Steve Linfield - PhD Student
"Coulter counting as a method of detecting transient nanobubbles"
The aim of this project is to prepare a procedure for fabricating glass nanopores and then to use these nanopores as Coulter counters to measure the translocation of nanobubbles that have been generated by the ultrasonication of electrolytes. The existence of nanobubbles has been strongly debated over the last few decades, with evidence that suggest their apparent long-term stability in direct contradiction with physical laws that predict that they should not exist for more than a few milliseconds. Despite these discrepancies, there have been many attempts to incorporate nanobubbles in industry, with possible applications in tumour treatment, water filtration and crop growth. The evidence in favour for nanobubbles is still lacking and before they can be fully utilised, more methods of detecting and characterising them are needed. The use of Coulter counting may provide a valuable insight into the nanobubble debate. My project also involes a collaboration between Dr Peter Birkin and Dr Guy Denuault.