This project aims to understand what governs the sensitivity of many technological and biological processes to the precise nature of the salt present in solution.  This project will enable us to understand and control the influence of specific ions, building on our recently described fundamental ion-specific series with colloid science experiments and quantum simulations. Expected outcomes include the elucidation of the parameters that govern the patterns and perturbations of salt effects across a wide spectrum of systems. This project should overcome current challenges in predicting ion-specific effects leading to progress in a wide variety of applications of colloid and interface science, from sensor interfaces to self-assembly. This work has recently been funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Program.

Chemistry, Physics or Engineering