.V.M.; Metson, J.B. 2014 Enhancement of the magnetic properties of iron nanoparticles upon incorporation of samarium. Materials Research Express, 1(2): article 026110; doi:10.1088/2053-1591/1/2/026110.

2. Leveneur, J.; Kennedy, J.V.; Williams, G.V.M.; Sasase, M.; Metson, J.B.; Markwitz, A. 2014. Structural and chemical changes during the growth of Fe nanoparticles in SiO2 under low energy ion implantation. International journal of nanotechnology, 11(5-8): 466-476.

FIGURE 1: This plot shows how we can control the carrier concentration, and hence the resistivity, in GdN over nearly 6 orders of magnitude by doping with Mg.

OBJECTIVE 3. Superconducting, magnetic, and spin-dependent properties of novel materials

(Kennedy, Ruck, Tallon, Trodahl, Williams G., AI-Chong)

We have established that LaN forms an excellent exchange blocking layer between SmN and GdN, and have investigated its efficacy in a full X-ray magnetic circular dichroism study. That work is under consideration for publication in Physical Review Letters and led earlier this year to a provisional memory-element patent application.

We have established GaN tunnel junctions between GdN layers and investigated their current-voltage characteristics.

• Develop Group II-element hole doping protocols toward full carrier control;

We have established that Mg dopes GdN to near zero electron concentration (Figure 1), have another patent application here, and have submitted the work to Applied Physics Letters.

• Complete an investigation of the thermoelectric power of rare-earth nitrides as an indicator of their electron/hole balance.

We have measured the thermoelectric power of GdN and SmN, and see clearly that they are relatively heavily doped with electrons. An interpretation of the results is under way.


• Complete temperature dependent Raman spectra of (Sr,Ba)TiO3 collected and interpreted by end-2014;

Studies on (Cu0.75Mo0.25)Sr2YCu2O7+d were commenced by first synthesising the materials under high oxygen pressure, this high pressure work requires special facilities which are currently in business case development. Due to this delay studies switched to the compound CaxLa1-xBa1.75-xLa0.25+xCu3Oy. This enabled a similar wide doping range and also the benefit of altering ion size via the parameter x. The doping was calibrated using thermoelectric power and the overall phase behaviour mapped out as a function of doping for each x value. An anomalous suppression of superconductivity was found that seems to derive from crossing the van Hove singularity at rather low doping.

Paper submitted: “On the anomalous behavior of Tc and pseudogap in the superconductor CaxLa1-xBa1.75-xLa0.25+xCu3Oy with respect to doping and ion size”, J. L. Tallon, Phys. Rev. B (submitted).

• Fully characterised phase behaviour of MoCuO4-(phenanthroline)0.5 as a function of doping including the evolution of magnetic and superconducting phases.

The specific heat of MoCuO4 (phenanthroline) 0.5 was investigated and several phase transitions were confirmed, two of magnetic origin and the third is possibly superconductivity. These measurements will be repeated over the summer in combination wiith SQUID measuremments to firm up the interpretation. A provisional patent has been filed for this novel hybrid material (S.V. Chong and J.L. Tallon).

FIGURE 2: From basic to applied superconductivity.Panel (a) shows the most important superconducting property, the critical current density calculated from the superfluid density across the entire doping phase diagram of the superconductor YBa2Cu3Oy. It shows a sharp “sweet spot” just at the point where a competing correlation vanishes at the termination of the T* line which is shown. Panel (b) shows the scaled condensation energy which exhibits conventional behaviour across the heavily doped regime (red) then collapses abruptly when T* rises from zero. Without exception, all practical cuprate superconductors must be tuned to this sweet spot.


ELECTRONIC AND OPTICAL MATERIALS

Outputs

SCIENCE EXCELLENCE

PUBLICATIONS

S.A. Abdul Azis, J. Kennedy, P. P. Murmu, F. Fang and P. Cao, Structural and Compositional Characterization of Ion Beam Sputtered Hydroxyapatite Thin Films on Ti-6a1-4v, Asian Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(8), 745-752, (2014)

Z. Al-Azri, H. N., V. Jovic, W. T. Chen, D. Sun-Waterhouse, J. B. Metson and G. I. N. Waterhouse, Performance Evaluation of Pd/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Ethanol-Water Mixtures, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 695-703, (2014)

S.A.A. Azis, J. Kennedy and P. Cao, Effect of Annealing on Microstructure of Hydroxyapatite Coatings and Their Behaviours in Simulated Body Fluid, Advanced Materials Research, 922, 657-662, (2014)

S.J. Baek, W. G. Hong, M. Park, A. B. Kaiser, H. J. Kim, B. H. Kim and Y. W. Park, The Effect of Oxygen Functional Groups on the Electrical Transport Behavior of a Single Piece Multi-Layered Graphene Oxide, Synthetic Metals, 191, 1-5, (2014)

B. Boekfa, E. Pahl, N. Gaston, H. Sakurai, J. Limtrakul and M. Ehara, C-Cl Bond Activation on Au/Pd Bimetallic Nanocatalysts Studied by Density Functional Theory and Genetic Algorithm Calculations, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(38), 22188-22196, (2014)

J.D. Cabral, M. Roxburgh, Z. Shi, L. Liu, M. McConnell, G. Williams, N. Evans, L. R. Hanton, J. Simpson, S. C. Moratti, B. H. Robinson, P. J. Wormald and S. Robinson, Synthesis, Physiochemical Characterization, and Biocompatibility of a Chitosan/Dextran-Based Hydrogel for Postsurgical Adhesion Prevention, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, (2014)

O.J. Chaudhary, E. Calius, J. V. Kennedy and J. Travas-Sejdic, Polymer Brushes for Improvement of Dry Adhesion in Biomimetic Dry Adhesives, International Journal of Nanotechnolog, 11(5-8), 636-644, (2014)

C.Y. Cheah and A. B. Kaiser, Variable-Range Hopping Transport: Crossovers from Temperature Dependence to Electric Field Dependence in Disordered Carbon Materials, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 412-418, (2014)

S.V. Chong, G.V.M. Williams, S. Sambale, J. Kennedy and K. Kadowaki, Magneto-Resistance Study aFe2As2(a = Sr, Ba) Iron-based Compounds, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 403-411, (2014)

J.R. Cooper , J. W. Loram, I. Kokanović, J. G. Storey and J. L. Tallon, Pseudogap in YBa2Cu3 O6+Δ Is Not Bounded by a Line of Phase Transitions: Thermodynamic Evidence, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 89(20), (2014)

B.L. Darby, P. G. Etchegoin and E. C. Le Ru, Single-Molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy with Nanowatt Excitation, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 16(43), 23895-23899, (2014)

B.L. Darby and E. C. Le Ru, Competition between Molecular Adsorption and Diffusion: Dramatic Consequences for Sers in Colloidal Solutions, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136(31), 10965-10973, (2014)

H. Dernaika, S.V. Chong, C.G. Artur and J.L. Tallon, Spectroscopic Identification of Neurotoxin Tetramethylendisulfotetramine (Tets) Captured by Supramolecular Receptor B - Cyclodextrin Immobilized on Nanostructured Gold Surfaces, Journal of Nanomaterials, (2014)

C. Gaedtke and G. V. M. Williams, Photoluminescence and Radioluminescence Study of NaMgF3:Eu Nanoparticles, Radiation Measurements, (2014)

C. Gaedtke , G. V. M. Williams and D. Clarke, Thermoluminescence Studies of Nanoparticle and Bulk Namgf3:Mn, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 419-424, (2014)

C.M. Galloway, C. Artur, J. Grand and E. C. Le Ru, Photobleaching of Fluorophores on the Surface of Nanoantennas, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(49), 28820-28830, (2014)


R.B. Hughes-Currie, A. J. Salkeld, K. V. Ivanovskikh, M. F. Reid, J. P. R. Wells and R. J. Reeves, Excitons and Interconfigurational Transitions in CaF2:Yb2+ Crystals, Journal of Luminescence, 158, 197-202, (2014)

M. Jurkutat, D. Rybicki, O. P. Sushkov, G. V. M. Williams, A. Erb and J. Haase, Distribution of Electrons and Holes in Cuprate Superconductors as Determined from 17O and 63Cu Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 90(14), (2014)

K. Kaviyarasu, E. Manikandan, J. Kennedy and M. Jayachandran, Quantum Confinement and Photoluminescence of Well-Aligned Cdo Nanofibers by a Solvothermal Route, Materials Letters, 120, 243-245, (2014)

K. Kaviyarasu, E. Manikandan, P. Paulraj, S. B. Mohamed and J. Kennedy, One Dimensional Well-Aligned Cdo Nanocrystal by Solvothermal Method, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 593, 67-70, (2014)

J. Kennedy, J. Leveneur, F. Fang and A. Markwitz, Enhanced Reduction of Silicon Oxide Thin Films on Silicon under Electron Beam Annealing, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, (2014)

J. Kennedy, J. Leveneur, P. P. Murmu, P. Anilkumar and A. Iqbal, Fabrication of Gd Nanoparticles in Sio2/Si Substrate by Ion Implantation, International Conference on Materials and Characterization Techniques, ICMCT 2014, 6(6), 3294-3296, (2014)

J. Kennedy, J., P. P. Murmu, E. Manikandan and S. Y. Lee, Investigation of Structural and Photoluminescence Properties of Gas and Metal Ions Doped Zinc Oxide Single Crystals, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 616, 614-617, (2014)

K.H. Kim, A. Choi, J. M. Park, S. J. Hong, M. Park, I. H. Lee, E. S. Choi, A. B. Kaiser, T. L. Choi and Y. W. Park, Magnetoresistance of a Copolymer: FeCl3-Doped Poly(2,5-Dioctyloxy-P-Phenylene Vinylene-Alt-3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene Vinylene), Synthetic Metals, 188, 30-34, (2014)

R. Kulmaczewski, J. Olguín, J. A. Kitchen, H. L. C. Feltham, G. N. L. Jameson, J. L. Tallon and S. Brooker, Remarkable Scan Rate Dependence for a Highly Constrained Dinuclear Iron(II) Spin Crossover Complex with a Wide Thermal Hysteresis Loop, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136(3), 878-881, (2014)

Y. Kutuvantavida, G. V. M. Williams and M. D. H. Bhuiyan, Electrically Modulated Diffraction Gratings in Organic Chromophore Thin Films, Applied Optics, 53(12), 2687-2690, (2014)

J. Leveneur, J. Kennedy, G. V. M. Williams, M. Sasase, J. B. Metson and A. Markwitz, Structural and Chemical Changes During the Growth of Fe Nanoparticles in SiO2 under Low Energy Ion Implantation, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 466-476, (2014)

E. Manikandan, G. Kavitha and J. Kennedy, Epitaxial Zinc Oxide, Graphene Oxide Composite Thin-Films by Laser Technique for Micro-Raman and Enhanced Field Emission Study, Ceramics International, (2014)

D.M. McCann, G. V. M. Williams, A. Hyndman, J. Stephen and J. Kennedy, Large Magnetoresistance in a Permalloy/Ba2femoo6 Sputtered Film, Physica B: Condensed Matter, 436, 126-129, (2014)

G.J. McIntosh, J.B. Metson, T. Niesenhaus, T. Reek, T. Perander, Smelter Fluoride Balances, the Interplay between Alumina Phases, Pore Size Distributions and the Impacts of Weather, Journal od the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 66(11), 2272-2281, (2014)

R.G. Miller, S. Narayanaswamy, J. L. Tallon and S. Brooker, Spin Crossover with Thermal Hysteresis in Cobalt(II) Complexes and the Importance of Scan Rate, New Journal of Chemistry, 38(5), 1932-1941, (2014)

D. Mollenhauer and N. Gaston, A Balanced Procedure for the Treatment of Cluster Ligand Interactions on Gold Phosphine Systems in Catalysis, Journal of Computational Chemistry, (2014)

U. Ojha, K. G. Steenbergen and N. Gaston, How a Single Aluminum Atom Makes a Difference to Gallium: First-Principles Simulations of Bimetallic Cluster Melting, Journal of Chemical Physics, 139(9), (2014)

T. Prakash, G.V.M. Williams, J. Kennedy, P.P. Murumu, J. Leveneur, S.V. Chone and S. Rubanov, Synthesis and Structural, Magnetic and Magnetotransport Properties of Permalloy Powders Containing Nanoparticles Prepared by Arc Discharge, Journal of alloys and compounds, 608, 153-157, (2014)

K.G. Steenbergen, and N. Gaston, Two Worlds Collide: Image Analysis Methods for Quantifying Structural Variation in Cluster Molecular Dynamics, Journal of Chemical Physics, 140(6), (2014)


K.G. Steenbergen, N. Gaston, C. Müller and B. Paulus, Method of Increments for the Halogen Molecular Crystals: Cl, Br, and I, Journal of Chemical Physics, 141(12), (2014)

N.M. Strickland, C. Hoffmann, S. C. Wimbush, D. M. Pooke, T. Huang, Z. Lazic, V. Chamritski, E. F. Talantsev, N. J. Long and J. L. Tallon, Cryogen-Free Lka-Class Ic Measurement System Featuring an 8 T Hts Magnet, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 507(2), (2014)

E.F. Talantsev, N. M. Strickland, S. C. Wimbush, J. G. Storey, J. L. Tallon and N. J. Long, Hole Doping Dependence of Critical Current Density in YBa2Cu3O7-Δ Conductors, Applied Physics Letters, 104(24), (2014)

R. Tonner and N. Gaston, The Dimeric Nature of Bonding in Gallium: From Small Clusters to the A-Gallium Phase, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 16(44), 24244-24249, (2014)

W.J. Trompetter, P. Davy, B. Barry and J. Kennedy, Influence of Filter Thickness on Pesa Calibration, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, (2014)

J. Wang, J. Trodahl, C. Sandu, I. Gregora and N. Setter, Analysis of Composition Homogeneity and Polarization Orientation of Pzt Submicron Fibers by Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 34(10), 2311-2316, (2014)

H. Warring, B.J. Ruck, J.F. McNulty, E.M. Anton, S. Granville, A. Koo, B. Cowie and H.J. Trodahl, YbN: An Intrinsic Semiconductor with Antiferromagnetic Exchange, Physical Review B, 90, 245206, (2014)

T. Yabutani, G. I. N. Waterhouse, D. Sun-Waterhouse, J. B. Metson, A. Iinuma, L. T. X. Thuy, Y. Yamada, T. Takayanagi and J. Motonaka, Facile Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticle-Containing Porous Carbons, and Their Application to Amperometric Glucose Biosensing, Microchimica Acta, (2014)

S. Zhang, H. Liu, G. V. Amarsingh, C. C. H. Cheung, S. Hogl, U. Narayanan, L. Zhang, S. McHarg, J. Xu, D. Gong, J.V. Kennedy, B. Barry, Y. S. Choong, A. R. J. Phillips and G. J. S. Cooper, Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Is Associated with Defective Myocellular Copper Regulation and Both Defects Are Rectified by Divalent Copper Chelation, Cardiovascular Diabetology, 13(1) (2014)


J. Kennedy, J. Leveneur, J. Turner, J. Futter and G. V. M. Williams, Applications of Nanoparticle-Based Fluxgate Magnetometers for Positioning and Location, 2014 9th IEEE Sensors Applications Symposium, SAS 2014, Queenstown: IEEE Computer Society, 228-232, (2014)

S. Arulkumaran, G. I. Ng, K. Ranjan, G. Z. Saw, P. P. Murmu and J. Kennedy, Improved device isolation in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on Si by heavy Kr+ Ion implantation, Device Research Conference – Conference Digest, DRC, 115-116, Santa Barbara, CA, (2014)

A.J. Bubendorfer, B. Ingham, J.V. Kennedy, and W.M. Arnold, Origin of Electrokinetic Variability in Microfluidic Devices Case on SU-8 Epoxy, Proceedings Annual Conference of the Electrostatics Society of America, Illinois, USA, (2014)


KEYNOTE SPEAKER

J B. Metson, Alumina Quality and Specifications for Smelting – What is Possible and what is beneficial, 11th Australasian Aluminium Smelting Technology Conference, Dubai, UAE, December 2014

PLENARY SPEAKER

J.L. Tallon, High-Tc superconductors: from fundamental physics to bio-applications, International Conference From Solid-state to bio-physics, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 9-13 June 2014

INVITED SPEAKER

E.C. Le Ru, National Workshop on Fluorescence and Raman Techniques - FCS 2014, Pune, India. (Did not attend)

E.C. Le Ru, 24th International conference on Raman spectroscopy (ICORS), Jena, Germany, August 2014 (Did not attend)

E.C. Le Ru, International Conference on Small Science (ICSS 2014), Hong Kong, December 2014, (Did not attend)


G.V.M. Williams, Second International Conference on Nanostructured Materials and Nanocomposites (ICNM 2014) at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India, 19-21 December 2014 (Did not attend)

G.V.M. Williams, 4th Annual World Congress of Nanoscience & Technology (NanoS&T-2014), in Qingdao, China, 29-31 October 2014 (Did not attend)

N. Gaston, Melting simulations of gallium clusters: transitions between the low temperature bulk phases, International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering, Cadiz, Spain, 3-7 July 2014

H.J. Trodahl, 4th Annual World Congress of Advanced Materials-2015, as an invited speaker and Symposium Chair, China, April 2015.

J.L. Tallon, The thermodynamics of high-Tc superconductors, Waggawagga Condensed Matter Physics Conference, Waiheke Island, 4-7 February 2014.

J.L. Tallon, Physics, Free-will and Cancer, Symposium on Cancer, Theology and Spirituality, Auckland University, 20-21 February 2014.

J.L. Tallon, Physics and applications of High-Tc superconductors, CIMTEC 2014 (International Ceramics Congress) Forum on New Materials, Montecatini Terme, Italy, 16-20 June 2014.

J.L. Tallon, Powering the future, Royal Society of New Zealand Ten by Ten series, Auckland Museum, 24 July 2014

J.L. Tallon, Thermodynamics and critical current density in high-Tc superconductors, Applied Superconductivity Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, 10-15 August 2014.

J.L. Tallon, New superconductor materials - from drawing board to reality, NZ/Japan Workshop on Superconductivity, Martinborough, NZ, 3-8 December 2014

J.L. Tallon, The key role of thermodynamics in high-Tc superconductors, University of Paris, 3 June 2014

J.L. Tallon, Thermodynamics and critical current density in HTS superconductors and beyond, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University, 25 June 2014.

J.L. Tallon, Getting to grips with high-Tc superconductors, Canterbury University, 18 July 2014.

J.L. Tallon, The complex phase behavior of HTS cuprates – insights from thermodynamics, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, 15 August 2014

J.L. Tallon, The complex phase behavior of HTS cuprates – relating thermodynamics to physical properties, Stanford University, USA, 18 August 2014

J.V. Kennedy, Preparation and characterisation of ion beam sputtered BiFeO3 thin films), 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Materials Processing (www.APCMP2014.org), Auckland, New Zealand, July 6-11, 2014

J.V. Kennedy, Applications of nanoparticle-based fluxgate magnetometers for positioning and location, IEEE 2014 Sensors Applications Symposium, Queenstown, New Zealand, 18-20 February 2014

AWARDS, MEDALS AND FELLOWSHIPS

E.C. Le Ru, Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (2010-2014)

G.V.M. Williams, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) awarded for services to science in the New Zealand Queens birthday honours list.

J.L. Tallon, 2014/15 IEEE Distinguished Lecturer

J.V. Kennedy, KiwiNet AJ Park Commercialisation Collaboration Award for Titanium Technologies New Zealand (TiTeNZ) (2014)

NEW GRANT FUNDS

G.V.M. Williams (PI/Science Leader), MBIE, Dosimeters and radiation imaging devices for medical and non-destructive testing applications, $598.533 pa over 4 years from September 2014.

G.V.M. Williams (PI), MBIE, Magneto-electric nano-composites for next generation nano-electronics, $500,000 pa over 2 years from September 2014 with John Kennedy, GNS Science.

J.V. Kennedy (PI), MBIE, TiTeNZ-Titanium Technologies New Zealand, $14,490,000 from October 2014 – September 2020 with Dr. Ian Brown, Callaghan Innovation, Dr. Andreas Markwitz, GNS Science, Prof. Brian Gabbitas, University of Waikato, Mr. Warwick Downing, TIDA


RESEARCH AT OVERSEAS FACILITIES

H.J. Trodahl, Lead investigator for a week on beam line 39XU in Spring-8, the large Japan synchrotron. Attended with James McNulty, PhD student and Eva Anton, postdoctoral fellow during late November 2014.

LONG TERM RESEARCH STAYS AT OVERSEAS FACILITIES (>1 MONTH)

H.J. Trodahl, One month visit to Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, 19 July – 20 August 2014

VISITORS

Asaf Gosz, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, magnetic sensor discussion, 25 February 2014 (G.V.M. Williams)

Jérôme Damet, CERN dosimetry group, dosimeter collaboration discussion, 7 March 2014 (G.V.M. Williams)

Dr Tamsyn Hilder, ANU (DACRA fellow); collaboration on molecular dynamics for large nanomaterials systems. 24 November 2014 till end 2015 (N. Gaston)

Prof Neil Ashcroft, Cornell University, 31 January to 28 February 2014 (J.L. Tallon)


Brendan Darby, PhD student, visit to the group of Prof. Luis Liz-Marzan in San Sebastian Spin for the synthesis of gold nanorods for single molecule detection on single nanoparticles. One month in August-September 2014 (E.C. Le Ru)

James McNulty, PhD student, went to the SPRING-8 synchrotron in Japan in to conduct X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements on novel magnetic thin films, 24-28 November 2014 (B.J. Ruck)

James McNulty, visited Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne to perform ferromagnetic resonance on SmN. 5-16 May 2014 (B.J. Ruck)

Sebastian Sambale, PhD student, NMR Lab, Leipzig University, undertaking NMR measurements on superconductors. 14 July to 17 September 2014 (G.V.M. Williams)

Tushara Prakash, Melbourne University, undertaking TEM measurements. 11- 14 December 2014 (G.V.M. Williams)

Eva Anton, postdoc, visited the U. Zürich to perform ultra-low temperature measurements on superconducting SmN. 5-9 May 2014 (H.J. Trodahl)

Eva Anton, SPRING-8 synchrotron in Japan in to conduct X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements on novel magnetic thin films, 24-28 November 2014 (H.J. Trodahl)

LINKS WITH OTHER CORES OR RESEARCH CONSORTIA

H.J. Trodahl, Laboratoire Ceramique, France

H.J. Trodahl, Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, Switzerland

H.J. Trodahl, Nagoya University, Japan

H.J. Trodahl, Shenzhen University, China

H.J. Trodahl, Case-Western Reserve University, USA

H.J. Trodahl, University of Zürich, Switzerland

NEW COLLABORATIONS

B.J. Ruck, Collaboration with PIs Michele Governale and Uli Zuelicke investigating the superconducting properties of SmN. Superconductivity was discovered in SmN by PIs Ruck and Trodahl and postdoc Eva Anton as part of MacDiarmid supported research into the properties of rare-earth nitrides. Theoretical work to understand the origin of the superconductivity has been carried out by Governale and Zuelicke, and a paper has been drafted in anticipation of submission to a top international journal.

G.V.M. Williams, Dosimeters and radiation imaging devices for medical and non-destructive testing applications, MBIE. Funding leveraged from MI funding that included funding for RA’s.

G.V.M. Williams, Nano-thermoelectric generators, Marsden. Funding leveraged from access to MI PPMS at RRI.


LEADERSHIP


Brendan Darby, talk at conference ICORS2014 (Jena, Germany) entitled: “Dramatic effects of dilution and sample preparation for SERS in colloidal solutions” (E.C. Le Ru)


E.C. Le Ru, Editorial Advisory Board member for journal “Nanospectroscopy” (de Gruyter)

E.C. Le Ru, Editorial Board member of “Springer Concise Physics Introductions” (Springer)

B.J. Ruck, Associate Editor of the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics.

B.J. Ruck, Member of review panel for applications to the 2014 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Programme Reviews, administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand (38 applications total).

N. Gaston, President, NZ Association of Scientists

J.B. Metson, Science Advisory Committee, Australian Synchrotron

J.B. Metson, Australasian Aluminium Smelting Technology Conference, Dubai, UAE December 2014, Organising Committee

J.B. Metson, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Councillor.

R.J. Reeves, MBIE Assessment Panel member, High Value Manufacturing Services.

R.J. Reeves, New Zealand-Republic of Korea Strategic Research Partnership Fund 2014: assessment panel membership – Advanced Technologies

R.J. Reeves, Member of the International Advisory Committee, International Conference on the Dynamical Processes in Excited States of Solids.

J.L. Tallon, Co-Editor “Handbook of Superconducting Materials” Institute of Physics

J.V. Kennedy, Associate Editor, International Journal on Smart Sensing and Intelligent Systems (2014-)

INSPIRATION


N. Gaston, In the thick of it, seminar for the Public Service Association, 3 December 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfBGQNnP2OA&feature=youtu.be

J.B. Metson, Chief Science Advisor, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment

M.M. Alkaisi, Robotics and Sensors Challenge, National Science Challenges, Advisory committee.

J.V. Kennedy, Research platform team member of NSC#10

MEDIA PUBLICATIONS

B.J. Ruck, Our paper “EuN: A novel diluted magnetic semiconductor” was featured in an article of the same name that appeared in the ESRF Highlights, an online publication that presents standout research carried out at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.

N. Gaston, Gallium and the disappearing spoon: Interview with the Naked Scientists for This Way Up, Radio NZ. The Paramount, Wellington, 12 August 2014.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thiswayup/audio/20148533/naked-science-wellington

N. Gaston, Overcoming the hurdles in STEM, The Wireless 6 Jan 2015 (Radio NZ, 4 Jan 2015) http://thewireless.co.nz/audio_articles/overcoming-the-hurdles-in-stem

N. Gaston, Women in science, Jamie Morton, the NZ Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11216759

N. Gaston, Sisters are doing it together, Jeremy Olds, Sunday Magazine http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/women-of-influence/10176202/Sisters-are-doing-it-together


N. Gaston, Science Debate, Our Changing World, Radio NZ 24 July 2014 http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/20142648/science-debate

N. Gaston, The purpose of science and its limits. 11 April 2014 http://publicaddress.net/speaker/the-purpose-of-science-and-its-limits/

N. Gaston, Blog: Why Science is Sexist. Whyscienceissexist.wordpress.com. Since December 2012.

N. Gaston, President’s column, the NZ Science Review 70 (4) (February 2014); 71 (1) (June 2014).



H.J. Trodahl, F. Natali, B.J. Ruck, J.F. McNulty, E.M. Anton, and S. Granville, Magnetic Materials and Devices Comprising Rare Earth Nitrides, New Zealand provisional patent application 623343 (2014).

S. Vezian, H.J. Trodahl, F. Natali, and B.J. Ruck, Doped rare-earth nitride materials and devices comprising same, New Zealand provisional patent application 623339 (2014).

R. Etzion, G.J. McIntosh, J. B. Metson and M. I. Jones, Production of BN Composite Material, NZ Provisional Patent number 600341 Filed 30 May 2012. This is now proceeding to full patent (December 2014).

J.V. Kennedy, J. Leveneur, G.V.M. Williams, Wide dynamic range magnetometer, WO 2014097128 A1, June 2014

INDUSTRY CONSULTING

R.J. Reeves, Expert consultant for Allens/Linklaters (Pty, Australia) in patent case assessment. Acting as Australasian expert in evaluating the claims and conflicts in a patent case on light-emitting diodes. Value of the work is >$10,000. Report is forthcoming in 2015.

INDUSTRY-LINKED PROJECT

J.B. Metson, Hydro Aluminium, Norway

J.B. Metson, Outotec Aluminium, Germany

J.B. Metson, Trimet Aluminium, Germany


G.V.M. Williams, Two confidential reports to Gallagher concerning new security technology in May 2014

G.V.M. Williams, Two meetings with Raztec concerning current sensor development in February and May 2014

G.V.M. Williams, Meeting with Ed Neumueller, Standard Imaging, concerning dosimeter research and development in April 2014

M.M. Alkaisi, Invited to give presentation for the Technology Transfer Advisory Committee, Canterbury on my research work with potential commercialisation. Power house performed 21 November 2014.


THEME 3

Molecular Materials

PersonnelUniversity of AucklandPrincipal Investigator Jadranka Travas-SejdicAssociate Investigators Penny Brothers, Jianyong Jin

Postdoctoral Fellow Jenny Malstrom*

PhD Students Aaron Tay, Alissa Hackett, Bicheng Zhu, Cherie Tollemache, Eddie Chan, Katie Lin, Lisa Strover, Mona Damavandi, Nihan Aydemir, Omer Chaudhary, Paul Baek, Lakshika Perera, Nina Novikova, Seong Nam, Stefanie Maslek, Thomas Kerr-Phillips

University of CanterburyPrincipal Investigators Alison Downard, Paul Kruger

Postdoctoral Fellow Paula Brooksby*

PhD Students Anna Farquhar, Brad Simons, David Young, Kalib Bell, Lita Lee, Robert Staniland, Rosanna Archer, Shane Verma

MSc Students Ethan Lanshear, Luke Pearce

Callaghan InnovationAssociate Investigator Ian Brown

PhD Student Pauline Calloch

Massey UniversityPrincipal Investigators Simon Hall, Shane Telfer

Associate Investigators Geoff Jameson, Mark Waterland

Postdoctoral Fellows Alan Ferguson, Hui Yang*

PhD Students Ashley Way, Chris Lepper, Haidee Dykstra, Heather Jameson, Kelsey Mortensen, Luke Liu, Sebastian Blackwood

MPhil Student Ryan Ennis

University of OtagoPrincipal Investigators Sally Brooker, Keith Gordon

Associate Investigator Lyall Hanton, Nigel Lucas, Steve Moratti

Postdoctoral Fellow Humphrey Feltham*

PhD Students Alvie Lo, Anastasia Elliott, Christopher Larsen, Daniel Killeen, Holly van der Salm, James Wright, May Mah, Reece Miller, Santiago Rodriguez, Sara Fraser, Sebastien Dhers

MSc Students Alexis Baltrop, Bryce Hoggard, Michael Bennington, Tae Kim

Victoria University of WellingtonEmeritus Investigator Ken MacKenzie

Principal Investigators Justin Hodgkiss, Jim Johnston

Associate Investigator Jon Halpert

Postdoctoral Fellow Matthew Cairns

PhD Students Alex Barker, Andrea Kolb, Eldon Tate, Galen Eakins, Joanne Rogers, Joao daSilva, Jonathan Tailby, Joseph Gallaher, Kai Chen, Mahroo Poorsichani, Maria Parry, Matthias Herzog, Michelle Cook, Mohammad Al-Zeer, Omar Alsager, Shyamal Prasad, Thomas Nilsson

MSc Students Emma Wrigglesworth, Lia van den Kerkhof, Valentine Chan


PROFILE 2014 39Molecular Materials

MOLECULAR MATERIALS


Molecular materials show promise for diverse applications and researchers in this theme have expertise in many of these, including: molecular magnets, solar energy and electroluminescent materials, sensors, catalysts and adsorbents. Such applications rely on single molecules or collections of molecules, in the form of 3-D structures or thin films, exhibiting specific functions. To design, synthesise, assemble and activate functional materials we must understand the chemistry behind their synthesis, the factors that control the higher order assemblies and the structural and electronic effects that lead to the functionality. The search for new materials that have interesting and potentially useful functionality is also important. Our research tackles all of these challenges, from the design and synthesis of molecular materials through to testing their performance for practical applications.

OBJECTIVE 1. Porous materials

(Kruger, Telfer)

1. Assessment of the feasibility of (i) metal, (ii) metal oxide, and (iii) conducting polymer growth in five different MOFs;

Hui Yang started in July as a MI-funded PDF assigned to this project. He has made solid progress exploring the MOFs MIL-101(Fe), ZIF-8, ZIF-67, HKUST-1, and MOF-5. Metal nanoparticle growth methods have been developed for gold, cobalt and palladium. Our focus has also shifted to using MOF nanoparticles as templates for materials such as titania.

2. Success in the development of soft methods for removal of the MOF templates;

This has been achieved. Attention is now turning to deliberate decomposition of the MOFs using both aerobic and anaerobic heating to produce metal oxide and zero-valent metal composite materials.

3. Analysis of three functional properties of the nanostructured materials.

Plans are underway and this should be achieved over the next six-nine months.


OBJECTIVE 2. Light-absorbing polymers

(Gordon and Hodgkiss)

1. Complete synthesis of at least six different oligothiophenes up to 20 units long;

Five oligothiophenes were synthesized and purified for spectroscopic studies: 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-thiophene linear oligomers, along with a bridged cofacial dimer of two 4-thiophenes. Longer linear oligothiophenes between 10 and 20 units long have also been synthesized, however, challenges remain with their purification. We expect to complete this aspect of the objective when the PhD student involved resumes following his 3 month industry internship.

2. Validate quantum chemical calculations on the basis of optical absorption, emission, and Raman spectra for the series of oligomers.

Hybrid (density functional theory / Hartree-Fock) calculations were performed on a series of oligomers (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-thiophene). The development of a reliable model for the optical properties was ascertained; the sensitivity of this model to the amount of electron correlation was quantified. The most accurate calculations required 33% Hartree Fock in the hybrid calculation. This is important because failure to include leads to erroneous bandwidth estimations and renders the modelling ineffective.

OBJECTIVE 3: Surface functionalisation

(Downard, Hall, Johnston, Travas-Sejdic, Brooker)

1. Demonstrate electrical switchability of the surfaces based on grafted conducting polymers that modulate cell adhesion;

We have demonstrated a range of conducting polymer grafted surfaces and switchability in the properties of these surfaces upon applying a stimuli. These included an electrical –stimuli switching of polypyrrole based surfaces, acid-base switching of poly(ethylene dioxythiophene)- based surfaces and salt and temperature switching PEDOT surfaces (ms in preparation).

Preliminary cell studies indicated biocompatibility of some of these surfaces or non-fouling properties of other surfaces, depending on the nature of the grafted brushes.


2. Printing of 3D conducting polymer microstructures imbedded into an insulating resin which will retain sensing functionality;

We have demonstrated 3D printing of conducting polymers using our home-made apparatus. We are now extending the principle to smaller printed features, dawn to 100 nm range. This will be utilised in the development of conducting polymer-based biosensor arrays.

3. Develop synthetic access to at least one SCO or SMM complex with a covalent attachment point that can be used to covalently link it to a solid surface; and make initial attempts to attach it to such a surface;

Methods to prepare small (< 10 nm) regular diameter gold NPs have been elaborated and firmly established in collaboration with Dr Carla Meledandri, and initial attempts made to attach our SMMs. Evidence to date is consistent with attachment having occurred. Further studies are underway.

4. Complete a study on the effect on the SMM behaviour of assembling SMM building blocks into covalently bridged 1-D chain architectures;

The first examples of assembly of our macrocyclic 3d-4f SMMs into 1D chain architectures have been fully characterised and reported (S. Dhers, H. L. C. Feltham, R. Clérac and S. Brooker, Design of one-dimensional coordination networks from a macrocyclic {3d-4f} Single-Molecule Magnet precursor linked by [W(CN)8]3- anions, Inorganic Chemistry, 2013, 52, 13685-13691) and a full paper on the second such family is close to completion also.


5. Refine the 3d-4f blend employed in soluble, stable, tetrametallic macrocycles with a view to optimising SMM behaviour;

The 3d-4f blend in our tetrametallic macrocycle system was further refined, with a large family of Ni3Ln macrocyclic complexes prepared and sent for magnetic characterisation in Bordeaux. The full paper on this is drafted, but awaits these key magnetic results, which will most likely be received in most likely be received in publishable form soon (these are substantial studies, requiring a lot of machine time and expertise).

Meantime we completed a review of single 4f ion containing SMMs and this has been published (H. L. C. Feltham and S. Brooker, Review of purely 4f and mixed-metal nd-4f Single-Molecule Magnets containing only one lanthanide ion, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 2014, 276, 1–33).

6. Grafting of polymers to surfaces via diazonium ion chemistry and demonstrate switchable behaviour and controllable cell adhesion;

This work is ongoing. We have demonstrated polymer growth from initiators anchored to surfaces via aryldiazonium chemistry. After full characterisation of surfaces produced to date, the reaction conditions will be optimised. In future work, switchable behaviour will be investigated.

7. Demonstrate that grafted organic films change the properties of metal oxide materials;

To date, grafting organic layers to manganese dioxide has been characterised. We obtained direct evidence for covalent attachment of aryl groups to the MnO2 syrface via a Mn-O-C bond. Electrochemical and solubility properties were shown to be modified by the organic layer. Results to date have been published: Bell, K.J., Brooksby, P.A., Polson, M.I.J., Downard, A.J. Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 13687-13690. DOI: 10.1039/C4CC05606J. Preliminary work has been undertaken with zinc oxide (collaboration with Martin Allen and Natalie Plank).


8. The successful attachment of silver entities to natural fibre and polymer substrates and demonstration of their antimicrobial effectiveness and durability;

Prof Jim Johnston and his team have carried out a detailed study of the uptake kinetics and binding of silver ions onto a variety of commercial NZ wool yarns used in upholstery, carpet and apparel textiles. Using zone of inhibition tests and colony counting we have determined the silver levels required for optimum antimicrobial effectiveness and durability against S. coccus and E. coli bacteria to yield a 99.9% reduction. The technology has been branded “NgaPure®” as a registered trademark and is being commercilaised by a start-up company Noble Bond Ltd, formed by Prof Jim Johnston and Dr Kerstin Lucas with Wools NZ Ltd. We have carried out pilot scale production tests and full scale commercial production runs treating 200 kg quantities of yarn at Park Valley Dyers, UK in partnership with Camira Fabrics UK Ltd. The technology will be used by Camira Fabrics in their upholstery fabrics.


9. The successful controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles of different colours and their chemical binding to wool fibres using pilot scale commercial stainless steel equipment to produce a uniformly coloured, washfast product; and

10. The production of kilogram quantities of uniform nanogold coloured wool.

Prof Jim Johnston and his team have progressed their R&D on the scale up of their “Aulana®” branded nanogold wool technology where they successfully use nanogold in different colours to colour NZ wool with pure gold for high value rugs and apparel for premium international markets. The technology is also being commercialised by Noble Bond Ltd. Over 100 kg of Aulana® in different colours have been produced using our own designed and constructed stainless steel pilot plant equipment and made into our internationally designed, hand knotted and hand tufted prototype rugs, which were fabricated for us in India and China. These were displayed at the “Domotex”, European and “Surfaces”, US trade fairs as world firsts and commanded much interest. The “Midas” rug designed for us in Milan by “SoFarSoNear” is in the shape of an earring from the British royal jewels to portray the luxury and opulance of Aulana. It is on display in the “SoFarSoNear” interior design showroom in Mayfair, London. See www.aulana.co.uk

11. The successful characterisation of the IR absorption properties of nanofunctionalised surfaces and the measurement of their thermal properties;

IR spectroscopy has been used to assist in understanding the nature of the chemical binding of nanogold to the amino acids in the keratin proteins of wool fibres. This has suggested the gold is associated with the S and N entities of the amino acids. It was not possible measure the thermal properties of the nanofunctionalised surfaces due to the very low content of nanogold on the surfaces.

0.5 kg hanks of Aulana® wool


MOLECULAR MATERIALS

Outputs

SCIENCE EXCELLENCE

PUBLICATIONS

H. Aghaei, A. A. Nourbakhsh, S. Karbasi, R. JavadKalbasi, M. Rafienia, N. Nourbakhsh, S. Bonakdar and K. J. D. Mackenzie, Investigation on Bioactivity and Cytotoxicity of Mesoporous Nano-Composite Mcm-48/Hydroxyapatite for Ibuprofen Drug Delivery, Ceramics International, (2014)

O.A. Alsager, S. Kumar, G. R. Willmott, K. P. McNatty and J. M. Hodgkiss, Small Molecule Detection in Solution Via the Size Contraction Response of Aptamer Functionalized Nanoparticles, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 57, 262-268, (2014)

M. Alzeer, R. A. Keyzers and K. J. D. Mackenzie, Inorganic Polymers as Novel Chromatographic Stationary Phase Media, Ceramic International, 40(2), 3553-3560, (2014)

P. Asgarian, A. Nourbakhsh, P. Amin, R. Ebrahimi-Kahrizsangi and K. J. D. MacKenzie, The Effect of Different Sources of Porous Carbon on the Synthesis of Nanostructured Boron Carbide by Magnesiothermic Reduction, Ceramics International, 40, 16399-16408, (2014)

A.J. Barker, K. Chen and J. M. Hodgkiss, Distance Distributions of Photogenerated Charge Pairs in Organic Photovoltaic Cells, Journal of the American Chemical Society 136, 34, 12018-12026, (2014)

O.J. Chaudhary, E. Calius, J. V. Kennedy and J. Travas-Sejdic, Polymer Brushes for Improvement of Dry Adhesion in Biomimetic Dry Adhesives, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 636-644, (2014)

K. Chen, J. K. Gallaher, A. J. Barker and J. M. Hodgkiss, Transient Grating Photoluminescence Spectroscopy: An Ultrafast Method of Gating Broadband Spectra, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 5(10), 1732-1737, (2014)

K. Chen, A. J. Barker, Francis L. C. Morgan, Jonathan E. Halpert and Justin M. Hodgkiss, The Effect of Carrier Thermalization Dynamics on Light Emission and Amplification in Organometal Halide Perovskites, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, (2014)

S. Chen, N. A. Parlane, J. Lee, D. N. Wedlock, B. M. Buddle and B. H. A. Rehm, New Skin Test for Detection of Bovine Tuberculosis on the Basis of Antigen-Displaying Polyester Inclusions Produced by Recombinant Escherichia Coli, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80(8), 2526-2535, (2014)

G. Ciric-Marjanovic, S. Mentus, I. Pašti, N. Gavrilov, J. Krstić, J. Travas-Sejdic, L. T. Strover, J. Kopecká, Z. Moravková, M. Trchová and J. Stejskal, Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemistry of Nanotubular Polypyrrole and Polypyrrole-Derived Carbon Nanotubes, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(27), 14770-14784, (2014)

M.G. Cowan, R. G. Miller, P. D. Southon, J. R. Price, O. Yazaydin, J. R. Lane, C. J. Kepert and S. Brooker, Selective Gas Adsorption in a Pair of Robust Isostructural Mofs Differing in Framework Charge and Anion Loading, Inorganic Chemistry, 53(22), 12076-12083, (2014)

K.D. Deshmukh, T. Qin, J.K. Gallaher, A.C.Y. Liu, E. Gann, K. O’Donnell, L. Thomsen, J.M. Hodgkiss, S.E. Watkins and C.R. McNeill, Performance, Morphology and Photophysics of High Open-Circuit Voltage, Low Band Gap All-Polymer Solar Cells, Energy & Environmental Science, (2014)

G.L. Eakins, J. K. Gallaher, R. A. Keyzers, A. Falber, J. E. A. Webb, A. Laos, Y. Tidhar, H. Weissman, B. Rybtchinski, P. Thordarson and J. M. Hodgkiss, Thermodynamic Factors Impacting the Peptide-Driven Self-Assembly of Perylene Diimide Nanofibers, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 118(29), 8642-8651, (2014)

H.L.C. Feltham and S. Brooker, Review of Purely 4f and Mixed-Metal Nd-4f Single-Molecule Magnets Containing Only One Lanthanide Ion, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 276, 1-33, (2014)

A. Ferguson, R. W. Staniland, C. M. Fitchett, M. A. Squire, B. E. Williamson and P. E. Kruger, Variation of Guest Selectivity within [Fe4l4]8+ Tetrahedral Cages through Subtle Modification of the Face-Capping Ligand, Dalton Transactions, 43(39), 14550-14553, (2014)


S.J. Fraser and K. C. Gordon, Raman Spectroscopy in the Study of Pharmaceuticals: The Problems and Solutions to Sub-Sampling and Data Analysis, European Pharmaceutical Review , 19(1), 27-32, (2014)

S.E. Halcrow, J. Rooney, N. Beavan, K. C. Gordon, N. Tayles and A. Gray, Assessing Raman Spectroscopy as a Prescreening Tool for the Selection of Archaeological Bone for Stable Isotopic Analysis, PLoS ONE, 9(7), (2014)

C.S Hawes and P. E. Kruger, Dimensionality Variation in Dinuclear Cu(Ii) Complexes of a Heterotritopic Pyrazolate Ligand, Crystals, 4(1), 32-41, (2014)

C.S. Hawes and P. E. Kruger, Discrete and Polymeric Cu(II) Complexes Featuring Substituted Indazole Ligands: Their Synthesis and Structural Chemistry, Dalton Transactions , 43(43), 16450-16458, (2014)

C.S. Hawes and P. E. Kruger, Preparation of Open and Closed Forms of the Lvt Network with Cu(II) Complexes of Structurally Related 1,2-Diazole Ligands, RSC Advances, 4(30), 15770-15775, (2014)

C.S. Hawes, B. Moubaraki, K. S. Murray, P. E. Kruger, D. R. Turner and S. R. Batten, Exploiting the Pyrazole-Carboxylate Mixed Ligand System in the Crystal Engineering of Coordination Polymers, Crystal Growth and Design, 14(11), 5749-5760, (2014)

I.D. Hay, J. Du, N. Burr and B. H. A. Rehm, Bioengineering of Bacteria to Assemble Custom-Made Polyester Affinity Resins, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 81(1), 282-291, (2014)

I.D. Hay, Y. Wang, M. F. Moradali, Z. U. Rehman and B. H. A. Rehm, Genetics and Regulation of Bacterial Alginate Production, Environmental Microbiology, 16(10), 2997-3011, (2014)

I.D. Hay, Y. Wang, M. F. Moradali, Z. U. Rehman and B. H. A. Rehm, Genetics and Regulation of Bacterial Alginate Production, Environmental Microbiology, (2014)

R.W. Hogue, R. G. Miller, N. G. White, H. L. C. Feltham, G. N. L. Jameson and S. Brooker, Hysteretic Spin Crossover in Iron(Ii) Complexes of a New Pyridine-Triazole-Pyrazine Ligand Is Tuned by Choice of Nce Co-Ligand, Chemical Communications, 50(12), 1435-1437, (2014)

D.O. Hooks, M. Venning-Slater, J. Du and B. H. A. Rehm, Polyhydroyxalkanoate Synthase Fusions as a Strategy for Oriented Enzyme Immobilisation, Molecules, 19(6), 8629-8643, (2014)

A.C. Jahns and B. H. A. Rehm, Immobilization of Active Lipase B from Candida Antarctica on the Surface of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Inclusions, Biotechnology Letters, (2014)

A. Jamshidi, A.A. Nourbakhsh, S. Naghibi and K.J.D. MacKenzie, Application of the statistical Taguchi Method to Optimize X-Sialon and Mullite Formation in Composite Powders Prepared by the Srn Process, Ceramics International, 40(1), 263-271, (2014)

H. Karaosmanoglu, J. Travas-Sejdic and P. A. Kilmartin, Designing Pedot-Based Sensors for Antioxidant Analysis, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 445-450, (2014)

Z. Katančić, J. Travaš-Sejdić, Z. Hrnjak-Murgić and J. Jelenčić, Thermal Decomposition of Fire-Retarded High-Impact Polystyrene and High-Impact Polystyrene/Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Blend Nanocomposites Followed by Thermal Analysis, Journal of Elastomers and Plastics, 46(3), 233-252, (2014)

T. Kerr-Phillips, A. R. G. Srinivas and J. Travas-Sejdic, Electrospun Substituted Polyphenylene Vinylene Nanofibres, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 626-635, (2014)

R. Kiefer, N. Aydemir, J. Torop, T. Tamm, R. Temmer, J. Travas-Sejdic, I. Must, F. Kaasik and A. Aabloo, Carbide-Derived Carbon as Active Interlayer of Polypyrrole Tri-Layer Linear Actuator, Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical, 201, 100-106, (2014)

R. Kiefer, R. Temmer, N. Aydemir, J. Travas-Sejdic, A. Aabloo and T. Tamm, Electrochemistry of Interlayer Supported Polypyrrole Tri-Layer Linear Actuators, Electrochimica Acta, 122, 322-328, (2014)

D.P. Killeen, J. W. van Klink, B. M. Smallfield, K. C. Gordon and N. B. Perry, Herbicidal B-Triketones Are Compartmentalized in Leaves of Leptospermum Species: Localization by Raman Microscopy and Rapid Screening, New Phytologist, 205(1), 339-349, (2014)

P.A. Kilmartin, D. Robert, A. Nand, G. I. N. Waterhouse and J. Travas-Sejdic, Redox Properties of Nanostructured Aniline Oxidation Products Formed under Different Ph Conditions, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 458-465, (2014)

P.A. Kilmartin, J. Travas-Sejdic, R. Temmer, T. Tamm, A. Aabloo and R. Kiefer, Pedot-Pss/Mwcnt Coatings on PET for Conducting Polymer Actuators, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 477-485, (2014)


R. Kulmaczewski, J. Olguín, J. A. Kitchen, H. L. C. Feltham, G. N. L. Jameson, J. L. Tallon and S. Brooker, Remarkable Scan Rate Dependence for a Highly Constrained Dinuclear Iron(II) Spin Crossover omplex with a Wide Thermal Hysteresis Loop, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136(3), 878-881, (2014)

C.B. Larsen, H. Van Der Salm, C. A. Clark, A. B. S. Elliott, M. G. Fraser, R. Horvath, N. T. Lucas, X. Z. Sun, M. W. George and K. C. Gordon, Intraligand Charge-Transfer Excited States in Re(I) Complexes with Donor-Substituted Dipyridophenazine Ligands, Inorganic Chemistry , 53(3), 1339-1354, (2014)

K. Lee, E. J. Lim, K. S. Kim, S. L. Huang, Y. Veeranagouda and B. H. A. Rehm, An Alginate-Like Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis Gene Cluster Involved in Biofilm Aerial Structure Formation by Pseudomonas Alkylphenolia, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1-12, (2014)

L. Lee, H. Ma, P. A. Brooksby, S. A. Brown, Y. R. Leroux, P. Hapiot and A. J. Downard, Covalently Anchored Carboxyphenyl Monolayer Via Aryldiazonium Ion Grafting: A Well-Defined Reactive Tether Layer for on-Surface Chemistry, Langmuir, 30(24), 7104-7111, (2014)

J.E.M. Lewis, A. B. S. Elliott, C. J. McAdam, K. C. Gordon and J. D. Crowley, ‘Click’ to Functionalise: Synthesis, Characterisation and Enhancement of the Physical Properties of a Series of Exo- and Endo-Functionalised Pd2l4 Nanocages, Chemical Science, 5(5), 1833-1843, (2014)

Y. Li, C. Luo, C. Jiang, R. Huang, Y. Wang, H. Peng and J. Travas-Sejdic, Luminescent Carbon Nanoparticles as a Donor for the Fret-Based Detection of Oligonucleotide Hybridization, RSC Advances, 4(48), 25201-25204, (2014)

M. Liu, C. Luo, R. Huang, H. Peng, Y. Wang and J. Travas-Sejdic, Self-Assembly of Methyl Substituted Polyaniline Hollow Nanospheres in a Polyelectrolyte Solution, International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 63(12), 602-608, (2014)

H. Ma, L. Lee, P. A. Brooksby, S. A. Brown, S. J. Fraser, K. C. Gordon, Y. R. Leroux, P. Hapiot and A. J. Downard, Scanning Tunneling and Atomic Force Microscopy Evidence for Covalent and Noncovalent Interactions between Aryl Films and Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(11), 5820-5826, (2014)

K.J.D. MacKenzie and M. Welter, Geopolymer Matrix Composites: New Possibilities for CMC-like Materials, Advances in Ceramic Matrix Composites, 18, 445-470, (2014)

J. Malmström and J. Travas-Sejdic, Block Copolymers for Protein Ordering, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, (2014)

T.M. McLean, S. G. Telfer, A. B. S. Elliott, K. C. Gordon, M. Lein and M. R. Waterland, Molecular Excitons in a Copper Azadipyrrin Complex, Dalton Transactions, 43(47), 17746-17753, (2014)

R.G. Miller, S. Narayanaswamy, J. L. Tallon and S. Brooker, Spin Crossover with Thermal Hysteresis in Cobalt(II) Complexes and the Importance of Scan Rate, New Journal of Chemistry , 38(5), 1932-1941, (2014)

G.M. Nasab, F. Golestanifard and K. J. D. MacKenzie, The Effect of the SiO2/Na2O Ratio in the Structural Modification of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers Studied by XRD, FTIR and MAS-NMR, Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, 5(3), 185-191, (2014)

E.M. Nickless, S. E. Holroyd, J. M. Stephens, K. C. Gordon and J. J. Wargent, Analytical Ft-Raman Spectroscopy to Chemotype Leptospermum Scoparium and Generate Predictive Models for Screening for Dihydroxyacetone Levels in Floral Nectar, Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, (2014)

A.A. Nourbakhsh, A. Vahedi, A. Nemati, M. Noorbakhsh, S. N. Mirsatari, M. Shaygan and K. J. D. Mackenzie, Optimization of the Magnetic Properties and Microstructure of Co2+-La3+ Substituted Strontium Hexaferrite by Varying the Production Parameters, Ceramics International, 40(4), 5675-5680, (2014)

J. Parcell, N. Aydemir, H. Devaraj, J. Travas-Sejdic, D. E. Williams and K. C. Aw, A Novel Air Flow Sensor from Printed Pedot Micro-Hairs, Smart Materials and Structures, 22(11), (2014)

N. A. Parlane, B. H. A. Rehm, D. N. Wedlock and B. M. Buddle, Novel Particulate Vaccines Utilizing Polyester Nanoparticles (Bio-Beads) for Protection against Mycobacterium Bovis Infection-a Review, Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 158(1-2), 8-13, (2014)


N.A. Parlane, D. Shu, S. Subharat, D. N. Wedlock, B. H. A. Rehm, G. W. De Lisle and B. M. Buddle, Revaccination of Cattle with Bacille Calmette-Guérin Two Years after First Vaccination When Immunity Has Waned, Boosted Protection against Challenge with Mycobacterium Bovis, PLoS ONE, 9(9), (2014)

Y. Pei, J. Travas-Sejdic and D. E. Williams, Water Structure Change-Induced Expansion and Collapse of Zwitterionic Polymers Surface-Grafted onto Carbon Black, Australian Journal of Chemistry, 67(11), 1706-1709, (2014)

F.J. Rawson, A. J. Downard and K. H. Baronian, Electrochemical Detection of Intracellular and Cell Membrane Redox Systems in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Scientific Reports, 4, (2014)

B.H.A. Rehm, Preface, Current Proteomics, 11(1), 1, (2014)

Z. Shen, C. Luo, R. Huang, Y. Wang, H. Peng and J. Travas-Sejdic, Simple One-Pot Aqueous Synthesis of Cdhgte Nanocrystals Using Sodium Tellurite as the Te Source, Journal of Luminescence, 153, 203-209, (2014)

B.M. Simons, J. Lehr, D. J. Garrett and A. J. Downard, Formation of Thick Aminophenyl Films from Aminobenzenediazonium Ion in the Absence of a Reduction Source, Langmuir, 30(17), 4989-4996, (2014)

A.R.G. Srinivas, D. Barker and J. Travas-Sejdic, Studies Towards a Switch-Off Optical DNA Sensor Based on Poly(P-Phenylenevinylene) Grafted Magnetic Beads, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 645-659, (2014)

J. Sui, P. Kilmartin and J. Travas-Sejdic, A Novel Micro Ring Structured Ppy/Pts Free Standing Film with Improved Actuation Stability, International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 63(8), 424-429, (2014)

J. Temuujin, A. Minjigmaa, B. Davaabal, U. Bayarzul, A. Ankhtuya, T.S. Jadambaa and K. J. D. MacKenzie, Utilization of Radioactive High-Calcium Mongolian Flyash for the Preparation of Alkali-Activated Geopolymers for Safe Use as Construction Materials, Ceramics International, (2014)

J. Travas-Sejdic, N. Aydemir, B. Kannan, D. E. Williams and J. Malmström, Intrinsically Conducting Polymer Nanowires for Biosensing, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2(29), 4593-4609, (2014)

R. Ullah, G. A. Bowmaker, C. Laslau, G. I. N. Waterhouse, Z. D. Zujovic, K. Ali, A. U. H. A. Shah and J. Travas-Sejdic, Synthesis of Polyaniline by Using CuCl2 as Oxidizing Agent, Synthetic Metals, 198, 203-211, (2014)

R. Ullah, G. A. Bowmaker, J. Travas-Sejdic, K. Ali and A. U. H. A. Shah, Synthesis and Characterization of Polyaniline by Using Weak Oxidizing Agent, Macromolecular Symposia, 339(1), 84-90, (2014)

H. van der Salm, A. B. S. Elliott and K. C. Gordon, Substituent Effects on the Electronic Properties of Complexes with Dipyridophenazine and Triazole Ligands: Electronically Connected and Disconnected Ligands, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, (2014)

H. Van Der Salm, M. G. Fraser, R. Horvath, S. A. Cameron, J. E. Barnsley, X. Z. Sun, M. W. George and K. C. Gordon, Re(I) Complexes of Substituted Dppz: A Computational and Spectroscopic Study, Inorganic Chemistry, 53(6), 3126-3140, (2014)

H. Van Der Salm, M. G. Fraser, R. Horvath, J. O. Turner, G. M. Greetham, I. P. Clark, M. Towrie, N. T. Lucas, M. W. George and K. C. Gordon, Dual Charge-Transfer in Rhenium(I) Thioether Substituted Hexaazanaphthalene Complexes, Inorganic Chemistry, 53(24), 13049-13060, (2014)

H. Van Der Salm, C. B. Larsen, J. R. W. McLay, M. G. Fraser, N. T. Lucas and K. C. Gordon, Stretching the Phenazine Mo in Dppz: The Effect of Phenyl and Phenyl-Ethynyl Groups on the Photophysics of Re(I) Dppz Complexes, Dalton Transactions, 43(47), 17775-17785, (2014)

M. Venning-Slater, D. O. Hooks and B. H. A. Rehm, In Vivo Self-Assembly of Stable Green Fluorescent Protein Fusion Particles and Their Uses in Enzyme Immobilization, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80(10), 3062-3071, (2014)

L. Zhao, P. Wagner, A. B. S. Elliott, M. J. Griffith, T. M. Clarke, K. C. Gordon, S. Mori and A. J. Mozer, Enhanced Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Carbazole-Substituted Di-Chromophoric Porphyrin Dyes, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2(40), 16963-16977, (2014)

B. Zhu, M. A. Booth, P. Shepherd, A. Sheppard and J. Travas-Sejdic, Distinguishing Cytosine Methylation Using Electrochemical, Label-Free Detection of DNA Hybridization and Ds-Targets, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 64, 74-80, (2014)


BOOK CHAPTERS

K.J.D. Mackenzie and M. Welter, Geopolymer (Aluminosilicate) Composites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications, In Advances in Ceramic Matrix Composites, 445-470: Elsevier Ltd., (2014)

J. Travas-Sejdic and A. Rao Gulur Srinivas, Optical Gene Detection Using Conjugated Polymers, in Optical Properties of Functional Polymers and Nano Engineering Applications, Edited by Vaibhav Jain, Akshay Kokil, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, (2014)

A.J. Barker, K. Chen, S. Prasad and J.M. Hodgkiss, High-sensitivity ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy of organic PV devices. In Ultrafast Dynamics in Molecules, Nanostructures and Interfaces, Gurzadyan, G. G.; Lanzani, G.; Soci, C.; Sum, T. C., Eds. World Scientific: Singapore, 8, (2014)


M.J. Cook and J. H. Johnston, Novel Syntheses of Silica-Gold Core-Shell Particles, In Nanotechnology 2014: Graphene, CNTs, Particles, Films and Composites - 2014 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2014, 1, 121-124. Washington, DC: Nano Science and Technology Institute, (2014)

M.B. Herzog and J. H. Johnston, Wool Surfaces Made Superhydrophobic, In Nanotechnology 2014: Graphene, CNTs, Particles, Films and Composites - 2014 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2014, 1, 245-248. Washington, DC: Nano Science and Technology Institute, (2014)

J.H. Johnston and M. Parry, New Generation Nanogold and Nanosilver Polymer Composites and Their Applications, In Nanotechnology 2014: Graphene, CNTs, Particles, Films and Composites - 2014 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2014, 1, 358-361. Washington, DC: Nano Science and Technology Institute, (2014)

J.H. Johnston and A. Zeller, Synthesis and Characterization of Copper (I) Oxide and Zinc Oxide Quantum Dot Materials and the Development of New Fluorescent Fibre Composites, In Nanotechnology 2014: Graphene, CNTs, Particles, Films and Composites - 2014 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2014, 1, 105-108. Washington, DC: Nano Science and Technology Institute, (2014)

T.W. Nilsson and J. H. Johnston, Scale-up of Novel Gold Nanoparticle-Wool Fibre Composites: A Commercialisation Success Story, In Nanotechnology 2014: Graphene, CNTs, Particles, Films and Composites - 2014 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2014, 1, 362-364. Washington, DC: Nano Science and Technology Institute, (2014)

E.W. Tate and J. H. Johnston, Photocatalytic Silver/Silver Halide Polymer Nanocomposites, In Nanotechnology 2014: Graphene, CNTs, Particles, Films and Composites - 2014 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2014, 1, 392-395. Washington, DC: Nano Science and Technology Institute, (2014)

R. Kiefer, N. Aydemir, J. Torop, P. A. Kilmartin, T. Tamm, F. Kaasik, A. Kesküla, J. Travas-Sejdic and A. Aabloo, Carbide-derived Carbon (CDC) linear actuator properties in combination with conducting polymers, Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering, 171, pp. 69-75, San Diego, CA, (2014)


KEYNOTE SPEAKER

J.H. Johnston, Keynote paper plus 5 other papers were presented, TechConnect 2014 - NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, Washington, DC. June 2014

J.M. Hodgkiss, 7th International conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (AMN7), Nelson, February 2015

S. Brooker, Spin crossover in dinuclear complexes and/or with scan-rate dependent thermal hysteresis, SANZMAG (1st Southampton Australia NZ workshop on molecular magnetism), Sydney, Australia, 17-20 February 2014

INVITED SPEAKER

A.J. Downard, L. Lee, P.A. Brooksby, Y.R. Leroux, P. Hapiot, Designer surfaces: robust monolayers for bottom-up construction of functional interfaces. RACI, National Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 7 - 12 December 2014


A.J. Downard, From the bottom up: electrochemistry as a tool for bottom-up construction of nanoscale funtionalised surfaces. Conference for Women in Science, Wellington, 9-11 July 2014

J.M. Hodgkiss, Excitonic Photovoltaics 2014 (XPV2014), Telluride, Colorado, August 2014

J.M. Hodgkiss, 9th Aseanian Conference on Dye-sensitized and Organic Solar Cells, Sydney, December 2014

J.M. Hodgkiss, 8th Asian Photochemistry conference, Trivandrum, India, November 2014 (did not attend)

J.M. Hodgkiss, 13th International conference on the Frontiers of Polymer and Advanced Materials, Marrakesh, March 2015

K.C. Gordon, Low frequency Raman spectroscopy as a probe of crystalline phases in organic photovoltaic polymers and pharmaceuticals, at SciX, 41st FACCS meeting (http://www.scixconference.org/), Reno NV, USA, October, 2014

K.C. Gordon, Resonance Raman spectroscopy as a probe of the electronic properties of complexes with dipyridophenazine and triazole ligands: electronically loquacious and diffident ligands, XXIV International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS 2014), 10-15 August 2014, Jena, Germany.

K.C. Gordon, Computational chemistry and spectroscopy: a strategy for the development of new electronic materials, Australasian Conference on Vibrational Spectroscopy, Adelaide, South Australia, 14-16 April 2014

P.E. Kruger, lecture at the 2014 Royal Australian Chemical Institute National Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 7-12 December 2014

S. Brooker, Robust isostructural cationic nanoporous frameworks with variable anion loading, Challenges in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry (ISACS13), Dublin, 1-4 July 2014

S. Brooker, Remarkable scan rate effects on spin crossover with Thermal hysteresis: di-iron and mono-cobalt complexes as examples, ICCC-41, Singapore, 21-25 July 2014

S. Brooker, 14th International Conference on Molecule-based Magnets, ICMM-2014, St Petersburg, Russia, 5-10 July 2014 (did not attend)

S. Brooker, Spin crossover complexes with memory, Edinburgh University, UK, 9 July (2014).

S. Brooker, Spin crossover complexes with memory, Durham University, UK, 10 July (2014).

J. Travas-Sejdic, Polymer Brushes Grafted Conjugated Polymers for Biomedical Applications, International Conference on Synthetic Metals 2014, Turku, Finland, 30 June – 5 July 2014

J. Travas-Sejdic, Conjugated Polymers for Label-free Gene Detection, 9th International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials - (NANOSMAT) Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 8-11September 2014

AWARDS, MEDALS, FELLOWSHIPS

A.J. Downard, R. H. Stokes medal of the Electrochemical Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute: for distinguished research in the field of electrochemistry carried out mainly in Australasia

A.J. Downard, Docteur Honoris Causa, Université de Rennes 1, France

A.J. Downard, Honorary Professor, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shangdong Province, China

NEW GRANT FUNDS

A.J. Downard (PI), RSNZ Marsden Grant, Graphene supercapacitors: transforming energy storage solutions, $739,130, 2014-2016, with Dr Paula Brooksby (PI), University of Canterbury, A/Prof Scott Donne, (AI), University of Newcastle, Australia, Prof Ron Fawcett, (PI), University of California, Davis, USA

J.H. Johnston (PI), Wools of New Zealand, Nanogold and nanosilver wool, $100,000, from 1 December 2014 with Dr Kerstin Lucas

K.C. Gordon (AI), Australian Research Council, Council Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AUD $25,000,000 over 6 years , AUD $5000 per annum as an AI, 2014-2020, with Gordon Wallace Lead PI (Wollongong)

K.C. Gordon (AI), Australian Research Council, The Development of Chemopropulsion-based Fluidic Transport Systems, AUD $600,000 over 3 years, AUD $5000 per annum as an AI, 2015-2018, with David Officer, Lead PI (Wollongong)

S.G. Telfer (AI), Marsden Fund, Nanoparticle-Nanorod Frameworks, $870,000, from April 2015-2018, with Richard Tilley (PI)


P.E. Kruger (PI), Marsden Fund, Spin-Switchable, Externally Addressable Functional Molecular Cages, $750,000 for 3 years from 1 March 2015, with Prof. Rodolphe Clérac, CNRS / University of Bordeaux, FRANCE and Prof. Nathan McClenaghan CNRS / University of Bordeaux FRANCE

P.E. Kruger (PI), Dumont d’Urville New Zealand-France Science & Technology Support Programme, Switchable Molecular Magnetic Materials, $21,600 over 2 years from 2015, with Prof. Corine Mathonière, CNRS / University of Bordeaux, France

J. Travas-Sejdic (AI), Marsden Fund, Creating neural bridges: a conducting polymer neurotransmitter releasing system, $300,000 over 3 years from February 2015, with Darren Svirskis (PI)

J. Travas-Sejdic (AI), Auckland Medical Research Foundation, Creating neural bridges, $150,215 over 3 years from January 2015, with Darren Svirskis (PI)

J. Travas-Sejdic (AI), MBIE, Biocide Toolbox (BTB), $13,196, 022 over 6 years from January 2015, with Ralph Cooney (PI)

J. Travas-Sejdic (AI), Faculty Research Development Fund, MEMS co-manufacturing using 3D printing technologies (3707476), $140, 238 over 2 years from November 2014, with Kean Aw (PI)

S.B.Hall (PI and Science Leader), MBIE Smart Ideas Phase 2, New Cathodes, $1,148,882, over 2 years from 1 October 2014 with Assoc. Prof. Gareth Rowlands and Assoc. Prof. Mark Waterland, both IFS, Massey University


J.H. Johnston, Carried out R&D work on our nanogold wool colourant technology “Aulana” and our antimicrobial silver wool treatment “NgaPure” technology using the pilot plant facility of Park Valley Dyers Ltd, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK, to facilitate the scale up of the processes from the laboratory to commercial scale operation.

P.E. Kruger, We are member of a Collaborative Access Programme at the Australia Synchrotron and had access to MX1 beamline in 2014.

LONG TERM RESEARCH STAYS AT OVERSEAS FACILITIES

J.H. Johnston, Granted Research and Study Leave from July 2014 to February 2015 to carry out R&D work on the scale up of our nanogold-wool and antimicrobial silver wool technologies at VUW and at Park Valley Dyers in the UK. Also worked with Noble Bond Ltd (NZ), Wools NZ (UK) Ltd, Ilkely, and the SoFarSoNear Interior Design studio in Milan and London in the design and production of the “Midas Rug” as the first commercial implementation and production of designer rugs using our nanogold-wool technology “Aulana” for exhibiting at the European and UK flooring trade fair, Domotex in Hannover, and at US flooring trade fair, Surfaces in Las Vegas in February 2015.

P.E. Kruger, As part of my sabbatical leave I spent 5 weeks at the University of Bordeaux, France based within the laboratory of my collaborator, Prof. Rodolphe Clérac. September 4th – October 9th 2014.

J. Travas-Sejdic, Research leave: 15 April – 30 May, University of California Los Angeles; Host: Prof. Ric Kaner

VISITORS

Professor Richard McCreery, University of Alberta, Canada. Teaching and research visit, 20 February -30 March 2014 (A.J. Downard)

Dr James Webb, University of New South Wales, Ultrafast spectroscopy of perylene based light harvesting materials, 6-17 January 2014 (J.M. Hodgkiss)

Alistair Laos, Ultrafast spectroscopy of perylene based light harvesting materials, University of New South Wales, 6-17 January 2014 (J.M. Hodgkiss)

Jonathan Wos, University of New South Wales, Spectroscopy and device physics of perylene gels, 27 October – 7 November 2014 (J.M. Hodgkiss)

Dr Paul Shaw, University of Queensland, Ultrafast spectroscopy of fluorescent explosive sensors, 10-12 November 2014 (J.M. Hodgkiss)

Professor Sandro Gambarotta (Ottawa), 24 October 2014 (S. Brooker)

A/Professors Matthew Shores and Amy Prieto (Colorado), 12-14 June 2014 (S. Brooker)


Professor Phil Gale (Southampton), 12 May 2014 (S. Brooker)

Professor Annie Powell (Karlsruhe) as Julius von Haast Fellow (2010-2013) , 5-16 May 2014 (S. Brooker)

Professor Shinya Hayami (Japan), 13-14 March 2014 (S. Brooker)

Professor Jiri Janata, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA, 2 seminars, a round table discussion with the research group, 10-12 December 2014 (J. Travas-Sejdic)

Dr Mira Josowitz, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA, a seminar and round table discussion with the research group, 10-12 December 2014 (J. Travas-Sejdic)

Professor Peter Butko, Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science Nagoya University, Japan, 1 day visit:seminar and discussions, 26 March 2014 (J. Travas-Sejdic)

Professor John Lannutti, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, a half-day visit: research discussion, 12 December 2014 (J. Travas-Sejdic)

Dist. Prof. Digby D. Macdonald, FRSC, FRSNZ, FNACE, FECS, FISE, FIC, FASM, FWIC, Khwarizmi Laureate in Fundamental science, Doctuer Honoris Causa-INSA Lyon, Faraday Memorial Trust Gold Medalist, Gibbs Award Recipient (IAPWS), De Tao Master, Frumkin Memorial Medalist, 2013.

Professor in Residence, Departments of Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, University of California at Berkeley.

Visiting Chair Professor, Center of Research Excellence in Corrosion, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering, Penn State University (S.B. Hall)

Prof. Mirna Urquid-Macdonald, Professor Emeritus, Engineering Science and Mechanics, Penn State University. Research discussions on electrochemistry and energy storage. 17-19 June 2014 (S.B. Hall)


Joseph Gallaher, PhD student, visited Hitachi Research Laboratory, Cambridge, UK, October – December 2014 as part of MacDiarmid Institute industry internship programme (J.M. Hodgkiss)

Matthias Herzog and Michelle Cook, PhD students, worked at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlesruhe, Germany in July 2014 carrying out contact angle measurements on their superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic structured wool and polymer surfaces (J.H. Johnston)

Thomas Nilsson, PhD student, was selected for and attended the international Nanotechnology Workshop in Tehran, September, 2014 (J.H. Johnston)

Reece G. Miller, PhD student, visited Prof Rodolphe Clerac (Bordeaux), Prof Roberta Sessoli (Florence) and Prof Judith Howard (Durham) in June 2014. He visited Prof Cameron Kepert (Sydney Uni) and Prof Simon Clark (MacQuarie) (1-5 Dec 2014). Mostly to extend the full characterization of our spin crossover complexes and of our carbon dioxide selective MOFs beyond what can be done here in NZ (S. Brooker)

Thomas Kerr-Philips, PhD student, visited The University of Cergy-Pontoise, research collaboration funded by Dumont d’Urville NZ-France S and T Support Programme, 6- 23 July 2014 (J. Travas-Sejdic)

Eddie Chan, PhD student, visited Department of Bionanotechnology, Gachon University, South Korea, research collaboration funded by RSNZ NZ-Korea Joint Research Projects, 23 June to 5 July 2014, (J. Travas-Sejdic)


S.G. Telfer, Collaboration with Dr Vyacheslav Filichev, Associate Investigator, Maurice-Wilkins Centre

K.C. Gordon, Principal Investigator, Dodds Wall Centre

NEW COLLABORATIONS

S.G. Telfer, Dr Matthew Hill, CSIRO, Australia (MOFs and membranes)

S.G. Telfer, Dr Chris Richardson University of Wollongong (MOFs)


S.G. Telfer, Dr David Harding, Walailak University, Thailand (X-ray crystallographyof spin-crossover complexes)

S.G. Telfer, Dr. Stijn Van Cleuvenbergen, University of Leuven, Belgium (SHG microscopy of MOFs)

S.G. Telfer, Dr Francois-Xavier Coudert, CNRS & Chimie ParisTech, France (computational chemistry of MOFs)

J.M. Hodgkiss, Assoc. Prof. Christopher McNeill (Monash University, Australia) – organic photovoltaics. Prof. McNeill’s group have expertise in OPV device physics and morphology, which we have complemented with ultrafast spectroscopy. Our first publication from this project recently appeared in Energy & Enviromental Science (DOI: 10.1039/C4EE03059A).

J.M. Hodgkiss, Dr Ivan Kassal (University of Queensland, Australia) – organic photovoltaics. Dr Kassal has developed new theories of energy and charge transfer relevant to photosynthesis and OPV devices. We are engaging with Dr Kassal to provide experimental tests of the theories. We narrowly missed out on funding via an ARC discovery project bid in 2014.

J.H. Johnston, Research linkage with The Product Accelerator, University of Auckland, on the development of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces.

P.E. Kruger, New collaboration struck up with Prof. Corine Mathonière (University of Bordeaux) supported by the Royal Society of New Zealand, Dumont d’Urville New Zealand-France Science & Technology Support Programme.

LEADERSHIP


Lita Lee, PhD student, ‘Covalently-anchored monolayer tethers for bottom-up assembly of functional surfaces’ Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 28 April 2014 (internal) (A.J. Downard)

Kalib Bell, PhD student, ‘Chemical Modifications of Metal Oxide Materials’, Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, 28 April 2014 (internal) (A.J. Downard)

Kalib Bell, ‘Tuning Metal Oxide Nanomaterial Surfaces through Chemical Modification’, 9th International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials, 8 – 11 September 2014, Dublin, Ireland (external) (A.J. Downard)

Kalib Bell: ‘Tuning Metal Oxide Nanomaterial Surfaces through Chemical Modification’, 10th MacDiarmid Student and Postdoc Symposium, 24- 25 November 2014, Auckland (external) (A.J. Downard)

Anna Farquhar, PhD student, ‘Graphene: Can we unleash its energy storage potential’, presented at the ‘Thesis in Three’ (3MT) competitions: University of Canterbury, 11, 14 and 18 August 2014 (internal); and University of Western Australia 3 November 2014 (external) (A.J. Downard)

Alex Barker, PhD student, ‘Optical probes of free charge generation in organic photovoltaic materials’ Final PhD seminar at VUW, July 2014 (J.M. Hodgkiss)

Shyamal Prasad, MSc student, ‘Resolving photoisomerization dynamics via ultrafast UV-visible transient absorption spectroscopy’ Final MSc seminar, VUW, 8 August 2014 (J.M. Hodgkiss)

Dave Young, PhD student, was awarded the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inorganic Division’s Don Stranks prize for best talk at the Royal Australian Chemical Institute National Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 7-12 December 2014 (P.E. Kruger)


S.G. Telfer, Member of selection panel for Fulbright awards

S.G. Telfer, Grant reviewer for NSERC Canada

S.G. Telfer, Elected member of the International Zeolite Association MOF commission

A.J. Downard, Chair, Division 1, Analytical Electrochemistry, International Society of Electrochemistry

A.J. Downard, Member of the Advisory Board of Electrochimica Acta

A.J. Downard, Member of the Scientific Committee of ElecNano, the nanoelectrochemistry conference series sponsored by the Société de Chimique de France and Université Paris Diderot


A.J. Downard, Member of committee for assessment of candidates for senior promotions, Trinity College Dublin and National Research Foundation, South Africa.

J.M. Hodgkiss, Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry panel of the Marsden Fund (2013-2015)

J.M. Hodgkiss, Councillor, NZ Association of Scientists

J.M. Hodgkiss, Branch committee member and student liaison, NZ Institute of Chemistry

J.M. Hodgkiss, International Advisory Board, International Conference on Science and Technology of Synthetic Metals

J.H. Johnston, Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of “Pigment & Resin Technology – The International Journal of Colorants, Polymers and Colour Applications”.

J.H. Johnston, Member of the MBIE Science Panel to evaluate MBIE Smart Ideas research proposals.

K.C. Gordon, Member of Advisory Group to define a 2020 vision for eResearch in NZ (since 2014)

K.C. Gordon, Marsden Fund PCB panel (since 2013)

K.C. Gordon, Editorial board Vibrational Spectroscopy (Journal impact factor 2, Elsevier) 2014 – present

K.C. Gordon, Editorial Board Journal of Raman Spectroscopy (Journal impact factor > 3, Wiley) 2011 – present

K.C. Gordon, Editorial board Journal of Spectroscopy and Dynamics (New journal, Simplex Academic Publishers) 2010 – 2013.

K.C. Gordon, International steering committee PSSRC, Pharmaceutical Solid State Research Cluster (2010 – present)

K.C. Gordon, Pacifichem 2015 Technical Program Advisor for Materials & Nanotechnology (2012 – 2015).

K.C. Gordon, International Steering Committee International Conference on Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy (ICAVS) series (since 2013)

K.C. Gordon, International Steering Committee Asian Spectroscopy Conference series (since 2013)

P.E. Kruger, New Zealand Representative on the Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s Inorganic Chemistry Division.

S. Brooker, Editorial Advisory Board of Inorganic Chemistry (2013-2015).

S. Brooker, Editorial Board of Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 1 January 2013-present (declined invitation to become a co-editor, 2011).

S. Brooker, Advisory Board member of RSC Advances (2011-present); but declined invitation to be a co-editor (2011).

S. Brooker, National Advisory Committee for The 23rd International Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry ICPOC-23 (an IUPAC conference, chairperson Dr J. Harper, UNSW), 3-8 July 2016, Sydney, Australia, December 2012-present.

S. Brooker, Co-organiser of Pacifichem 2015 symposium “Molecular Magnetism at the Front” Pacifichem 2015, Honolulu, Hawaii, December 2015, with Professors J.S. Miller, H. Oshio and R.T. Oakley.

S. Brooker, NZIC Inorganic Topic Reviewer (previously known as topical program advisor) for Pacifichem 2015, Honolulu, Hawaii, December 2015; responsibilities include reviewing inorganic symposia proposals, 2012-present.

S. Brooker, New Zealand representative on the Asian Conference on Coordination Chemistry (ACCC) committee (2009-present). ACCC comprises 17 Asian countries and regions, including NZ. The 1st ACCC was held in Japan in 2007 (350 delegates), the 2nd in China in 2009 (600 delegates), the 3rd in India in 2011, etc.

S. Brooker, New Zealand representative on the International Symposium on Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry planning committee (2009-present).

J. Travas-Sejdic, Councillor of the Pacific Polymer Federation (2009-present)

J. Travas-Sejdic, International Advisory Board for Chemistry – An Asian Journal (2010-present)

J. Travas-Sejdic, Editorial Board Member for the International Journal of Nanotechnology (2008-present)


INSPIRATION


J.M. Hodgkiss, Submitted potential spearhead project proposal and participated in sandpit meeting for National Science Challenge 10 (Wellington, 21 March 2014).

J.M. Hodgkiss, Named investigator in National Science Challenge 10 proposal (Science for technological innovation).

J.M. Hodgkiss, Contributed to contributions on National Statement of Science Investment on behalf of Rutherford Discovery Fellows, and NZ Association of Scientists (invited for followup discussion at MBIE).

J.H. Johnston, Contributed to developing the National Science Challenge 10 research areas.

S. Brooker, Invited to participate as one of seven researchers chosen for discussions with the German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel during her visit to NZ on 14 November 2014 (Minister Steven Joyce was also present, as was the German Ambassador to NZ, Dr Anne-Marie Schleich), regarding, amongst other things, strengthening our links with Germany.

MEDIA PUBLICATIONS

S.G. Telfer, Radio New Zealand, Our Changing World interview (aired on 13/11/14)

J.M. Hodgkiss, NZ herald article about emerging solar photovoltaic technologies (element magazine) Online 1 July 2014, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/element-magazine/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503340&objectid=11285509

J.M. Hodgkiss, Article about hormone sensor technology in Dominion Post and syndicated NZ newspapers, 7 July 2014, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/10238491/Patch-to-test-oestrogen-in-water

J.M. Hodgkiss, 3News TV interview about solar roads, 25 May, 2014. http://www.3news.co.nz/Backers-pledge-more-than-1M-for-solar-roads/tabid/417/articleID/345694/Default.aspx

J.M. Hodgkiss, VicNews article about OPV research breakthrough, 8 October 2014

http://www.victoria.ac.nz/news/2014/creating-low-cost-solar-energy

J.M. Hodgkiss, OPV research featured in NZ online Energy newsletter, 13 October 2014

http://www.energynews.co.nz/news-story/18961/nz-research-solves-plastic-solar-cell-puzzle

J.M. Hodgkiss, Our changing world radio interview on biosensors, 30 October 2014 http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/20153082/detecting-oestrogen-in-the-environment

J.M. Hodgkiss, Feature article about biosensor research in VUW alumni magazine, Victorious, Issue 2, 2014 ‘Detecting Harmful molecules’

P.E. Kruger, Marsden Fund success http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1411/S00023/shape-shifting-molecules-may-provide-new-diagnosis-methods.htm

P.E. Kruger, Marsden Fund success, http://livenews.co.nz/2014/11/10/shape-shifting-molecules-may-provide-new-methods-for-drug-delivery-sensing-and-medical-diagnosis/

P.E. Kruger, Marsden Fund success, https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/25470528/project-investigating-the-impact-of-large-molecular-cages/




J.M. Hodgkiss, “Transient grating time resolved luminescence measurements” Hodgkiss, J. M.; Chen, K. US Provisional Patent US 61/938059, 2014.

J.M. Hodgkiss, “Polynucelotide sequence” Hodgkiss, J. M.; McNatty, K. P.; Alsager, O. A.; Kumar, S. NZ Patent application number 624985, 2014.

J.M. Hodgkiss, “Quantification methods in Samples” Travas-Sejdic, J.; Hodgkiss, J. M.; Zhu, B.; Alsager, O. A. NZ Patent application 701521, filed 31 Oct 2014.

J. Travas-Sejdic, ‘Methods and apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids’, J. Travas-Sejdic, David Williams, Nihan Aydemir, Clive Evans, U.S. Application Serial No. 62/011,491, filed on June 12 2014

S.B.Hall, On-going as part of Synthodics Ltd process

START-UP COMPANY

J.H. Johnston, Managing Director and co-founder with my PhD former student Dr Kerstin Lucas, of Noble Bond Ltd, a new start up company to commercialise our nanogold wool colourant technology “Aulana” and our antimicrobial silver wool treatment “NgaPure” technology. Noble Bond is implementing the NgaPure technology as a large upholstery fabric manufacturer and supplier in the UK for the UK and European markets, and in manufacturing Aulana rugs for high value international markets.


J.H. Johnston, Noble Bond has successfully secured a significant cornerstone investment and shareholding from Wools NZ Ltd to help it commercialise the NgaPure and Aulana technologies and grow the business.

INDUSTRY CONSULTING

J.H. Johnston, Carried out a detailed study of the geochemistry of the Chatham Rise phosphate deposit for Chatham Phosphate Ltd and provided a report accordingly.

S.B.Hall, Confidential consulting to a NZ company on an energy storage issue. Report prepared, value $1,400 + GST


J.H. Johnston, Collaborative research programme with Noble Bond Ltd and Wools NZ Ltd on the development and commercialization of our nanogold wool colourant technology “Aulana” and our antimicrobial silver wool treatment “NgaPure” technology. The value of the work is commercially sensitive.

PROFILE 2014 57

THEME 4

Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter

PersonnelUniversity of AucklandPrincipal Investigators Duncan McGillivray, David Williams, Geoff Willmott, Juliet Gerrard

Associate Investigators Margaret Brimble, Michelle Dickinson, Zoran Zujovic

Postdoctoral Fellows Andrew Wadsworth, Bryon Wright, Ciaran Dolan*, Evgeny Bogomolny, Maram Muthiah, Stephanie Papst

PhD Students Amy Xu, Georgia Miskell, Jin Akaji, Maryam Alavi-Shooshtari, Peter Akers, Rayomand Shahlori

Callaghan Innovation LimitedAssociate Investigator Mike Arnold

University of CanterburyAssociate Investigators Volker Nock, Mark Staiger

Postdoctoral Fellow Luigi Sasso*

PhD Students Akshita Wason, Amy Phillips, Amy Yewdall, Azadeh Hashemi, Deepti Mahapatra, Helen Ashmead, Louise Orcheston-Findlay, Manmeet Kaur, Rishi Pandey, Vi-Vie Ng

Massey UniversityPrincipal Investigators Bernd Rehm, Bill Williams

Postdoctoral Fellows Allan Raudsepp, Rob Ward, Sandy Suei*

PhD Students Amir Irani, Brad Mansel, David Hooks, Fata Morodali, Ian Lim, Jason Lee, Jessie Owen, Jinping Du, Majela Gonzalez Miro, Pablo Hernandez, Patricia Rubio Reyes, Shirin Ghods, Shuxiong Chen, Yacie Wang

MSc Students Ben Munro, Lily Lian, Panan Sitthirit

LASRAAssociate Investigator Sujay Prabakar

University of OtagoAssociate Investigators Carla Meledandri, Guy Jameson, John Evans, Tim Woodfield PhD Students Gabriella Lindberg, Jonathon Parrish, Muthana Majid, Naveen Mekhileri, Tiffany Tan

Tsinghua University, BeijingAssociate Investigator Wenhui Wang

Victoria University of WellingtonPrincipal Investigators Kate McGrath, Richard Tilley

Associate Investigators Petrik Galvosas, John Spencer

Postdoctoral Fellows Bradley Douglass, David Herman, Marcel Nogueira d’Eurydice, Natasha Evans*

PhD Students Andrew McGrath, Angelique Faramus, Ben McVey, Chenlong Yu, Christina Efthymiou, Christoph Hasenoehrl, Davoud Zare, Elf Eldridge, Eva Weatherall, Fangrong Zong, Graham Fairweather, Huabing Liu, Leah Graham, Lucy Gloag, Mario Alayon, Marjorie Griffiths, Mehrdad Ghahrae, Mima Kurian, Moritz Banholzer, Nurul Che Zaudin, Riyad Mucadam, Peter Hauer, Saeedah Afsar, Stefan Hertel, Stefan Kuczera, Tim Brox, Wilfred Kittler, Xuan Hao Chan



BIONANO/NANOBIO AND SOFT MATTER


The disciplines of bionanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and soft matter coalesce within this Research Theme. Biological systems can act as an inspiration, so that the special physics of the nano-world is used for ‘bottom-up’ processing. This approach can generate smart, functional, viscoelastic matrices: from molecules to materials. Biology can also be the end-goal, so that interdisciplinary teams drive ‘top-down’ towards exciting new applications. Soft materials and complex fluids are important not only in biology and biotechnologies, but also in industrial arenas as diverse as oil recovery, food technology, cosmetics and personal care products, and electronic devices.

Soft and biological materials are characteristically complex and hierarchical; that is, they are organized on multiple length-scales. To understand and exploit such rich architectures, we need to use experimental techniques which address many orders of magnitude in space and time. This Theme brings together researchers who, together with their collaborators, possess a unique and complementary set of theoretical and experimental expertise, skills and facilities. Our progress for 2014 includes several projects that have emerged from this collective approach.

OBJECTIVE 1: Bottom-Up Soft Engineering

(McGrath, B. Williams, Gerrard, D. Williams, McGillivray, Rehm, Travas-Sejdic)

MILESTONES:• Development of experimental protocols

to measure rheological properties over the frequency range 10-2 to 106 and that deal with non-ergodic samples;

Solid-like non-ergodic samples can be difficult to study using standard single speckle diffusing wave spectroscopy as the measurement may lack requisite ensemble averaging. We have induced the required ensemble averaging by translating the speckle over the collection optics so that multiple speckles are observed during an experiment (Int. J. Nanotechnology 11:5-8). Translation is achieved by refraction through a transparent rotating plate with a surface normal angled slightly with respect to the axis of rotation. By rotating the plate slowly, the short time behaviour of the ensemble averaged intensity correlation can be measured with good fidelity using a standard multi-tau correlator. The method combines easily with camera-based multispeckle approaches, so the long-time behaviour can be recovered using concurrent multispeckle measurements if necessary.

PROFILE 2014 59Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter

• Exploration of the role of defects in the stabilization and control of surfactant self assembly;

Seven surfactant systems have now been explored, each being a variant on the original AOT system. In 2014, explicitly the ammonium and choline systems were explored. Choline is a major biological consitutent of ligand systems found in cellular membranes. Interestingly in this system the lamellar phase is stablilised over nearly the entire range of surfactant concentrations and the defect basis is seen to vary in the now general form based on exploration of the full seven systems. The collection of systems has now allowed a full evolution of the defect behaviour in lamellar systems to be elucidated and for the relationship between counterion binding and volume relationships to be determined with respect to optimal values for the generation of bilayer formation. Graham Fairweather is completing his PhD which will be submitted in 2016.

• Exploration of the relationship between primary self-assembly of proteins, secondary gel formation and structure and macroscopic materials properties;

Protein assembly has produced strong advances in three areas. Firstly, protein nanofibrils offer advantages over other nanostructures due to their ease of self-assembly and versatility of surface chemistry. We have introduced a generic approach for the multi-functionalization of protein nanofibrils self-assembled from whey proteins. These methods can be used to decorate whey protein nanofibrils with components such as fluorescent quantum dots, enzymes, and metal nanoparticles (Nanoscale 6:1629). Functionalised fibrils have been investigated mechanically using optical tweezers (Figure 1) and studies on gels assembled from such fibrils have been undertaken at the Australian Synchrotron. Computer simulations are underway to close the circle, linking the microscopic fibril structure to their mesoscopic mechanical properties and ultimately to bulk materials behaviour.

FIGURE 1: Novel surfactants synthesised in the lab allow us to probe why the liquid crystalline structures that they form are energetically favourable and how we can manipulate this formation through chemical changes. In particular we are interested in the role of ‘defects’, such as those shown in the electron microscopy image, in transitions between different liquid crystalline structures.


Secondly, we have developed an approach to assemble proteins in ordered, hierarchical nanostructures by combining ‘doughnut stacking’ proteins. This provides a functional organisation along one axis of a structure with microphase-separating block copolymers to provide organisation along the other two axes. The protein was the RNA-binding protein LSMα, in which subunits assemble into rings (doughnuts) which can then be persuaded to stack (tunnels). We have succeeded in producing an ordered array of tunnels perpendicular to a surface (Figure 2) through painstaking selection and optimisation of solvents, casting and annealing conditions for the thin films.

Thirdly, we have explored the synthesis of novel metal ion-complexing polymers and the construction of metal ion-complexing gels using these. We have successfully polymerised new acrylate monomers with metal ion-complexing side chains and assembled these into gels.

FIGURE 2: A single whey-protein nano-fibril, visualised with Quantum Dots while being extended using Optical Tweezers.

FIGURE 3: Top, conceptual schematic of the desired structure. Bottom left, regular hexagonal array of polystyrene-block-polyethyleneoxide. The dark-stained regions are the polyethyleneoxide blocks. Bottom right: expansion of the lattice as a consequence of protein incorporation.


• Development of a range of computational tools to link molecular information to macroscopic materials properties;

Construction of realistic network architectures from imaging datasets in silico is a vital stepping-stone in the understanding of bottom-up structure-function engineering in soft materials. We have analysed 3D TEM tomography images of polysaccharide networks alongside confocal microscopy datasets obtained from the better-studied actin and collagen networks. The functional forms of the distributions of the node degree, node-to-node distance and angle between edges were found to be the same across all the different biopolymer networks examined, regardless of their length scale, chemical nature, or assembly mechanism. Interestingly, the scale-free nature of the node-degree distribution confers a significant robustness advantage to the random failure of edges, suggesting that perhaps such networks could be functional in biomaterials in vivo, where the maintenance of mechanical integrity is important. This work was presented at the International Biophysics Conference in Queensland in August.

OUTCOME: New knowledge regarding hierarchical function which could enable design of new materials via synthesis of biominerals and mesocules, and computational methods.

Progress has been made both in the experimental measurement of the structure and dynamics of soft hierarchically constructed systems and in the computational techniques required to incorporate that information into useful predictive tools.

OBJECTIVE 2: Interacting with the Animate

(Alkaisi, D. Williams)

MILESTONE:• Determination of the roles played

by surface topography and that of surface chemistry on cell growth and differentiation.

Cells have been cultured on conventional and fabricated polymeric cell culture substrates to investigate the effects of substrate surface properties on cell differentiation and alignment.

Differences in C2C12 myoblast morphology were observed between cells cultured on TCPS and PDMS substrates. Fluorescent immunohistochemistry was used to analyse the extent of differentiation. Alignment and guidance of cell growth and spread were studied using patterned platforms (Figure 3). Gratings were made on polystyrene and PDMS and differentiation was facilitated after five days. Fully differentiated myofibrils were observed in highest numbers on TCPS substrates and were non-detectable on PDMS substrates. Muscle cell alignment and their differentiation followed along the grating patterns on polystyrene and elongated along the pattern length. On the other hand, cells formed sheets of tissue and peeled from the PDMS substrate.

FIGURE 4: Fluorescent microscopy reveals linear morphology of C2C12 cells grown on polystyrene 5 micron grating patterns. The morphology of cells is influenced by the grating pattern compared to that on flat substrate.


OUTCOME: Role played by surface topography and that of surface chemistry identified.

The characteristics of differentiation by the cells were dependent on the chemical nature of the polymer that constituted the substrate. The difference in cell morphology grown on polystyrene and PDMS may be attributed to the difference in contact angle of polystyrene, which is close to 60 degrees (hydrophilic), compared to PDMS at 115 degrees (hydrophobic). This work has been reported in J. Nanobiotechnology 12:60.

OBJECTIVE 3: Transport in the Nanoworld

(Willmott, D. Williams, Le Ru, Tilley, Hendy, Tallon)

MILESTONES:• Demonstration of simultaneous

acquisition of resistive pulse data and spectral information for particles 500 nm or smaller.

Co-ordination of tunable resistive pulse sensing with fluorescence detection has been extended by PhD student Peter Hauer. Simultaneous acquisition has been achieved for particles as small as 200 nm, with discrimination between particles with different fluorescence spectra. To achieve this, the experimental technique has been improved considerably through rearrangement of the optical system. The process for co-ordinated measurement of 1-2 micrometre beads was also reported (Figure 4). Computational work has probed the fluid dynamics at the tunable pore entrances, where the particles pass through the region most sensitive both to the incident laser, and to resistive pulse sensing.

Figure 5: Co-ordination of tunable resistive pulse sensing with fluorescence detection, from Biomicrofluidics 9:014110. Left, schematic diagram showing particles moving through the constriction of a conical pore at the same time as they move through the waist of an incident laser beam (blue), producing a scattered fluorescence signal (green). Right, the resistive pulse and fluorescence data are synchronised.


• Development of a capability for fabricating nanochannels using nanolithography

Summer student Anton Ivanov was supported to investigate the possibility of making New Zealand’s first nanofluidic channels, interfaced to microfluidics, at the University of Canterbury nanofabrication facility. Device fabrication using a combination of lithography and replica-casting in silicone elastomer was largely successful, and several challenges were overcome regarding combination of nano- and microscale patterns on the mold and sealing of the devices to glass without channel collapse. Flow resistance of the long PDMS nanochannels (200 nm wide, > 100 um long, hydrophobic) proved too high to achieve liquid transport, so further developments will use shorter channels in PDMS or else more rigid materials (e.g. silicon or quartz). This work was presented orally at Canterbury at the conclusion of the project.

OUTCOME: Analyses of submicrometre particles in aqueous suspension with unprecedented detail, by obtaining full spectra (e.g. fluorescence, Raman) while simultaneously measuring particle size, concentration and surface charge.

The co-ordination experiment has achieved the specified Outcome, and will be pursued towards applications. More broadly, the expertise we have developed in making and characterizing small pores and channels provides an excellent foundation for our proposed future work in soft nanomechanics.

OBJECTIVE 4: Nanomaterials for Biological Applications (Tilley, D. Williams, Rehm, McGrath, AI-Melendandri)

MILESTONES:• Expand our discovery of peptides which

are efficient agents for control of the formation of metal nanoparticles;

• Demonstrate progress towards a ‘one-pot’ synthesis of particles that are specifically functionalised for use both as imaging probes and as targeted therapeutic agents in biological systems;

OUTCOME: Proof of concept demonstration of a ‘one-pot’ synthesis of particles that are specifically functionalised for use both as imaging probes and as targeted therapeutic agents in biological systems.


Both of the Milestones and the overall Outcome have been achieved via proof of concept demonstration of a ‘one-pot’ synthesis of particles specifically functionalised for binding to living cells. We synthesised in one step platinum nanoparticles with peptide functionalization potentially suitable for use as bone imaging agents. We also assembled in just 2 steps platinum nanoparticle clusters functionalised with Con-A, a protein directed at cell surface receptors, and as a model demonstrated binding to red blood cells (Figure 5). Elsewhere, we have developed a strategy to engineer bacteria as cell factories for the self-assembly of shell-core (protein-polymer) beads applicable as “Tuberculosis diagnostic reagent”. This achievement was utilized by PolyBatics Ltd (a wholly NZ owned biotech start-up) for the development of a new Tuberculosis skin test reagent, which has been tested in field trials employing about 50000 cattle. Field data indicate superior specificity and high sensitivity of the new reagent and have attracted world-wide interest in this new diagnostic reagent. The proof-of-concept was published (Applied and Environmental Microbiology 80:2526) and a patent application was filed.

FIGURE 6: Light microscopy images of red blood cells, with agglutination (bottom left) encouraged using peptide-modified platinum nanoparticles.


BIONANO/NANOBIO AND SOFT MATTER

Outputs

SCIENCE EXCELLENCE

PUBLICATIONS

O.A. Alsager, S. Kumar, G. R. Willmott, K. P. McNatty and J. M. Hodgkiss, Small Molecule Detection in Solution Via the Size Contraction Response of Aptamer Functionalized Nanoparticles, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 57, 262-268, (2014)

M. Bart, D. E. Williams, B. Ainslie, I. McKendry, J. Salmond, S. K. Grange, M. Alavi-Shoshtari, D. Steyn and G. S. Henshaw, High Density Ozone Monitoring Using Gas Sensitive Semi-Conductor Sensors in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Environmental Science and Technology, 48(7), 3970-3977, (2014)

M. Dimaki, M. Vergani, A. Heiskanen, D. Kwasny, L. Sasso, M. Carminati, J. A. Gerrard, J. Emneus and W. E. Svendsen, A Compact Microelectrode Array Chip with Multiple Measuring Sites for Electrochemical Applications, Sensors (Switzerland), 14(6), 9505-9521, (2014)

J.A. Eldridge, G. R. Willmott, W. Anderson and R. Vogel, Nanoparticle α-Potential Measurements Using Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing with Variable Pressure, Journal of Colloid And Interface Science, 429, 45-52, (2014)

W.A. Greenbank, and K. M. McGrath, Photophysical Behaviour of 4-Hexyloxysalicylaldimies and Their Copper(II) Complexes, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 279, 52-58, (2014)

M. Kaur, J. Healy, M. Vasudevamurthy, M. Lassé, L. Puskar, M. J. Tobin, C. Valery, J. A. Gerrard and L. Sasso, Stability and Cytotoxicity of Crystallin Amyloid Nanofibrils, Nanoscale, 6(21), 13169-13178, (2014)

Y. Kim, M. A. K. Williams, J. T. C. Tzen, G. A. Luzio, A. L. Galant and R. G. Cameron, Characterization of Charged Functional Domains Introduced into a Modified Pectic Homogalacturonan by an Acidic Plant Pectin Methylesterase (Ficus Awkeotsang Makino) and Modeling of Enzyme Mode of Action, Food Hydrocolloids, 39, 319-329, (2014)

M. Ko, B. Ingham, N. Laycock and D. E. Williams, In Situ Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Study of the Effect of Microstructure and Boundary Layer Conditions on Co2 Corrosion of Pipeline Steels, Corrosion Science, 90, 192-201, (2014)

Y.F. Lim, R. G. Lentle, P. W. M. Janssen, M. A. K. Williams, C. De Loubens, B. W. Mansel and P. Chambers, Determination of Villous Rigidity in the Distal Ileum of the Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula), PLoS ONE, 9(6), (2014)

B.F.P. McVey, and R. D. Tilley. “Solution Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Bioimaging Applications of Silicon Nanocrystals, Accounts of Chemical Research, 47(10), 3045-3051, (2014)

K.M. McGrath, Can you teach innovation and entrepreneurship? A new postgraduate programme, New Zealand Science Review, 71(1), 13-18, (2014)

D. Mercadante, L. D. Melton, G. B. Jameson and M. A. K. Williams, Processive Pectin Methylesterases: The Role of Electrostatic Potential, Breathing Motions and Bond Cleavage in the Rectification of Brownian Motions, PLoS ONE, 9(2), (2014)

N.H. Munro and K.M. McGrath, Advances in Techniques and Technologies for Bone Implants, Bioinspired, Biomimetic Nanobiomaterials, (2014)

A.E. Newton, A. J. Fairbanks, M. Golding, P. Andrewes and J. A. Gerrard, The Influence of Emulsion Structure on the Maillard Reaction of Ghee, Food Chemistry, 173, 1243-1249, (2014)

S. Papst, M. A. Brimble, R. D. Tilley and D. E. Williams, One-Pot Synthesis of Functionalized Noble Metal Nanoparticles Using a Rationally Designed Phosphopeptide, Particle and Particle Systems Characterization, (2014)

J. Parcell, N. Aydemir, H. Devaraj, J. Travas-Sejdic, D. E. Williams and K. C. Aw, A Novel Air Flow Sensor from Printed Pedot Micro-Hairs, Smart Materials and Structures, 22(11), (2014)

Y. Pei, J. Travas-Sejdic and D. E. Williams, Water Structure Change-Induced Expansion and Collapse of Zwitterionic Polymers Surface-Grafted onto Carbon Black, Australian Journal of Chemistry, 67(11), 1706-1709, (2014)


A.J. Phillips, J. Littlejohn, N. A. Yewdall, T. Zhu, C. Valéry, F. G. Pearce, A. K. Mitra, M. Radjainia and J. A. Gerrard, Peroxiredoxin Is a Versatile Self-Assembling Tecton for Protein Nanotechnology, Biomacromolecules, 15(5), 1871-1881, (2014)

P.B. Ratnaweera, D. E. Williams, E. D. de Silva, R. L. C. Wijesundera, D. S. Dalisay and R. J. Andersen, Helvolic Acid, an Antibacterial Nortriterpenoid from a Fungal Endophyte, Xylaria Sp. Of Orchid Anoectochilus Setaceus Endemic to Sri Lanka, Mycology, 5(1), 23-28, (2014)

Raudsepp, A. J. Sutherland-Smith and M. A. K. Williams, Rotating Angled Plate Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy, International Journal of Nanotechnology, 11(5-8), 573-582, (2014)

J.K. Raynes, J. A. Carver, S. L. Gras and J. A. Gerrard, Protein Nanostructures in Food - Should We Be Worried?, Trends in Food Science and Technology, (2014)

L. Sasso, S. Suei, L. Domigan, J. Healy, V. Nock, M. A. K. Williams and J. A. Gerrard, Versatile Multi-Functionalization of Protein Nanofibrils for Biosensor Applications, Nanoscale, 6(3), 1629-1634, (2014)

S. Sivasubramaniam, A. Faramus, R. D. Tilley and M. M. Alkaisi, Performance Enhancement in Silicon Solar Cell by Inverted Nanopyramid Texturing and Silicon Quantum Dots Coating, Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 6(1), (2014)

J. Travas-Sejdic, N. Aydemir, B. Kannan, D. E. Williams and J. Malmström, Intrinsically Conducting Polymer Nanowires for Biosensing, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2(29), 4593-4609, (2014)

X. Wang, R. D. Tilley and J. J. Watkins, Simple Ligand Exchange Reactions Enabling Excellent Dispersibility and Stability of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Polar Organic, Aromatic, and Protic Solvents, Langmuir, 30(6), 1514-1521, (2014)

D.E. Williams, Closing Remarks: Looking Back and Ahead at ‘Nano’ Electroanalytical Chemistry, Faraday Discussions, 164, 437-440, (2014)

G.R. Willmott, R. Chaturvedi, S. J. W. Cummins and L. G. Groenewegen, Actuation of Tunable Elastomeric Pores: Resistance Measurements and Finite Element Modelling, Experimental Mechanics, 54(2), 153-163, (2014)

G.R. Willmott, and B. G. Smith, Modelling of Resistive Pulse Sensing: Flexible Methods for Submicron Particles, ANZIAM Journal, (2014)

O. Yuliarti, L. Matia-Merino, K. K. T. Goh, J. Mawson, M. A. K. Williams and C. Brennan, Characterization of Gold Kiwifruit Pectin from Fruit of Different Maturities and Extraction Methods, Food Chemistry, 166, 479-485, (2014)

BOOK CHAPTER

L. Sasso and Gerrard, J.A., Self-assembled Biological Nanofibers for biosensor applications. In Micro and Nanofabrication Using Self-Assembled Biological Nanostructures (Micro and Nano Technologies), Elsevier, Oxford, UK. (2014)


KEYNOTE SPEAKER

R.D. Tilley, International Solvothermal and Hydrothermal Association conference, Bordeaux, October 2014

B.H.A. Rehm, International Symposium on Biopolymers, Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 2014

PLENARY SPEAKER

G.R. Willmott, Drop Splash Asymmetry and Structural Length Scale, Fluids in New Zealand, Auckland, NZ, 2014

D.E. Williams, Gordon Research Conference on aqueous corrosion, New Hampshire, 13-18 July 2014

INVITED SPEAKER

M.A.K. Williams, IUPAB Biophysics Conference, Brisbane, Australia, August 2014

J.A. Gerrard, Protein Nanodoughnuts as Building Blocks in Nanotechnology, Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, February 2014

J.A. Gerrard, Protein Nanotechnology: approaches to generating useful materials using protein tectons, SCANZ Conference, Lamington National Park, Queensland, April 2014


J.A. Gerrard, Contributed talk at Advanced Nanomaterials, Aveiro, Portugal, July 2014

G.R. Willmott, Bionano Applications for Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing, NanoBio Australia, University of Queensland. Brisbane, 2014

G.R. Willmott, Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing for Nanomedical Applications, International NanoMedicine Conference, Coogee Beach, Sydney, 2014

G.R. Willmott, Pores, Pipes and Particles: A Nanofluidic Toolbox, as part of the Active Matter: Cytoskeleton, Cells, Tissues and Flocks Program, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Santa Barbara, 2014

R.D. Tilley, European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), Lille, France, May 2014

B.H.A. Rehm, Viral Hepatitis, Varadero, Cuba, April 2014

D.E. Williams, PacSurf 2014, American Vacuum Society, Hawaii December 7-11 2014

D.E. Williams, International NanoBio Conference, Brisbane, Queensland, 6-10 July 2014

K.M. McGrath, What is Collaboration?, Science Communicators Association New Zealand, Palmerston North, March 2014

K.M. McGrath, Using hydrogels to control crystallization: synthesizing next general implant materials, Society of Crystallographers Australia and New Zealand, Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia, April 2014

K.M. McGrath, Strategies for mimicking nature: biomineralisation a case study, 2014 International Conference on BioNano Innovation, Brisbane, Australia, July 2014

AWARDS, MEDALS AND FELLOWSHIPS

M.A.K. Williams, Fellow of New Zealand Institute of Physics

NEW GRANT FUNDS

J.A. Gerrard (PI), Callaghan Innovation, Enzymes in Wound Healing, $165,000 over 3 years from August 2014, with Leonardo Negron, Callaghan Innovation

J.A. Gerrard (PI), Bioprocessing Resource Alliance, Nanomaterials from Waste, $32,459, 1 year from March 2015, with Leonardo Negron, Callaghan Innovation

M.A.K. Williams (PI), Fonterra, Real Time Measurement of Particle-Particle Formation, $212,500, 3 years from January 2015

R.D. Tilley (PI), Marsden Fund, Nanoparticle Nanorod Frameworks, $750,000 from April 2015-2018, with Shane Telfer

B.H.A. Rehm (PI), PolyBatics Ltd, Development, design and manufacture of bionanoparticles. Polybatics Chief Science Advisor, $185,000 for 1 year from 1 January 2014

D.E. Williams (PI), MBIE, High-density distributed networks of air quality measurement instruments, $4,890,324 over 4 years from 1 October 2014, with Dr Jennifer Salmond, Prof Jari Kaipio University of Auckland

D.E. Williams (AI), MBIE, Measuring pH with a RFID chip, $934,911, over 2 years from 1 October 2014, with Prof Penny Brothers (PI); Dr David Ware

D. J. McGillivray (PI), Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Controlling biomineralisation – post-graduate research award, $58,275, 1 July 2014 – 31 May 2015, with Dr Andrew Nelson; Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australia.

D. J. McGillivray (PI), Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Protein - Polysacchardie interaction studies – novice user awards, $6000, 1 July 2014 – 31 May 2015, with Dr Andrew Nelson; Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australia.


K.M. McGrath, Australian Synchrotron, Melbourne, Small Angle X-ray Scattering from fibril gels

M.A.K. Williams, Experiments at Australian Synchrotron, Beamtime in February and November

D.E. Williams, ANSTO, Lucas Heights, Neutron reflectivity from biosensor substrates

D.E. Williams, Australian Synchrotron, Melbourne, Small Angle X-ray Scattering from mild steel during carbon dioxide corrosion


D. J. McGillivray, Bragg Institute of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney Australia [8 experiments, 28 days of beamtime]

D. J. McGillivray, Australian Synchrotron, Melbourne, Australia [2 experiments, 4 days]

D. J. McGillivray, Diamond Light Source Synchrotron, Oxfordshire, UK [2 experiments, 6 days]

VISITORS

Prof Jiri Kozelka, Université Paris Descartes, UMR CNRS 8601, Speaking tour in NZ, August 2014 (M.A.K. Williams)

Dr Gillian Collins, University College Cork, Ireland, nanoparticle synthesis 1st August to 15th August (R.D. Tilley)

Prof Jiri Janata, Georgia Tech, collaboration, research seminars, 9-31 December 2014 (D.E. Williams)

Dr Robert Dimeo, Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research (Washington DC, USA), Research discussions and seminar, 23 March – 27 March 2014 (D. J. McGillivray)

Laura Squarcia, University of Venice, Italy, Research Collaboration, 1 August – 1 November 2014 (D. J. McGillivray)


Brad Mansel, PhD student, Cheiron School, Japan, learn about synchrotron radiation through 20 odd lectures and performing experiments using Spring 8 synchrotron, 23 September – 2 October 2014 (M.A.K. Williams)

Brad Mansel, Neutron scattering school, ANSTO, Sydney, learn about neutron scattering for the structural analysis of soft matter, lectures and small angle neutron scattering measurements using the opal reactor at the Bragg institute, 3-7 November 2014 (M.A.K. Williams)

Brad Mansel, RSNZ funded exchange with Taiwan Synchrotron Facility, learn about small angle x-ray scattering and perform experiments on my gelled biopolymer system, July-September 2014, 74 days (M.A.K. Williams)

Pablo Hernandez, PhD student, CSIRO TEM Tomography Facility, 21-26 March 2014 (M.A.K. Williams)

Lucy Gloag, PhD student, to Ruska electron Microscopy centre in Germany, Electron microscopy of samples, 15 October – 1 November 2014 (R.D. Tilley)

Christina Efthymiou, PhD student, conduct small angle scattering experiments, Australia Synchrotron, Melbourne, Australia, November 2014 (K.M. McGrath)


M.A.K. Williams, Associate Investigator, Riddet Institute

J.A. Gerrard, Principal Investigator, Riddet Institute

J.A. Gerrard, Associate Investigator, Maurice Wilkins Centre

G.R. Willmott, Associate Investigator, MedTech CoRE (successfully funded in 2014)

D.E. Williams, Associate Investigator, Maurice Wilkins Centre

D.E. Williams, Associate Investigator, Centre for Medical Device Technologies

D. J. McGillivray, Co-supervision of PhD student with Prof Laurie Melton (Riddet Institute PI)

K.M. McGrath, Associate Investigator, Riddet Institute

K.M. McGrath, Associate Investigator, MedTech CoRE

NEW COLLABORATIONS

D. J. McGillivray, New collaboration with Dr Nigel Kirby (Australian Synchrotron), and Dr Andrew Jackson (European Spallation Source, Sweden) established developing high pressure apparatus for in situ SAXS / SANS studies of protein damage


LEADERSHIP

RESEARCH STUDENT TALKS

Eva Weatherall, PhD student, Current Enhancement in Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing at Low Electrolyte Concentrations” (oral at an international conference/workshop), ANZ Nano and Microfluidics, Hobart, April 2014 (G.R. Willmott)

Eva Weatherall, Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (oral), MacDiarmid Institute Students and Postdocs Symposium, Auckland, November 2014, (G.R. Willmott)

Eva Weatherall, Nanofludics: Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (oral), PhD seminar for first-year registration, SCPS at VUW, July 2014. (G.R. Willmott)

Eva Weatherall, Nanofludics: Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (oral), Internal talk to Sensing and Automation group at Callaghan Innovation. (G.R. Willmott)

Peter Hauer, PhD student, Co-ordinated Detection of Nanoparticles using Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing and Fluorescence Spectroscopy (oral at an international conference/workshop), ANZ Nano and Microfluidics, Hobart, April 2014 (G.R. Willmott)

Peter Hauer, Co-ordinated Detection of Nanoparticles using Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing and Fluorescence Spectroscopy (oral), internal Theme 2 meeting, Masteron, June 2014 (G.R. Willmott)

Natasha Evans, Postdoctoral Fellow, Our adventures in 3D printing, 2014 Association of Women in Science conference, Victoria University, Wellington, July 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Natasha Evans, Design-Led Futures course (DSDN 411), Guest lecture, School of Design, Victoria University of Wellington, August 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Saeedeh Afsar, PhD student, Carbohydrate vs. Protein Hydrogels as Responsive Scaffolds in Controlling Synthetic Biomineralisation, Euro Bio-Inspired Materials Conference 2014, Potsdam, Germany, March 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Saeedeh Afsar, Carbohydrate vs. Protein Hydrogels as Responsive Scaffolds in Controlling Synthetic Biomineralisation, Theme IV meeting, Auckland, September 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Davoud Zare, PhD student, Novel food emulsions with a hierarchy of interactions: bridging between

microstructure-rheology-stability, 15th Food Colloids Conference, Karlsruhe, Germany, April 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Davoud Zare, Novel food emulsions, Riddet Institute Annual Student Colloquium, Wellington, February 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Davoud Zare, Food emulsions with hierarchy of interactions, Theme IV meeting, Auckland, September 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Davoud Zare, Understanding protein food emulsions at multiple length scale, (poster) 9th Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC 2014), Karlsruhe, Germany, April 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Christina Efthymiou, PhD student, Biopolymer Networks, “Scattering methods for soft matter” workshop at Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, March 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Christina Efthymiou, Biopolymer Networks, ANSTO Neutron School 2014, Sydney, Australia, November 2014 (K.M. McGrath)

Mario Alayon, How does sodium caseinate protein conformation control viscoelastic behaviour of concentrated emulsions?, (poster) 2nd International Dairy Federation symposium on Microstructure and Dairy Products, Melbourne, Australia, March 2014 (K.M. McGrath)


M.A.K. Williams, IUPAB (International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics) Council, 2011.

M.A.K. Williams, Editorial Board of Food Hydrocolloids, 2008-

M.A.K. Williams, Editorial Board of Biophysical Reviews, 2011-

J.A. Gerrard, Chair RSNZ Marsden Council

R.D. Tilley, Advisory Board of Nature Publishing Group Asia Materials and the journal ChemPlusChem


B.H.A. Rehm, Editor-in-Chief of Current Proteomics; Editor-in-Chief of Current Bionanotechnology, Editor: Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology (USA); Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; Current Issues in Molecular Biology

B.H.A. Rehm, Editorial Board member (11 Journals): A. Research Journal of Microbiology (USA), B. Applied and Environmental Microbiology (USA), C. Current Proteomics (USA), D. Biotechnology Letters (UK), E. Biotechnology (Asia), F. Journal of Microbiology (Asia), G. The Open Proteomics Journal (USA), H. International Journal of Biotechnology Research; I. World Journal of Biological Chemistry (China); J, International Journal of Proteomics.

B.H.A. Rehm, Member of the International Advisory Committee of the biannual conference “International Symposium of Biological Polymers”

D. J. McGillivray, Commissioner, International Union of Crystallography Small-Angle Scattering Commission

D. J. McGillivray, Member of selection panel for Asia-Oceania Neutron Scattering Association Fellowships

D. J. McGillivray, Chair of Instrument Advisory Team for Kookaburra Ultra-Small Angle Scattering instrument, ANSTO, Australia

D. J. McGillivray, International Scientific Advisory board for Small Angle Scattering Conference, Berlin 2015, and to the Asia-Oceania Conference on Neutron Scattering, Sydney 2015

K.M. McGrath, Science Advisor Te Papa, Natural History Exhibition

K.M. McGrath, Associate Editor Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, ICE Publishers

K.M. McGrath, Reviewer Small Angle Beam Line, Australian Synchrotron, multiple applications

K.M. McGrath, Reviewer Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Smart Ideas

K.M. McGrath, Reviewer Australian Research Council

K.M. McGrath, Reviewer Royal Society of New Zealand, International Mobility Fund (USA), multiple applications

K.M. McGrath, Panel Member Rutherford Discovery Awards, Royal Society of New Zealand

INSPIRATION


J.A. Gerrard, Director, Plant and Food Research

D.E. Williams, Marsden Fund convenor, Physics Chemistry Biochemistry

D.E. Williams, MBIE Science Board

D. J. McGillivray, Member of the Taki Ao Early-Mid-Career consultant group to the MBIE Science and Innovation section.

K.M. McGrath, Steering Panel, National Science Challenge, Science for technological innovation

MEDIA PUBLICATIONS

J.A. Gerrard, student Amy Yewdall was on National Radio: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/20155005/protein-nano-lego

B.H.A. Rehm, Radio NZ interview “Our changing world” entitled “Biobead Vaccines”

K.M. McGrath, Interviewed by Kathryn Ryan, Nine to Noon, Radio NZ, topic: MacDiarmid Institute outreach programmes, 4 February 2014

K.M. McGrath, Profiled in IPENZ magazine “Innovation: changing and improving the world?” April 2014



B.H.A. Rehm, Patent application: Tuberculosis diagnostic reagent, New Zealand, Provisional 620682, 683465, Application filed

B.H.A. Rehm, Bionanoparticles PCT 1, New Zealand, Divisional, 569097, 581345, Registered, Granted, plus 22 other countries

B.H.A. Rehm, Divisional application out of New Zealand patent application 551989


D.E. Williams, Application Serial no. 62/011,491, June 2014. ‘Methods and Apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids’, Nihan Aydemir, Jadranka Travas-Sejdic, David E. Williams et al.

D.E. Williams, United Kingdom patent application 1412968.8, ‘Platinum Nanoparticles Conjugates for Imaging and Therapy’. Stephanie Papst, Richard E. Tilley, Margaret A. Brimble David E. Williams.

START-UP COMPANY

R.D. Tilley, Boutiq, nanoparticle products.


R.D. Tilley, PSAF awarded to Boutiq in December 2014.


M.A.K. Williams, Ongoing PGP Projects with Fonterra

M.A.K. Williams, Subcontract from MBIE Project with Magritek

G.R. Willmott, Izon Science: “Nanopore Development and Application” objective in “Fast Fluidic Microanalysis” MSI NERF programme ($8.625M over 6 years from 2008). Aligned projects include:

- NERF programme contributes to a 1-year Postdoctoral fellowship (Bogomolny)

- two PhD studentships funded by the MacDiarmid Institute (Eldridge, Hauer)

- one PhD studentships funded by a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (Weatherall)


M.A.K. Williams, Hosting Masters student supported by LASRA

J.A. Gerrard, Involved in Fonterra PGP programme (grant reported previously, still continuing)

G.R. Willmott, Defence Technology Agency (collaboration with Brent Martin). High-speed photography of interactions between water and icephobic coatings.

B.H.A. Rehm, Chief Science Officer of the start-up company PolyBatics Ltd


Outreach Activities (ALL THEMES)

AMN7 AMN7 Chair Shane Telfer

Programme Bill Williams, Volker Nock & Geoff Willmott

Proceedings Cather Simpson

DISCOVERY AWARDSTen students from Auckland to Invercargill attended a two day introduction at Victoria University of Wellington, followed by a two-week lab experience at our partner institutions in January 2014

University of Auckland G.R. Willmott and D.J. McGillivray, co-supervised two students

Victoria University of Wellington Ben Ruck and Nicola Gaston each supervised a student

Callaghan Innovation Bob Buckley supervised two students

GNS Andreas Markwitz supervised one student

University of Canterbury Maan Alkaisi and Roger Reeves co-supervised three students, with activities involving hands on experiments, fabrication of solar cells, presentations and laboratory demonstrations and visits.

NANOCAMPFifteen students from Auckland to Rangiora Based at Victoria University of Wellington

Michele Governale, main organiser

Petrik Galvosas

Natalie Plank

Justin Hodgkiss

Franck Natali

Uli Zülicke

Eric Le Ru

Damian Carder

Ben Ruck

Shen Chong

Rob Keyzers

Kate McGrath with help from David Flynn, James Storey and MESA members

SCIENCE MASTERCLASS

WELLINGTON

Robert Winston, Imperial College London - Frontiers in fertility - JULY

Steven Chown, Monash University - Invasive species in Antarctica - AUGUST

Marlene Zuk, University of Minnesota - Paleofantasies (Evolution, diet, behaviour) - NOVEMBER

PROFILE 2014 73

AUCKLAND

Bill Denny, University of Auckland - Cancer research advances - JUNE

Heather Hendrickson, Massey University - Antibiotic resistance - JULY

Peter Dearden, University of Otago - Epigenetics - AUGUST

[Cather Simpson, University of Auckland - Light lasers and photonics - session cancelled due to low numbers] - SEPTEMBER

AUCKLAND - PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Ebola: Contagion, containment and treatment - OCTOBER

Dr Colin McArthur, Intensive care specialist, Auckland DHB

Prof John Crump, McKinlay Professor of Global Health, University of Otago

Dr Fabrice Merien, Senior Lecturer in Immunology, AUT University

Dr David Hayman, Senior Lecturer, Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Lab (mEpiLab), Massey University

DRONES: PUSHING THE LIMITS - NOVEMBER

Kelvin Barnsdale, Senior Research Engineer, University of Canterbury

Dr Barbara Bollard-Breen, Senior Lecturer in GIS, Applied Sciences, AUT University

Linda Bulk, Director, Aeronavics

Steve Moore, GM General Aviation, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

KŌRERO WITH SCIENTISTSDiscussions held in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch with

Alison DownardAndrea KolbDuncan McGillivrayElf EldridgeEric Le RuFranck NataliGeoff WillmottJim Metson Juliet GerrardMike ReidRosa Hughes-CurrieLuigi SassoAmy YewdallPenny BrothersDavid WilliamsNina NovikovaSimon AshforthAndy WangPeter AkersRayomand ShahloriAmy XuMario Kubanik (not MI)Kelsey Fletcher (primary teacher)Justin HodgkissKate McGrathNatalie PlankNatasha EvansPaul KrugerSimon Granville


OTHER OUTREACH ACTIVITIESE.C. Le Ru, I was again involved in 2014 in the Science Clinic initiative at Ngaio School (see http://www.ngaio.school.nz/learning-at-ngaio/the-clinic for details). In 2014, I gave about 10 sessions of science (physics) demonstrations to students from year 1 to year 6.

S.G. Telfer, Organised and coordinated crystal growing competition among local high school students as part of the International Year of Crystallography.

M.A.K. Williams, MacDiarmid Institute: Meet our Scientists Video: (http://www.biophysics.ac.nz/videos/)

M.A.K. Williams, Outreach talk ‘Signs of Life’, University of the Third Age, Palmerston North, June 2014.

M.A.K. Williams, Outreach talk ‘Exposed in the Light: Optical Tweezers Shine on DNA’, IFS Biomedical Research Meetings, Massey University, Palmerston North, April 2014.

J.A. Gerrard, Developed strawberry DNA experiment and took part in Christchurch Korero

G.R. Willmott, Hosted MacDiarmid Institute “Industry Tiki Tour”, December 2014, Auckland

B.J. Ruck, Helped coordinate visit of MacDiarmid Institute researchers (mostly students) to local high-tech industries in Lower Hutt (NUENZ and Opus Research) (October 2014).

J.M. Hodgkiss, Gold CREST awards consultant for Onslow College team, 2014-2015.

J.M. Hodgkiss, Pecha Kucha performance, Hannah Playhouse (Wellington), 18 May 2014.

J.H. Johnston, Provided a seminar to MacDiarmid Institute Post Graduate Summer Workshop on “Commercialising Science and Technology”, February 2014.

K.C. Gordon, MESA Photovoltaics Bootcamp, Craigieburn Environmental Education Centre, Craigieburn Forest Park, Canterbury, 6-9 April 2014

M. W. Allen, “UV Dosimetry Laboratory SunSmart Health Education Programmes” in Los Angeles and Southern California Elementary Schools in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Myles Cockburn, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California,

USA. Students carry out their own investigations, with guidance from trained volunteer facilitators, collecting UV exposure data using electronic dosimeters, from their school environment (including direct sun and shaded locations) and comparing the results against their own predictions. Extension activities include investigating the protection provided by hats, sunglasses, and sunscreens. By participating in the “UV Dosimetry Laboratory” students experience a direct encounter with the nature of UV exposure rather than just being taught about it. Overall aims are to help reduce melanoma incidence and to heighten the perceived risk for skin cancer leading to secondary prevention in adulthood. Also represents the coolest MI related thing that I did in 2014.

S.C. Hendy, More than a dozen talks to government and industry bodies.

M.M. Alkaisi, Delivering four lectures on the development of Photovoltaics at the MacDiarmid Institute MESA Bootcamp, 6 – 8 November 2014.

M.M. Alkaisi, Hosting 96 intermediate school students plus their teacher and a number of parents. The visit include demonstration of processes at the nanofabrication laboratory and giving a presentation introducing Nanotechnology and encouraging discussions about what contribution they wish to see from nanoscales science and technology.

N. Gaston, Why Science is Sexist, School of Psychology Colloquium, University of Auckland, 13 Aug 2014

N. Gaston, Why Science is Sexist, Invited talk for the Physics Department at the UoA, 4 June 2014

http://www.science.auckland.ac.nz/en/for/current-students-4/women-in-science.html#903e782b6188475eb1721c898ac7fb07

K.M. McGrath, “Is Innovation Important?”, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Wellington, February 2014

K.M. McGrath, “Soft Nanotechnology – consequences for food, medicine and agriculture”, Royal Society of New Zealand, Speakers Science Forum, NZ Parliament, February 2014

K.M. McGrath, “Feeding the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: A Serial Entrepreneur’s Viewpoint and Insights from The Victoria University MATE Programme” MBIE Te Pūnaha seminar, April 2014

PROFILE 2014 75

K.M. McGrath, “From soap to bones, molecules to 3D printers, innovation and leadership. One woman’s journey through the New Zealand research sector” 2014 Hudson Lecture, Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch, July 2014

M.C. Simpson, “Light and the 2014 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics” presentation at Auckland NerdNite, NZ.

M.C. Simpson, “Futures” Keynote lecture and other activities. Evening for younger high school students from the North Island to learn about careers in science, hosted by U. Auckland.

M.C. Simpson, Host, Primary Science Teacher Fellowships (2), The Royal Society of New Zealand.

M.C. Simpson, Invited Seminar, “Achieving Diversity and Success in Science and Engineering Courses” Faculty of Science & Engineering, University of Waikato, NZ

M.C. Simpson, (2014) “Changing the Culture: A first-hand example” New Zealand Science Review (accepted)

Oosterbeek, R. N., Cochrane, C., James, R., Jackson, S., Simpson, M.C. (2014) “The Nature of Science: Teaching the Next Generation” CiNZ (accepted).

SEMINAR SERIES 20146 MARCH Ultrafast Probes of Free Charge Generation in Organic Photovoltaics Dr Justin Hodgkiss Victoria University of Wellington

3 APRIL Amyloid nanofibrils – useful properties for biosensor systems Dr Luigi Sasso University of Canterbury

1 MAY Critical Currents in Superconductors Dr Nick Long Robinson Research Institute

5 JUNE The soft x-ray “RIXS map” – arguably the most complete look at the electronic structure of solids, liquids, and gases Dr Clemens Heske ANKA Synchrotron Radiation Facility

3 JULY The Secret Life of Inorganic Polymers: More than Just Ecologically-Friendly Cements Professor Ken MacKenzie Victoria University of Wellington

7 AUGUST Intrinsic Electron Quantum Well States in Solids Professor Kevin Smith The University of Auckland

4 SEPTEMBER Synthesis and Applications of Nanoparticles Associate Professor Richard Tilley Victoria University of Wellington

2 OCTOBER Percolating Cluster Devices Professor Simon Brown University of Canterbury

4 DECEMBER Nanomaterial field effect transistor biosensors Dr Natalie Plank Victoria University of Wellington


Principal Investigators

Professor Maan Alkaisi, BSc(Eng) (Bagh) – MSc(Salf) PhD(Sheff) MISES, MIEEE

Electrical & Computer Engineering University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8140

Phone: 03 364 2867 x7272 E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Alkaisi is a Principal Investigator of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Material and Nanotechnology. He is the founder and coordinator of the MacDiarmid Institute BioNanoNetwork.

He is Professor in microelectronics at the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Alkaisi’s current research interest covers the following areas: interactions of biological cells with patterns, physical forces and cancer development , nanoscale patterning and semiconductor devices, three dimensional nanoimprint lithography and surface texturing for solar cells.

He has over 120 refereed articles and holds two patents, has given a number of invited and plenary talks at international conferences on nanotechnology.

Research InterestsNanofabrication and Devices Objective 1: Sub-wavelength patterning with evanescent interference lithography and high-power femtosecond laser pulses

Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter Objective 2: Interacting with the Animate

Selected PublicationsL. M. Murray, V. Nock, J. J. Evans, and M. M. Alkaisi, Bioimprinted polymer platforms for cell culture using soft lithography, (2014)Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 12/2014;12(1):289.

Senthuran Sivasubramaniam, Angelique Faramus, Richard D. Tilley and Maan M. Alkaisi. (2014) Performance enhancement in silicon solar cell by inverted nanopyramid texturing and silicon quantum dots coating. J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 6 http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4828364.

Senthuran Sivasubramaniam, Maan M Alkaisi, “Inverted nanopyramid texturing for silicon solar cells using interference lithography” 2014/5/1, Microelectronic Engineering, 119, 146-150, (2014).

Mohamed, K. and Alkaisi, M.M. (2013) Investigation of a nanofabrication process to achieve high aspect-ratio nanostructures on a quartz substrate. Nanotechnology 24, 015302: 5pp. http://iopscience.iop.org/0957-4484/24/1/015302.

Johari, S., Nock, V., Alkaisi, M.M. and Wang, W. (2013) On-chip analysis of C. elegans muscular forces and locomotion patterns in microstructured environments. Lab on a Chip 13(9): 1699–1707. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C3LC41403E.

Samsuri F; Alkaisi M. M.; Evans J.J; Chitcholtan, K; Mitchell, J.S “Detection of changes in cell membrane structures using the Bioimprint technique “ MICROELECTRONIC ENGINEERING Volume: 88 Issue: 8 Pages: 1871-1874 DOI: 10.1016/j.mee.2010.12.069 Published: AUG 2011.

Postdoctoral FellowIsha Mutreja

Research StudentsAmairaj Peter Amalathas, PhD Arunava Banerjee, PhD Hari Murthy, PhD Senthuran Sivasubramaniam, PhD

Technical & Research AssistantsHelen Devereux Gary Turner Pablo Lepe

PROFILE 2014 77

Dr Martin Allen, BSc(Hons)(Bris.), MSc(Oxon.), DipTchg, PhD(Canterbury)

Electrical & Computer Engineering University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8140

Phone: 03 3642987 Ext. 7036 E-mail: [email protected]

Martin Allen is a senior lecturer in electrical engineering at the University of Canterbury. He has a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics from the University of Bristol, UK, M.Sc. in Plasma Physics from the University of Oxford, UK, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Canterbury.

His current research interests include the fundamental properties and commercial device applications of metal oxide semiconductors, particularly those that are optically active in the UV spectrum. Martin also has a Diploma of Teaching from the Christchurch College of Education and is involved in international science education programmes concerning the risks and benefits of solar UV exposure.

Research Interests Nanofabrication and Devices Objective 3: Next generation semiconductor materials and devices

Selected PublicationsM.W. Allen, D.Y. Zemlyanov, G.I.N. Waterhouse, J.B. Metson, T.D. Veal, C.F. McConville and S.M. Durbin, “Polarity effects in the X-ray photoemission of ZnO and other wurtzite semiconductors,” Applied Physics Letters 98, 101906 (2011).

R.J. Mendelsberg, M.W. Allen, S.M. Durbin and R.J. Reeves, “Photoluminescence and the exciton-phonon coupling in hydrothermally grown ZnO”, Physical Review B 83, 205202 (2011).

M.W. Allen and S.M. Durbin, “Role of a universal branch-point energy at ZnO interfaces”, Phys. Rev. B 82, 165310 (2010).

M.W. Allen, C.H. Swartz, T.H. Myers, T.D. Veal, C.F. McConville and S.M. Durbin, “Bulk transport measurements in ZnO: The effect of surface electron layers,” Physical Review B 81, 075211 (2010).

M.W. Allen, R.J. Mendlesberg, R.J. Reeves and S.M. Durbin, “Oxidized noble metal Schottky contacts to n-type ZnO,” Applied Physics Letters 94, 103508 (2009).

Post Doctoral FellowGiang Thai Dang

Research StudentsAlana Hyland, PhD David Kim, PhD Robert Heinhold, PhD Salim Elzwawi, PhD Max Lynam, PhD Matthew Whiteside, MSc


Professor Richard Blaikie, BSc(Hons) PhD(Camb) MIEEEE MInstP

Department of Physics University of Otago PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054

Phone: 03 479 8513 E-mail: [email protected]

Professor Richard Blaikie, former Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, currently holds the role of University of Otago’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise).

After graduating with a first class honours degree in Physics from the University of Otago in 1988, Professor Blaikie was a Rutherford Memorial Scholar at the University of Cambridge, where he received his PhD in Physics in 1992. He also spent a year as a visiting scientist at the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory. He returned to New Zealand to take up a position at the University of Canterbury in 1993.

Richard was the Deputy Director of the MacDiarmid Institute from 2002, succeeding Sir Paul Callaghan as Director in 2008.

Internationally, he is perhaps best known for his scientific work on the negative refraction of light and its use in fabricating tiny electrical circuits.

As well as formerly sitting on the Marsden Fund Council, Professor Blaikie was a foundation member of the Science Board established by the New Zealand Government. He was awarded the T K Sidey Medal by the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2001 and the Hector Medal in 2013, and was also a Fulbright Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2001. Professor Blaikie’s role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor also comes with a Chair in Physics to ensure that he is able to continue to make strong contributions to MacDiarmid Institute research programmes.


Objective 3: Next generation semiconductor materials and devices

Selected PublicationsMoore, C.P. and Blaikie, R.J. “Robust design of a silver-dielectric near-field superlens for photolithography” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B vol 30, no 12, 3272-3277 (2013).

Mehrotra, P., Mack, C.A. and Blaikie, R.J. “A detailed study of resonance-assisted evanescent interference lithography to create high aspect ratio, super-resolved structures”, Opt. Express vol 21 13,710-13,725 (2013).

Moore, C.P. and Blaikie, R.J. “Experimental characterisation of the transfer function for a Silver-dielectric superlens” Opt. Express, vol. 20, no 6, 6412-6420 (2012).

Holzwarth, C.W., Foulkes, J.E. and Blaikie, R.J. “Increased process latitude in absorbance-modulated lithography via a plasmonic reflector”, Opt. Express 19, 17790-17798 (2011).

Blaikie R.J. “Comment on ‘Perfect imaging without negative refraction’”, New J. Phys. 12, 058001 (2010).

Warner M. and Blaikie, R.J. “Two-color nonlinear absorption of light in dye layers”, Phys. Rev. A 80, 033833 (2009).

Post Doctoral FellowsBoyang Ding Sam Lowrey

Research StudentsLevi Bourke, PhD Madhuri Kumari, PhD Noah Hemsley, PhD

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Professor Sally Brooker, BSc(Hons) first Class, PhD, FNZIC, FRSC, FRSNZ

Department of Chemistry University of Otago PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054


Sally did her PhD with Dr Vickie McKee at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (Vickie is now a Professor at Loughborough University), then a postdoc with Professor George Sheldrick (of SHELX fame) at Göttingen University in Germany. She then returned to NZ to take up a lectureship at the University of Otago, the first position she applied for, where she is now a full professor. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society of New Zealand and New Zealand Institute of Chemistry. Recent awards include the 2011 Royal Society of Chemistry Australasian Lectureship, the 2009 NZIC Maurice Wilkins Centre Prize for Excellence in Chemical Research and the 2008 Francis Lions Memorial Lectureship at Sydney University. She loves supervising her large, multinational, highly productive and high impact research team (over 160 papers to date, h = 34 Web of Science, PhD 1989), Brookers Bunch.

She and her research group have prepared and characterised some key dinuclear spin crossover systems, including the first dicobalt complex to undergo simultaneous magnetic exchange and spin crossover, and the first structurally characterised dimetallic complex in which one metal ion is high spin whilst the other is low spin. More recently they have reported, in collaboration with Dr Jeff Tallon (RRI), the first triply switchable cobalt complex.

In collaboration with Professor Annie Powell (Karlsruhe) and Dr Rodolphe Clerac (Bordeaux), larger clusters of metal ions are also being targeted and magnetically characterised, consistent with another aim, the preparation of soluble single molecule/chain magnets (SMMs/SCMs). They recently reported the first SMMs to be designed and made in NZ.

They are also taking steps towards immobilising switchable complexes on solid supports.

Research InterestsMolecular Materials Objective 3: Metallosupramolecular materials

Selected PublicationsFeltham, H.L.C., Lan, Y., Klöwer, F., Ungur, L., Chibotaru, L.F., Powell, A.K. and Brooker, S., A non-sandwiched macrocyclic mono-lanthanide single molecule magnet: the key role of axiality, Chemistry – A European Journal, 17, 4362–4365, and cover feature (2011). DOI: 10.1002/chem.201100438. Cited 67 times by Feb 2014.

Feltham, H. L. C., Clérac, R., Powell, A. K. and Brooker, S., A tetranuclear, macrocyclic 3d-4f complex showing Single-Molecule Magnet behaviour, Inorganic Chemistry, 50, 4232-4234 (2011). doi.org/10.1021/ic2003639. The 6th most read paper in Inorganic Chemistry between April and June in 2011. Cited 42 times by Feb 2014.

Cowan, M.G., Olguín, J., Narayanaswamy, S., Tallon, J.L., and Brooker, S., Reversible switching of a cobalt complex by thermal, pressure and electrochemical stimuli: abrupt, complete, hysteretic spin crossover, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134, 2892–2894 (2012), and front cover feature. DOI: 10.1021/ja208429u. Cited 16 times by Feb 2014.

Olguín, J., Kalisz, M., Clérac, R., and Brooker, S., Di- and tetra-nuclear copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of four bis-tetradentate triazole-based ligands: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties, Inorganic Chemistry, 51, 5058–5069 (2012). DOI: 10.1021/ic202537c. Second most downloaded paper in this journal in April; the sixth most read paper in this journal April-June 2012; in top 20 most read papers in this journal in the twelve months to 1 May 2013. Cited 13 times by Feb 2014.

Bilbeisi, R.A., Zarra, S., Feltham, H.L.C., Jameson, G.N.L., Clegg, J.K., Brooker, S. and Nitschke, J.R., Guest-binding influences spin crossover in an Fe4L4 capsule, Chemistry A European Journal, 19, 8058–8062 (2013). DOI: 10.1002/chem.201300805. Cited 3 times by Feb 2014.

Dhers, S., Feltham, H.L.C., Clérac, R. and Brooker, S. Design of one-dimensional coordination networks from a macrocyclic {3d-4f} Single-Molecule Magnet precursor linked by [W(CN)8]3- anions, Inorganic Chemistry, 52, 13685-13691 (2013). doi:10.1021/ic402248y

Post Doctoral FellowHumphrey Feltham

Research StudentsSebastien Dhers, PhD Reece Miller, PhD Santiago Rodriguez, PhD Alexis Baltrop, MSc Michael Bennington, MSc


Professor Simon Brown, BSc(Hons) Well PhD(Camb)

Department of Physics & Astronomy University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8140


Professor Simon Brown is based at the University of Canterbury. Simon has a B.Sc (Hons) degree from Victoria University of Wellington and a Ph. D. from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has been on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury since 1998, and is currently a Professor in that Department. He was heavily involved in the formation of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, and is a Principal Investigator and served as Deputy Director from 2011-2013.

Simon has published more than 100 refereed papers in a variety of areas of nanotechnology, semiconductor and solid state physics. His current research interests focus on properties of devices fabricated from nanoparticles, as well as scanning probe investigations of nanoscale systems. Simon was founder of NZ’s first nanotechnology company, and has an ongoing interest in the wider ethical, social, environmental and health impacts of nanotechnology.

Research InterestsNanofabrication and Devices Objective 2: Atomic- and molecular-scale self assembly for future nanodevices

Selected PublicationsShawn Fostner, Richard Brown, James Carr, and Simon A. Brown, ‘Continuum Percolation with Tunneling’, Phys. Rev. B 89, 075402 (2014).

A. Sattar, S. Fostner, and S. A. Brown, ‘Quantized conductance and switching in percolating devices’, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 136808 (2013).

P. J. Kowalczyk, O. Mahapatra, S. A. Brown, G. Bian, X. Wang, and T.-C. Chiang, ‘Electronic Size Effects in Three-Dimensional Nanostructures’, Nano Letters 13, 43 (2013).

A. I. Ayesh, S. A. Brown, A. Awasthi, S. C. Hendy, P. Y. Convers, and K. Nichol, ‘The Coefficient of Restitution for Bouncing Nanoparticles’, Phys. Rev. B. 81, 195422 (2010)

S. A. Brown, ‘The New Deficit Model’, Nature Nanotechnology 4, 609 (2009).

S. A. Brown and J. Schmelzer, Jr., ‘Nanoscale Electronic Devices & Fabrication Methods’. US patent US7, 494, 907 B2; granted 24 February 2009.

Post Doctoral FellowsShawn Fostner

Research StudentsAmol Nande, PhD Ishan Mahajan, PhD Rodrigo Martinez Gazoni, PhD Alex Smith, MSc

PROFILE 2014 81

Professor Alison Downard, BSc(Hons) PhD Otago

Department of Chemistry University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8140


Alison Downard is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Canterbury and Deputy Director, Stakeholder Engagement, of the MacDiarmid Institute. She gained her PhD at the University of Otago and undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Southampton with Prof. Derek Pletcher and at UNC-Chapel Hill with Prof. T. J. Meyer. She has an Honorary Doctorate from Université de Rennes 1, France.

Alison has published more than 100 refereed papers on various aspects of electrochemistry. Her current major focus is on electrochemistry for surface engineering. She has undertaken various leadership roles including Associate Dean of Science, University of Canterbury (1999-2004) and Head of Department of Chemistry (2009-2010) and is currently the Chair of the Analytical Electrochemistry Division of the International Society of Electrochemistry.

Research InterestsMolecular Materials Objective 1: Functionalised surfaces

Alison’s research focuses on surface engineering, giving new properties to a surface while maintaining the usual properties of the bulk material. For example, a coating can be applied to improve the biocompatibility, corrosion resistance or self-cleaning properties of a material. A surface can also be modified with small numbers of molecules that act as tethers to anchor functional species such as biomolecules, inorganic molecules or nano-objects for the smart materials of the future. Alison’s group is expert in radical-based grafting procedures that give nanoscale coatings that are extremely strongly attached to the surface. Current research projects include strategies to control the growth of the layers and applications of surface functionalization in energy storage and conversion.

Selected PublicationsBell, K.J., Brooksby, P.A., Polson, M.I.J., Downard, A.J. Evidence for Covalent Bonding of Aryl Groups to MnO2 Nanorods from Diazonium-Based Grafting. Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 13687-13690. DOI: 10.1039/C4CC05606J

Lee, L., Downard, A.J. Preparation of ferrocene-terminated layers by direct reaction with glassy carbon: a comparison of methods. J. Solid State Electrochem., 2014, 18, 3369 -3378. DOI: 10.1007/s10008-014-2615-8

Lee, L., Ma, H., Brooksby, P.A., Brown, S.A., Leroux, Y.R., Hapiot, P., Downard, A.J. Covalently-Anchored Carboxyphenyl Monolayer via Aryldiazonium Ion Grafting: a Well-Defined Reactive Tether Layer for On-Surface Chemistry. Langmuir, 2014, 30, 7104–7111.

Simons, B.M., Lehr, J., Garrett, D.J., Downard, A.J. Formation of Thick Aminophenyl Films from Aminobenzenediazonium Ion in the Absence of a Reduction Source. Langmuir, 2014, 30, 4989–4996. DOI: 10.1021/la501217n

Ma, H., Lee, L., Brooksby, P.A., Brown, S.A., Fraser, S.J., Gordon, K.C., Leroux, Y.R., Hapiot, P., Downard, A.J. Scanning Tunneling and Atomic Force Microscopy Evidence for Covalent and Non-Covalent Interactions between Aryl Films and Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2014, 118, 5820–5826. DOI: 10.1021/jp411826s

Gross, A.J., Nock, V., Polson, M.I.J., Alkaisi, M.M., Downard, A.J. Surface Patterning using Two-Phase Laminar Flow and In-Situ Formation of Aryldiazo-nium Salts. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2013, 52, 10261-10264. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201305024/abstract;jsessionid=769C348 C696E6E7E904E6147710ED6D.f02t03

Post Doctoral FellowPaula Brooksby

Research StudentsAnna Farquhar, PhD Brad Simons, PhD Kalib Bell, PhD Lita Lee, PhD Ethan Lankshear, MSc Luke Pearce, MSc


Dr Nicola Gaston, BSc(Hons) Auckland, PhD Massey

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington 6140


Dr Nicola Gaston is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at VUW. She was previously a Principal Research Scientist at IRL, where she was based since returning to New Zealand in 2007 from the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden. She has previously been the leader of Theme 2: Electronic and Optical Materials and a member of the Science Executive.

Research InterestsElectronic and Optical Materials Objective 1: Understanding structural, electronic and optical properties of nanoparticles and nanostructures

Nicola is interested in understanding the development and variation of physical properties in materials as a function of size, from few atom clusters to large nanoparticles and the bulk. Her current research is focused on understanding the relationship between electronic structure and properties such as catalytic activity, chemical reactivity, conductivity and thermodynamic stability, and how this relates to the underlying structure (size, shape, composition) of the material. She uses a range of ab initio quantum mechanical techniques to describe electronic structure and the way it depends on the chemical and physical environment.

Selected PublicationsR. Tonner and N. Gaston. The dimeric nature of bonding in gallium: from small clusters to the α-gallium phase. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16, 24244-24249, (2014).

D. Mollenhauer and N. Gaston. A balanced procedure for the treatment of cluster ligand interactions on gold phosphine systems in catalysis. Journal of Computational Chemistry. 35, 986–997 (2014). Cover Article

K. G. Steenbergen and N. Gaston. Geometrically induced melting variation in gallium clusters from first-principles. Phys. Rev. B Rapid 88, 161402 (2013).

U. Ojha, K. G. Steenbergen, and N. Gaston. How a single aluminum atom makes a difference to gallium: first-principles simulations of bimetallic cluster melting. J.Chem. Phys. 139, 094309 (2013).

K. G. Steenbergen and N. Gaston. First-principles melting of gallium clusters down to nine atoms: structural and electronic contributions to melting. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15, 15325-15332, (2013). Cover Article.

D. Schebarchov and N. Gaston. Throwing jellium at gallium — a systematic superatom analysis of metalloid gallium clusters. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 13, 21109–21115, (2011).

Post Doctoral FellowDoreen Mollenhauer

Research StudentsJulia Schacht, PhD Udbhav Ojha, PhD

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Professor Juliet Gerrard, B.A. Hons (Oxon) First Class Chemistry, with distinction in Biochemistry M.A. (Oxon) DPhil (Oxon) Natural Sciences, FRSNZ

School of Biological Sciences and School of Chemical Sciences University of Auckland

Phone: 027 8080746 E-mail: [email protected]

Professor Juliet Gerrard trained at Oxford University, where she completed an Honours degree in Chemistry and a DPhil in Biological Chemistry. In 1993, she took a role as a research scientist at Crop & Food Research and in 1998 she was appointed as a Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Canterbury in 1998, where she was Professor and Director of the Biomolecular Interaction Centre before leaving in 2014 to take up a new position at the University of Auckland.

She has over 130 publications and holds a Callaghan Innovation Industry and Outreach Fellowship which is focused on creating an integrated research programme across Callaghan Innovation and the University of Auckland.

Research InterestsBionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter Objective 1: Bottom-Up Soft Engineering

Our research is interdisciplinary and highly collaborative, cutting across biochemistry, chemistry, health, agricultural and food science and biomaterial design. It also incorporates a full spectrum of applied and fundamental research.

At present, the major focus is the understanding of the quaternary structure of proteins and the implications that this has for evolution of oligomeric proteins and higher order protein assembly. This research has potential application in the design of novel therapeutic agents (by disrupting quaternary structure) and in the assembly of novel materials, e.g. from higher order quaternary complexes or amyloid fibrils.

Selected PublicationsKaur, M., Healy, J., Vasudevamurthy, M., Lassé, M., Puskar, L., Tobin, M. Gerrard, J.A., Sasso, L. 2014: Stability and cytotoxicity of crystallin amyloid nanofibrils. Nanoscale. 6 (21), 13169-13178.

Phillips, A. J., Littlejohn, J., Yewdall, N. A., Zhu, T., Valéry, C., Pearce, F. G., Mitra, A.K., Radjainia, M., Gerrard, J. A. (2014). Peroxiredoxin is a versatile self-assembling tecton for protein nanotechnology. Biomacromolecules, 15(5), 1871-1881.

Raynes, J. K., Carver, J. A., Gras, S. L., & Gerrard, J. A. 2014: Protein nanostructures in food – Should we be worried? Trends in Food Science & Technology, 37(1), 42-50.

Sasso, L. Suei, S., Healy, J. Williams, M.A.K., Gerrard, J.A. 2014: Versatile dual functionalisation of protein nanofibrils via biotinylation and thiolation for biosensor applications. Nanoscale 6: 1629-1634.

Valery, C., Pandey, R., and Gerrard, J.A. (2013). Protein β-interfaces as a generic source of native peptide tectons. Chemical Communications, 49(27), 2825-2827.

Domigan, L. J., J. P. Healy, S. J. Meade, R. J. Blaikie, and J. A. Gerrard. “Controlling the Dimensions of Amyloid Fibrils: Toward Homogenous Components for Bionanotechnology.” Biopolymers 97, no. 2 (2012): 123-133.

Post Doctoral FellowLuigi Sasso

Research StudentsAkshita Wason, PhD Amy Phillips, PhD Amy Yewdall, PhD Deepti Mahapatra, PhD Helen Ashmead, PhD Manmeet Kaur, PhD Rishi Pandey, PhD Nadishka Jayawardena, MSc


Professor Keith Gordon, BSc PhD Belf FRSC CChem, FNZIC, FRSNZ

Department of Chemistry University of Otago PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054


Keith Gordon received his BSc Hons (First Class) in 1986 and PhD in 1989 in chemistry from Queens University, Belfast, UK. His PhD research, under the direction of Professor John J McGarvey, focused on laser spectroscopy of solar energy compounds. He was awarded a Director’s Fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratories, USA, and worked with Professor W H Woodruff from 1989 – 1992 on ultrafast laser spectroscopy of biological systems and solar energy materials.

In 1993 Keith took up a lecturing post in the Chemistry Department at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, becoming Professor in 2009 in that department. Keith was President of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry in 2006 and is a founding Principal Investigator in the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.

Keith was President of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry in 2006 and is a founding Principal Investigator in the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.

Keith’s research interests focus on the understanding the properties of conducting polymers, nanostructured electromaterials, such as found in dye-sensitised solar cells, dairy products and pharmaceuticals using spectroscopy and computational chemistry.

Research InterestsMolecular Materials Objective 2: Identifying the role of delocalization in primary excitations of conjugated polymers via spectroscopy and computational chemistry

Selected PublicationsLong Zhao, Pawel Wagner, Anastasia B. S. Elliott, Tracey M. Clarke, Keith C. Gordon, Shogo Mori, Attila J. Mozer, “Enhanced performance of dye-sensitized solar cells using carbazole-substituted di-chromophoric porphyrin dyes” Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2014) 2, 16963 – 16977.

Haifeng Ma, Lita Lee, Paula A. Brooksby, Simon A. Brown, Sara J. Fraser, Keith C. Gordon, Yann R. Leroux, Philippe Hapiot, Alison J. Downard. Scanning Tunneling and Atomic Force Microscopy Evidence for Covalent and Non-Covalent Interactions between Aryl Films and Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite. Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2014) 118, 5820 – 5826, dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp411826s

Kai Chen, Alex J. Barker, Matthew Reish, Lionel Hirsch, Keith C. Gordon and Justin M. Hodgkiss “Broadband ultrafast photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals the role of delocalized primary excitations in polymer:fullerene photovoltaic blends. Journal of the American Chemical Association (2013) 135, 18502 – 18512 DOI: 10.1021/ja408235h

Matthew E. Reish, Sanghun Nam, Wonho Lee, Han Young Woo, Keith C. Gordon. A Spectroscopic and DFT Study of the Electronic Properties of Carbazole-based D-A type Copolymers. Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2012) 116, 21255–21266. doi: 10.1021/jp307552z

Matthew E. Reish, Andrew J. Kay, Ayele Teshome, Inge Asselberghs, Koen Clays, Keith C. Gordon. Testing Computational Models of Hyperpolarizability in a Merocyanine Dye Using Spectroscopic and DFT Methods Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2012) 116, 5453-5463

Post Doctoral FellowMike Fraser

Research StudentAlvie Lo, PhD Anastasia Elliott, PhD Chris Larsen, PhD Daniel Killeen, PhD Greg Huff, PhD Holly van der Salm, PhD May Mah, PhD Sara Fraser, PhD

PROFILE 2014 85

Associate Prof Michele Governale, MSc Elec Eng(Hons), PhD (Pisa)



After obtaining his PhD from the University of Pisa in Italy in 2001, Michele has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Karsluhe, Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Ruhr-Unversität Bochum, and Dusiburg-Essen University. In 2009 he moved to Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, where he is currently based.

His present research focuses on the theory of quantum transport in nanostructures, spin-dependent phenomena, and hybrid normal-superconducting systems.

Research InterestsNanofabrication and Devices Objective 4: Theory and modelling of new functionality at the nanoscale Theoretical condensed matter physics, theory and modelling of nanoscale systems, quantum transport in low-dimensional systems (Nanoelectronics), spin-dependent phenomena (Spintronics), time-dependent transport in nanodevices, hybrid normal-superconducting structures.

Selected PublicationsL. Rajabi, C. Pöltl, M. Governale, Waiting Time Distributions for the Transport through a Quantum-Dot Tunnel Coupled to One Normal and One Superconducting Lead, Physical Review Letters 111, 067002 (2013)

T. Kernreiter, M. Governale, and U. Zülicke, Carrier-Density-Controlled Anisotropic Spin Susceptibility of Two-Dimensional Hole Systems, Physical Review Letters 110, 026803 (2013)

A. G. Moghaddam, M. Governale, and J. König, Driven superconducting proximity effect in interacting quantum dots, Physical Review B 85, 094518 (2012).

F. Giazotto, P. Spathis, S. Roddaro, S. Biswas, F. Taddei, M. Governale, and L. Sorba, A Josephson Quantum Electron Pump, Nature Physics 7, 857 (2011).

T. Kernreiter, M Governale, and U. Zülicke, Static polarisability of two-dimensional hole gases, New Journal of Physics, 12, 093002 (2010).

F. Cavaliere, M. Governale, and J. König, Non-adiabatic pumping through interacting quantum dots, Physical Review Letters 103, 136801 (2009)

Post Doctoral FellowsThomas Kernreiter Christina Pöltl

Research StudentsCameron Dykstra, PhD Stephanie Droste, PhD

Research AssistantFinian Gray


Professor Simon Hall, MSc PhD Auck, FNZIC, CChem, FRSC

Institute of Fundamental Sciences Massey University Private Bag 11 222 Palmerston North 4442


Simon Hall is an electrochemist whose research focuses on energy storage applications. His research on a rechargeable zinc electrode with his then PhD student Michael Liu led to the formation of the spin-out companies Anzode Inc. (USA) and Anzode (NZ) Ltd in 2003.

Simon took a leave of absence from Massey University for 4 years to work as the Chief Science Officer for Anzode. In 2011 he initiated the formation of a further spin-out company Synthodics Ltd.

Together with Dr Mark Waterland (MacDiarmid AI), Dr Gareth Rowlands and MacDiarmid Institute-funded PhD students Kelsey Mortensen and Ryan Ennis he is working on developing new energy storage materials. Simon was awarded the NZIC Fonterra Prize for Excellence in Industrial & Applied Chemistry in 2008 and the Bayer Innovators Award for Research & Development in 2010. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2010. He is Head of the Institute of Fundamental Sciences at Massey University.

Research InterestsMolecular Materials Objective 1: Functionalised Surfaces

Selected PublicationsS.B. Hall, and J. Liu, Compositions, zinc electrodes, batteries and their methods of manufacture (composition claims), US Patent, notice of granting received 1 October 2012, awaiting publication number.

S.B. Hall, and J. Liu, Rechargeable zinc electrode (method claims), Japanese Patent 4991982, granted 18 May 2012.

S.B. Hall, and J. Liu, Method of making zinc electrode including a fatty acid, US Patent 7,811,704, granted 12 October 2010.

B.P. Warner, T.M. McCleskey, A.K. Burrell, A. Agrawal and AS.B. Hall, Radiofrequency attenuator and method, US Patent 7,615,267, granted 10 November 2009.

S.B. Hall, and J. Liu, Rechargeable zinc electrode (composition claims), South Korean Patent 925862, granted 2 November 2009.

Research StudentsKelsey Mortensen, PhD Ryan Ennis, PhD

PROFILE 2014 87

Professor Shaun Hendy, BSc(Hons) Massey, PhD Alberta, FRSNZ

Department of Physics University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland 1142


Shaun Hendy is Director of the Te Pūnaha Matatini, a Centre of Research Excellence, and a Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland. Shaun has a PhD in physics from the University of Alberta in Canada and a BSc(Hons) in mathematical physics from Massey University.

He has a wide range of research interests, including computational physics, nanoscience, complex systems and innovation.

In 2010, Shaun was awarded the New Zealand Association of Scientists Research Medal and a Massey University Distinguished Young Alumni Award. In 2012 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand for his research on nanotechnology, and in 2013 he was awarded ANZIAM’s E. O. Tuck medal for research in applied mathematics.

Shaun blogs, writes for Unlimited Magazine and has a regular slot on Radio New Zealand Nights as physics correspondent. In 2012, Shaun was awarded the Callaghan Medal by the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize for his achievements as a science communicator. His first book, Get Off the Grass, co-authored with the late Sir Paul Callaghan, was published in August 2013.

Shaun uses methods from theoretical and computational physics to study the properties of materials at the atomic scale. He is interested in how fluids flow over complex surfaces like those on leaves or Gore-Tex. He also studies the properties of nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles. Finally, he also uses methods from physics and mathematics to study how innovation works, particularly how it can be affected by collaboration and distance.

Research InterestsNanofabrication and Devices - Theme Leader Objective 2: Atomic- and molecular-scale self assembly for future nanodevices

Objective 4: Theory and modelling of new functionality at the nanoscale

Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter Objective 3: Transport in the Nanoworld

Selected PublicationsD. Schebarchov, B. Lefevre, W. R. C. Somerville and S. C. Hendy “Filling a nanoporous substrate by dewetting of thin films”, Nanoscale 5 1949-1954, (2013). D. R. J. O’Neale, S. C. Hendy, “Power Law Distributions of Patents as Indicators of Innovation”, PLoS ONE 7(12): e49501 (2012).

N. Lund, X. Y. Zhang, K. Mahelona and S. C. Hendy, “Calculation of effective slip on rough chemically heterogeneous surfaces using a homogenization approach”, Physical Review E 86, 046303 (2012).

D. Schebarchov, S. C. Hendy, E. Ertekin, and J. C. Grossman “Modelling the interaction between carbon nanotube caps and catalyst nanoparticles”, Physical Review Letters 107, 185503 (2011).

G. R. Willmott, C. Neto and S. C. Hendy, “An experimental study of microfluidic interactions between droplets and a nonwetting capillary”, Faraday Discussions 146, 233-245 (2010).

T. H. Lim, D. McCarthy, S. C. Hendy, S. A. Brown and R. D. Tilley, “Real-Time TEM and Kinetic Monte Carlo Studies of the Coalescence of Decahedral Gold Nanoparticles”, ACS Nano 3, 3809-3913, (2009).

Research StudentsCatriona Sissons, PhD Leila Rajabi, PhD Nathaniel Lund, PhD


Dr Justin Hodgkiss, BSc Hons (Otago), PhD (MIT)

School of Chemical & Physical Sciences Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington 6140


Dr Justin Hodgkiss is a senior lecturer in Physical Chemistry at Victoria University of Wellington and a Rutherford Discovery Fellow.

Justin completed his BSc (hons) in chemistry at the University of Otago in 2000, and his Ph.D. as a Fulbright Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006. Following his Ph.D., he carried out post-doctoral research in the Cavendish laboratory at the University of Cambridge.

Justin’s research program is focused on the development of molecular electronic materials for low-cost printable electronics - primarily solar cells. Recently, he has used laser spectroscopy to develop a detailed understanding of the physics of photocurrent generation in polymer solar cells and elucidate how power conversion efficiencies can be markedly improved. A second research focus is on DNA aptasensors. Through collaboration with biologists, Justin’s group are creating ultrasensitive and highly specific colorimetric and electronic sensors for biological targets, including hormones.

Research InterestsMolecular Materials Objective 2: Identifying the role of delocalization in primary excitations of conjugated polymers via spectroscopy and computational chemistry

Selected PublicationsChen, K.; Barker, A. J.; Reish, M. E.; Gordon, K. C.; Hodgkiss, J. M. “Broadband ultrafast photoluminescence spectroscopy resolves charge photogeneration via delocalized hot excitons in polymer:fullerene photovoltaic blends” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 18502-18512.

Gallaher, J. K.; Aitken, E. J.; Keyzers, R. A.; Hodgkiss, J. M., “Controlled aggregation of peptide-substituted perylene-bisimides”, Chem. Commun., 2012, 48, 7961-7963.

Hodgkiss, J. M.; Albert-Seifried, S.; Rao, A.; Barker, A. J.; Campbell, A. R.; Marsh, R. A.; Friend, R. H., “Exciton-Charge Annihilation in Organic Semiconductor Films”, Adv. Funct. Mat. 2012, 22, 1567-1577.

Hodgkiss, J. M.; Campbell, A. R.; Marsh, R. A.; Rao, A.; Albert-Seifried, S.; Friend, R. H. , “Sub-nanosecond geminate charge recombination in polymer:polymerphotovoltaic devices” Phys. Rev. Lett. 2010, 104, 177701.

Marsh, R. A.; Hodgkiss, J. M.; Albert-Seifried, S.; Friend, R. H., “Effect of Annealing on P3HT:PCBM Charge Transfer and Nanoscale Morphology Probed by Ultrafast Spectroscopy”, Nano Lett. 2010, 10, 923-930.

Hodgkiss, J. M.; Tu, G.; Albert-Seifried, S.; Huck, W. T. S.; Friend, R. H., “Ion-induced Formation of Charge-transfer States in Conjugated Polyelectrolytes”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 8913-8921.

Research StudentsAlex Barker, PhD Galen Eakins, PhD Joseph Gallaher, PhD Justinas Butkus, PhD Kai Chen, PhD Lia van der Kerkhof, MSc Omar Alsager, PhD Shyamal Prasad, PhD

Research AssistantAnastasia Elliott

PROFILE 2014 89

Professor Jim Johnston, MSc PhD Well FNZIC FRSNZ



Professor Jim Johnston has a Personal Chair in Chemistry in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry. His research programmes are positioned at the university-industry interface and are concerned with the innovative development of new materials and nanofunctionalised materials and new chemical process technologies with commercial potential. They include the use of nanogold as unique colourfast colourants on NZ wool for high value fashion apparel, upholstery textiles and rugs for international luxury markets, and the use of nanosilver to impart effective antimicrobial properties to wool; photoluminescent quantum dot composite materials; nano-structured calcium silicate products and their industry applications; enhanced energy recovery from geothermal waters; and the use of wet air oxidation for treating organic waste streams. This has resulted in two new start-up companies: Noble Bond Ltd to commercialize the nanogold “Aulana®” and nanosilver antimicrobial wool “NgaPure®” technologies and products internationally; and Wetox Ltd to commercialize the wet air oxidation technology. Noble Bond Ltd has secured a cornerstone investment and shareholding from Wools NZ Ltd and is producing Aulana® rugs for the UK, European and US luxury markets, and is implementing the NgaPure® technology with a major UK textile manufacturer. He has published 141 research papers, 5 book chapters and is the inventor on 15 patents.

Professor Johnston’s successes in the R&D and application of these innovative science and technology programmes have been recognised by him being awarded of the following prizes:

2007 NZ Institute of Chemistry “Industrial Chemistry Prize”.

2008 Wellingtonian of the Year 2008 (Science and Technology)

2009 The Bayer Innovation Award (Research and Development)

2011 Named one of New Zealand’s “40 Farm Thinkers”

2011 Victoria University of Wellington Research Excellence Award


Selected Publicationswww.noblebond.co.uk, www.aulana.co.uk

James H Johnston and Aaron C Small: Photoactivity of Nano-structured Calcium Silicate-Titanium Dioxide Composite Materials. J. Mater. Chem. Vol 21, 1240-1245 (2011)

Kerstin A Burridge, James H. Johnston and Thomas Borrmann: Silver nanoparticle – Clay Composites. J. Mater. Chem., 21, 734-742 (2011)

Fern M Kelly and James H Johnston: Colored and Functional Silver Nanoparticle−Wool Fiber Composites. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 3 (4), 1083–1092, (2011)

James H Johnston and Kerstin A Lucas: Nanogold Synthesis in Wool Fibres: Novel Colourants. Gold Bulletin, Vol 44(2), 85-89 (2011)

James H Johnston and Thomas Nilsson: Nanogold and Nanosilver Composites with Lignin-containing Cellulose Fibres. J. Mater. Science. Vol. 47, Iss. 3, 1103-1112 (2012)

James Johnston and Kerstin Lucas: Aulana and NgaPure : Novel Nanogold Coloured and Antimicrobial Nanosilver Woollen Textiles: The Journey of Discovery, the Nanoscience and Pathway to Commercialisation. Nanotech 2013, Vol. 1, 510-513, (2013)

Matthias.B.Herzog and James H. Johnston: Superhydrophobic merino fibres utilising silica nanospheres. Surface Innovations Vol. 2, Iss. SI2. 127-134, (2014)

Tate, E.W. and J. H. Johnston. Photocatalytic Silver/Silver Chloride Polymer Nanocomposites. ICE Nanomaterials and Energy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/nme.14.00023, (2014).

Post Doctoral FellowMathew Cairns

Research StudentsAndrea Kolb, PhD Eldon Tate, PhD Joao DaSilva, PhD Maria Parry, PhD Matthias Herzog, PhD Michelle Cook, PhD Thomas Nilsson, PhD Emma Wrigglesworth, MSc Valentine Chan, MSc

Research AssistantsAhmet Kitap Sandra Weiss Georg-Simon Ohm


Dr John Kennedy, BSc, MSc, PhD

National Isotope Centre GNS Science 30 Gracefield Road PO Box 31312 Lower Hutt 5010

Phone: 04 5704771 E-mail: [email protected]

John Kennedy is an ion beam physicist who works on new materials development and ion beam analysis for advanced materials, biology, geology and environmental applications. His main area of research interest is condensed matter physics with particular focus on coatings and surface modification. He is currently investigating metal and metal oxide nanoparticle growth and their structural, electrical, optical and magnetic properties. John leads the GNS Science core science programme of ion beam applications which focuses on research and development of ion beam technology for industry and environment sectors.

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles show unique electronic, optical and magnetic properties that are desirable for applications in sensors, optical devices and the electronics industry. In our group, we are working to understand the fundamental mechanism of these nanoparticle growth and their remarkable properties so that they can be tailored for the specific applications.

Research InterestsElectronic and Optical Materials Objective 1: Functionalised Surfaces

Objective 3: Metallosupramolecular materials

Selected PublicationsKennedy, J..; Williams, G.V.M.; Murmu, P.P.; Ruck, B.J. 2013. Intrinsic magnetic order and inhomogenous transport in Gd-implanted zinc oxide. Physical Review B, 88(21): 214423.

Bubendorfer, A.J.; Ingham, B.; Kennedy, J.V.; Arnold, W.M. 2013. Contamination of PDMS microchannels by lithographic molds. Lab Chip, 13: 4312-4316; doi: 10.1039/c3lc50641j

Kennedy, J.; Leveneur, J.; Williams, G.V.M.; Mitchell, D.R.G.; Markwitz, A. 2011. Fabrication of surface magnetic nanoclusters using low energy ion implantation and electron beam annealing. Nanotechnology, 22: 115602

Leveneur, J.; Kennedy, J.; Williams, G.V.M.; Metson, J.; Markwitz, A. 2011. Large room temperature magnetoresistance in ion beam synthesized surface Fe nanoclusters on SiO2. Applied physics letters, 98: 053111

Kennedy, J.; Carder, D.A.; Markwitz, A.; Reeves, R.J. 2010. Properties of nitrogen implanted and electron beam annealed bulk ZnO. Journal of applied physics, 107: paper 103518

Fang, F.; Futter, R.J.; Markwitz, A.; Kennedy, J. 2009. UV and humidity sensing properties of ZnO nanorods prepared by the arc discharge method. Nanotechnology, 20(24): Paper 245502

Post Doctoral FellowPeter Murmu

Research StudentsPierre Couture, PhD Tushara Prakash, PhD

PROFILE 2014 91

Professor Paul Kruger, BSc (Hons), PhD (Monash); MA (Dublin); MRACI, MRSC

Department of Chemistry University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8140


Paul undertook his BSc (Hons) and PhD degrees at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) under the direction of Prof Keith S Murray, where his research was centred on the synthesis of multi-nuclear metal complexes in the quest to develop species of bio-mimetic relevance and as novel magnetic materials. He then spent two years as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Queen’s University of Belfast investigating the structural and functional aspects of metallo-macrocyclic complexes with Prof Vickie McKee. Paul was then appointed to a lectureship at the University of Dublin, Trinity College before moving to the University of Canterbury in August 2007.

Research InterestsMolecular Materials Objective 3: Metallosupramolecular materials

Our research interests touch upon all aspects of Supramolecular Chemistry ranging from organic synthesis and coordination chemistry, through materials and structural chemistry, to host-guest and sensor chemistry. We extend beyond basic synthesis, and incorporate functionality within the molecules / materials we make. In a series of endeavours we are addressing the following themes: Spin-switching materials; Anion binding and sensing; Coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and; Paramagnetic cluster materials.

Selected PublicationsA. Ferguson, R.W. Staniland, C.M. Fitchett, M.A. Squire, B.E. Williamson and P.E. Kruger, Variation of guest selectivity within [Fe4L4]8+ tetrahedral cages through subtle modification of the face-capping ligand, Dalton Trans., 2014, 43: 14550-14553. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4dt02337d

C.S. Hawes and P.E. Kruger, Discrete and polymeric Cu(II) complexes featuring substituted indazole ligands: their synthesis and structural chemistry, Dalton Trans., 2014, 43: 16450-16458. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4dt02428a.

A. Ferguson, M.A. Squire, D. Siretanu, D. Mitcov, C. Mathonière, R. Clérac, and P.E. Kruger, A face-capped [Fe4L4]8+ spin crossover tetrahedral cage, Chem. Comm. 2013, 49: 1597-1599. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3cc00012e.

M.E. Russell, C.S. Hawes, A. Ferguson, M.I.J. Polson, N.F. Chilton, B. Moubaraki, K.S. Murray and P.E. Kruger, Synthesis, structural and magnetic characterisation of iron(II/III), cobalt(II) and copper(II) cluster complexes of the polytopic ligand: N-(2-pyridyl)-3-carboxypropanamide, Dalton Trans., 2013, 42: 13576-13583. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3dt51301g

O. Kotova, R. Daly, C.M.G. dos Santos, M. Boese, P.E. Kruger, J.J. Boland and T. Gunnlaugsson, Europium-directed self-assembly of a luminescent supramolecular gel from a tripodal terpyridine-based ligand, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51(29): 7208-7212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201201506

C.S. Hawes, R. Babarao, M.R. Hill, K.F. White, B.F. Abrahams and P.E. Kruger, Hysteretic carbon dioxide sorption in a novel copper(II)-indazole-carboxylate porous coordination polymer. Chem. Comm. 2012, 48: 11558-11560. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c2cc37453f

Post Doctoral FellowsAlan Ferguson Hui Yang

Research StudentsDavid Young, PhD Rosanna Archer, PhD Shane Verma, PhD Rob Staniland, PhD


Professor Eric Le Ru, PhD (Paris)



Eric Le Ru studied physics at Ecole Polytechnique (Paris) and obtained a PhD in 2002, working at Imperial College London on semiconductor quantum dots for telecom applications. After a one-year postdoctoral position at Imperial College, he moved to New Zealand in 2004 as a postdoctoral fellow of the MacDiarmid institute, working with Pablo Etchegoin at Victoria University of Wellington. He is now an Professor in Physics at Victoria.

His research focuses on various aspects, both theoretical and experimental, of nano-photonics, with a particular emphasis on nano-plasmonics; i.e. the study and applications of the optical properties of sub-wavelength (i.e. typically less than 100 nm) metallic objects, and related applications in surface-enhanced spectroscopies (Raman and fluorescence). This work has resulted in over 70 publications since 2004 and was recently complemented by the publication of a book, co-authored with Pablo Etchegoin, on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.


Selected PublicationsB. L. Darby and E. C. Le Ru, Competition between Molecular Adsorption and Diffusion: Dramatic Consequences for SERS in Colloidal Solutions, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 136, 10965-10973 (2014).

W. R. C. Somerville, B. Auguie, and E. C. Le Ru, A new numerically stable implementation of the T-matrix method for electromagnetic scattering by spheroidal particles, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 123, 153-168 (2013).

E. C. Le Ru and P. G. Etchegoin, Single-Molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. (invited) 63, 65-87 (2012).

E. C. Le Ru, Lina Schroeter, and P. G. Etchegoin, Direct Measurement of Resonance Raman Spectra and Cross Sections by a Polarization Difference Technique, Anal. Chem. 84, 5074-5079 (2012).

E. C. Le Ru, J. Grand, I. Sow, W. R. C. Somerville, P. G. Etchegoin, M. Treguer-Delapierre, G. Charron, N. Felidj, G. Levi and J. Aubard , A Scheme for Detecting Every Single Target Molecule with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Nano Lett. 11, 5013 (2011). C. M. Galloway, P. G. Etchegoin and E. C. Le Ru, Ultrafast nonradiative decay rates on metallic surfaces by comparing surface-enhanced Raman and fluorescence signals of single molecules, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 063003 (2009).

Post Doctoral FellowStefan Meyer

Research StudentsBrendan Darby, PhD Camille Artur, PhD Walter Somerville PhD

Research AssistantChris Galloway

PROFILE 2014 93

Dr Andreas Markwitz, Phys(Dip) PhD Frankfurt

GNS Science PO Box 30 368 Lower Hutt 5040


Dr Andreas Markwitz is Principal Scientist and Department Head at GNS Science. His ongoing interests in nanotechnology and advanced matererials are in silicon nanosurface, interfaces and how our understanding of new materials can be applied to industrial products.

Andreas has more than 200 publications in the field and has pioneered electron beam annealing and ion implantation at GNS under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. He has developed three ion implanters for implanting all elements of the periodic table with energies from 100 V to more than 100 kV and developed an electron beam annealer that can reproducibly manufacture nanosurfaces on the 1 nm scale.

Andreas’ interest in applying his surface science to industrial projects has led him to be involved in the Materials Accelerator at Auckland University and research with the Titanium Development Association in Tauranga.

Research InterestsNanofabrication and Devices Objective 3: Next generation semiconductor materials and devices

Selected PublicationsA. Markwitz, F. Fang, H. Baumann and Peter B. Johnson, “Diffusion of Pb in (100) Si under electron beam annealing following dual ion implantations of Pb/Ne, Pb/O and Pb/N“, Vacuum 84 (2010) 1103-1110

F. Fang, J. Kennedy, J. Futter, D. Carder and A. Markwitz, “Modulation of field emission properties of ZnO nanorods during arc discharge” Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 10 (2010) 8239-8243

A. Markwitz, K. Kant, D. Carder and P. B. Johnson, “Low-energy Fe+ ion implantation into silicon nanostructures”, AIP Proceedings Series 1151 (2009) 149

F. Fang and A. Markwitz, “Onset temperature for Si nanostructure growth on Si substrate during high vacuum electron beam annealing”, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 9 (2009) 2950-2955

F. Fang and A. Markwitz, “Controlled fabrication of Si nanostructure by high vacuum electron beam annealing”, Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures 41 (2009) 1853-1858

D. Carder and A. Markwitz, “Field emission measured from nanostructured germanium and silicon thin films”, Applied Surface Science 256 (2009) 1003–1005

Research StudentPrasanth Gupta, PhD

Technical AssistantJohn Futter

Research AssistantsPeter Johnson Vivian Fang


Dr Duncan McGillivray, BA/BSc (Auck), BSc (Hons) (ANU), DPhil (Oxf)

School of Chemical Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland Mail Centre Auckland 1142


Duncan McGillivray is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland who trained in neutron and X-ray scattering in the UK and USA, before returning to set-up a research group in New Zealand. His undergraduate was at the University of Auckland and the Australian National University, and he completed his doctorate at Oxford University looking at surfactant structures using neutrons. Later he served a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon Universities, jointly with the NIST Center for Neutron Research, developing a biomimetic membrane system and investigating protein-membrane interactions.

Duncan’s current research is focussed on understanding the physical bases of biological interactions at surfaces, particularly through investigating the structure of complex non-crystalline protein systems (including membrane proteins and protein colloids), primarily making use of the Australian Synchrotron and the OPAL Research Reactor in Sydney.


Objective 5: Nanomaterials for Biological Applications

Selected PublicationsKjällman, T. H. M.; Nelson, A.; James, M.; Dura, J. A.; Travas-Sejdic, J.; McGillivray, D. J.; “A neutron reflectivity study of the interfacial and thermal behaviour of surface-attached hairpin DNA”; Soft Matter, 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c0sm01284j

McGillivray, D. J.; Jackson, A. J.; “Protein aggregate structure under high pressure”; Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 487

**Reynolds, P. A.; McGillivray, D. J.; Jackson, A. J.; White, J. W.; “Ultra-small-angle neutron scattering: A tool to study packing of relatively monodisperse polymer spheres and their binary mixtures” Phys. Rev. E, 2009, 80, 011301

Holt, S. A.; Le Brun, A. P.; Majkrzak, C. F.; McGillivray, D. J.; Heinrich, F.; Lösche, M.; Lakey, J. H.; “An ion channel containing model membrane: structural determination by magnetic contrast neutron reflection” Soft Matter, 2009, 5, 2576

McGillivray, D. J.; Valincius, G.; Heinrich, F.; Robertson, J. W. F.; Vanderah, D. J.; Febo-Ayala, W.; Ignatjev, I.; Lösche, M.; Kasianowicz, J. J.; “Structure of functional Staphylococcus aureus-hemolysin channels in tethered bilayer lipid membranes” Biophysical J., 2009, 96, 1547

McGillivray, D. J.; Mata, J. P.; Zank, J; White, J. W.; “Nano- and Microstructure of the Interfaces between Air, Oil and Water” Langmuir, 2009, 25, 4065

Post Doctoral FellowGloria Xun

Research StudentsAmy Xu, PhD Peter Akers, PhD Rayomand Shahlori, PhD

PROFILE 2014 95

Professor Kathryn McGrath, BSc(Hons) PhD ANU



Kate completed her BSc(Hons) degree in Chemistry at the University of Canterbury, before moving to The Australian National University (Department of Applied Mathematics), Canberra, Australia where she obtained her PhD investigating surfactant self-assembly. After finishing her PhD Kate took up a post-doctoral position in Paris at L’Université de Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris VI (Laboratoire de Mineralogie et Cristallographie), with Maurice Kléman. During her second post-doctoral fellowship, Kate worked with Sol Gruner in the Physics Department at Princeton University, Princeton. Kate’s first lecturing position was in the Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, where she stayed for six years. During this time Kate completed a PGDipCom in Finance. In 2004 she moved to Victoria University of Wellington. In 2011 Kate was promoted to Professor and became the Director of the MacDiarmid Institute in the same year. Kate’s research has been recognised by the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (2003 Easterfield Medal) and the New Zealand Association of Scientists (2007 Research Medal). In 2013 Kate was awarded the Wellington Gold Inspire Wellington Award. Kate is currently Chair of the association of Centres of Research Excellence.



Molecular Self-assembly, Complex Fluids and Hierarchical Solid Formation. Many materials consist of molecules interacting with each other via weak interactions only and are often formed by a process called self-assembly. Furthermore, depending on what length scale or time scale is investigated different effects and/or

structure is evident. These materials are examples of hierarchical materials, our bones, cellular membranes and emulsions are examples or such materials. In our group we are working to understand the fundamental behaviour of such materials so that we are able to make new materials with advanced physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics.

Selected PublicationsMalassagne-Bulgarelli, N. and McGrath, K.M., Emulsion ageing: effect on the dynamics of oil exchange in oil-in-water emulsions, Soft Matter, 9:48-59 (2013)

A. Fournier, and K.M. McGrath, Porous protein/silica composite formation: manipulation of silicate porosity and protein conformation, Soft Matter, 7(10) 4918-4297 (2011), DOI: 10.1039/c1sm05299c

Greenbank, W.A. and McGrath, K.M.*Photophysical behaviour of 4 hexyloxysalicylaldimies and their copper(II) complexes, Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology, A: Chemistry, available online: 5-FEB-2014, DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2014.01.012

Munro, N.H., Green D.W. and McGrath, K.M., In situ continuous growth formation of synthetic biominerals, Chemical Communications, 49:3407-3409 (2013) DOI: 10.1039/c3cc39025j

Tan, H.L. and McGrath, K.M., How does oil type set emulsion characteristics in concentrated Na-caseinate emulsions? Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 403:7-15 (2013) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2013.03.026

Munro, N.H., Green, D.W., Dangerfield, A and McGrath, K.M., Biomimetic mineralisation of polymeric scaffolds using a combined soaking and Kitano approach, Dalton Transactions, 40(36): 9259-9268 (2011) DOI: 10.1039/c1dt11056j

Lendrum, C.D., Ingham, B. Lin, B., Meron, M., Toney, M.F. and McGrath, K.M., Non-equilibrium 2-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid monolayers: Effect of electrolytes, Langmuir, 27(8):4430-4438 (2011) DOI: 10.1021/la104938f

Post Doctoral FellowNatasha Evans

Research StudentsChristina Efthymiou, PhD Davoud Zare, PhD Graham Fairweather, PhD Mario Alayon, PhD Marjorie Griffiths, PhD Mehrdad Ghahrae, PhD Mima Kurian, PhD Nurul Che Zaudin, PhD Riyad Mucadam, PhD Saeedeh Afsar, PhD


Dr Natalie Plank, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD (Edinburgh)



Dr Natalie Plank is a Lecturer in Physics in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. Natalie completed a BSc (Hons) in Astrophysics at The University of Edinburgh before doing an MSc in Microelectronics. She then completed her PhD on the functionalisation of carbon nanotubes for molecular electronics with Rebecca Cheung also at The University of Edinburgh.

After arriving in New Zealand she has been a Foundation for Science Research and Technology (FRST) postdoctoral fellow and has established the cleanroom fabrication facility at Victoria. Since becoming a MacDiarmid Institute she has been actively involved in the role of emerging scientists in New Zealand and was the founder and inaugural chair of MESA.

Natalie’s research interests are in the area of nanomaterial device fabrication and the characterisation of novel materials. Her current work focuses on nanomaterial device platforms for sensing technology. She is interested in carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanowires for nanowire transistor applications and in particular the ability to functionalise the nanomaterial channels with specific biomarkers. Natalie’s core interests are in low cost fabrication techniques which allow for high throughput of devices whilst maintaining the particular material properties of the unique nanowire system. This has been particularly important for device fabrication for both carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanowire transistors, where flexible electronics have huge potential. See the full publications list for more details.


Selected Publications Conor P. Burke-Govey and Natalie O V Plank, Review of hydrothermal ZnO nanowires: Toward FET applications, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, 31, 06F101 (2013)

N.O.V. Plank, H Y Zheng, Satya Agarwal, Dayna Kivell, Gideon Gouws and Jadranka Travas-Sejdic, Facile synthesis of Poly(methylsilsesquioxane) and MgO nanoparticle composite dielectrics, Journal of Materials Research, In Press 28 (2013).

N.O.V. Plank, F. Natali, J. Galipaud, J.H. Richter, M. Simpson, H.J. Trodahl and B.J. Ruck, Enhanced Curie temperature in N-deficient GdN, Applied Physics Letters 98, 112503 (2011)

N.O.V. Plank, I. Howard, A. Rao, M.W.B. Wilson, C. Ducati, R.S. Mane, J.S. Bendall, R.R.M. Louca, N.C. Greenham, H. Miura, R.H. Friend, H.J. Snaith and M.E. Welland, Efficient ZnO nanowire solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells using organic dyes and core-shell nanostructures, Journal of Physical Chemistry C 113, 18515 (2009) DOI: 10.1021/jp904919r

Research StudentsHanyue (Hannah) Zheng, PhD Conor Burke-Govey, PhD Cameron Wood, MSc

PROFILE 2014 97

Professor Roger Reeves, BSc(Hons) PhD Cant

Department of Physics & Astronomy University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8140


Roger Reeves is a Professor of Physics and currently Head of Department at the University of Canterbury. In general terms, his research interests concern the optical properties of materials. Investigations have covered solid state laser development, the nonlinear optical properties of photorefractive crystals and the spectroscopy of new semiconductors and fabricated nanostructures. A distinctive characteristic of these studies has been the extensive use of student input in research projects that develop their education

They have developed an extremely sensitive spectroscopic technique called Combined Excitation-Emission Spectroscopy (CEES) that has dramatically shortened the time needed to fully explore both the emission and laser-excitation spectra of atoms. CEES of rare-earth ions have been used for the first time to probe the optical properties of superlattices of insulating materials. The sensitivity of their technique has allowed atomic monolayer resolution to be realised in a spectroscopic experiment.

They have made significant progress in the understanding of the optical properties of two very important semiconductors. Their photoluminescence (PL) studies have been able to identify a low energy feature in Mg-doped InN that correlates to the onset of p-type conductivity. This discovery will significantly contribute to the large indium-gallium-nitride optoelectronics industry. At the other end of the spectrum their rigorous studies of ZnO have revealed subtle differences in the PL spectra from the two polar faces.


Objective 2: Optoelectronic properties of nanoscale and advanced materials

Selected PublicationsR. Heinhold, H.S. Kim, F. Schmidt, H. von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann, R.J. Mendelsberg, R.J. Reeves, S.M. Durbin, M.W. Allen, Optical and defect properties of hydrothermal ZnO with low lithium contamination, Applied Physics Letters, 101, 062105 DOI: 10.1063/1.4739515 (2012)

M.F. Reid, P.S. Senanayake, J.P.R. Wells, G. Berden, A. Meijerink, A.J. Salkeld, C.K. Duan, R.J. Reeves, Transient photoluminescence enhancement as a probe of the structure of impurity-trapped excitons in CaF2:Yb2+, PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 84, 113110, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.84.113110 (2011)

R.J. Mendelsberg, M.W. Allen, S.M. Durbin, R.J. Reeves, Photoluminescence and the exciton-phonon coupling in hydrothermally grown ZnO, Physical Review B, 83 205202. (2011)

S.V. Gastev,J.K.Choi, R.J. Reeves, Laser spectroscopy of Eu3+ cubic centers in the CaF2 bulk single crystal, Physics of the Solid State 51 44-49.(2009)

Research StudentsAdam Hyndman, PhD Alex Neiman, PhD Chrissy Emeny, MSc Mohammad Zeidan, PhD

Research AssistantIan Farrell


Professor Bernd Rehm

Institute of Molecular Biosciences Massey University Private Bag 11 222 Palmerston North

Phone: 06 350 5515 extn 7890 E-mail: [email protected]

Bernd Rehm received his MSc (1991), PhD (1993), Postdoctoral Associate (1994) from Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany; DFG Postdoctoral and Research Grant Fellow (1994-96) from University of British Columbia, Canada; Habilitation in Microbiology (1996-2001), Research Group Leader (2001-2003) University of Münster, Germany; Associate Professor (2004-2005) Massey University, New Zealand

Research InterestsNanobio/Bionano and Soft Matter Objective 1: Bottom-Up Soft Engineering


Bernd’s research focuses on microbial biosynthesis of polymers and biosurfactants as well as on the self-organisation of biological nanostructures produced by microorganisms. The biosynthesis of alginates, polyhydroxyalkanoates (bioplastics, biopolyester) and rhamnolipids and the formation of intracellular polymer and protein self-assemblies are investigated. These studies involve synthetic biology approaches and the application of a broad spectrum of imaging techniques as well as a variety of analytical methods.

Selected PublicationsWhitney, J., Hay, I.D., Li, C., Eckford, P., Robinson, H., Amaya, M., Wood, L., Ohman, D., Bear, C., Rehm, B.H.A., Howell, P.L. (2011) Structural basis for alginate secretion across the bacterial outer membrane. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108(32):13083-8.

Parlane, N.A. , Grage, K., Lee, J.W., Buddle, B.M., Rehm, B.H.A. (2011) Production of a particulate Hepatitis C vaccine candidate by engineered Lactococcus lactis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 77(24):8516-22.

Rehm, B.H.A. (2010) Bacterial polymers: Biosynthesis, modifications and applications. Nature Rev. Microbiol. 8:578-592.

Grage, K., Jahns, A. C., Parlane, N., Palanisamy, R., Rasiah, I. A., Atwood, J.A., Rehm B.H.A. (2009) Polyhydroxyalkanoate granules: Biogenesis, structure and potential use as micro-/nano-beads in biotechnological and biomedical applications. Biomacromolecules, 10:660-669.

Research StudentsDavid Hooks, PhD Fata Moradali, PhD Jason Lee, PhD Jinping Du, PhD Majela Gonzalez Miro, PhD Patricia Rubio Reyes Shirin Ghods, PhD Shuxiong Chen, PhD Yacie Wang, PhD Panan Sitthirit, MSc

PROFILE 2014 99

Dr Ben Ruck, BSc (Hons), PhD Well



Ben completed a PhD at Victoria University of Wellington before undertaking postdoctoral work at in the Molecular Beam Epitaxy Laboratory of Professor Tom Tiedje at the University of British Columbia. He returned to New Zealand on a FRST Postdoctoral Fellowship working with Professor Joe Trodahl before taking a position on the academic staff at Victoria University in 2003.

Ben’s area of research interest is experimental condensed matter physics, with a particular focus on growing thin films of novel materials and determining their atomic structure and electronic properties. This work involves collaboration with numerous students, postdocs, and academics at VUW and the MacDiarmid Institute, and at other institutions in New Zealand and around the world. Current research projects include investigating the electronic and magnetic properties of rare-earth nitrides, including their potential use in spintronics, and investigating the electronic structure of transition metal nitrides.

Research InterestsElectronic and Optical Materials Objective 2: Optoelectronic properties of nanoscale and advanced materials

Objective 3: Superconducting and spin-dependent properties of novel materials

Selected PublicationsDo Le Binh, B.J. Ruck, F. Natali, H. Warring, H.J. Trodahl, E.-M. Anton, C. Meyer, L. Ranno, F. Wilhelm, and A. Rogalev, Europium nitride: A novel diluted magnetic semiconductor, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 167206 (2013)

F. Natali, B. J. Ruck, N. O. V. Plank, and H. J. Trodahl, S. Granville, C. Meyer, Walter R. L. Lambrecht, Rare-earth mononitrides, Prog. Mats. Sci. 58, 1316 (2013)

H. Warring, B.J. Ruck, H.J. Trodahl, and F. Natali, Electric field and photo-excited control of the carrier concentration in GdN, Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 132409 (2013)

F. Natali, B.J. Ruck, H. J. Trodahl, Do Le Binh, S. Vezian, B. Damilano, Y. Cordier, F. Semond, and C. Meyer, Role of magnetic polarons in ferromagnetic GdN, Phys. Rev. B 87, 035202 (2013)

J.H. Richter, B.J. Ruck, M. Simpson, F. Natali, N.O.V. Plank, M. Azeem, H.J. Trodahl, A.R.H. Preston, B. Chen, J. McNulty, K.E. Smith, A. Tadich, B. Cowie, A. Svane, M. van Schilfgaarde, and W.R.L. Lambrecht, Electronic structure of EuN: growth, spectroscopy, and theory, Phys. Rev. B 84, 235120 (2011)

N.O.V. Plank, F. Natali, J. Galipaud, J. H. Richter, M. Simpson, H. J. Trodahl, and B. J. Ruck, Enhanced Curie temperature in N-deficient GdN, Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 112503 (2011)

Post Doctoral FellowEva Anton

Research StudentsHarry Warring, PhD James McNulty, PhD Jibu Stephen, PhD Luis Figueras, PhD Tanmay Maity, PhD Thomas Minnee, PhD


Associate Professor Cather Simpson, B.A. (University of Virginia), PhD (University of New Mexico School of Medicine)

University of Auckland School of Chemical Sciences and Department of Physics Private Bag 92019 Auckland 1142


Dr. Cather Simpson earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies - Echols at the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine as a Howard Hughes Predoctoral Fellow. During her Ph.D. studies, she became increasingly interested in understanding and exploiting the fundamental interactions of light with molecules. After a Department of Energy Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, she joined Case Western Reserve University in 1997 to pursue this research. In the Chemistry Department at CWRU, she earned tenure, was promoted to Associate Professor and started the Center for Chemical Dynamics. Along with her laser research, she fostered innovation in undergraduate teaching, women in science, and ethics in education and research.

In 2007, Dr. Simpson joined The University of Auckland where she soon took on a new challenge - to establish and direct the new multi-user Photon Factory. The core mission of the Photon Factory is to bring the rich versatility of high-tech, short laser pulses to NZ academic and industry innovators. The facility has grown rapidly since it opened in 2010 - we now have about thirty students and staff who work on dozens of academic and commercial projects. These range from evaluating the photobehaviour of improved solar energy harvesting molecules to fabricating photomasks for microfluidic chip production and improving the efficiency of ultrafast

laser micromachining. The Photon Factory’s first spin-off company, Engender Technologies, is commercializing research to make a novel sperm sorting chip for the agriculture sector. Dr. Simpson’s own research interests lie with the fundamental photoinduced dynamics of molecules in the condensed phase, and with the detailed interaction of ultrashort pulsed lasers with materials.


Selected PublicationsHertel, S.A., Wang, X., Hosking, P., Simpson, M.C., Hunter, M., Galvosas, P. (2015) “Magnetic Resonance Pore Imaging of Microscopic Non-Symmetric Pore Shapes” Phys. Rev. E.

Yang, Xiaojie; Lorenser, Dirk; McLaughlin, Robert A.; Kirk, Rodney W.; Edmond, Matthew; Simpson, M. Cather; Grounds, Miranda D.; Sampson, David D. (2014) “Imaging deep skeletal muscle structure using a high-sensitivity ultrathin side-viewing optical coherence tomography needle probe” Biomedical Optics Express. 5(1):136-48.

Rohde, C. A.; Ware, H.; MacMillan, F.; Malkhaz, M.; Simpson, M. C. (2013) “Selective Gold Film Removal from Multilayer Substrates with Nanosecond UV Pulsed Laser Ablation” App. Phys. A. 111(2): 531-537.

Simpson, M.C.; Protasiewicz, J.D. (2013) “Phosphorus as a Carbon Copy and as a Photocopy: New Conjugated Materials Featuring Multiple Bonded Phosphorus” Pure Appl. Chem.85:801-815.

Raos, B.J.; Unsworth, C.P.; Costa, J.L.; Rohde, C.A.; Bunting, A.S.; Devilopolous, E.; Murray, A.F.; Dickinson, M.D.; Simpson, M.C.; Graham, E.S. (2013) “Infrared Laser Ablative Micromachining of Parylene-C on SiO2 Substrates for Rapid Prototyping, High Yield, Human Neuronal Cell Patterning” Biofabrication, 5:025006.

Kho, Julie L.H.; Rohde, Charles A.; Vanholsbeeck, Frédérique; Simpson, M. Cather (2013) “High energy, low repetition rate, photonic crystal fiber generated supercontinuum for nanosecond to millisecond transient absorption spectroscopy” Optics Communications 294:250-254.

PROFILE 2014 101

Post Doctoral FellowsBryon Wright Graham Brodie Michel Nieuwoudt Maran Muthiah

Research StudentsDijana Bogunovic, PhD Julie Kho, PhD Matheus Vargas, PhD Nina Novikova, PhD Sarah Thompson, PhD Simon Ashforth, PhD Xindi Wang, PhD Jake Martin, MSc

Research EngineersPeter Hosking Reece Oosterbeek Owen Bodley Fraser MacMillan Hayley Ware

Research AssistantsTristan Ware Tom Ford Yonje Kwan David Han Rebecca Ma Nico Lumangas Tyla Sterrs Yael Ben-Tal Gloria Hou Tulele Masoe Maggie Au Antoine Runge


Professor Jeff Tallon, BSc(Hons) PhD DSc FRSNZ, HonFIPENZ, CNZM

Robinson Research Institute Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington 6140


Professor Jeff Tallon is Professor of Physics at Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington. He is internationally known for his research and discoveries in high-Tc superconductors (HTS), which are currently being developed for applications across all sectors – health, transport, energy, mining and minerals processing, and the research sector. His research includes the physics and materials science of HTS – thermodynamics, magnetism, electronic transport properties, novel materials, and flux pinning. Jeff’s other research interests include nanotechnology, hybrid organic/inorganic materials, spin crossover materials and physics at high pressure. He has received many awards for his work, including the Rutherford Medal, the Dan Walls Medal for Physics and, along with Prof. Bob Buckley, the inaugural Prime Minister’s Science Medal. Jeff has been a Visiting Professor at the Cavendish laboratory, Cambridge University, University of Paris and EPFL, Lausanne. He is Chair of the MacDiarmid Institute International Science Advisory Board.

Research InterestsElectronic and Optical Materials Objective 3: Superconducting and spin-dependent properties of novel materials

Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter Objective 3: Transport in the Nanoworld

Focus on achieving a thermodynamic understanding of High Tc Superconductors by determining the pressure-, temperature-, doping- and ion-size-dependence of all the important energy and length scales pertinent to superconductivity using specific heat, Raman, NMR and muon spin relaxation.

Selected PublicationsB.P.P. Mallett, T. Wolf, E. Gilioli, F. Licci, G.V.M. Williams, A.B. Kaiser, N.W. Ashcroft, N. Suresh and J.L. Tallon, “Dielectric versus magnetic pairing mechanisms in high-temperature cuprate superconductors investigated using Raman scattering”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 237001 (2013).

J. G. Storey, J. L. Tallon & G.V.M. Williams, “Electron pockets and pseudogap asymmetry observed in the thermopower of underdoped cuprates”, Europhysics Letters, 102, 37006 (2013).

J.L. Tallon & J.R. Cooper, High times for High-Tc, Physics World 24 (9) 21-22 (2011).

Dubroka, M. Rössle, K. W. Kim, V. K. Malik, D. Munzar, D. N. Basov, A. A. Schafgans, S. J. Moon, C. T. Lin, D. Haug, V. Hinkov, B. Keimer, Th. Wolf, J. G. Storey, J. L. Tallon, and C. Bernhard, Evidence of a Precursor Superconducting Phase at Temperatures as High as 180 K in RBa2Cu3O7-α(R=Y,Gd,Eu) Superconducting Crystals from Infrared Spectroscopy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 047006 (2011).

Tallon J.L., Barber, F., Storey, J.G., Loram, J.W., “Coexistence of the superconducting energy gap & pseudogap above and below the transition temperature of cuprate superconductors”, Phys. Rev. B Rapid Comm. 87, R140508 (2013).

J. L. Tallon, J. G. Storey and J. W. Loram, Fluctuations, and Tc reduction in cuprate superconductors, Phys. Rev. B 83, 092502 (2011).

Post Doctoral FellowsJames Storey Suresh Narayanswamy

Research StudentsHaissam Dernaika, PhD Wayne Crump, PhD

PROFILE 2014 103

Associate Professor Shane Telfer, PhD Cant



Shane Telfer was born in the town of Clyde in Central Otago, New Zealand. He completed a BSc(Hons) and a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Canterbury, and is now an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Massey University. This gradual drift northwards was punctuated by a post-doctoral odyssey that included stops in Geneva, Tokyo and Montreal. Shane has broad interests in synthetic chemistry and molecular materials. The current focus of his research is the chemistry of metal-organic frameworks, a tremendously exciting new class of porous materials.

Research InterestsMolecular materials Objective 3: Metallosupramolecular materials

We currently focus on metal-organic frameworks, which are crystalline ‘molecular sponges’ that have applications in gas storage, separations and catalysis. We are exploring new ways to design and synthesize these materials and to enhance their functional properties. We also have a keen interest in synthesizing new chromophoric compounds for applications in photovoltaics.

Selected PublicationsL. Liu, K. Konstas, M. R. Hill and S. G. Telfer, Programmed Pore Architectures in Modular Quaternary Metal–Organic Frameworks. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 17731-17734.

R. K. Deshpande, G. I. N. Waterhouse, G. B. Jameson and S. G. Telfer, Photolabile Protecting Groups in Metal-Organic Frameworks: Preventing Interpenetration and Masking Functional Groups. Chem. Commun. 2012, 48, 1574-1576.

T. M. McLean, J. L. Moody, M. R. Waterland and S. G. Telfer, Luminescent Re(I)-dipyrrinato Complexes. Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51, 446-455.

D.J. Lun, G. I. N. Waterhouse, and S. G. Telfer, A General Thermolabile Protecting Group Strategy for Organocatalytic Metal−Organic Frameworks. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 5806–5809.

R. K. Deshpande, J. L. Minnaar and S. G. Telfer, Thermolabile Groups in Metal-Organic Frameworks: Post-Synthetic Cavity Expansion and Unmasking of Reactive Functional Groups. Angew. Chem, Int. Ed. 2010,47, 4598-4602

Post Doctoral FellowsAlan Ferguson Hui Yang

Research StudentsHeather Jameson, PhD Luke Liu, PhD Sebastian Blackwood, PhD

Research AssistantDavid Lun


Associate Professor Richard Tilley, MChem Oxf, PhD Camb



Associate Professor Richard Tilley is part of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), NZ. His research is focused on the solution synthesis of nanoparticles and quantum dots for applications ranging from catalysis to biomedical imaging. He did his PhD in the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK, after which he was a Postdoctoral Fellow for two years at the Toshiba basic R&D Center, Japan. A native of the UK, he graduated with a Masters of Chemistry from Oxford University, UK.

Research InterestsBionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter Objective 3: Transport in the Nanoworld

Objective 4: Biology on-the-Fly

Objective 5: Nanomaterials for Biological Applications Research into the synthesis of nanoparticles with a range of applications including MRI contrast agents, catalysts and solar cells. Characterization of nanoparticle sizes, shapes, crystallography and properties using electron microscopy.

Selected PublicationsJ. Watt, C. Yu, S. L.-Y. Chang, S. Cheong, R. D. Tilley ‘Shape Control from Thermodynamic Growth Conditions – The Case of hcp Ruthenium Hourglass Nanocrystals’ Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135, 606-609, (2013).

A. P. LaGrow, S. Cheong, J. Watt, B. Ingham, M. F. Toney, D. A. Jefferson, R. D. Tilley ‘Can polymorphism be used to form branched metal nanostructures?’ Advanced Materials,25, 1552-1556,(2013).

A. M. Henning, J. Watt, P. J. Miedziak, S. Cheong, M. Santonastaso, M. Song, Y. Takeda, A. I. Kirkland, S. H. Taylor, R. D. Tilley ‘Gold-palladium core-shell nanocrystals with size and shape control optimised for catalytic performance’ Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 52, 1477–1480 (2013).

M. Dasog, Z. Yang, S. Regli, T. M. Atkins, A. Faramus, M. P. Singh, E. Muthuswamy, S. M. Kauzlarich, R. D. Tilley, J. G. C. Veinot‘Chemical Insight Into The Origin of Red and Blue Photoluminescence Arising From Freestanding Silicon Nanocrystals’ ACS Nano, 7, 2676-2685,(2013). S. Cheong, R. D. Tilley, ‘Earthworms lit with quantum dots’, News and Views Nature Nanotechnology, 8, 6-7, (2013).

S. Cheong, P. Ferguson, K. W. Feindel, I. F. Hermans, P. T. Callaghan, C. Meyer, A. Slocombe, C-H. Su, F-Y. Cheng, C-S. Yeh, B. Ingham, M. F. Toney, R. D. Tilley ‘Simple Synthesis and Functionalization of Iron Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging’ Angewandte Chemie International Edition, featured as issue back cover article, 50, 4206–4209(2011).

Post Doctoral FellowDavid Herman

Research StudentsAngelique Faramus, PhD Andrew McGrath, PhD Ben McVey, PhD Christoph Hasenoehrl, PhD Chenlong Yu, PhD Leah Graham, PhD Lucy Gloag, PhD Moritz Banholzer, PhD Xuan Hao Chan, PhD

PROFILE 2014 105

Professor Jadranka Travas-Sejdic, BSc, MSc (Zagreb, Croatia), PhD (Auckland, NZ)

School of Chemical Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92 019 Auckland 1142


Jadranka Travas-Sejdic received her MSc in Zagreb and Ph.D. from University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1999. She worked as a scientist in Genesis Research Corporation Limited and as a scientist and senior project manager in Pacific Lithium Limited, Auckland, before returning to the University of Auckland in 2002 where she is currently a Professor at the School of Chemical Sciences and Director of the Polymer Electronic Research Centre (PERC). She has been a Principal Investigator of the MacDiarmid Institute since 2007. She is a recipient of the Easterfield Medal, a Fellow of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, a Councilor of the Pacific Polymer Federation and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.


Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter Objective 1: Bottom-Up Soft Engineering

Selected PublicationsLaslau, C., Zujovic, Z. and Travas-Sejdic, J. (2010). Theories of polyaniline nanostructure self-assembly: Towards an expanded, comprehensive Multi-Layer Theory (MLT). Review in Prog Polym Sci, 35 (12), p1403-1419

Kannan, B., Williams, D.E., Booth, M.A. and Travas-Sejdic, J. (2011). High-Sensitivity, Label-Free DNA Sensors Using Electrochemically Active Conducting Polymers. Anal Chem, 83 (9), p3415-3421

Laslau, C., Williams, D.E., Wright, B.E. and Travas-Sejdic, J. (2011). Measuring the Ionic Flux of an Electrochemically Actuated Conducting Polymer Using Modified Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy. J Am Chem Soc, 133 (15), p5748-5751

Zujovic, Z.D., Laslau, C., Bowmaker, G.A., Kilmartin, P.A., Webber, A.L., Brown, S.P. and Travas-Sejdic, J. (2010). Role of Aniline Oligomeric Nanosheets in the Formation of Polyaniline Nanotubes. Macromolecules, 43 (2), p662-670

Luo, C.H., Peng, H., Zhang, L.J., Lu, G.L., Wang, Y.T. and Travas-Sejdic, J. (2011). Formation of Nano-/Microstructures of Polyaniline and its Derivatives. Macromolecules, 44 (17), p6899-6907

Peng, H., Zhang, L.J., Soeller, C. and Travas-Sejdic, J. (2009). Conducting polymers for electrochemical DNA sensing. Review in BIOMATERIALS, 30 (11), p2132-2148

Post Doctoral FellowJenny Malstrom

Research StudentsAlissa Hackett, PhD Bicheng Zhu, PhD Eddie Chan, PhD Lisa Strover, PhD Mona Damavandi, PhD Nihan Ayedmir, PhD Omer Chaudhary,PhD Paul Baek, PhD Thomas Kerr-Phillips, PhD


Emeritus Professor Joe Trodahl, MSc PhD Mich Stat



Professor Joe Trodahl is a Professor Emeritus in Physics at Victoria University, after retiring from a chair in 2002. He joined Victoria University in 1971, having completed a PhD from Michigan State University and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia.

He remains involved in research nearly full time in Wellington, and the freedom of retirement has allowed him to take on work outside New Zealand.

Current research includes the intrinsic ferromagnetic rare-earth nitride semiconductors, Raman scattering investigation of the ferroelectric phases of nanostructured perovskites, ferroelectric/ferromagnetic multiferroic structures and heat flow in sea ice.



Growth, electronic and magnetic properties of ferromagnetic semiconductors;

Raman investigation of structural phase transitions, especially nanostructured ferroelectrics

Magneto-electric multiferroic devices; sea ice structure and properties

Selected PublicationsDo Le Binh, B. J. Ruck, F. Natali, H. Warring, H. J. Trodahl, E. M. Anton, C. Meyer, L. Ranno, F. Wilhelm, and A. Rogalev “Europium nitride: A novel diluted magnetic semiconductor”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 167206 (2013).

Ben Wylie-van Eerd,Dragan Damjanovic, Naama Klein, Nava Setter, Joe Trodahl,“The Structural Complexity of (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-BaTiO3 as Revealed by Raman Spectroscopy”, Phys. Rev. B 82, 104112 (2010).

E. Mikheev, I. Stolichnov, E. De Ranieri, J. Wunderlich, H. J. Trodahl, A. W. Rushforth, S. W. E. Riester, R. P. Campion, K. W. Edmonds, B. L. Gallagher, N. Setter, “Magnetic Domain Wall Propagation under Ferroelectric Control”, Phys. Rev. B 86, 235130 (2012).

F. Natali, B.J. Ruck, H.J. Trodahl,Do Le Binh,S. Vezian,B. Damilano,Y. Cordier,F. Semond,and C. Meyer, “Role of magnetic polarons in ferromagnetic GdN”, Phys. Rev. B 87, 035202 (2013).

Eva-Maria Anton, B. J. Ruck, C. Meyer, F. Natali, Harry Warring, Fabrice Wilhelm, A. Rogalev, V. N. Antonov and H. J. Trodahl, “Spin/orbit moment imbalance in the near-zero moment ferromagnetic semiconductor SmN”, Phys. Rev. B 87, 134414 (2013).

F. Natali, B. J. Ruck, N. O. V. Plank, and H. J. Trodahl, S. Granville, C. Meyer and Walter R.L. Lambrecht, “Rare-earth mononitrides”, Prog. Materials Science 58, 1316 (2013).

Post Doctoral FellowEva Anton

Research StudentTanmay Maity, PhD

PROFILE 2014 107

Professor David Williams, PhD FRSC CChem

School of Chemical Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92 019 Auckland 1142


Professor David E Williams is a graduate (MSc, PhD in Electrochemistry) of the University of Auckland. He developed his research career in electrochemistry and chemical sensors at the UK Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, in the 1980s following a period at IMI Titanium, Birmingham, UK, investigating the electrochemistry of intermetallic compounds of titanium, and after postdoctoral work at Oxford University and Imperial College London. He became Thomas Graham Professor of Chemistry at University College London in 1991 and co-founded Capteur Sensors Ltd. He was Head of the Chemistry Dept at UCL from 1999-2002 and co-founded Aeroqual Ltd .

David was Chief Scientist of Inverness Medical Innovations, based at Unipath Ltd, Bedford, UK, from 2002-2005. He joined the faculty of the Chemistry Dept at Auckland University in February 2006. He is a Deputy Director for the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. He is an adjunct Professor at Dublin City University and was Principal Investigator in the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute there. He is also a Visiting Professor at University College London, where he has strong research links, and University of Southampton, and has been Visiting Professor at University of Toronto and Cranfield University of Technology and Honorary Visiting Professor of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. He has published around 240 papers in international journals, and is inventor on around 40 patents.


Objective 2: Interacting with the Animate


Selected Publications“Point of Care Diagnostics: Status and Future”, Vladimir Gubala, Leanne F. Harris, Antonio J. Ricco, Ming X. Tan, and David E. Williams (2012) Anal.Chem., 84, pp 487–515

“Validation of low-cost ozone measurement instruments suitable for use in an air-quality monitoring network” , David E Williams, Geoff S Henshaw, Mark Bart, Greer Laing, John Wagner, Simon Naisbitt and Jennifer A Salmond, Meas. Sci. Technol. 24 (2013) 065803 (12pp) doi:10.1088/0957-0233/24/6/065803

“Direct Writing of Conducting Polymers”, Aydemir, N; Parcell, J; Laslau, C; Nieuwoudt, M; Williams, DE; Travas-Sejdic, J (2013) Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 34 , 1296-1300

“High Density Ozone Monitoring Using Gas Sensitive Semi-Conductor Sensors in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia”, Bart, M ; Williams, DE ; Ainslie, B ; McKendry, I ; Salmond, J ; Grange, SK ; Alavi-Shoshtari, M ; Steyn, D ; Henshaw, GS (2014) Environmental Science & Technology 48, 3970-3977

Room Temperature Deposition of Tunable Plasmonic Nanostructures By Atmospheric Pressure Jet Plasma”, Niall O Connor, Ram Prasad Gandhiraman, Colin Doyle, Bryony James, David E Williams and Stephen Daniels (2012), J Materials Chem.: 22, 9485-9489; DOI: 10.1039/C2JM30879G

“Reversible Electrochemical Switching of Polymer Brushes Grafted Onto Conducting Polymer Films”, Yiwen Pei, Jadranka Travas-Sejdic, David E. Williams (2012), Langmuir, 28 (21), pp 8072–8083. DOI: 10.1021/la301031b

Post Doctoral FellowsBryon Wright Ciaran Dolan Maram Muthiah Stephanie Papst

Research StudentsGeorgia Miskell, PhD Jin Akaji, PhD Maryam Alavi-Shoshtari, PhD Monika Ko, PhD


Dr Grant Williams, BSc(Hons) PhD Well



Grant Williams is a Professorial Research Fellow at Victoria University. He is currently involved in a number of research programmes that include the study of new materials for magnetic sensors, optical materials and methods for radiation detection, high temperature superconductivity, topological insulators, and linear and nonlinear optics. He is co-author on 233 publications and his research programmes span fundamental physics to applied research for New Zealand companies.



Selected PublicationsJohn Kennedy, Grant V. M. Williams, Peter P. Murmu, and Ben J. Ruck, “Intrinsic Magnetic Order and Inhomogeneous Transport in Gd Implanted Zinc Oxide”, Phys. Rev. B 88, 214423 (2013).

G. V. M. Williams, S. Janssens, C. Gaedtke, S. G. Raymond, and D. Clarke, “Observation of photoluminescence and radioluminescence in Eu and Mn doped NaMgF3 nanoparticles”, J. Lumin.143, 219 (2013).

S. Chong, G. V. M. Williams, J. Kennedy, J. L. Tallon, and K. Kadowaki, “Large magneto-resistance in SrFe2As2 single crystals”, EPL 104, 17002 (2013).

D. Rybicki, T. Meissner, G. V. M. Williams, S. Chong, M. Lux, and J. Haase, “75As NMR study of overdoped CeFeAsO0.8F0.2”, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 25, 315701 (2013).

S. Janssens, G. V. M. Williams, and D. Clarke, “Synthesis and characterization of rare earth and transition metal doped BaMgF4 nanoparticles”, J. Lumin. 134, 277 (2013).

P. P. Murmu, J. Kennedy, G. V. M. Williams, B. J. Ruck, S. Granville, and S. Chong, “Observation of magnetism, low resistivity, and magnetoresistance in the near-surface region of Gd implanted ZnO”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 082408 (2012).

Post Doctoral FellowJames Storey

Research StudentsChristin Gaedtke, PhD Jethro Donaldson, PhD Jibu Stevens, PhD Sebastian Sambale, PhD Tushara Prakash, PhD

PROFILE 2014 109

Associate Professor M (Bill) Williams, BSc(Hons), PhD, CPhys, MInstP, MNZIP



Bill Williams obtained an Honours degree in Physics with Astrophysics from Leeds University, UK and then undertook a PhD in NMR relaxation behaviour at the Open University. He went on to spend a number of years as a Postdoctoral Fellow in The Chemistry Department at York University, UK, working on various aspects of biological polymers. Subsequently he spent 4 years with Unilever Research, before returning to academia in March 2003, with a position in The Institute of Fundamental Sciences at Massey University, NZ, where he is working on biophysics and soft-matter. (www.biophysics.ac.nz)

Bill is a fellow and currently secretary of the New Zealand Institute of Physics (NZIoP), and is the New Zealand representative in the International Union of Pure Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) He was an invited participant at the Soft Meets Biology Gordon Research Conference in 2009, and was the Theme leader for the Soft Materials Theme of The MacDiarmid Institute from 2006 to 2011. He was an invited speaker at the 2010 International Hydrocolloids Conference, Co-chair and organiser of a Pectin Symposium at Pacifichem, and was recently invited to give the prestigious Pilnik Lecture at the 2011 Hydrocolloids conference in Wageningen.

He is also leading the PGP FSD Project Real-Time Measurement of Particle-Particle Formation and Growth Kinetics


Objective 3: Transport in the Nanoworld

Selected PublicationsE. Schuster, L. Lundin and M.A.K. Williams, Investigating the relationship between network mechanics and single-chain extension using biomimetic polysaccharide gels, Macromolecules, 45, 4863-4869, 2012.

Chris Lepper, Parick J.B. Edwards, R. Dykstra and Martin A.K. Williams,Rheo-NMR studies of a nematic worm-like micelle system in a high-shear-rate regime, Soft Matter,7(21), 10291-10298, 2011.

Erich Schuster, Aurelie Cucheval, Leif Lundin and Martin A.K. Williams, Using SAXS to Reveal the Degree of Bundling in the Polysaccharide Junction Zones of Microrheologically Distinct Pectin Gels, Biomacromolecules,12(7), 2583-2590, 2011.

C. Lepper,P.J.B. Edwards, E. Schuster, J. R. Brown, R. Dykstra, P.T. Callaghan, and M.A.K. Williams,Rheo-NMR studies of the behaviour of a nematic liquid crystal in a low-shear-rate regime: the transition from director alignment to reorientation, Phys. Rev. E, 82, 4, 041712, 2010.

P.J.B. Edwards, M. Kakubayashi, R. Dykstra, S.M. Pascal and M.A.K. Williams,Rheo-NMR Studies of an Enzymatic Reaction: Evidence of a Shear-Stable Macromolecular System, Biophysical Journal, 98(9), 1-9, 2010.

R.R. Vincent, A.Cucheval, Y.Hemar and M.A.K.Williams, Bio-inspired network optimization in soft materials - Insights from the plant cell wall, Eur Phys J E, 28(1), 79-87, 2009.

Post Doctoral FellowsAllan Raudsepp Luigi Sasso Rob Ward Sandy Suei

Research StudentsAmir Irani, PhD Brad Mansel, PhD Christina Efthyymiou, PhD Chris Lepper, PhD Ian Lim, PhD Jessie Owen, PhD Marjorie Griffiths, PhD Pablo Hernandez Cerdan, PhD Ben Munro, MSc Lily Lian, MSc

Technical AssistantLisa Kent


Dr Geoff Willmott, PhD (Cantab)

The Departments of Physics and Chemistry The University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand

Phone: 09 3737599 ext 89998 E-mail: [email protected]

Geoff grew up in Auckland and studied at the University of Cambridge, obtaining a PhD in shock physics in 2005. The following year he returned to New Zealand and Industrial Research Limited, where he worked in the Nano and Micro Fluidics team for 8 years, before joining the University of Auckland in 2013. Geoff has collaborated with industrial partners including Qinetiq, de Beers and Izon Science, and has previously worked in management consultancy. He currently leads the Institute’s “Bionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter” Theme and was awarded a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship in 2012.

Research InterestsBionano/Nanobio and Soft Matter Objective 3: Transport in the Nanoworld

Nanofluidics is the study and application of fluid flow in and around nanoscale structures, inspired by microfluidics, nanoscience and biotechnology. The range of tools available to researchers who wish to manipulate fluids at the nanoscale is presently limited. We use theory and experimentation to develop novel tools for harnessing nanofluidic transport. Key research topics include tunable nanopores, capillarity and motion of phase boundaries, and drop splashes on water-repellent surfaces.

Selected PublicationsVogel, R., Willmott, G. R., Roberts, G. S., Anderson, W., Kozak, D., Groenewegen, L., Glossop, B., Barnett, A., Turner, A. and Trau, M., “Quantitative Sizing of Nano/Microparticles with a Tunable Elastomeric Pore Sensor,” Anal. Chem. 83, 3499–3506 (2011).

Vogel, R., Anderson, W., Eldridge, J. E., Glossop, B. and Willmott, G. R., “A Variable Pressure Method for Characterising Nanoparticle Surface Charge using Pore Sensors,” Anal. Chem. 84, 3125-3132 (2012).

Willmott, G. R., Neto, C. and Hendy, S. C., “Uptake of Water Droplets by Nonwetting Capillaries,” Soft Matter 7, 2357-2363 (2011) – [issue cover image].

Willmott, G. R., Vogel, R., Yu, S. S. C., Groenewegen, L. G., Roberts, G. S., Kozak, D., Anderson, W. and Trau, M. “Use of Tunable Nanopore Blockade Rates to Investigate Colloidal Dispersions,” J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22, 454116 (2010).

Willmott, G. R., “Slip-Induced Dynamics of Patterned and Janus-like Spheres in Laminar Flows,” Phys. Rev. E 79, 066309 (2009).

Alsager, O. A., Kumar, S., Willmott, G. R., McNatty, K. P. and Hodgkiss, J. M. “Small Molecule Detection in Solution Via the Size Contraction Response of Aptamer Functionalized Nanoparticles,” Biosens. Bioelectron., DOI:10.1016/j.bios.2014.02.004 (2014).

Postdoctoral FellowEvgeny Bogomolny

Research StudentsEva Weatherall, PhD James Eldridge, PhD Peter Hauer, PhD

PROFILE 2014 111

Professor Ulrich Zuelicke, Diplomphysiker Leipzig PhD Indiana



Uli Zuelicke is a Professor of Physics at Victoria University of Wellington and has been a Principal Investigator at the MacDiarmid Institute since 2004.

After obtaining his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1998, he undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Karlsruhe in Germany and has held permanent academic positions at Massey University from 2003 until 2011.

His current research is focused on the theoretical description of mesoscopic and low-dimensional systems, spins in semiconductors, and graphene. Uli has been awarded the 2008 Research Medal of the New Zealand Association of Scientists and is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Physics.


Objective 4: Theory and modelling of new functionality at the nanoscale

Selected PublicationsL. Pratley, U. Zülicke, Valley filter from magneto-tunneling between single and bi-layer graphene, Applied Physics Letters 104, 082401 (2014)

R.P. Tiwari, U. Zülicke, C. Bruder, Majorana fermions from Landau quantization in a superconductor–topological-insulator hybrid structure, Physical Review Letters 110, 186805 (2013)

T. Kernreiter, M. Governale, U. Zülicke, Carrier-density-controlled anisotropic spin susceptibility of two-dimensional hole systems, Physical Review Letters 110, 026803 (2013)

O. Fialko, J, Brand, U. Zülicke, Soliton magnetization dynamics in spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensates, Physical Review A 85, 051605(R) (2012)

T. Kernreiter, M. Governale, U. Zülicke, A.R. Hamilton, Charge transport by modulating spin-orbit gauge fields for quasi-one-dimensional holes, Applied Physics Letters 98, 152101 (2011)

R. Winkler, U. Zülicke, Invariant expansion for the trigonal band structure of graphene, Physical Review B 82, 245313:1–9 (2010)

Post Doctoral FellowThomas Kernreiter

Research StudentsHani Hatami, PhD Luke Pratley, MSc


Emeritus Investigators

Professor Alan Kaiser, MSc Well, PhD Lond, FRSNZ



Alan Kaiser received his MSc in Physics and BA in Economics from Victoria University of Wellington, and his PhD in Solid State Physics from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. He has been a research assistant at Stanford University, Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the Max-Planck Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart, Royal Society (U.K.) Bursar at the University of Leeds, and McCarthy Fellow at the University of Michigan. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1998 and was awarded the Shorland Medal in 2009. His main research interest is electronic conduction and related properties of novel materials, including graphene, carbon nanotubes, conducting polymers, superconductors and glassy metals.


Current research interests are in understanding the electronic properties of novel materials (especially those with nanoscale dimensions), focusing on how the electronic conduction process occurs in different types of material. The materials we investigate include:

Graphene: We are investigating the conductance and related properties of graphene (sheets of carbon with thickness of only one atom) in collaboration with German experimentalists.

Carbon nanotubes and cupric oxide thin films and nanowires: Properties of thin transparent films of carbon nanotubes, and cupric oxide thin films and nanowires, have been measured by Shrividya Ravi and Chris Bumby and are being analyzed to understand these unusual materials

Selected PublicationsA. B. Kaiser and V. Skákalová, Electronic conduction in polymers, carbon nanotubes and graphene, Chemical Society Reviews, 40, 3786 - 3801, (2011)

A. Hewitt, A. B. Kaiser, S. Roth, M. Craps, R. Czerw and D. L. Carroll, Varying the concentration of single walled carbon nanotubes in thin film polymer composites, and its effect on thermoelectric power, Applied Physics Letters, 98, 183110, (2011)

S. Ravi, A. B. Kaiser and C. W. Bumby, Improved conduction in transparent single walled carbon nanotube networks drop-cast from volatile amine dispersions, Chemical Physics Letters, 496, 80-85, 2010.

K. K. Mahelona, A.B. Kaiser and V. Skákalová, Resistance and mesoscopic fluctuations in graphene, Physica Status Solidi B, 247, 2983-2987, 2010.

A.B. Kaiser, C. Gomez-Navarro, R.S. Sundaram, M. Burghard and K. Kern, “Electrical conduction mechanism in chemically derived graphene monolayers”, Nano Letters, 7,1787-1792, 2009.

V. Skákalová, A.B. Kaiser, J.S. Yoo, D. Obergfell and S. Roth, “Correlation between resistance fluctuations and temperature dependence of conductivity in graphene”,Physical Review B, 80,153404, 2009.

Research StudentChun Cheah, PhD

PROFILE 2014 113

Professor Ken MacKenzie, PhD, DSc, FRSNZ, FICeram



Ken MacKenzie is the Professor of Materials Chemistry at Victoria University. He is an alumnus of Victoria University, and has 45 years research experience in advanced inorganic materials (ceramics, cements, glasses, inorganic polymers), specialising in the development of new inorganic materials and their structural investigation by multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopy, of which he is an acknowledged expert. He has published more than 350 research papers in international journals and his research has been recognised by the award of numerous medals including the Easterfield Medal, the Shorland Medal and the Hector Medal. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of NZ and has held a James Cook Fellowship to Oxford University where he wrote an authoritative textbook on solid-state NMR. He has also been elected as an academician of the science division of the World Academy of Ceramics.

Research InterestsMolecular Materials Advanced inorganic materials, solid state chemistry, solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Development and structure of novel advanced inorganic materials for applications as catalysts, engineering and structural ceramics, electroceramics, bioceramics and ecologically-friendly materials for remediation of pollution. Investigation of these materials by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, electron microscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy and solid-state NMR.

Development of hybrid organic-inorganic materials for structural applications.

Selected PublicationsK. Katsumata, X. Hou, M. Sakai, A. Nakajima, A. Fujishima, N. Matsushita, K. J.D. MacKenzie, K. Okada. Visible-light-driven photodegradation of acetaldehyde gas catalyzed by aluminosilicate nanotubes and Cu(II)-grafted TiO2 composites. Applied Catalysis B 138-9 (2013) 243-52. DOI: org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.03.004

P.N. Lemougna, K.J.D. MacKenzie, G.N.L. Jameson, H. Rahier, U.F. Chinje Melo, The role of iron in the formation of inorganic polymers (geopolymers) from volcanic ash: a 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopic study. Journal of Materials Science 48 (2013) 5280-6. DOI:10.1007/s10853-013-7319-4

M. Alzeer, R. A. Keyzers, K. J.D. MacKenzie, Inorganic polymers as novel chromatographic stationary phase media. Ceramics International 40, (2013) 3553-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.09.073

K.J.D. MacKenzie, N. Rahner, M.E. Smith and A. Wong, ‘Calcium-containing inorganic polymers as potential bioactive materials’, Journal of Materials Science, 45, (2010) 999-1007.

S.J. O’Connor, K.J.D. MacKenzie, M.E. Smith and J.V. Hanna, ‘Ion exchange in the charge-balancing sites of aluminosilicate inorganic polymers’, Journal of Materials Chemistry, 20, (2010) 10234-40.

K.J.D. MacKenzie, ‘Inorganic polymers for environmental protection applications’, Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Physics Conference Series, 18 (2011) DOI:10.1088/1757-899X/18/17/172001

Research StudentsJoanne Rogers, PhD Mahroo Falah Poorsichani, PhD Mohammad Alzeer, PhD


Professor Jim Metson, BSc(Hons) PhD (Well) FNZIC MRSNZ MAIME

University of Auckland School of Chemical Sciences Private Bag 92 019 Auckland 1142

Phone: 09 373 7599 x 83877 Email: [email protected]

Professor Jim Metson graduated with PhD in Chemistry from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 1980, before taking up a position at Surface Science Western, University of Western Ontario, Canada. He then moved to the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he has held several positions including a term as Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research). He is currently Head of the School of Chemical Sciences and an Associate Director of the Light Metals Research Centre. His research interests are in materials and particularly surface science, with an emphasis on metal oxides and applications in the aluminium industry.

Research InterestsElectronic and Optical Materials Objective 3: Next generation semiconductor materials and devices

Selected PublicationsJ. Leveneur, G. I. N. Waterhouse, J. Kennedy,J. B. Metson and D. R. G. Mitchell. Nucleation and Growth of Fe Nanoparticles in SiO2: A TEM, XPS, and Fe L-Edge XANES Investigation. J Phys Chem.C. 115(43), 20978-20985. (2011).

C. Rohmann, J. B Metson and H. Idriss. DFT study of Carbon Monoxide Adsorption on α-Al2O3(0001). Surface Science 605(17-18):1694-1703 2011

M. Murdoch, G.I.N. Waterhouse, M.A. Nadeem, J.B. Metson, M.A. Keane, R.F. Howe, J. Llorca and H. Idriss, The effect of gold loading and particle size on photocatalytic hydrogen production from ethanol over Au/TiO2 nanoparticles. Nature, Chemistry: 3(6), 489-492. (2011),

Allen, M.W., Zemlyanov, D.Y., Waterhouse, G.I.N., Metson J.B., Veal, T.D, McConville, C.F., Durbin, S.M., Polarity effects in the X-ray photoemission of ZnO and other wurtzite semiconductors. Appl Phys Lett. 98(10): Article number 101906 (2011)

M. Nadeem, J. M. R. Muir, K. A. Connelly, B. T. Adamson, J. B. Metson and H. Idriss. Ethanol photo-oxidation on a rutile TiO2(110) single crystal surface. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., (2011), 13, 7637-7643.

C.W. Zou, X.D. Yan, J. Han, R.Q. Chen, W. Gao and J. Metson. Study of a Nitrogen Doped ZnO film with Synchrotron Radiation. Applied Physics Letters. 94(17), 171903/1-171903/3 (2009).

Research StudentsAkihiro Shimamura, PhD Gordon Agbenyegah, PhD Hasini Wijayaratne, PhD Jingjing Liu, PhD

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Profile 2014 - MacDiarmid Institute · Seminar Series80 Principal ... Report Against Objectives ......

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