Investigating interfacial interactions between materials of different mechanical properties, forming a complex interface, can be challenging.

 

This is especially the case when working with new materials, complex fluids or when facing limitations (e.g. minuscule volume, specific temperature and pressure conditions) that push the limits of conventional characterisation methods.

 

In my work I develop and continually expand on an arsenal of experimental techniques to address such problems. Specifically, I work on:

• the rheology of liquids of minuscule volume utilising <em> in situ </em> microscopy techniques & theory on thin liquid films
• the deconvolution of the effects of surface energy and surface roughness through chemical functionalisation & goniometry, as well as morphological, nanomechanical and chemical mapping of surfaces

 

More recently, I have also started combining the aforementioned experimental approaches with modelling of the contact mechanics at complex interfaces in an effort to test our understanding of individual components and their role in the function of a complex system. 

 

References:

• Kaimaki D-M, Smith BE and Durkan C. 2018 On the use of nanomechanical atomic force microscopy to characterise oil-exposed surfaces. RSC Adv. 8, 6680. (doi: 10.1039/c7ra12209h)
• Rising Star in Living, Adaptive & Energy Autonomous Materials Systems project