Multi-functional Materials Synthesis / Properties

The Multi-functional Materials Synthesis / Properties research group is involved in the following areas:

• The synthesis and properties of multi-functional electroactive materials – including chiral conducting materials, and materials with electrical and magnetic properties, usually built around organosulfur donors such as BEDT-TTF and TTF.
• Molecular interactions and partial bond formation investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction, charge density determinations and solid state NMR.
• Synthesis and properties of inorganic-organic hybrid materials, including metal (transition, main group and lanthanide) phosphonates and MOFs, which exhibit luminescent properties, biological and catalytic activity.
• Crystal engineering of complex magnetic and luminescent oxide materials, investigated by X-ray diffraction, neutron and muon scattering, magnetic susceptibility and luminescent spectroscopy.
• Polymers and nanocomposites: Filler enhanced nanocomposites for property enhancement; Nano-dielectric materials for energy application; Fire retarding polymeric materials with particular focus in the condensed phase; Soft matters for healthcare and functional material applications.

Members of the research group have been in receipt of funding from EPSRC, The Royal Society, EU FP7, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust and Food and Drink iNet.

Recent Patents

• EP Patent 1739120, 2009
• DE Patent 102005029997, 2009
• US Patent 7776955, 2010
• US 20100216908, 2010
• JP2010529276, 2010

• Prof. Narcis Avarvari, CNRS, University of Angers, Angers, France.
• Prof. Manuel Almeida, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
• Prof. Hiroki Akutsu, Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physical Chemistry, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
• Dr Simon Coles, National Crystallography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
• Dr John Hanna, Dept Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
• Dr Des Powe, Department of Cellular Pathology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• Prof. Jan Vos, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
• Prof. Hatsumi Mori, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277–8581, Japan.
• Prof. Shin'ichi Nakatsuji and Prof. Jun'ichi Yamada, Graduate School of Material Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan.
• Prof. Koichi Kikuchi and Prof. Wataru Fujita, Dept. Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.
• Prof. Melanie Pilkington, Dept. Chemistry, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
• Prof. Turan Ozturk, Chemistry Dept, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey.
• Prof. Paul-Alain Jaffres, University of Brest, France.
• Dr Jean-Michel Rueff, ENSICAEN, University of Caen, France.
• Prof. Kostas Demadis, University of Crete, Greece.
• Prof. A.S.Vaughan, Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, University of Southampton, UK,
• Prof. M.F. Fréchette, Hydro-Québec research institute, Canada.
• Dr P. Fugier, CEA, France.
• Dr J. Castellon, Université de Montpellier 2, France.
• Dr G. Malucelli, Politecnico di Torino, Italy.
• Dr H. Simon, Von Roll AG, Switzerland.
• Dr Thomas Klamt, Alstom, Switzerland.
• Dr Anne Francoise Vaessen, LABORELEC, Belgium.

Working with us

We are open to collaborative work, with particular interest in interdisciplinary projects where we can combine our expertise in synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry, polymers and nanocomposites and crystallography with physical characterisations and material developments.

Previous and current interactions include Angus Fire UK Ltd, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, Alcoa CSI, BAE Systems, Hilti AG, ColourMatrix Europe, Alstom AG, Kabelwerk Eupen AG and Micro Materials Ltd. Particular expertise in organosulfur chemistry, heterocyclic chemistry, coordination chemistry, chirality, structure determination by spectroscopy and crystallography and molecular interactions.

• Professor John Wallis
• Dr Fengge Gao
• Dr Lee Martin

• State-of-the-art synthetic chemistry laboratory
• 2 multinuclear NMR spectrometers
• IR, UV, near-IR and mass spectrometers
• HPLC
• Cyclic voltammetry
• X-ray crystallography (single crystal and powder)
• Variable temperature conductivity measurements
• Hydrothermal synthesis
• Solid state fluorescence
• UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies
• Photoluminescent (PL) spectroscopy
• Rotation, cylinder and capillary rheometers
• Twin screw extruder and injection moulding equipment
• Optical and laser particle analysers
• Charge and surface properties of nanomaterials