My present work is part of a joint effort within the group to understand the factors affecting the stability of high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions.
Our previous small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments on LOQ, ISIS at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories (RAL) have identified the importance of solvency of the polymer surfactant in the oil on the structure and stability of high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions. The conformation of these polymer surfactants at the aqueous droplet/oil interface is important and affected by solvent quality.
SANS and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) provide a quantitative means of measuring the strength of interaction between the solvent and polymer chain in solution. By using the hydrogenous and deuterated variants of a component of the emulsion, it is possible to selectively highlight parts of that emulsion via the technique of contrast variation, thereby unlocking their internal structure.
I started my PhD in the White group at the beginning of 2003. My field of interest lies in soft condensed matter, more specifically in the theory of emulsion stability. At present, I am examining high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions using small angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS respectively), in particular, the effect of solvency on polymeric surfactants at the oil/water interface.
I obtained my undergraduate and honours (Ist class) degree at Monash University. My honours degree was undertaken with Dr. Peter R. Godfrey and Prof. Douglas R. MacFarlane, studying the potential surface of room temperature molten salts using quantum mechanical modelling. I then proceeded to read for a Masters Degree (to be confirmed) at the Centre for Green Chemistry under Dr. Janet L. Scott, Prof. Douglas R. MacFarlane and Prof. Glen B. Deacon. The topic was the thermal degradation of imidazolium based room temperature molten salts and the solubility of gases within them.