Shane Durbach, PhD

Associate Professor of Chemistry

  • PhD in Chemistry (University of Johannesburg, South Africa; 20 May 2009)
  • MSc in Chemistry (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 24 June 1997)
  • Honors in Chemistry (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 7 May 1992)
  • BSc in Chemistry and Chemical Sciences (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2 May 1991)

Nanomaterials

My research interests lie in investigating various synthetic strategies for shaped carbon nanomaterials.  In recent years I have branched out into two new areas: 

  1. The use of solid waste materials as either catalysts for carbon material synthesis or as sources of carbon to make these nano and micro-sized carbon materials
  2. The synthesis and application of colloidal, shaped, inorganic crystalline solids as templates for hollow or filled carbon materials. 

In addition to this I am currently focusing on finding applications for these nanomaterials in areas such as composites (for low-cost building materials and other beneficial community related uses) and photocatalysis (e.g. through the conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels).

Awards & Honours

  • Team member that won the Faculty of Science’s Team-Teaching Award, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (2011)
  • Team member that won the Vice Chancellors Team Teaching Award, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (2011)

Recent Publications

  • Lerato Hlekelele, Paul J. Franklyn, Pranav K. Tripathi & Shane H. Durbach*. Morphological and crystallinity differences in Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes grown by Chemical Vapour Deposition Decomposition of Melamine over Coal Fly Ash. RSC Advances, 6, 76773-76779. DOI: 10.1039/C6RA16858B (2016).
  • Nikita Tawanda Tavengwa, Nomso Hintsho, Shane Durbach, Isabel Weiersbye, Ewa Cukrowska, & Luke Chimuka, * Extraction of explosive compounds from aqueous solutions by solid phase extraction using b-cyclodextrin functionalized carbon nanofibers as sorbents. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 4, 2450–2457 (2016).
  • J. Muthu*, P. Bradley, I.K. Jinasena, S. Durbach, A. Moya, & R. Paskaramoorthy. The effects of carbon nanofiber on the mechanical properties of glass/coir fibre reinforced polyester hybrid composites. Polymer Composites, 1-11. DOI: 10.1002/pc.23938 (2016).
  • N. Hintsho, A. Shaikjee, P.K. Tripathi, P.Franklyn & S. Durbach*. The effect of CO2 on the CVD synthesis of carbon nanomaterials using fly ash as a catalyst. RSC Adv., 5, 53776. DOI: 10.1039/C5RA06892D (2015).
  • N. Hintsho, A. Shaikjee, H. Masenda, D. Naidoo, D. Billing, P. Franklyn, & S. Durbach*.  Direct synthesis of carbon nanofibers from South African coal fly ash. Nanoscale Research Letters, 9, 387. DOI:10.1186/1556-276X-9-387 (2014).
  • L.N. Dlamini, R.W. Krause*, G.U. Kulkarni, & S.H. Durbach. Synthesis and characterization of titania based binary metal oxide nanocomposite as potential environmental photocatalysts. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 129, 406–410 (2011).  
  • L.N. Dlamini, R. W. Krause*, G. U. Kulkarni, & S. H. Durbach. Photodegradation of bromophenol blue with fluorinated TiO2 composite.  Applied Water Science, 1, 19–24 (2011).
  • R.W. M. Krause*, B.B. Mamba, L.N. Dlamini, & S.H. Durbach. Fe–Ni Nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotube-co-cyclodextrin polyurethanes for the removal of trichloroethylene in water. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 12, 449–456 (2010)
  • S Durbach*, R.W Krause, M.J Witcomb, & N.J Coville. Synthesis of branched carbon nanotubes (b-CNTs) using copper catalysts in a hydrogen-filled DC arc discharger. Carbon, 47, 635–644 (2009).
  • K.L Salipira, R.W Krause, B.B Mamba*, T.J Malefetse, L.M Cele and S.H Durbach. Cyclodextrin polyurethanes polymerised with multi-walled carbon nanotubes: Synthesis and characterisation. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 111, 218-224 (2008).
  • K.L Salipira, B.B Mamba*, & R.W Krause, T.J Malefetse and S.H Durbach. Cyclodextrin polyurethanes polymerised with carbon nanotubes for the removal of organic pollutants in water. Water SA, 34(1), 113-118 (2008).
  • K.L. Salipira, B.B. Mamba*, R.W. Krause, T.J. Malefetse, & S.H.Durbach. Carbon nanotubes and cyclodextrin polymers for removing organic pollutants from water. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 5, 13-17 (2007).
  • S Durbach*, N.J. Coville & M.J. Witcomb. The effect of hydrogen, helium and their mixtures on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes in a DC arc-discharger. Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanotubes, 13, 155-169 (2005).

Affiliations & Memberships

Member of the South African Chemical Society