Research Interests
Our research group photo: Back row (l to r): Sivakumar Balakrisnan, Bertrand LeBon,
Dr. Arunas, Dr. Yurii Gun'ko, Dr. Hugh Hayden, Ian O' Connor, Mícheál Moloney, Stephen Byrne,
Front row (l to r): Anna Zukova, Serena Corr, Dr. Rowan Blake.
Not in photo: Maciek Stefanko, Michelle Byrne, Renata Tekoriute.
Chemically functionalized carbon nanotubes for polymer reinforcement
(in collaboration with Prof. W. Blau and Dr. J. Coleman, Physics, TCD)
This work is to develop novel ultra-strong carbon nanotube- polymer composite materials for broad range of applications. Recently we have demonstrated that our new organometallic approaches resulted in the preparation of novel nanotube - polymer composites having a significant increase of mechanical properties. We have shown that as a nanotube content is increased to 1 weight %, the Young's Modulus increased by a factor of 3, while both the tensile strength and the toughness increased by factors 3.8 and 4 respectively. The results of this research have been recently reviewed and higlited in "New Scientist" (2004, September, 18), "Materials Today" (2004, 7 (10), 15) and "Chemistry World" (2005, January, No 1) popular magazines. This work is sponsored by HEA PRTLI and SFI basic grant schemes.
Rowan Blake (Postdoctoral fellow), Ian O' Connor and Michelle Byrne (Postgraduate students)
Previous students: Dr. Hugh Hayden, Crest Institute, DIT, Dublin, Ireland.
Representative papers:
R. Blake, Y.K. Gun'ko, J. Coleman, M. Cadek, A. Fonseca, J.B. Nagy, W. Blau, A generic organometallic approach toward ultra-strong carbon nanotube-polymer composites, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126 (33), 10226-10227.
J.N. Coleman, M. Cadek, V. Nicolosi, R. Blake, F. Liégeois, A. Fonseca, J.B. Nagy, Y. Gun'ko and W.J. Blau, High performance nanotube reinforced plastics: Understanding the mechanism of strength increase, Adv. Functional Materials, 2004, 14(8) 791 - 798.
J.N. Coleman, U. Khan, Y.K. Gun'ko, Mechanical Reinforcement of Polymers Using Carbon Nanotubes, Advanced Materials, 2006, 18 (6), 689 - 706.
J.N. Coleman, U. Khan, W.J. Blau, Y.K. Gun'ko, Small but strong: A review of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube - polymer composites, Carbon, 2006, 44, 1624 -1652.
New magnetic fluids for biomedical applications
(in collaboration with Dr. D. Brougham, DCU)
This work is to develop novel water-based magnetic fluids for use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other biomedical applications. Our magnetic fluids contain a new type of magnetic iron oxide-DNA composites, which have been characterised by nuclear magnetic resonance dispersion (NMRD in DCU). This magnetic fluids demonstrate low field relaxivity over an order of magnitude higher that the currently used commercial MRI agents.
Serena Corr and Renata Tekoriute (Postgraduate students)
Representative papers:
S.J. Byrne, S.A. Corr, Y.K. Gun'ko, J.M. Kelly, D.F. Brougham, S. Ghosh, Magnetic nanoparticle assemblies on denatured DNA show unusual magnetic relaxivity and potential applications for MRI, Chem. Comm., 2004, 2560-2561.
Quantum dots for biomedical applications
(in collaboration with Prof. J. Donegan - Physics, Prof. Kelleher and Dr.Y. Volkov - Clinical Medicine)
The main aim of this work is to develop novel multicolour semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) for a wide range of biomedical applications. This work includes: (i) preparation of functionalized biologically-compatible CdTe-nanocomposites ; (ii) investigation of optical properties of materials (Physics); (iii) biological investigation of new materials in living cells using confocal microscopy (Clinical Medicine, TCD). The successful outcome of this research would open novel opportunities in intracellular visualization, drug delivery and diagnostics. To date this work resulted in one filed patent and one paper accepted for publication. This research is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland Research & Innovation and SFI grant scheme.
Stephen Byrne, Maciek Stefanko and Mícheál Moloney (Postgraduate students)
Representative papers:
S. J. Byrne, S.A. Corr, T.Y. Rakovich, Y.K. Gun'ko, Y.P. Rakovich, J.F. Donegan, S. Mitchell, Y. Volkov, Optimisation of the synthesis and modification of CdTe quantum dots for enhanced live cell imaging, J. Mater. Chem., 2006, published on line as a hot article, link:
http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/JM/article.asp?doi=b605333e
Magnetic nanoparticles from metallorganic precursors
The main goal of this work is to develop new metal oxide based nanocomposites for IT (e.g. hard drives in computers, memory devices) and biomedical (e.g. MRI, cancer therapy) applications. Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their assemblies have been synthesised from novel iron alkoxide precursors using innovative sol-gel techniques. The characterization testing and evaluation of new materials is performed by electron microscopy, FTIR, Raman and Möauer spectroscopy and magnetization measurements (SQUID magnetometer, Prof. J.M.D. Coey Physics, TCD). This research is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland Research & Innovation and SFI basic grant schemes.
Serena Corr and Renata Tekoriute (Postgraduate students)
Representative papers:
S.A. Corr, Y.K. Gun'ko, A.P. Douvalis, M. Venkatesan and R.D. Gunning, Magnetite nanocrystals from the single source metallorganic precursor: metallorganic chemistry vs biogeneric bacteria, J. Mater. Chem., 2004, 14, 944 - 946.
Y.K. Gun'ko, U. Cristmann, V.G. Kessler, Synthesis and structure of the first Fe(II) heterometallic alkoxide [(THF)NaFe(OtBu)3]2 - a possible precursor for new materials, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2002, 1029-1031.
G.B. Biddlecombe, Y.K. Gun'ko, J.M. Kelly, S.C. Pillai, J.M.D. Coey, M. Venkatesan, A.P. Douvalis, Preparation of magnetic nanoparticles and their assemblies using Fe(II) alkoxide precursor, J. Mater. Chem., 2001, 11, 2937 - 2939.
Chemical functionalisation of porous silicon surfaces
(in collaboration with Drs. A. Moore and T. Perova, Electronics Engineering, TCD)
This research is on development of new metallorganic composites on porous silicon. The composites are expected to have a range of applications in sensors, molecular electronics and nanotechnology. The project involves different techniques on preparation and functionalisation of porous silicon and investigation of the materials by XPS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy. To date the research resulted in four journal publications. Three more manuscripts and one patent are currently in preparation. This work is sponsored by HEA PRTLI and Enterprise Ireland Basic Research Grant schemes.
Dr. Sivakumar Balakrishnan (Postdoctoral fellow)
Representative papers:
E.V. Astrova, T.N. Borovinskaya, A.V. Tkachenko, S. Balakrishnan, T.S. Perova, A. Rafferty, Y.K. Gun'ko, Morphology of macro-pores formed by electrochemical etching of p-type Si, J. Micromech. Microeng.\, 2004, 14(7), 1022-1028.
Balakrishnan S, Gun'ko YK, Perova TS, Rafferty A, Astrova EV, Moore RA Porous silicon - rare earth doped xerogel and glass composites, PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI A-APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE 202 (8): 1693-1697 JUN 2005
Sivakumar Balakrishnan, Yurii K. Gun'ko, Tatiana S. Perova, Robert A. Moore, Munuswamy Venkatesan, Alexios P. Douvalis, Paul Bourke, Dendrite-Like Self-Assembly of Magnetite Nanoparticles on Porous Silicon, Small, 2006, 2(7), 864-869.
Pulsed injection MOCVD for thin film growth
The main aim of this project is to prepare thin dielectric and semiconductor films for integrated circuits and nanoelectronics by using metallorganic single source precursors and a pulsed injection MOCVD technique. This research is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland Proof of Concept and SFI basic grant scheme.
Dr. Arunas (Postdoctoral fellow) and Anna Zukova (Postgraduate student)
Representative papers:
A. Teiserskis, A. Zukova, Y.K. Gun'ko, S. Grudinkin, T.S. Perova, and R.A. Moorek, Investigation of Alumina-Silica Films Deposited by Pulsed Injection Metal-Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition, Thin Solid Films, 2006, in press
Aluminium and rare earth metallasiloxane complexes
This work is to develop novel metallasiloxane derivatives of Al and lanthanides, which are expected to show useful catalytic, magnetic and optical properties. This research contributes to the development of fundamental aspects of metallasiloxane and silicate chemistry and their application in catalysis and Materials Science. The research involves an international collaboration with Prof. F.T. Edelmann (University of Magdeburg, Germany).
Previous work done by Dr. Roisin Reilly (Team Leader, Pfizer, Australia) and Dr. Matthew Bent.
Gemma-Louise Davies and Joe McCarthy (our new PhD students!)
Representative papers:
V. Lorenz, S. Gießann, Y.K. Gun'ko, A.K. Fischer, J.W. Gilje, F.T. Edelmann, Fully metalated silsesquioxanes: building blocks for the construction of catalyst models, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2004, 43, 4603 - 4606.
Y.K. Gun'ko, V.G. Kessler, R. Reilly, New pyridine adducts of organosilanols, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2004, 7/3, 341-343.
V. Lorenz, S. Gießann, Y.K. Gun'ko, A.K. Fischer, J.W. Gilje, and F.T. Edelmann, Fully Metalated Silsesquioxanes: Building Blocks for the Construction of Catalyst Models, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2004, 43, 4603 - 4606.
