Water droplets on a wettability gradient

Changes in hydrophobility are reflected in the changing contact angle along the gradient

Mica surfaces with local contamination

Newton’s rings are revealed between two mica sheets trapping a dust particle, in a Surface Forces Apparatus

Roughness influences contact angle

A microfabricated pillar-to-hole gradient is used to explore the influence of morphology on wetting

SEM image of silver nanoparticles made by dewetting

Silver nanoparticles fabricated by annealing a silver film on a silicon substrate

Titanium islands in a sea of gold

Near-atomically-flat titanium patterns rendered hydrophobic and gold hydrophilic by means of orthogonal surface functionalization

Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology

Our group has focussed on the application of surface-analytical techniques and functionalization approaches to problems of technological interest, particularly in the areas of tribology and biointerfaces.

Prof. em. Dr. Nicholas D. Spencer

Nicholas D. Spencer was Professor of Surface Science and Technology in the Department of Materials from 1993-2020. He is now Professor Emeritus.

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Surface Science and Technology : Overview and News