Smart Molecular Materials for Sensors, Displays and Nanodevices. The aims of this project are to synthesise new smart molecular materials and elucidate the chemical origin of the physical properties they exhibit. Exposure of these transition metal-based compounds to heat or light will induce changes in colour and magnetic behaviour, affording potential roles as the smallest possible electronic components or addressable entities for high density data storage. It is expected that the materials wil ....Smart Molecular Materials for Sensors, Displays and Nanodevices. The aims of this project are to synthesise new smart molecular materials and elucidate the chemical origin of the physical properties they exhibit. Exposure of these transition metal-based compounds to heat or light will induce changes in colour and magnetic behaviour, affording potential roles as the smallest possible electronic components or addressable entities for high density data storage. It is expected that the materials will also exhibit tunable thermochromic and photochromic properties, which are important for applications in photoresponsive devices or temperature sensors. The structure-function relationships determined will inform the development of molecular materials for future nanodevices, sensors or displays.Read moreRead less
Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge ....Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge behaviours. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise battery electrode performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development in low-cost, large-scale battery applications.Read moreRead less
New platforms for molecular electronics. Molecular electronics involves the integration of molecules with solid-state electronics and is seen as an answer to the growing need for ultradense and ultrafast computation. This project will design molecular-based components specifically intended for solid-state applications, such as molecular-based memory.
Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for ....Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for nanodevices or advanced materials. As well as achieving important advances in fundamental chemistry, this project is anticipated to help lay the foundations for development of novel materials for high density data storage, quantum computing, molecular electronics/spintronics, optical displays or temperature/solvent sensors.Read moreRead less
Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising ....Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising for molecular electronics, spintronics and colour-based sensing and display devices. Their fast response time and small component size imply less heat to dissipate and therefore less electricity required for cooling upon implementation in information communications and other technologies.Read moreRead less
Harnessing redox-active ligands in functional metal complexes. This project aims to synthesise and investigate metal-based molecules that can be reversibly switched between forms with different physical properties, such as colour or electrical conductivity, upon exposure to heat, light or electrical potential. The project expects to develop compounds that offer physical properties relevant for deployment in advanced materials or nanodevices. Expected outcomes of this project include elucidation ....Harnessing redox-active ligands in functional metal complexes. This project aims to synthesise and investigate metal-based molecules that can be reversibly switched between forms with different physical properties, such as colour or electrical conductivity, upon exposure to heat, light or electrical potential. The project expects to develop compounds that offer physical properties relevant for deployment in advanced materials or nanodevices. Expected outcomes of this project include elucidation of chemical routes to tuning the switchability and candidate compounds for future applications. As well as achieving important advances in fundamental chemistry, this project should provide significant benefits, such as novel materials for molecular electronics/spintronics, photoresponsive devices or sensors.Read moreRead less
Mixed valence coordination polymers and their electronic properties. The project aims to synthesise and examine the properties of crystalline coordination polymers that exhibit unusual and technologically useful properties arising from long-range electronic communication. The focus will be on materials in which the modular components (ligands, metals and counterions) are present in mixed valence states. The experimental investigation will be supported by dispersion-corrected, periodic-boundary D ....Mixed valence coordination polymers and their electronic properties. The project aims to synthesise and examine the properties of crystalline coordination polymers that exhibit unusual and technologically useful properties arising from long-range electronic communication. The focus will be on materials in which the modular components (ligands, metals and counterions) are present in mixed valence states. The experimental investigation will be supported by dispersion-corrected, periodic-boundary DFT calculations which will be employed to both rationalise behaviour and provide direction for the generation of new materials.Read moreRead less
New molecular architectures: synthesis, structure and properties. Through the implementation of rational design principles we intend to generate new types of nanoporous materials by bringing together molecular building blocks of appropriate size, shape and functionality. With such systems able to act as hosts for small molecules we expect that novel and technologically useful properties will arise.
X-ray snapshots of chemical transformations in open framework materials. The aim of this project is to unearth structural insights into the chemistry of coordinatively unsaturated metal complexes – reactive species lacking their full complement of binding groups – by isolating them within a carefully designed metal-organic framework and examining them via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Such intrinsically reactive species play an important role in metal-based catalysis, but their definitive st ....X-ray snapshots of chemical transformations in open framework materials. The aim of this project is to unearth structural insights into the chemistry of coordinatively unsaturated metal complexes – reactive species lacking their full complement of binding groups – by isolating them within a carefully designed metal-organic framework and examining them via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Such intrinsically reactive species play an important role in metal-based catalysis, but their definitive structural characterisation remains a significant challenge. This project aims to facilitate a detailed understanding of how these species bind and activate substrates and thus provide important first steps towards developing novel adsorbents for separations and efficient catalysts.Read moreRead less
Switchable molecules for molecular nanoscience. This project targets the development and exploration of switchable molecules for future nanoscale devices. Applications will include individual molecules as: units of magnetic memory for high density data storage, quantum bits in quantum computers, components in electronic devices and switching units in display media.