Final Report Summary - 1DSOLVE (Controlled exfoliation of one-dimensional nanostructures; understanding the surface chemistry)
The potential of low-dimensional nanomaterials (LDNs) to revolutionise the material world has fuelled scientific curiosity for decades. Materials on this scale offer entirely new approaches to producing stronger, lighter, more conducting components. Translating their potential from fundamental science to applications is seen as a great leap forward with huge social and economic impact for those who lead the way. LDNs, however, tend to aggregate into significantly less useful (and indeed less interesting) agglomerates. 1DSOLVE proposed to advance understanding on overcoming such aggregation, building on previous field-changing work, by those involved, on over coming this critical road block such that the full potential of LDNs can be, perhaps, realised.
Specific objectives aimed to investigate the surface energies of LDNs, to investigate the forces involved in aggregation and also the special combination of interactions required between the aggregated LDN and any solvent that would disperse or dissolve them. From Dr Bergin's previous work focusing on single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene, this work contributed to formulating a general approach required to disperse aggregated low-dimensional nanomaterials (see publication list, specifically work published in Science). The surface energies for a family of LDNs were experimentally determined using inverse gas chromatography (ICG) - providing, for the first time accurate surface energies for these materials as well as reinforcing earlier theories of Dr Bergin et al. that 'good' solvents for LDN relies on matching the surface energy of the solvent to the surface energy of the LDN.
Dr Bergin established a fruitful collaboration with Dr Alexandra Porter (Dept. of Materials, Imperial College London) working on the toxicity of LDNs. As the efforts of chemists and physicists to produce de-aggreated nanomaterials are extremely novel, understanding their biotoxicity is critical. The dimensions and chemistry of these materials makes them quite different to their micro or macro counterparts thus demanding urgent investigation of their impact. Dr Porter's previous experience in working on the toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes coupled with Dr Bergin's expertise in producing representative samples (i.e. the samples being fed to the various cell lines are dispersed and are also at a meaningful concentration) has led to significant findings in this area. This collaboration provided Dr Bergin with a significant degree of training in this area - something he will bring to his next position as part of his research portfolio. Dr Bergin established other collaborative links with colleagues in academia and industry whilst working towards the objectives of 1DSOLVE; he demonstrated independence and initiative in doing so, maximising the impact of these contacts for 1DSOLVE and future projects he hopes to work on (e.g. Dr Bergin is current working on a research proposal with Dr Porter on bionanotoxicity).
In meeting the objectives of this project, Dr Bergin supervised a number of graduate and undergraduate students on mini-projects concerning 1DSOLVE. Dr Bergin's commitment to training others is a central component of his career. Whilst at Imperial he mentored a significant number of graduate and undergraduate students, helping them with research, career planning, thesis and paper writing, presentation preparation, and resolving difficulties in the work place. Dr Bergin served as a postdoctoral representative at a departmental level. This led him to establish a working relationship with Imperial College's Postdoc Development Centre. From this platform, Dr Bergin devised and executed a careers snap-shot survey of the current and former postdocs at Imperial - the first of its kind in the world. With quantitative data on the career aspirations and career realities of postdocs, Dr Bergin's findings have sparked a significant level of debate on the issue. These findings have been submitted to Nature for publication.
Dr Bergin has built on the success of his findings to secure funding for the next stage of his career and was awarded a Science Foundation Ireland Lectureship at Trinity College Dublin where he will continue to contribute to his field.
Specific objectives aimed to investigate the surface energies of LDNs, to investigate the forces involved in aggregation and also the special combination of interactions required between the aggregated LDN and any solvent that would disperse or dissolve them. From Dr Bergin's previous work focusing on single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene, this work contributed to formulating a general approach required to disperse aggregated low-dimensional nanomaterials (see publication list, specifically work published in Science). The surface energies for a family of LDNs were experimentally determined using inverse gas chromatography (ICG) - providing, for the first time accurate surface energies for these materials as well as reinforcing earlier theories of Dr Bergin et al. that 'good' solvents for LDN relies on matching the surface energy of the solvent to the surface energy of the LDN.
Dr Bergin established a fruitful collaboration with Dr Alexandra Porter (Dept. of Materials, Imperial College London) working on the toxicity of LDNs. As the efforts of chemists and physicists to produce de-aggreated nanomaterials are extremely novel, understanding their biotoxicity is critical. The dimensions and chemistry of these materials makes them quite different to their micro or macro counterparts thus demanding urgent investigation of their impact. Dr Porter's previous experience in working on the toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes coupled with Dr Bergin's expertise in producing representative samples (i.e. the samples being fed to the various cell lines are dispersed and are also at a meaningful concentration) has led to significant findings in this area. This collaboration provided Dr Bergin with a significant degree of training in this area - something he will bring to his next position as part of his research portfolio. Dr Bergin established other collaborative links with colleagues in academia and industry whilst working towards the objectives of 1DSOLVE; he demonstrated independence and initiative in doing so, maximising the impact of these contacts for 1DSOLVE and future projects he hopes to work on (e.g. Dr Bergin is current working on a research proposal with Dr Porter on bionanotoxicity).
In meeting the objectives of this project, Dr Bergin supervised a number of graduate and undergraduate students on mini-projects concerning 1DSOLVE. Dr Bergin's commitment to training others is a central component of his career. Whilst at Imperial he mentored a significant number of graduate and undergraduate students, helping them with research, career planning, thesis and paper writing, presentation preparation, and resolving difficulties in the work place. Dr Bergin served as a postdoctoral representative at a departmental level. This led him to establish a working relationship with Imperial College's Postdoc Development Centre. From this platform, Dr Bergin devised and executed a careers snap-shot survey of the current and former postdocs at Imperial - the first of its kind in the world. With quantitative data on the career aspirations and career realities of postdocs, Dr Bergin's findings have sparked a significant level of debate on the issue. These findings have been submitted to Nature for publication.
Dr Bergin has built on the success of his findings to secure funding for the next stage of his career and was awarded a Science Foundation Ireland Lectureship at Trinity College Dublin where he will continue to contribute to his field.