Research group

Functional Inorganic, Materials and Supramolecular Chemistry

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Our research group examines the synthesis of new materials and functional molecules that contribute to innovation and technology.

Part of Chemistry

About

We research the synthesis of functional molecular, solid state and supramolecular materials, to tackle challenges in energy, sustainability, healthcare and diagnostics.

Our research covers a diverse range of inorganic chemistry, including:

  • ligand design and co-ordination chemistry
  • metal organic frameworks
  • mixed anion materials
  • porous framework materials
  • nanoparticles
  • heterogenous catalysts

We design novel materials and compounds, tuning properties through control of composition and structure, with a particular strength in applications such as coatings and thin films. We make use of the compounds available to the inorganic chemist to design photocatalysts, PET imaging agents, transparent conductors, single site catalysts, and materials for carbon capture storage and utilisation.

Groups within Functional Inorganic, Materials and Supramolecular Chemistry have expertise in:

  • X-ray diffraction
  • electron microscopy
  • chemical vapour deposition
  • operando spectroscopy

Research highlights

People, projects and publications

People

Miss Ashia McManus

Research interests

  • Heterogeneous Catalysis
  • Mitigation of maritime GHG emissions
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Dr Darren Bradshaw

Associate Professor
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Dr Geoffrey Hyett

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Functional materials: photocatalysts, p-type conducivity
  • Mixed anion materials
  • Thin films and chemical vapour deposition

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Gill Reid

PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY

Research interests

  • Synthetic inorganic chemistry
  • Design and synthesis of new macrocyclic and multidentate ligands involving donor atoms from Groups 15 (P, As, Sb, Bi) and 16 (S, Se, Te)
  • Coordination chemistry with s-, p-, d- and f-block metal ions

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Khaled Mohammed PhD

Research Technician

Research interests

  • Heterogeneous Catalysis.
  • X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.
  • MAS Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.
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Dr Marianna Casavola

Research Fellow in Materials Synthesis
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Professor Peter Wells

Professor

Research interests

  • Heterogeneous Catalysis
  • Operando Spectroscopy
  • Nanoparticle Design

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Richard Knighton MChem DPhil MRSC

Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry

Research interests

  • upconversion luminescence
  • d-metals and lanthanides
  • supramolecular chemistry

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Robert Raja

Prof of Materials Chemistry & Catalysis

Research interests

  • Heterogeneous Catalysis
  • Sustainable Chemistry
  • Carbon Capture Storage and Utilisation

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Victoria Greenacre

Senior Research Fellow
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Southampton provides a great environment to exploit the amazing creativity and atomic/molecular level control that chemistry affords to contribute toward new and innovative solutions to many of the world’s greatest challenges.
PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY