Advanced Characterization Techniques for Exploring Complex Interfacial Systems

Complex, fluid-fluid interfaces are all around us. We encounter them in the consumer products we use daily, they structure our food, and they can be found in many biological systems. When surface-active particles or molecules order at an interface, they impart a non-linear response to flow and deformation. Current techniques for interrogating such systems are insufficient in that they lack the ability for simultaneous probing of interfacial microstructure and rheological behaviour. To this end, we are developing a new tool which combines neutron reflectivity and interfacial rheology. This multi-capability instrument will facilitate deeper understanding of interfacial systems under material processing or biologically relevant conditions and, importantly, will allow for the elucidation of new structure-property relationships. We envisage it to find uses in a multitude of research areas including food structuring, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, biological systems and enhanced oil recovery.

Prior to joining UD, I was utilizing soft matter (i.e. complex fluids and hydrogels) for structuring of food products, design of hierarchically porous materials with well-defined microstructures, formulation of household products, drug delivery and controlled release. I am applying my experience to synthesize interesting interfacial systems that we plan to examine with our newly designed instrument.

Publications

1. B. R. Thompson, B. C. Zarket, E. H. Lauten, S. Muthukrishnan, S. R. Raghavan, “Liposomes entrapped in biopolymer hydrogels can spontaneously release into the external medium”, Langmuir, 2020, 35, 7268-7276
2. J. P. Goertz, K. C. Demella, B. R. Thompson, I. M. White and S. R. Raghavan, “Responsive capsules that enable hermetic encapsulation of contents and their thermally triggered burst-release”, Mater. Horiz., 2019, 6, 1238-1243
3. B. R. Thompson, T. S. Horozov, S. D. Stoyanov and V. N. Paunov, “Hierarchically structured composites and porous materials from soft templates: fabrication and applications”, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 8030-8049
4. B. R. Thompson, M. Rutkevicius, T. S. Horozov, S. D. Stoyanov and V. N. Paunov, “Smart soaps: stimulus responsive soap-hydrogel bead composites for controlled dissolution and release of actives”, Mater. Chem. Front., 2018, 2, 402-409
5. B. R. Thompson, T. S. Horozov, S. D. Stoyanov and V. N. Paunov, “Hierarchically porous composites fabricated by hydrogel templating and viscous trapping techniques”, Mater. Des., 2018, 137, 384-393
6. B. R. Thompson, B. L. Taylor, Q. Qin, S. D. Stoyanov, T. S. Horozov and V. N. Paunov, “Sound transmission loss of hierarchically porous composites produced by hydrogel templating and viscous trapping techniques”, Mater. Chem. Front., 2017, 1, 2627-2637
7. B. R. Thompson, T. S. Horozov, S. D. Stoyanov and V. N. Paunov, “An ultra-melt resistant hydrogel from food grade carbohydrates”, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 45535-45544
8. B. R. Thompson, T. S. Horozov, S. D. Stoyanov and V. N. Paunov, “Structuring and calorie control of bakery products by templating batter with ultra melt-resistant food-grade hydrogel beads”, Food Funct., 2017, 8, 2967-2973