Abstract

It is appreciated that the properties of solutions and surfaces is dependent on the way the surface interacts with the surroundings and the resultant “structure” of the liquid and inter-particle interactions which control properties such as dispersibility. However, typically, there is very little control and even rarer characterisation of the density of the modification that has been achieved, limiting understanding of fundamental mechanisms of interaction. Recently, we have developed approaches to routinely achieve controlled, high density attachment to surfaces of up to 5 attachments nm-2, approaching the theoretical maximum packing density.

This presentation will discuss how we have been able to use this approach as a robust platform to systematically vary the chemistry of the surface including the tethering of cofactors for enzymatic reactions, polymers and the attachment of other particles to make raspberry particles. This in turn has enabled the creation of new structures including photonic crystals and superhydrophobic surfaces based on multiple levels of roughness and it has also enabled some understanding of the rheological / solution properties of very high solids loaded “fluids”.