Professor
Alison J Downard
Position
Professor
Principal Investigator with the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
Field of Study
Electrochemistry
Analytical and Surface Chemistry
Qualifications
BSc(Hons), PhD (Otago)
Room
530 (predominantly) or 660
Contact Details
Telephone: +64 3 364 2501
Fax: +64 3 364 2110
Email: alison.downard@canterbury.ac.nz
Research Interests
Also see Electrochemistry; Analytical and Surface Chemistry Research Group page
Abstract
Covalent modification of conducting substrates using radical reactions, giving chemically well-defined surfaces. Surface patterning and structuring at the nanoscale. Dynamic behaviour of nanoscale films. Preparation and functionalisation of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes and their interactions with cells. Optimisation of the architecture of bioelectrodes. Assembly of novel bioactives on surfaces and characterization of their structures and functionality. Electrochemistry as a green chemistry alternative to industrial processes. Method development, based on diffusive gradients in thin films, for speciation of analytes of environmental interest. Electrochemical studies of inorganic compounds.
1. Electrochemically-assisted modification of conducting substrates, surface patterning and structuring, dynamic properties of grafted films. Supported by the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology and the Tertiary Education Commission.
Functionality can be added to conducting materials using recently developed methods of surface modification based on direct C-C or C-N bond formation between the surface and the modifier. The general procedure involves electrochemical generation of radicals in solution at the electrode surface followed by coupling between the radical and a surface atom. Our work mainly focuses on grafting nanoscale films to carbon surfaces. We are interested in the structure and properties of layers formed by these procedures, and in patterning the layers.
2. Preparation and functionalisation of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes and their interactions with cells. Supported by the Marsden Fund, the Tertiary Education Commission and the College of Science , University of Canterbury , collaboration with Keith Baronian, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.
The project aims to functionalise the tips of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes so that they interact with specific sites on the cell membranes of microbial and mammalian cells. Vertically aligned carbon nanotube forests and arrays are being prepared by chemical assembly onto modified electrode surfaces, and by chemical vapour deposition. The interactions of nanotubes with cells will be monitored electrochemically and using microscopy.
3. Optimisation of the architecture of bioelectrodes. Supported by the Dumont d'Urville programme of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, collaboration with Dr Frédéric Barrière, Université de Rennes, 1.
Our covalent grafting methods are being applied to the attachment of enzymes and mediators for construction of electrodes for a miniaturized biofuel cell.
4. Electrochemistry as a green chemistry alternative to industrial processes. Supported by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and Canesis Network Ltd.
Electrochemistry can offer an environmentally cleaner method for carrying out industrial processes than traditional wet chemical methods. This research focuses on the use of electrochemistry in the wool industry.
5. Assembly of novel bioactives on surfaces and characterization of their structures and functionality. Supported by the Marsden Fund, collaboration with Prof. Andrew Abell, University of Adelaide .
Prof. Abell's group is engaged in the synthesis of novel peptidomimetics and other shape-constrained bioactives. Our goal is to assemble these on surfaces (at present we are using gold films) in a spatially controlled manner and to examine their structures and functionality.
6. Diffusive gradients in thin films, for speciation of analytes of environmental interest. Supported by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, collaboration with Prof. Kip Powell.
Research focuses on the use of the DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) technique for arsenic fractionation, and other aspects of method development, fundamental to the use of the DGT method for speciation.
7. Electrochemical studies of inorganic complexes
Collaborations are always welcome with inorganic chemists who have systems with interesting electrochemistry.
Postdoctoral Fellowship
- If you are a New Zealand citizen and are interested in electrochemistry or surface chemistry with a nanotechnology focus, please contact me regarding a Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Fellowship.
Current PhD Research Projects
- Attachment and patterning of molecular layers on carbon surfaces to form chemically well-defined surfaces; a nanotechnology focus
- Applications of electrochemistry in the wool industry; a green chemistry approach
- Diffusive gradients in thin films technique for the speciation of analytes of environmental interest
- Functionaisation of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays for interfacing with mammalian and microbial cells
- Nanoscale optimisation of bioelectrodes and application to an implantable biofuel cell
- Assembly of synthetic bioactive molecules on surfaces; characterization, functionality and electron transfer properties