Cation Ordering - A Strategy to Prepare Multiferroic Oxides. This project will produce new families of functional metal oxides with technologically relevant properties, especially multiferroic behavior. Such materials are highly sort-after in the rapidly emerging field of spintronics. Through comprehensive experimental studies of a number of such materials this project will enhance the ability of industry to develop new and improved materials.
Nickel(III) Oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a Positive Electrode Material in Primary Cells. In recent years, the demands put on batteries has increased due to the development of sophisticated portable electronic devices. With the currently available primary battery systems finding it difficult to cope with these demands, there is considerable incentive to develop an improved system with an appropriate capability. This project focuses on nickel(III) oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a cathode material. NiOOH is us ....Nickel(III) Oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a Positive Electrode Material in Primary Cells. In recent years, the demands put on batteries has increased due to the development of sophisticated portable electronic devices. With the currently available primary battery systems finding it difficult to cope with these demands, there is considerable incentive to develop an improved system with an appropriate capability. This project focuses on nickel(III) oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) as a cathode material. NiOOH is used widely in rechargeable battery systems, where it performs adequately even under severe discharge conditions. However, in primary battery systems, NiOOH suffers from self discharge. This project aims to use the performance capabilities of NiOOH in a primary system, by investigating ways to improve its stability. The benefits for Delta EMD will be protection of their existing business, as well as opening the door to the commercial manufacture of an advanced export material.Read moreRead less
Electrochemically activated solid state chemistry: A new synthetic avenue. This project aims to validate a new solid state synthetic route discovered in our group by understanding the reaction mechanism and experimenting with the parameter space of reaction variables. The discovery of a new solid state synthetic route opens up a world of possibility for the generation of new materials with a diverse range of potential functions and applications. The fundamental understanding of the reaction mech ....Electrochemically activated solid state chemistry: A new synthetic avenue. This project aims to validate a new solid state synthetic route discovered in our group by understanding the reaction mechanism and experimenting with the parameter space of reaction variables. The discovery of a new solid state synthetic route opens up a world of possibility for the generation of new materials with a diverse range of potential functions and applications. The fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism will enable the rapid and widespread use of this synthetic route.Read moreRead less
Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with ....Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capabilities leading to ?designer materials? of the future.Read moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The realisation of these aims will give new routes to the production of new catalysts (analogous to enzymes in biological systems), nanoscale molecular sieves, molecular sensors, or materials that show unusual host-guest chemistryRead moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or h ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysts, selective molecular sieves, or show unusual host-guest chemistry. Techniques developed will provide a means by which present homogeneous catalysts used widely in industry could be converted into heterogeneous species. This would have many benefits, including improved recovery and re-use of catalysts.Read moreRead less
Advanced Materials constructed from 'Nanoballs' and Variable Length Ligands. Novel types of porous materials will be made using a revolutionary new way to connect metal ions. Remarkable nanometer sized molecules ('nanoballs') will be investigated for their unprecedented variety of useful properties. As well as advancing our understanding of the science of advanced materials, this project will have application in areas such as hydrogen and methane storage, trapping of greenhouse gases such as car ....Advanced Materials constructed from 'Nanoballs' and Variable Length Ligands. Novel types of porous materials will be made using a revolutionary new way to connect metal ions. Remarkable nanometer sized molecules ('nanoballs') will be investigated for their unprecedented variety of useful properties. As well as advancing our understanding of the science of advanced materials, this project will have application in areas such as hydrogen and methane storage, trapping of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, molecular sensing, catalysis, and information storage.Read moreRead less
Coordination Polymers and Oligomers. Routes are proposed to real chemical examples of both finite nets (polyhedral cages) and infinite nets (coordination polymers); very similar synthetic strategies are to be used in both areas. The icosahedral cages proposed including the unknown C60N60 are without precedent. If they can be made they will rival or surpass the fullerenes in impact and in potential applications. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targetted coordination polymers wit ....Coordination Polymers and Oligomers. Routes are proposed to real chemical examples of both finite nets (polyhedral cages) and infinite nets (coordination polymers); very similar synthetic strategies are to be used in both areas. The icosahedral cages proposed including the unknown C60N60 are without precedent. If they can be made they will rival or surpass the fullerenes in impact and in potential applications. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targetted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capablities leading to "designer materials" of the future.Read moreRead less
Reactive Coordination Polymers and Supramolecules. Large discrete or infinite assemblies of molecules will be designed and produced by self-assembly processes. Through careful design of the precursors, these nano-sized assemblies will be chemically reactive. The new techniques pioneered in this study will allow the design of new advanced materials, such as homogeneous multicentre catalysts (analogous to biological enzymes), industrially important heterogeneous catalysts, nanoscale molecular siev ....Reactive Coordination Polymers and Supramolecules. Large discrete or infinite assemblies of molecules will be designed and produced by self-assembly processes. Through careful design of the precursors, these nano-sized assemblies will be chemically reactive. The new techniques pioneered in this study will allow the design of new advanced materials, such as homogeneous multicentre catalysts (analogous to biological enzymes), industrially important heterogeneous catalysts, nanoscale molecular sieves, molecular sensors and switches, or materials that show unusual host-guest chemistry.Read moreRead less
Small Cyano Anions: A Gateway to New Materials. This project will produce new building blocks for a range of new advanced materials. These anions are produced easily through efficient and cost effective syntheses. From these building blocks new magnetic materials will be produced. Porous materials capable of absorbing gases such as carbon dioxide (pollution control), or hydrogen or methane (energy storage) will be targeted. New single molecule magnets will be synthesised which have potential for ....Small Cyano Anions: A Gateway to New Materials. This project will produce new building blocks for a range of new advanced materials. These anions are produced easily through efficient and cost effective syntheses. From these building blocks new magnetic materials will be produced. Porous materials capable of absorbing gases such as carbon dioxide (pollution control), or hydrogen or methane (energy storage) will be targeted. New single molecule magnets will be synthesised which have potential for use in information storage. New liquids with novel magnetic, neutron capture or luminescent properties will be produced.Read moreRead less