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Together Tyndall celebrates the winners and finalists of the 2020 Postgraduate Publication of the Year.
Despite a challenging a year, our students achieved outstanding discoveries and results as part of their PhD projects, some even opening major new possibilities in their field.
Dr. Fatima Gunning, Senior Staff Researcher & Head of Graduate Studies at Tyndall, praised the entries, saying: “This year we had twice as many submissions for the Postgraduate Research Publication of Year. Besides lockdowns and restricted access to labs, our students excelled in their research outcomes. We also noted a number of students with exceptional publications at very early stages in their PhDs, and we couldn’t let this pass in blank, so we created a new award - the Rising Talent Award. Congratulations to all!"
Rising Talent
"Visible Laser Scribing Fabrication of Porous Graphitic Carbon Electrodes: Morphologies, Electrochemical Properties, and Applications as Disposable Sensor Platforms."
1. What encouraged you to submit your application to the 2020 Postgraduate Research Publication of the Year?
This paper is my first publication as first author. The pride I have in my work and the work of my co-authors encouraged me to submit my paper.
2. What inspired you to choose the subject of your paper?
The subject of my paper, laser-scribed graphitic electrochemical sensors, is the main topic of my thesis. The challenges that present themselves when trying to optimise such a sensor provided excellent material for publication.
This area of research is of particular interest to me because it is at a crossover between material development and electrochemical sensing – two areas that have been of high interest for me since being an undergraduate.
3. What’s your paper about and how did you prepare for it? What role did research excellence play in your approach?
The paper is about the fabrication and characterisation of graphitic electrochemical sensors using the laser-induced graphene process. In-depth material characterisation by SEM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical measurements was performed. The paper addresses the challenges of optimising the electrode geometry of a resistive material. We also investigated the interesting effects of using a porous electrode material to perform electrochemical measurements.
4. The selection for Research Publication of the Year is extremely competitive. What is your advice for those aspiring for nomination next year?
My advice is to go right ahead and submit your publication. There are no drawbacks, and there is a great opportunity to broadcast your research to a wide audience.
5. What is the single most significant support Tyndall has been able to offer you in achieving your research goals?
The most significant support I received from Tyndall is the community of experts who were on hand for help, guidance or collaboration.
Eoghan Vaughan, Cathal Larrigy, Micheal Burke, Labrini Sygellou, Aidan J. Quinn, Costas Galiotis, and Daniela Iacopino, “Visible Laser Scribing Fabrication of Porous Graphitic Carbon Electrodes: Morphologies, Electrochemical Properties, and Applications as Disposable Sensor Platforms”, ACS Applied Electronic Materials 2020 2 (10), 3279-3288