Development of new analysis tools for the study of surface contamination

该项目将重点研究表面污染物与底层基材和清洁活性物质的相互作用，目的是增进对造成织物和硬表面持续污染的因素的了解。将合成一系列分子探针，并用于研究常见污染物与一系列真实表面和模型表面的相互作用。在需要时，将使用受控聚合方法来制备模型衬底。将使用一系列光谱和生物物理技术来探索常见污染物和模型底物之间的分子间相互作用。学生将获得合成有机化学方面的经验，包括小分子的合成和表征以及受控聚合策略，此外还将获得光学光谱学方面的经验，包括荧光成像和生物物理技术(包括表面等离子体共振)。

This project will focus on the study of interactions of surface contaminants with underlying substrates and cleaning actives, with the aim of improving understanding of the factors that contribute to persistent contamination of fabrics and hard surfaces. A series of molecular probes will be synthesised and used to investigate the interactions of common contaminants with a series of real-word and model surfaces. Controlled polymerisation approaches will be used to prepare model substrates where required. A range of spectroscopic and biophysical techniques will be used to explore the intermolecular interactions between common contaminants and model substrates. The student will gain experience in synthetic organic chemistry, including synthesis and characterisation of small molecules and controlled polymerisation strategies, in addition to experience in optical spectroscopy including fluorescence imaging and biophysical techniques including surface plasmon resonance.