2005 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Waterford Institute of Technology
Sheila Donegan
Surface and Interfacial Chemistry Group

Dr. Sheila Donegan, Dr. Michael Breen & Ms. Emma Harte

The Surface and Interfacial Chemistry Group, led by Dr. Sheila Donegan, is involved in researching the use of surfactant systems as reaction media. We are involved in both basic and applied research and over the past 10 years have been funded by both national and international bodies. The main collaboration, with other national research bodies, is with the Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick.

By varying the relative amounts of surfactant, co-surfactant and solvent, a wide range of associated surfactant structures can result. A consequence of this association of surfactants into organised structures is the ability to carry out reactions in different parts of the structure. In addition each of these structures has different properties, and these properties can be manipulated in the production of materials with specific properties.


The Surface and Interfacial Chemistry Group at WIT is currently researching the use of microemulsions and lamellar liquid crystals as reaction media for the synthesis of metal oxide particles. These systems and their reaction products have been studied using a variety of techniques such as X-ray diffraction, surface tension analysis and laser diffraction to determine the microemulsion droplet size and particle size. Particles produced in the presence of these systems have been analysed with reference to reactions in bulk aqueous media.

Results to date indicate that the use of these systems as reaction media had advantages over those in bulk media in terms of the rate, the purity and the size control of products produced.

Contact: Dr. Sheila Donegan,
Tel: 051 302449; E-mail: [email protected]