Dr Thomas Becker

Fields of Interest

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Nanotechnology, Nanocharacterisation, Nanofluidics, Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA), Physics

Biography

• 1994-2000: Study of physics at the University of Ulm, Germany
• 2000-2001: Diploma thesis at the department of Applied Physics (University of Ulm, Germany) “Investigation of Fluid Nanostructures with an AFM”
• 2001-2005: PhD (University of Twente) “Collapse Dynamics of Confined Liquid Films”
• Since 08/2005: Research Fellow (Dept. of Chemistry, Curtin University)
  Scanning Probe Microscopy

Research Publications

• E-Jen Teh, Y.K. Leong, Y. Liu, V. S. J. Craig, R. B. Walsh, S. C. Howard, T. Becker “Effect of Low Molecular Weight Charged Molecules on the Interactions Between Spherical Alumina Particles” Chemeca 2009 conference paper (2009)
• B. Kinsella, S. Nesic, Y. Xiong, T. Becker, S. Bosenberg, D. John, and S. Bailey “Atomic Force Microscopy and its Application in Corrosion Inhibition Science” EuroCorr 2009 conference paper 8432 (2009)
• B. Kinsella and T. Becker “The Use of Atomic Force Microscopy in Corrosion Research” Corrosion & Materials 34(4), p. 31-39 (2009)
• T. Das, T. Becker, and B.N. Nair “Measurements on Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surfaces Using a Porous Gamma Alumina Nanoparticle Aggregate Mounted on Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilevers” Thin Solid Films (2009 online), doi: 10.1016/j.tsf.2009.09.050 Thin Solid Films 518 (10), p. 2769-2774 (2010)
• S. Sperinck, T. Becker, K. Wright, and W. R. Richmond “Synthesis and Characterisation of Lamellar ZnS Nanosheets Containing Intercalated Diamines” J. Incl. Phenom. Macrocycl. Chem. 65, p. 89-95 (2009)
• K. S. Iyer, M. Saunders, T. Becker, C.W. Evans, and C.L. Raston “Nanorings of Self-Assembled Fullerene C70 as Templating Nanorecators” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, p. 16338-16339 (2009)
• N. Gorham, T. Becker, D.W. Shiers, and H.R. Watling “Visualisation of Bacterial Behaviour Using Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy” Adv. Mat. Res. 71-73 (Biohydrometallurgy), p. 341-344 (2009)
• T. Becker, C.Y. Goh, F. Jones, M. McIldowie, M. Mocerino, M.I. Ogden “Proline Functionlaised Calix[4]arene: An Anion-Triggered Hydrogelator” Chem. Comm. 33, p. 3900-3902 (2008)
• H. Yanliang, B. Kinsella, T. Becker “Sensitisation Identification of Stainless Steel to Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking by Atomic Force Microscopy” Mat. Lett. 62 (12-13), p. 1863-1866 (2008)
• B. Kinsella and T. Becker “The Use of Atomic Force Microscopy in Corrosion Research” Corrosion Control 007 Paper L002, Australasian Corrosion Association Inc. (2007)
• Y. Xu, C. Xu, A. Shvarev, T. Becker, R. De Marco, E. Bakker “Kinetic Modulation of Pulsed Chronopotentiometric Polymeric Membrane Ion Sensors by Polyelectrolyte Multilayers” Anal. Chem. 79(18), p. 7154-7160 (2007)
• S. Bosenberg, D. John, T. Becker, S. Bailey, and R. De Marco “Resolving the Structure of Carbon Dioxide Corrosion Inhibitors on Surfaces” Corrosion Control 007 Paper 113, Australasian Corrosion Association Inc. (2007)
• R. De Marco, Z.T. Jiang, T. Becker, G. Clarke, G. Murgatroyd, K. Prince “Response Mechanisms and New Approaches with Solid-State Ion-Selective Electrodes: A Powerful Multitechnique Materials Characterization Approach” Electroanalysis 18(13-14), p. 1273-1281 (2006)
• T. Becker and F. Mugele “Nanofluidics: Molecularly thin lubricant layers under confinement” Mol. Sim. 31(6-7), p. 489-494 (2005)
• T. Becker and F. Mugele “Mechanical properties of molecularly thin lubricant layers: Experimental methods and procedures“ J. Phys.: Cond. Matt. 17(9), p. S319-332 (2005)
• T. Becker and F. Mugele “Nanofluidics: Viscous dissipation in layered liquid films” Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 (16), p. 166104-1-4 (2003)
• T. Becker, F. Mugele “Collapse of molecularly thin lubricant layers between elastic substrates” J. Phys.: Cond. Matt. 15, p. S321-S330 (2003)
• S. Zilberman, T. Becker, F. Mugele, B.N.J. Persson, and A. Nitzan “Dynamics of squeeze-out: Theory and experiments” J. Chem. Phys. 118(24), p. 11160-11167 (2002)
• F. Mugele, T. Becker, R. Nikopoulus, M. Kohonen, and S. Herminghaus “Capillarity at the Nanoscale: an AFM view” J. Adhes. Sci. Techn. 16(7), p. 951 (2002)
• F. Mugele, T. Becker, A. Klingner, and M. Salmeron: “Two-dimensional observation of drainage and layering transitions in confined liquids” Coll. Surf. A 206, p. 105-113 (2002)

Other publications

"AFM imaging of liquid structures: from droplet profiles to molecular interactions in thin films: Preparation, characterization, applications" T. Becker, F. Mugele, T. Pompe, and S. Herminghaus (Eds. M.P. Soriaga, J. Stickney); Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers (2002)

Hobbies/Interests

Fencing, Fishing, Sports, Nature, Motorbikes & Cars