A distinguished American scholar in the field of materials science and engineering is collaborating with Â鶹ֱ²¥ researchers to unravel the curious and sometimes dangerous phenomenon of static electricity, which has long eluded a universally accepted scientific explanation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Laurence Marks<\/a> from Northwestern University will spend six months in Australia after securing a prestigious Fulbright US Scholar fellowship<\/a> from the US Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Â鶹ֱ²¥ Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said she was delighted to welcome Professor Marks to Curtin as he continues his study of how static electricity forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProfessor Marks has established himself as a leading authority in the study of surface science, nanotechnology and computational materials science and I look forward to seeing the real-world impacts of this exciting collaboration over the coming year,\u201d Professor Hayne said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professor Marks will work alongside Associate Professor Simone Ciampi and Professors Julian Gale and Paolo Raiteri from Curtin\u2019s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, to deepen our understanding of static electricity which could have broad implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMost people have experienced the hair-raising act of rubbing hair with a balloon or the unexpected jolt when shuffling across carpet, but static electricity is more than just a curiosity,\u201d Professor Marks said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m particularly excited to be in Western Australia and working with Â鶹ֱ²¥ experts to provide new scientific insights that could pave the way to better controlling static electricity in hazardous environments where a spark could cause a deadly fire or explosion. This research could even open new opportunities for energy harvesting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2019, Professor Marks and his team discovered when two objects are rubbed together, the bending of tiny protrusions on their surfaces creates voltage \u2013 something called triboelectricity or static electricity. The findings were published in the journal Physical Review Letters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Associate Professor Simone Ciampi, whose research focuses on sustainable energy sources, particularly innovative methods for converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, said he was excited to explore static electricity\u2019s untapped potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe complex mechanisms and behaviours of the phenomenon are unpredictable and are not fully understood. This collaboration is one of the most promising avenues in global static electricity research,\u201d Associate Professor Ciampi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am thrilled to be working alongside Professor Marks on this fascinating journey of discovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fulbright award recipients, chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, play a pivotal role in fostering international cooperation and scholarly exchange. Professor Marks is the fifth international academic to visit Curtin as part of the Fulbright program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n