Personal profile

Biography

Lecturer, School of ChemistryThe University of Manchester and Associate Director of the Centre for Nanoporous Materials.

BA in Chemistry (Oxford), PhD in Materials Science (University of California, Santa Barbara), Postdoctoral Fellowships at Oregon State University, USA and the Royal Institution of Great Britain,Royal Society University Research Fellow based at Birkbeck College, University of London, UMIST and The University of Manchester.

Research interests

Our research interests relate to the field of materials chemistry with particular specialisation in the area of crystalline nanoporous materials. Such materials are utilized on a world wide scale in a diverse array of areas including heterogeneous catalysis, ion-exchange, gas and liquid separation processes, nuclear waste remediation, optoelectronics and drug delivery.

The core of our research takes place in the Centre for Nanoporous Materials and recently, the main focus of the group has been directed towards metal organic frameworks - the newest family of nanoporous material that is receiving global research attention. These hybrid materials consist of frameworks constructed from metal cations and organic linker groups and are of particular interest because within one material the benefits of both types of chemistry are present - the metal cations impart their own particular magnetic, electronic and catalytic properties, while the organic sections enable the functionality and the overall framework architecture of the material to be rationally designed.

The major research themes involving metal organic frameworks include: (1) crystal growth (2) synthesis and design of new materials (3) properties and application.

1 Crystal growth of metal organic framework materials

We are investigating the crystal growth of porous hybrid framework materials using atomic force microscopy to monitor the details of the crystal surface structure during and after growth. This will provide fundamental understanding of the crystal growth processes of multi-component extended structure framework materials that will be applied to the synthesis of crystals of particular habit and morphology for enhanced application performance. Our studies on the metal organic framework material, HKUST-1, have revealed that this material can grow by a spiral or layer-by-layer growth mechanism, the rates of these processes and information concerning the attaching species and crystal construction (Chem. Commun. 2009, 6294; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 200847, 8525).

Crystal structure of HKUST-1 (left) and the growth of several 1.5 nm growth steps (a - j) on the surface of a crystal of HKUST-1 (right).

2 Synthesis and design of new hybrid materials

Research in this area has focused initially on investigating the synthesis of novel group 13 metal phosphonate and diphosphonate materials with particular emphasis on rationally designing the pore architecture of the resultant nanoporous material. The pore architecture of this type of material may be designed through several methods including substitution of the diphosphonate groups for other groups, substitution of metal cations and by using different diphosphonate groups to form the framework structure of the final material. New materials that have been produced include the framework aluminium butylenediphosphonate and gallium pentylenediphosphonate materials that both contain one-dimensional channel systems (Solid State Sciences, 200810, 1124; Inorg. Chem.201049, 2656).

Crystal structures of the one-dimensional channel-containing framework aluminium butylenediphosphonate (left) and gallium pentylenediphosphonate (right) materials.

3 Properties and applications of metal organic frameworks

These research themes are concerned with investigation of the thermal expansion properties of metal organic frameworks,  their incorporation into composite membranes (in collaboration with Prof. Peter Budd) for enhanced liquid or gas separation processes, such as carbon capture, their use as templates to form metal nanostructures (in collaboration with Prof. Robert Dryfe) and their use in supercapacitor applications (in collaboration with Prof. Robert Dryfe)

My group

Opportunities

We always welcome applications from suitably qualified people for MSc, MPhil, PhD or post-doctoral work in our, or related, research areas. Applications for MSc, MPhil, or PhD are invited through theSchool's Postgraduate Admissions office

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Advanced materials

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