Our research interests are in the fields of colloid and interfacial science, materials and aerosols. We will undertake both modelling (population balance, monte carlo simulation) and experimental work to investigate three specific problems overlapping these areas. 

The first is modelling and simulation of nanoparticle formation in disperse systems; the latter can be either self-assembled liquid phase structures like surfactant micelles or aerosol mediated routes, like laser ablation. The primary interest is in predicting particle size obtained as a function of composition of the system and the operating conditions, and thereby provide theoretical understanding towards precise control of size, the latter being crucial in many applications. 

The second problem is to understand the mechanism of formation and structure of pores in thin mesoporous films templated by surfactants, nanoparticles or singe-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). The role of different substrate surfaces (which support the films) and the aforementioned templates on their ability to generate a regular mesopore structure, and the consequent properties of the thin film would be investigated through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small angle X-Ray scattering (SAXS) etc. We would also try to rationalize the observations through various long and short range interactions and interfacial properties at the substrate-film interface. 

Finally we would study dispersion of  SWNT and carbon black filler particles (synthetic and laboratory generated) in polymer nanocomposites and the resulting structure and dynamics of the material. SWNT and the fillers are micrometer long and few nanometer wide cylindrical objects where the challenge is to disperse them and then incorporate in polymer matrices for improved mechanical properties. Thus our overall research goal is to study the synthesis, structure, dynamics and properties of multiphase systems (in both particulate and thin film formulation) involving interaction and phenomena over various length and time scales.