Dr Shirin Alexander

Associate Professor

Chemical Engineering

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Office - 214
Second Floor
Energy Safety Research Institute
Bay Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4404-0026

About

My principal research interest is in surface chemistry, materials, polymers, and colloids and also in developing and understanding the correlations between the structures adopted by surfactants/polymeric surfactants at interfaces and the physical properties of these materials in solutions. Such materials have an extensive range of applications and are widely used from enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and personal care formulations through to drug delivery vehicles.

My current work in the Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) is focused mainly on material chemistry, functionalisation/synthesis of nanoparticles and microparticles.

Areas Of Expertise

Material Chemistry
Colloid Chemistry
Polymer
Nanoparticles
Drug delivery

Publications

Research Highlights

Alexander, S., Morrow, L., Lord, A., Dunnill, C., Barron, A., & Dunnill, C. (2015). pH-responsive octylamine coupling modification of carboxylated aluminium oxide surfaces. J. Mater. Chem. A, 3(18), 10052-10059.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TA01294E, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20780
Gomez, V., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2017). Proppant immobilization facilitated by carbon nanotube mediated microwave treatment of polymer-proppant structures. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 513, 297-305.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2016.10.058, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa30859
Al-Shatty, W., Lord, A., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2017). Tunable Surface Properties of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles from Highly Hydrophobic to Highly Hydrophilic. ACS Omega, 2(6), 2507-2514.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.7b00279, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34209
Attia, H., Alexander, S., Wright, C., & Hilal, N. (2017). Superhydrophobic electrospun membrane for heavy metals removal by air gap membrane distillation (AGMD). Desalination, 420, 318-329.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.07.022, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34822
Ahn, S., Klyukin, K., Wakeham, R., Rudd, J., Lewis, A., Alexander, S., Carla, F., Alexandrov, V., & Andreoli, E. (2018). Poly-Amide Modified Copper Foam Electrodes for Enhanced Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide. ACS Catalysis, 8(5), 4132-4142.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.7b04347, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa39347
Raja, P., Esquenazi, G., Wright, K., Gowenlock, C., Brinson, B., Alexander, S., Jones, D., Gangoli, V., & Barron, A. (2018). Aqueous electromigration of single-walled carbon nanotubes and co-electromigration with copper ions. Nanoscale, 10(41), 19628-19637.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NR06485G, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa45492
Hill, D., Barron, A., & Alexander, S. (2020). Controlling the wettability of plastic by thermally embedding coated aluminium oxide nanoparticles into the surface. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 567, 45-53.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.01.116, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53397
Kiani, S., Jones, D., Alexander, S., Barron, A., & Jones, D. (2020). New insights into the interactions between asphaltene and a low surface energy anionic surfactant under low and high brine salinity. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 571, 307-317.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.03.018, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53811
Sagisaka, M., Saito, T., Abe, M., Yoshizawa, A., Blesic, M., Rogers, S., Alexander, S., Guittard, F., Hill, C., & Eastoe, J. (2020). Water-in-CO2 Microemulsions Stabilized by an Efficient Catanionic Surfactant. Langmuir, 36(26), 7418-7426.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00970, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54870
Hill, D., Apsey, H., Barron, A., & Alexander, S. (2021). Hybrid Hydrocarbon/Fluorocarbon Nanoparticle Coatings for Environmentally Friendly Omniphobic Surfaces. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 4(12), 13664-13673.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c03094, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59014

All Research

Journal Articles

Sagisaka, M., Sato, Y., Kiani, S., Alexander, S., Ardyani, T., Mohamed, A., Enick, R., Rogers, S., Hill, C., & Eastoe, J. (2024). Thickening supercritical CO2 at high temperatures with rod-like reverse micelles. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 686
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.133302, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65642
Hill, D., Niu, Y., Apsey, H., Olonisakin, O., Palmer, R., & Alexander, S. (2024). Development of CuO/Cu4(OH)6SO4 Nanoparticle Mixtures to Optimize the H2S Adsorption. ACS Applied Engineering Materials, 2(2), 305-312.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaenm.3c00575, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65506
Harrison, T., Alexander, S., Barron, N., Bonham, J., Ascencio, M., Chapman, A., Cheesman, B., England, M., Fletcher, J., Flynn, S., Fiadzomor, P., Fothergill, J., Greco, C., Griffith, A., Hanford, K., Kaur, P., Khan, M., Ingle, R., Inglis, G...., & Shallcross, D. (2023). Outreach: Impact on Skills and Future Careers of Postgraduate Practitioners Working with the Bristol ChemLabS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Journal of Chemical Education, 100(11), 4270-4278.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00261, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66225
Apsey, H., Hill, D., Barron, A., & Alexander, S. (2023). Slippery Alkoxysilane Coatings for Antifouling Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 15(13), 17353-17363.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c00555, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62907
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c00555
Al-Shatty, W., Campana, M., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2022). Interaction of Surface-Modified Alumina Nanoparticles and Surfactants at an Oil/Water Interface: A Neutron Reflectometry, Scattering, and Enhanced Oil Recovery Study. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 14(17), 19505-19514.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c02228, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59904
AL-SHATTY, W., Hill, D., Kiani, S., Stanulis, A., Winston, S., Powner, I., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2022). Superhydrophilic surface modification of fabric via coating with cysteic acid mineral oxide. Applied Surface Science, 580, 152306
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.152306, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60508
Hill, D., Apsey, H., Barron, A., & Alexander, S. (2021). Hybrid Hydrocarbon/Fluorocarbon Nanoparticle Coatings for Environmentally Friendly Omniphobic Surfaces. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 4(12), 13664-13673.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c03094, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59014
Sagisaka, M., Saito, T., Abe, M., Yoshizawa, A., Blesic, M., Rogers, S., Alexander, S., Guittard, F., Hill, C., & Eastoe, J. (2020). Water-in-CO2 Microemulsions Stabilized by an Efficient Catanionic Surfactant. Langmuir, 36(26), 7418-7426.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00970, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54870
Kiani, S., Jones, D., Alexander, S., Barron, A., & Jones, D. (2020). New insights into the interactions between asphaltene and a low surface energy anionic surfactant under low and high brine salinity. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 571, 307-317.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.03.018, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53811
Hill, D., Barron, A., & Alexander, S. (2020). Controlling the wettability of plastic by thermally embedding coated aluminium oxide nanoparticles into the surface. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 567, 45-53.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.01.116, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53397
Hill, D., Barron, A., & Alexander, S. (2019). Comparison of hydrophobicity and durability of functionalized aluminium oxide nanoparticle coatings with magnetite nanoparticles - links between morphology and wettability. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2019.07.080, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51279
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021979719308604?via%3Dihub
Hill, D., Attia, H., Barron, A., & Alexander, S. (2019). Size and morphology dependent surface wetting based on hydrocarbon functionalized nanoparticles. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 543, 328-334.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2019.02.058, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48933
Kiani, S., Rogers, S., Sagisaka, M., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2019). A New Class of Low Surface Energy Anionic Surfactant for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Energy & Fuels, 33(4), 3162-3175.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b00391, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51278
Ahn, S., Klyukin, K., Wakeham, R., Rudd, J., Lewis, A., Alexander, S., Carla, F., Alexandrov, V., & Andreoli, E. (2018). Poly-Amide Modified Copper Foam Electrodes for Enhanced Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide. ACS Catalysis, 8(5), 4132-4142.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.7b04347, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa39347
Raja, P., Esquenazi, G., Wright, K., Gowenlock, C., Brinson, B., Alexander, S., Jones, D., Gangoli, V., & Barron, A. (2018). Aqueous electromigration of single-walled carbon nanotubes and co-electromigration with copper ions. Nanoscale, 10(41), 19628-19637.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NR06485G, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa45492
Peveler, W., Packman, H., Alexander, S., Chauhan, R., Hayes, L., Macdonald, T., Cockcroft, J., Rogers, S., Aarts, D., Carmalt, C., Parkin, I., & Bear, J. (2018). A new family of urea-based low molecular-weight organogelators for environmental remediation: the influence of structure. Soft Matter, 14(43), 8821-8827.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8SM01682H, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44857
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/SM/C8SM01682H#!divAbstract
Cheraghian, G., Kiani, S., Nassar, N., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2017). Silica Nanoparticle Enhancement in the Efficiency of Surfactant Flooding of Heavy Oil in a Glass Micromodel. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.7b01675, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34698
Attia, H., Alexander, S., Wright, C., & Hilal, N. (2017). Superhydrophobic electrospun membrane for heavy metals removal by air gap membrane distillation (AGMD). Desalination, 420, 318-329.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.07.022, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34822
Al-Shatty, W., Lord, A., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2017). Tunable Surface Properties of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles from Highly Hydrophobic to Highly Hydrophilic. ACS Omega, 2(6), 2507-2514.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.7b00279, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34209
Gomez, V., Alexander, S., & Barron, A. (2017). Proppant immobilization facilitated by carbon nanotube mediated microwave treatment of polymer-proppant structures. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 513, 297-305.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2016.10.058, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa30859
Alexander, S., Eastoe, J., Lord, A., Guittard, F., & Barron, A. (2016). Branched Hydrocarbon Low Surface Energy Materials for Superhydrophobic Nanoparticle Derived Surfaces. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 8(1), 660-666.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b09784, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa28031
Alexander, S., Dunnill, C., Barron, A., & Dunnill, C. (2016). Assembly of porous hierarchical copolymers/resin proppants: New approaches to smart proppant immobilization via molecular anchors. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 466, 275-283.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2015.12.038, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa28029
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021979715304227
Alexander, S., Gomez, V., & Barron, A. (2016). Carboxylation and Decarboxylation of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles Using Bifunctional Carboxylic Acids and Octylamine. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2016, 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7950876, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa28030
Alexander, S., Morrow, L., Lord, A., Dunnill, C., Barron, A., & Dunnill, C. (2015). pH-responsive octylamine coupling modification of carboxylated aluminium oxide surfaces. J. Mater. Chem. A, 3(18), 10052-10059.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TA01294E, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20780

Supervision

Untitled (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chedly Tizaoui
Environmentally Green Bioinspired Engineering Solutions for Replacing Plastics (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Joel Loveridge
Solid-state electrolytes for batteries (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Davide Deganello
Reducing Capex and Opex Barriers to High Pressure Green Hydrogen Energy Storage (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Davide Deganello
POSSIBILITIES FOR USING HYDROGEN AS AN ENERGY INNOVATION AND ACCESSIBILITY SOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Elaine Forde
From Waste to Wealth: A Novel Strategy for Carbon Nanotube Synthesis via Exhaust Gas Capture and Feedstock Recycling (current)

PhD
Green Superhydrophobic Surfaces (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Andrew Barron
Use of HVDC transmission within Nigerian Transmission System: technical and economical evaluation (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Grazia Todeschini

Other supervisor: Prof Andrew Barron
Surface modified polymers and nanoparticles for EOR applications (awarded 2022)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Andrew Barron
Coating Network and Barrier Property Design Strategies for Protection Against Hydrogen Embrittlement«br /»«br /» (current)

EngD

Other supervisor: Dr Elizabeth Sackett
Bio-inspired Coatings with Advanced Properties from Natural Resources (current)

EngD

Other supervisor: Prof Matthew Davies
Untitled (current)

MSc

Other supervisor: Dr Thierry Maffeis
Modification of polymere-based CO2 capture materials (current)

MSc

Other supervisor: Prof Enrico Andreoli
Recycling heat into useful energy for green hydrogen production and Producing carbon nanotubes from clothing waste (current)

MSc

Other supervisor: Dr James Courtney

Other supervisor: Dr James Courtney
Growth of carbon nanotubes from waste carbon feedstock by various pathways (awarded 2023)

MSc

Other supervisor: Prof Enrico Andreoli

Taught Modules

EGCM02 MSc Research Practice

This Masters-level course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to structure and write scientific papers and reports of journal quality. Students will prepare multiple reports, each focusing on specific aspects of drafting a publication. The course involves gathering research data, performing suitable data analysis, and utilising the results to write draft publications. Key components of the course include: 1) Laboratory-based work to collect data 2) Rigorous and appropriate data analysis 3) Manuscript preparation to present results effectively To ensure continuous learning and improvement, the course is structured with multiple smaller assignments leading up to a scientific report in the form of a draft publication. This incremental approach allows students to progressively refine their writing and skills over the duration of the course.
EGCM30 MSc Dissertation - Chemical Engineering

The EGCM30 research project is the major item of directed independent learning undertaken during the master¿s programme and will normally be carried out on a research topic proposed by a member of staff from the Faculty of Science & Engineering. Study for the dissertation, which may be based on practical, industrial, simulation or literature work, or any combination of these, is carried out over a period of about 12 weeks, with the dissertation submitted at the end of September.
EGDM01 Colloid and Interface Science

Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the properties of colloids and their importance in industry.

Dr Shirin Alexander

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Supervision

Untitled (current)

Environmentally Green Bioinspired Engineering Solutions for Replacing Plastics (current)

Solid-state electrolytes for batteries (current)

Reducing Capex and Opex Barriers to High Pressure Green Hydrogen Energy Storage (current)

POSSIBILITIES FOR USING HYDROGEN AS AN ENERGY INNOVATION AND ACCESSIBILITY SOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA. (current)

From Waste to Wealth: A Novel Strategy for Carbon Nanotube Synthesis via Exhaust Gas Capture and Feedstock Recycling (current)

Green Superhydrophobic Surfaces (awarded 2024)

Use of HVDC transmission within Nigerian Transmission System: technical and economical evaluation (awarded 2024)

Surface modified polymers and nanoparticles for EOR applications (awarded 2022)

Coating Network and Barrier Property Design Strategies for Protection Against Hydrogen Embrittlement«br /»«br /» (current)

Bio-inspired Coatings with Advanced Properties from Natural Resources (current)

Untitled (current)

Modification of polymere-based CO2 capture materials (current)

Recycling heat into useful energy for green hydrogen production and Producing carbon nanotubes from clothing waste (current)

Growth of carbon nanotubes from waste carbon feedstock by various pathways (awarded 2023)

Taught Modules

EGCM02 MSc Research Practice

EGCM30 MSc Dissertation - Chemical Engineering

EGDM01 Colloid and Interface Science