Dr Terry Turney

Professor Terry Turney works in the Centre for Green Chemistry, a Special Research Centre funded by the ARC, at Monash University.

He is also CEO of Asia Nanomaterials, offering Research and Development to businesses in nanotechnology and materials science. His main focus of research currently is on the design, production and application of functional nanomaterials.

The materials he is exploring are both ‘active’ and ‘passive’. ‘Active nanomaterials’ respond to changes in the environment to produce a desired effect. For instance, the nanostructured coatings which are used to insulate buildings can switch from being heat absorbing to heat reflecting at a certain temperature. ‘Passive nanomaterials’ do not respond to changes in the external environment, but add functionality to a system. For example, nanoparticles in sunscreens absorb the UV rays and clay nanoplatelets modify the permeability of a polymer packaging film.

Professor Turney and his group have already seen the impact of their research in the market place, where timber varnishes, personal care products, polymer additives and nanocomposite packaging films are used widely.

In addition to these practical applications, Professor Turney relishes the intellectual challenge of working with nanotechnology in biomimetics.* He sees nature working through active hierarchical systems. “There is a need to use an ecosystem approach to industrial and urban activities in order to achieve a more sustainable society.” By designing active and appropriate hierarchical nanosystems his group has been able to secure the flow of materials and energy through the urban ecosystem. This has been achieved by the use of sensors in water and in energy management, in food production and in logistics.

The group’s work has led to collaboration with various experts. Professor Turney conducts academic research with the CSIRO. His work on nanoparticle preparation is in alliance with Monash’s Materials Science and Engineering Department, and that on the oxidation catalysis and membranes with Monash’s Department of Medical Sciences. He is investigating the immunotoxicology of nanoparticles with RMIT University, and nanostructured textile coatings with Deakin University. His work on water treatment is with the Institute of Sustainability and Innovation at Victoria University.

Commercially, Professor Turney has established successful alliances with many companies, including Micronisers, Nanokote, Sonic Essentials and leading Australian pharmaceutical companies.

In his wider interests Professor Turney is exploring the development of hybrid inorganic-biological systems to be used in feedstock production.

*The study of the structure and function of biological systems as models for the design and engineering of materials.

Selected Publications

S. Boskovic, A.J. Hill, T.W. Turney, M.L. Gee, G.W. Stevens and A. J.O’Connor, Probing the microporous nature of hierarchically templated mesoporous silica via positron annihilation spectroscopy. Progress in Solid State Chemistry, 34, 67-77 <https://ejournal.csiro.au/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=00796786&issue=v34i2-4>(2006).

Turney, T.W. Asia and the Commoditisation of Nanotechnology, Materials Australia, 51-52, Feb (2008)

Lines, M, Turney, T.W. Emerging Markets for Nanomaterials, Industrial Minerals, 60-65, Feb (2008)

Turney, T.W. “Future Materials and Performance” in Technology, Design and Process Innovation in the Built Environment. Ed. Newton, P., Hampson, K. and Drogemuller, R. Chapter 4, Taylor and Francis, London, in press (2008).