Personal information

Colloid scientist
United Kingdom, Australia

Biography

Previous research (PhD)
My PhD investigated the control over dispersion and interfacial properties of soft matter and carbonaceous systems by manipulating their interactions in situ. Specifically, the work centred on aqueous processing of 2-dimensional carbon materials, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide. I investigated methods of controlling their bulk stability and adsorption at interfaces; these materials are a single atom in thickness, but lateral dimensions can be on the order of tens of micrometers. As such, graphene oxides have an enormous surface area with which other molecules can interact, and are therefore excellent candidates for applications such as water purification and oil recovery.

There are however major challenges associated with their use. In the case of water purification, it is necessary to ensure the removal of the carbon materials. In the case of oil recovery, the particles do not adsorb spontaneously at the oil–water interface. I utilised surfactant molecules to aid recovery and emulsification. Depending on choice of surfactant and the resultant interactions with the graphene oxides, I found that it is possible to easily destabilise and recover the carbon materials by minimising their surface charge. Moreover, I could enhance their interfacial activity by synergism with the surfactant molecules. The experiments to unpick the complex relationships between surface chemistry, intermolecular interactions, self-assembly and interfacial thermodynamics for these systems involved a broad combination of experimental techniques, including small-angle scattering measurements, atomic force microscopy and a combination of reflectivity and tensiometry measurements.

In addition, I investigated the self-assembly of a class of zwitterionic surfactants that spontaneously form viscoelastic wormlike micelles in aqueous solution. The work involved a systematic analysis of how their structure and rheology change when exposed to a variety of scientifically (and industrially) relevant additives.

Current research (Postdoc)
Currently I research the role of organic friction modifiers (OFMs) in engines. These are molecular additives that are incorporated into engine oil formulations to reduce friction and wear between contacting machine parts, improving performance and longevity. The precise mechanism by which these compounds adhere to a metal surface and reduce friction is still debated. The classical theory suggests a monolayer of OFM forming a packed brush at the metal interface. However, newer molecular dynamics simulations posit weak adsorption of hemi-spherical micelles. In order to utilise these compounds optimally, this mechanism must be understood. Design of new OFMs will result in significant improvements in the lifetimes of engines and other mechanical devices while greatly reducing emissions.

To address the mode of OFM action, we have developed a custom-made tribometer rig which is a device for measuring friction. The tribometer is specially designed to be mounted in neutron and X-ray beamlines located in facilities in the UK (ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and Diamond Light Source, Didcot) and France (Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble). This enables us to monitor the structural behaviour of friction modifiers while the tribometer creates shear stress on the surface. Currently, I have multi-contrast reflectivity profiles showing the ability to selectively monitor the friction modifiers. I have observed structural changes with shear and solvency and am modelling this to enable structural changes to be linked with measured changes in friction. An interesting result is the presence of an unknown hydrogenated material at the metal interface. Through further investigation I have demonstrated that this compound is almost certainly water and has a significant impact on the surface interactions, phase behaviour and structure of the system. Additional applications could include improved materials and compounds for joint lubrication and drag reduction in items such as skis, surf boards and boats, yielding enhanced performance and environmental impact.

Future research (Fellowship)
In 2021 I will begin researching functional surface coatings as part of my Oppenheimer Research Fellowship at the University of Cambridge.

Activities

Employment (1)

University of Cambridge: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GB

2018-09-17 to present | Post-doctoral Research Associate (Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Education and qualifications (2)

Monash University: Clayton, VIC, AU

2015-02 to 2018-08 | PhD student (School of Chemistry)
Qualification
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Monash University: Clayton, VIC, AU

2011-02 to 2014-12 | Bachelor of Science with Honours (School of Chemistry)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Professional activities (1)

Australasian Colloid and Interface Society: Hobart, Tasmania, AU

2018 | ACIS Best PhD Thesis Award
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Works (28)

Experimental and simulation study of self-assembly and adsorption of glycerol monooleate in n-dodecane with varying water content onto iron oxide

Nanoscale
2024 | Journal article
Contributors: Alexander J. Armstrong; Rui F. G. Apóstolo; Thomas M. McCoy; Finian J. Allen; James Doutch; Beatrice N. Cattoz; Peter J. Dowding; Rebecca J. L. Welbourn; Alexander F. Routh; Philip J. Camp
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Decreased Water Mobility Contributes To Increased α‐Synuclein Aggregation**

Angewandte Chemie
2023-02-06 | Journal article
Contributors: Amberley D. Stephens; Johanna Kölbel; Rani Moons; Chyi Wei Chung; Michael T. Ruggiero; Najet Mahmoudi; Talia A. Shmool; Thomas M. McCoy; Daniel Nietlispach; Alexander F. Routh et al.
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Decreased Water Mobility Contributes To Increased α‐Synuclein Aggregation**

Angewandte Chemie International Edition
2023-02-06 | Journal article
Contributors: Amberley D. Stephens; Johanna Kölbel; Rani Moons; Chyi Wei Chung; Michael T. Ruggiero; Najet Mahmoudi; Talia A. Shmool; Thomas M. McCoy; Daniel Nietlispach; Alexander F. Routh et al.
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Spontaneous surface adsorption of aqueous graphene oxide by synergy with surfactants

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2022 | Journal article
Contributors: Thomas M. McCoy; Alexander J. Armstrong; Jackson E. Moore; Stephen A. Holt; Rico F. Tabor; Alexander F. Routh
Source: check_circle
Crossref

α-synuclein fibril and synaptic vesicle interactions lead to vesicle destruction and increased uptake into neurons

2022-10-06 | Preprint
Contributors: Amberley D. Stephens; Ana Fernandez Villegas; Chyi Wei Chung; Oliver Vanderpoorten; Dorothea Pinotsi; Ioanna Mela; Edward Ward; Thomas M. McCoy; Robert Cubitt; Alexander F. Routh et al.
Source: check_circle
Crossref

The role of water mobility in protein misfolding

2021-01-09 | Preprint
Contributors: Amberley D. Stephens; Johanna Kölbel; Rani Moons; Michael T. Ruggerio; Najet Mahmoudi; Talia A. Shmool; Thomas M. McCoy; Daniel Nietlispach; Alexander F. Routh; Frank Sobott et al.
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Spontaneous Self-Assembly of Thermoresponsive Vesicles Using a Zwitterionic and an Anionic Surfactant

Biomacromolecules
2020-07-14 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1525-7797
Part of ISSN: 1526-4602
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Tuning the structure, thermal stability and rheological properties of liquid crystal phases via the addition of silica nanoparticles

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2019 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1463-9076
Part of ISSN: 1463-9084
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Carbon Quantum Dot Assisted Adsorption of Graphene Oxide to the Oil-Water Interface for Copper Sensing Emulsions

Advanced Materials Interfaces
2019-08 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2196-7350
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Worm-like micelles and vesicles formed by alkyl-oligo(ethylene glycol)-glycoside carbohydrate surfactants: The effect of precisely tuned amphiphilicity on aggregate packing

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
2019-07 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0021-9797
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Rich liquid crystal phase behavior of novel alkyl-tri(ethylene glycol)-glucoside carbohydrate surfactants

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
2019-03 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0021-9797
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Graphene oxide: a surfactant or particle?

Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science
2019-02 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1359-0294
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

The effects of small molecule organic additives on the self-assembly and rheology of betaine wormlike micellar fluids

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
2019-01 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0021-9797
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Bulk properties of aqueous graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide with surfactants and polymers: adsorption and stability

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2018 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1463-9076
Part of ISSN: 1463-9084
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Structural and rheological changes of lamellar liquid crystals as a result of compositional changes and added silica nanoparticles

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2018 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1463-9076
Part of ISSN: 1463-9084
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Wormlike micelle formation of novel alkyl-tri(ethylene glycol)-glucoside carbohydrate surfactants: Structure–function relationships and rheology

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
2018-11 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0021-9797
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Highly efficient recovery of graphene oxide by froth flotation using a common surfactant

Carbon
2018-08 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0008-6223
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Physicochemical and Biological Characterisation of Azobenzene-Containing Photoswitchable Surfactants

Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan
2018-06-15 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0009-2673
Part of ISSN: 1348-0634
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Self-Assembly of Long-Chain Betaine Surfactants: Effect of Tailgroup Structure on Wormlike Micelle Formation

Langmuir
2018-01-23 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0743-7463
Part of ISSN: 1520-5827
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Surfactant-Enhanced Adsorption of Graphene Oxide for Improved Emulsification of Oil in Water

Advanced Materials Interfaces
2017-12 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2196-7350
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Diverse composites of metal-complexes and PEDOT facilitated by metal-free vapour phase polymerization

Reactive and Functional Polymers
2017-07 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1381-5148
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene Oxide–Polystyrene Composite Capsules with Aqueous Cargo via a Water–Oil–Water Multiple Emulsion Templating Route

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
2017-05-31 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1944-8244
Part of ISSN: 1944-8252
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Light-controllable dispersion and recovery of graphenes and carbon nanotubes using a photo-switchable surfactant

Nanoscale
2016 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2040-3364
Part of ISSN: 2040-3372
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Structural Evolution of Wormlike Micellar Fluids Formed by Erucyl Amidopropyl Betaine with Oil, Salts, and Surfactants

Langmuir
2016-11-29 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0743-7463
Part of ISSN: 1520-5827
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Responsive materials based on magnetic polyelectrolytes and graphene oxide for water clean-up

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
2016-02 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0021-9797
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Noncovalent Magnetic Control and Reversible Recovery of Graphene Oxide Using Iron Oxide and Magnetic Surfactants

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
2015-01-28 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1944-8244
Part of ISSN: 1944-8252
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Spectrophotometric Determination of Trace Elements in various Honey Samples, Collected from different Environments

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research
2014-08-15 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2333-1119
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy

Graphene Oxide-Stabilized Oil-in-Water Emulsions: pH-Controlled Dispersion and Flocculation

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
2014-02-27 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1932-7447
Part of ISSN: 1932-7455
Source: Self-asserted source
Thomas McCoy