Dr Darren Simpson

Darren's experimental and theoretical expertise in materials science is based on the last 20 years working with mining and manufacturing industry projects. His research career began with the completion of a BSc (Hons) degree at Flinders University. Since then he has worked for the South Australian Surface Technology Centre (SASTeC) and IWRI within UniSA, and the Centre for Microstructure Science of Materials (CMSM) at Seoul National University. His research into the surfaces of minerals and ceramics mainly involve a combination of X-ray techniques and quantum chemistry methods.

Darren joined the Applied Centre for Structural and Synchrotron Studies (ACeSSS) in 2006. He is currently a chief investigator of an ARC Linkage project based on the devopment of highly durble pigment coatings. He is also involved with other projects related to the precious metal and sulfide minerals' industries. He is the centre's first aider and Departmental Radiation Safety Officer (DRSO).

PhD in Applied Science (Minerals and Materials), University of South Australia

BSc (Hons) in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, Flinders University

• Materials science
• Solid state chemistry of ceramics and minerals
• Atomistic modelling of crystalline and amorphous materials using computational methods MSINDO, GULP and CRYSTAL06
• Thin film deposition technology
• Surface analysis and X-ray crystallography

D.J. Simpson, T. Bredow and A.R. Gerson, MSINDO Study of Acid Promoted Dissolution of Planar MgO and NiO Surfaces, J. Comput. Chem., 30 (2009) 581

S. Kumar, D. Simpson and R.St.C. Smart, Plasma processing for inducing bioactivity in stainless steel orthopaedic screws, Surface & Coatings Technology, 202 (2007) 1242

H. Zhang, D.J. Simpson, S.Kumar and R.St.C. Smart, Interaction of hydroxylated PACVD silica coatings on titanium with simulated body fluid, Colloids Surf., 291 (2006) 128

D. J. Simpson, T. Bredow, A. R. Gerson, MSINDO study of water adsorption on NiO surfaces, Theoretical Chemistry Accounts: Theory, Computation, and Modeling (Theoretica Chimica Acta), 114 (2005) 242

D. Simpson, T. Bredow and A.R. Gerson, Contrasting dissolution mechanisms of MgO and NiO: A quantum chemical study, in Ceramic Interfaces: Properties and Applications V 2001, Japan, (Ed. H.-I. Yoo and S.-J.L. Kang), Trans Tech Publications Ltd., Zurich Switzerland (2003) 43

D.J. Simpson, T. Bredow, R.St.C. Smart and A.R. Gerson, Mechanisms of acidic dissolution at the MgO(100) surface, Surf. Sci., 516 (2002) 134

A.R. Gerson, R. Jones, D. Simpson, G. Pacchioni and T. Bredow, Quantum chemical modelling case studies relevant to metal oxide dissolution and catalysis, Ionics, 7 (2001) 290

K. Tanno, M. Ashokkumar, D. Simpson and P. Mulvaney, Green and red electroluminescence from CdS powder electrodes in aqueous solutions, Colloids Surf. A, 141 (1998) 143

H.J. Rossell, M. Leblanc, G. Ferey, D.J.M. Bevan, D.J. Simpson and M.R. Taylor, On the crystal structure of bismuth tellurium oxide (Bi2Te4O11), Aust. J. Chem., 45 (1992) 1415

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Materials Science

• Thin Films and Coatings
• Surfaces and Interfaces
• Solid State Chemistry