Mr Daniel Toolan

Research Group

Howse Group

Biography

I studied Chemistry and completed my Master's thesis under the supervision of Prof. Tony Ryan at the University of Sheffield in 2011. As part of my degree I spent a year in industry at Tata Steel R, D & T, which taught me a great deal about the importance of science in the commercial world.

Supervisor

Dr Jonathan Howse

Research

Thin polymer films have applications in light emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic devices and are produced through spin-coating a blend of n-type and p-type polymers from a single common solvent. The efficiency of these devices, and hence their future economic success, is highly dependent upon a well defined interconnected phase separated morphology. During spin-coating solvent evaporation causes complex non- equilibrium processes such as phase separation and phase coarsening to occur, resulting in a rich variety of accessible morphologies, all from a relatively simple processing route. The fast rotating sample has often prevented in-situ studies, and as such morphology development is often inferred from the end point alone. Due to the non- equilibrium nature of the process, this approach, is at best, challenging.

The aim of my research is to understand the processes of phase separation and phase coarsening that govern morphological development in spin-coated polymer blends. Further, I aim to direct such processes through the use of feedback in order to achieve well defined interconnected morphologies.

Publications

Toolan, D. T. W., Haq, E. u., Dunbar, A., Ebbens, S., Clarke, N., Topham, P. D., Howse, J. R. Direct observation of morphological development during the spin-coating of polystyrene-poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer blends. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics 2013.

Topham, P. D., Glidle, A., Toolan, D. T. W., Weir, M. P., Skoda, M., Barker, R. D., Howse, J. R. The relationship between charge density and polyelectrolyte brush profile using simultaneous neutron reflectivity and in situ attenuated total internal reflection FTIR. Langmuir 2013.

Toolan, D. T. W. & Howse, J. R. Development of in situ studies of spin coated polymer films. Journal of Materials Chemistry C 1, 603-616 (2013).

Toolan, D. T. W., Parnell, A. J., Topham, P. D. & Howse, J. R. Directed phase separation of PFO:PS blends during spin-coating using feedback controlled in situ stroboscopic fluorescence microscopy. Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2013).

            Prizes
            RSC Macro Group Young Researcher of the Year 2012
Faculty of Science Research Photography Competition - Commended
KRI Scientific Image Competition 2012 - Commended
Chemical & Biological Engineering Photography Competition 2012 - Runner up

            

Presentations

Direct observation of phase separation in PS:PFO blends during spin coating via high speed stroboscopic fluorescence microscopy - Macro Group Young Researchers Meeting, Cambridge 2012