About the project
The ability to design new more efficient down conversion systems will be of paramount importance for the quantum computing revolution. Molecular lanthanide cluster complexes comprising multiple Ln ions offer unrivalled control in the internuclear distances and donor-acceptor compositions, thereby allowing more sophisticated and efficient down converting devices to be prepared.
Down converting (DC) systems are of paramount importance for the advancement of new quantum themes such as sensors for medicine and quantum computing. Research into the mechanistic intricacies is relatively limited due to the media in which it operates – primarily solid-state or nanoparticle materials.
The main innovation here is a molecular chemistry approach which allows strategic design of the donor-acceptor pairs which give rise to the UC signal – which includes tailoring materials and thoroughly investigate and tune the ion-ion distances.
This project involves a novel class of heteropolymetallic lanthanide complexes for down conversion, permitting a deeper understanding of the mechanism of photon DC. This is an area of high priority and novelty, only five groups globally are working on molecular lanthanide photon conversion. Molecular DC has not currently been realised but represents a significant goal in future quantum technologies.
You will acquire proficiency in synthetic organic, coordination chemistry, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. You will have full access to a suite of techniques via state-of-the-art facilities including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, infrared (IR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass-spectrometry, in addition to world-leading X-ray diffraction facilities.
You will also participate in group-meetings, school seminars and represent the group at national or international conferences. This will give you the opportunity to disseminate your research results with world-leaders in the area.
