Chemistry research index

Learn about the research expertise of our Chemistry staff in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.

Indexed by staff member

Mathew Anker

  • synthesis of novel organolanthanide and main group compounds
  • subvalent and multiply bonded main group species
  • homogeneous catalysts
  • multinuclear NMR spectroscopy
  • x-ray and neutron crystallography.

Martyn Coles

  • synthetic inorganic, organometallic and coordination chemistry
  • development of low oxidation state reagents based on main group elements
  • super-basic materials based on guanidine frameworks
  • hydrogen-bonded networks and materials
  • x-ray crystallography.

Nathaniel Davis

  • synthesis of novel chromophore (quantum dots, small molecules and polymers)
  • supramolecular attachment of multiple chromophore units
  • time resolved and continuous wave spectroscopy
  • devices: photovoltaics, light emitting diodes and luminescent solar concentrators.

Robin Fulton

  • synthetic inorganic, organometallic and coordination chemistry
  • unusual binding modes of main group elements
  • synthesis of nanoparticles for environmental remediation
  • understanding binding of nanoparticles to silicates.

Joanne Harvey

  • organic synthesis and drug discovery
  • natural product-inspired drug discovery
  • structure-based drug design and medicinal chemistry
  • carbohydrates as building blocks for organic synthesis
  • cyclopropanes as reactive intermediates for organic synthesis
  • macrocyclic natural products and analogues
  • organometallic chemistry and catalysis.

Justin Hodgkiss

  • organic solar cells
  • optical spectroscopy of functional optoelectronic materials
  • self-assembly of nanostructured optoelectronic materials
  • conjugated polymers and polyelectrolytes.

Patricia Hunt

  • chemistry of liquids, solvents and solvation, electrolytes
  • ionic liquids, aqueous systems, molten salts, deep eutectic solvents
  • computational and theoretical chemistry, quantum chemistry
  • computational catalysis, reactivity, decomposition
  • bonding: H-bonding, novel or unusual forms of bonding, non-covalent bonding.

Jim Johnston

  • enhanced energy recovery from geothermal systems by silica removal
  • gold and silver nanoparticles as stable colourants for high-value textiles and fashion apparel
  • functional materials for environmental control in packaging
  • functionalised nano-structured calcium silicates for use in industrial and consumer products
  • hybrid plastics from nanoparticles and quantum dots for smart and interactive surfaces
  • new nano-materials and the development of new composite products
  • novel quantum dot-fibre and conducting polymer-fibre hybrid materials
  • passive heat storage and release materials.

Rob Keyzers

  • bioassay-guided isolation of novel natural products
  • applications of mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy to natural products chemistry
  • chemical analysis.

Luke Liu

  • metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), design, synthesis, and applications
  • green synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)
  • porous materials chemistry
  • high-throughput computational screening and machine-learning (AI) accelerated design for porous materials
  • methane capture
  • electrocatalytic conversion of greenhouse gas (Collaboration with Kim McKelvey)
  • visualisation of gas density and selectivity distributions in porous material.

Kim McKelvey

  • electrochemistry and nanoelectrochemistry
  • electrochemical scanning probe microscopy – mapping chemical and electrochemical reactions at the nanoscale
  • nanostructured electrodes, including 2D materials
  • electrocatalysis, green hydrogen, green ammonia and electrocatalytic carbon dioxide conversion
  • batteries, supercapacitors, and electrochemical sensors.

John Spencer

  • transition metal organometallic chemistry
  • homogeneous catalysis.

Bridget Stocker

  • small molecular activators of innate and innate-like immune cells
  • glycoconjugate probes
  • adjuvant development for human and veterinary health applications
  • glycolipids and immunomodulators for anticancer immunotherapies.

Mattie Timmer

  • synthesis of fluorescent dyes and fluorescent molecular probes
  • synthesis and testing of quinoline natural products and growth inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • solid-phase combinatorial synthesis of natural product compound libraries
  • synthesis of glycoconjugate probes
  • synthesis and evaluation of glycolipids as anti-cancer vaccines.