David Huang

Associate Professor David Huang

Associate Prof/Reader

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


I use theory and computation to study condensed phase phenomena in chemistry and materials science on the molecular and nano scales. I am particularly interested in devising ways to control the properties of soft matter for applications in renewable energy and functional materials.

Soft Condensed Matter Theory and Computation

Research group website: https://huang-lab.org/

Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics

Many phenomena in soft condensed matter, such as supramolecular assembly of macromolecules, occur on length and/or time scales that are unfeasible to study theoretically or computationally if every atom in the system is represented explicitly. We are developing and applying new methods, using tools from statistical mechanics and machine learning, to simplify the representation of molecular systems in dynamical simulations by systematically eliminating unimportant degrees-of-freedom to improve computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. The end goal is to enable accurate simulations with molecular-level detail of large-scale dynamical processes that would be otherwise inaccessible by conventional techniques.  

coarse-grained benzene

Organic Electronics

Carbon-based organic semiconductors are promising alternatives to conventional inorganic semiconductors such as silicon in electronic devices, especially when low cost, light weight, or flexibility is desired. They can also enhance inorganic semiconductor devices, e.g. by improving light harvesting in silicon solar cells. But organic-semiconductor devices are generally less efficient and their performance is often variable and hard to predict, largely because these materials are typically highly disordered, which can greatly impact device properties. We are using a combination of classical and quantum simulations to understand how structural and electronic properties of organic semiconductors can be controlled to enhance device performance.   

exciton transport in conjugated polymers

Nanofluidics

The dynamics of liquids when they are confined by surfaces on the nano scale can deviate significantly from those at the macroscopic level. In particular, due to high surface-to-volume ratios, interface effects can dominate flow phenomena. We are using statistical mechanics and fluid dynamics to understand how molecular-scale surface interactions can be exploited to control nano-scale fluid flows, with a focus on applications to electrokinetic energy conversion processes.

transmembrane mixing

 

Open Positions

I am always looking for talented students and postdoctoral researchers to join my research group. If you are interested in joining the group, please send me your CV (and academic transcripts for students), along with a brief description of your research interests. 

Dates Funding Agency Scheme Grant Title Investigators Amount
2021–2023 Australian Research Council Discovery Projects Predicting concentration-gradient-driven liquid transport in 2D membranes DM Huang $330,000
2019–2021 Australian Research Council Discovery Projects Aggregation control for high-performance polymer electronics CR McNeill, DM Huang, M Heeney, M Sommer $370,000
2018 University of Adelaide Interdisciplinary Research Fund Advanced composite materials containing graphene micro­inclusions for underwater acoustic applications M Ayub, AC Zander, D Losic, MJ Nine, CQ Howard, BS Cazzolato, DM Huang $60,000
2016–2018 Australian Research Council Discovery Projects X-ray snapshots of chemical transformations in open framework materials CJ Doonan, CJ Sumby, DM Huang, N Champness $314,900
2011–2014 Australian Solar Institute (ASI) Round 2 Upconversion of the solar spectrum for improved PV energy conversion TW Schmidt, MJ Crossley, S Perrier, GJ Conibeer, NJ Ekin-Daukes, S Maier, KW Lips, DM Huang $811,000
2011–2013 Centre for Energy Technology–Adelaide Airport Partnership Generic Fund Solar hydrogen: photocatalytic generation of H 2 from water GF Metha, TW Kee, DM Huang, J Alvino $33,000

 

CHEM 1101   Foundations of Chemistry IA

CHEM 2550   Physical and Inorganic Chemistry II

CHEM 3212   Fundamentals of Materials III

CHEM 3600   Environmental and Analytical Chemistry III

CHEM 3630   Physical Chemistry III

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Examining pyrolysis of metal organic frameworks by molecular simulation Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Connor William Edwards
    2023 Co-Supervisor Photocatalysis for Environmental Remediation and Renewable Hydrogen Generation Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Zi Goh
    2023 Co-Supervisor Advanced simulations of dynamic materials, such as COFs and MOFs, to produce better heterogeneous catalysts Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Konstantin Stracke
    2022 Co-Supervisor Visible Light Photocatalysis by Organic Semiconductor Nanoparticles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Andrew Dolan
    2022 Co-Supervisor Characterisation and design of DNA-binding oligonucleotides: A concerted experimental and computational investigation. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Gerardo Urbina
    2022 Principal Supervisor Predicting concentration-gradient-driven fluid flow in 2D membranes Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Holly Carol Maria Baldock
    2021 Co-Supervisor Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Products Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Matthew Alexander Coleman
    2021 Co-Supervisor Studies of Electron Transfer and Coherence in Organic Systems by Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jessica Michelle De La Perrelle
    2019 Principal Supervisor Systematic Molecular Coarse-Graining of Anisotropic Condensed Phases Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Huong Nguyen
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Triplet Excitons in Organic Semiconducting Nanoparticles for Renewable Energy Applications Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Harrison Jake McAfee
    2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Biophysical characterisation of DNA triplexes for antigene applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jack William Klose
    2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Machine Learning Anisotropic Coarse-Grained Simulation Models of Small-Molecule and Polymeric Organic Semiconductors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Marltan Oral Wilson
    2019 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Coherence and Singlet Fission of TIPS-Pentacene Probed by Two-dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Jessica Michelle De La Perrelle
    2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Spectroscopic and Computational Studies of Morphology-Dependent Exciton Dynamics in TIPS-Pentacene Nanoparticles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Rohan Joshua Hudson
    2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Understanding and Controlling the Microstructure of Organic Semiconductors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Belinda Jayne Boehm
    2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor A Biophysical Investigation of Nucleic Acid Triplexes and Inversion Site Recognising Analogues Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Alexander Jacob Begbie
    2017 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Entrance Effects on Solution Transport Through Nanoporous Membranes Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Daniel Justin Rankin
    2017 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Polarisation Effects of Exciton Migration and Singlet Fission in TIPS-Pentacene Nanoparticles Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Elisabeth Schrefl
    2017 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Systematic Coarse-Graining and Dynamical Simulations of Anisotropic Molecules with Applications in Organic Semiconductors Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Huong Nguyen
    2016 - 2018 Co-Supervisor A Kinetic and Spectroscopic Analysis of Distance-dependent Singlet Fission in TIPS-Pentacene Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Alexandra Nicole Stuart
    2016 - 2018 Principal Supervisor A Mechanistic Study of the Stability of Triple-Stranded DNA Structures Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mrs Belinda Jayne Boehm
    2015 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Interplay of Structural, Dynamical, and Electronic Properties in Doped Semiconducting Polymer Systems Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Sophia Ackling
    2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Computational Screening and Analysis of Functional Porous Materials Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Andrew Tarzia
    2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Carbon Nanotube Acoustic Absorber Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Md Ayub
    2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Theoretical and Spectroscopic Studies of Energy and Charge Transport in Organic Semiconductors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Patrick Charles Tapping
    2012 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Simulations of Molecular and Extended Porous Materials Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jack Evans
    2011 - 2015 Co-Supervisor The Characterisation, Photocatalytic Performance, and Theoretical Investigation of Small Gold Clusters Supported on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jason Frankie Alvino
  • Position: Associate Prof/Reader
  • Phone: 83135580
  • Email: david.huang@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134380
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Badger, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Chemistry

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