Gregory Warr

Professor Gregory Warr is a Professor of Chemistry in the School of Chemistry within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney. He earned his B.Sc. (Hons) in 1981 and Ph.D. in 1986 from the University of Melbourne. Leading the Warr Group, his research develops fundamental insights into how intermolecular forces drive molecular assembly of amphiphilic molecules into complex, functional nanostructured liquid, gel, and solid materials. Employing neutron and X-ray scattering techniques at major international facilities, he probes molecular-scale nanostructure and dynamics. Professor Warr's work explores self-assembly in non-aqueous solvents including ionic liquids (salts that are liquid near room temperature), deep eutectic solvents (mixtures stabilized as liquids), and water-in-salt electrolytes (highly concentrated aqueous salts). His investigations span surfactant self-assembly, colloid chemistry, soft matter, interface science, and physical chemistry, with applications in mining, healthcare, paints, lubrication, electrochemistry, and biomass pretreatment.

Specific projects include engineering waterless bilayer assemblies, designing surface-active ionic liquids as advanced lubricants for aerospace and high-temperature uses, studying lipid assembly in non-water solvents for cryopreservation and biogenesis insights, examining self-assembly at low water content, in metal hydrates, water-in-salt electrolytes, resurrection hyperconcentrates mimicking drought-surviving organisms for shelf-stable products, locally-concentrated electrolytes reducing viscosity with benign diluents, and fluorine-free electrolytes for sodium, magnesium, and beyond-lithium batteries. With 278 publications and over 14,700 citations, Professor Warr has made substantial contributions to the field. Key publications encompass 'Nanostructure of Polyoxometalate-Ionic Liquids: Effects of Anion Geometry and Cation Chain Length' (2026), 'Surfactant self-assembly in water-in-salt electrolytes' (2025), 'Multi-Scale Characterization of Ionic Liquid Interfacial Dynamics' (2015), and 'Structure and Nanostructure in Ionic Liquids' (Chemical Reviews). He serves as Chemistry Honours Coordinator and was nominated for Supervisor of the Year in 2016. Professor Warr maintains extensive collaborations with Australian and international academic and industry partners.

Professional Email: gregory.warr@sydney.edu.au