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Emma Smith

Emma Smith

Senior Lecturer

School of Science & Technology

Staff Group(s)
Chemistry and Forensic Science

Role

Dr Emma Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry within the School of Science and Technology at Nottingham Trent University. She teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry programmes, delivering research-informed teaching in physical chemistry and related disciplines, while supervising undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral research projects.

In addition to her teaching and research responsibilities, Emma serves as Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Co-Lead for the Department of Physical Sciences, where she works with colleagues and students to foster an inclusive and supportive culture that enables all members of the community to thrive. Her leadership in this area focuses on reducing barriers to participation and success, promoting belonging, advancing inclusive laboratory and teaching practices, and embedding evidence-informed approaches to improve equity across the student and staff experience.

Emma combines expertise in sustainable chemistry research with a strong commitment to educational enhancement, inclusive practice and student success. She is actively involved in initiatives that strengthen accessibility, employability and belonging within STEM education, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with academic, industrial and community partners on both research and educational innovation.

Career overview

Emma received her BSc in Chemistry in 2003 and PhD in Chemistry in 2007 from Loughborough University. She subsequently joined University of Leicester as a postdoctoral researcher, contributing to the European-funded IONMET project, which advanced the industrial application of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for metal finishing and deposition technologies.

She later held positions as a Teaching Fellow and Scientific Coordinator on a further European-funded programme developing rechargeable battery technologies based on DESs and conducting polymers before joining Nottingham Trent University in 2012.

Over the course of her career, Emma has developed a nationally and internationally recognised research profile in sustainable solvent technologies, contributing to advances in green chemistry, electrochemistry, materials science and industrial sustainability. Her work has resulted in high-impact publications, including the widely cited review article Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) and their Applications in Chemical Reviews, which helped establish DESs as a major area of research within green chemistry

Research areas

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5844-0883

Emma's research focuses on the design, characterisation and application of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) as sustainable alternatives to conventional solvents. Her work seeks to understand the fundamental properties of DESs and apply this knowledge to develop cleaner, safer and more resource-efficient chemical processes.

Current research interests include:

  • Sustainable synthesis of metal nanoparticles for antimicrobial and healthcare applications.
  • Development of greener chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Electrochemical and materials applications of DESs.
  • Sustainable materials and technologies that address environmental and industrial challenges.
  • Inclusive STEM education, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL), inclusive laboratory practice and student belonging.
  • Authentic Workplace Learning Experiences (AWLE), employability and whole-person development in higher education

Alongside her chemistry research, Emma has an emerging programme of research and scholarly activity focused on higher education pedagogy and student success in STEM. Her work explores inclusive laboratory practice, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), student belonging, employability and assessment design, with a particular interest in widening participation and improving outcomes for underrepresented student groups.

A key strand of this work is the development and evaluation of Authentic Workplace Learning Experiences (AWLE), examining how authentic, industry-informed educational approaches can enhance employability, professional identity and graduate outcomes. She is also interested in whole-person development, investigating how higher education can support students' personal, professional and academic growth through inclusive curricula, reflective practice, skills development and co-curricular engagement.

Through this interdisciplinary research, Emma seeks to bridge chemistry, education and inclusion, generating evidence that informs both educational practice and institutional policy. She welcomes collaborations with researchers, educators, industry partners and professional bodies interested in sustainable chemistry, inclusive STEM education, employability, student belonging and whole-person development.

Emma welcomes opportunities for collaboration with academic researchers, industry partners, professional bodies, healthcare organisations and policymakers. She is particularly interested in partnerships focused on sustainable chemistry, green manufacturing, advanced materials, inclusive STEM education, employability, widening participation and educational innovation. Opportunities arise to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil / PhD in the areas identified above. Further information may be obtained on the NTU Research Degrees website https://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/research-degrees-at-ntu

External activity

Emma is an active contributor to the national and international materials, surface engineering and chemistry communities. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Publications Committee for the Institute of Materials Finishing (IMF), helping to shape publication strategy and support the dissemination of high-quality research across the sector. She is also an Associate Editor of the Transactions of the Institute of Materials Finishing and serves on the IMF's Exam Qualifications Board (EQB), contributing to professional standards, accreditation and workforce development within the finishing and surface engineering industries. The profile currently notes her involvement with the IMF Publications Committee.

Sponsors and collaborators

Emma has established collaborations with national and international research partners, including University of Leicester, University of Kent, University of Northampton and University of Lisbon. Her research has been supported through access to major international research infrastructures, including the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and the Institut Laue-Langevin, enabling advanced characterisation studies of sustainable solvent systems and electrochemical processes

Publications

  1. Static and Dynamic Solvation Phenomena in Poly(thiophene-co-pyrrole) Films Exposed to Molecular and Eutectic Solvent Media, Hillman, A. Robert; Brown, Rachel M; Ryder, Karl S; Beebee, Charlotte; Ferreira, Virginia C.; Smith, Emma L; Dalgliesh, Robert M.; Steinke, Nina-Juliane; Trofimov, Boris; Petrova, Olga ECS Meet. Abstr. 2025, 2751
  2. Time-resolved spatial distributions of individual components of electroactive films during potentiodynamic electrodeposition, Sapstead, Rachel M.; Dalgliesh, Robert M.; Ferreira, Virginia C.; Beebee, Charlotte; Watkins, Erik; Hillman, A. Robert; Ryder, Karl S.; Smith, Emma L.; Steinke, Nina-Juliane ACS Phys. Chem. Au., 2024, 4, 6, 615-619
  3. Synthesis and structures of polyiodide radical cation salts of donors combining tetrathiafulvalene with multiple thiophene or oligo-thiophene substituents Jonathan Short, Toby J. Blundell, Songjie Yang, Onur Sahin, Yiana Shakespeare, Emma L. Smith, John D. Wallis and Lee Martin CrystEngComm, 2020, 22, 6632-6644
  4. Chapter 10: Environmentally Sustainable Solvent-based Process Chemistry for Metals in Printed Circuit Boards (RSC Book Chapter) Ryder, K.S. Ballantyne, A.D., Smith, E.L., Palin, E.J.R., Abbott, A.P. 2019
  5. Effect of electrochemical control function on the internal structure and composition of electrodeposited polypyrrole films: A neutron reflectometry study Beebee, C., Watkins, E.B, Sapstead, R.M., Ferreira, V.C., Ryder, K.S., Smith, E.L., Hillman, A.R. Electrochim Acta, 2019, 295, 978-988
  6. Real-time in situ dynamic sub-surface imaging of multi-component electrodeposited films using event mode neutron reflectivity. Hillman, A.R.; Barker, R.; Dalgliesh, R.M.; Ferreira, V.C.; Palin, E.J.R., Sapstead, R.M.; Smith, E.L.; Steinke, N.-J.; Ryder, K.S.; Ballantyne, A.D., Faraday Discuss. 2018, 210, 429-449
  7. Electrochemical deposition of silver and copper from a deep eutectic solvent studied using time-resolved neutron reflectivity. Ballantyne, A.D.; Barker, R.; Dalgliesh, R.M.; Ferreira, V.C.; Hillman, A.R.; Palin, E.J.R.; Sapstead, R.; Smith, E.L.; Steinke, N.-J.; Ryder K.S., 2018.  J Electroanal Chem. 2018, 819, 511-523
  8. Characterisation of Metal Deposition and Metal Dissolution Processes in Deep Eutectic Solvents Using Electrochemical, Gravimetric and Neutron Scattering Methods, Ryder, K.; Hillman, A. Robert; Palin, Emma J. R.; Al-Esary, Hasan; Sapstead, R.; Juma, Jamil Abdulla; Smith, Emma L; Ferreira, V. C.; Steinke, Nina-Juliane; Dalgliesh, Robert; Barker, Robert; Ballantyne, Andrew D. ECS Meeting Abstracts 2017, 905
  9. A Novel Electrochemical Method for Analysis of Thin Metal Films and Bilayers for Application in the PCB Industry, Palin, Emma J. R.; Ryder, K.; Hillman, A. Robert; Smith, Emma. L.; Ferreira, V. C.; Sapstead, Rachel; Steinke, Nina-Juliane; Barker, Robert; Dalgliesh, Robert, ECS Meeting Abstracts 2017, 925
  10. Determination of Solvation Populations and Dynamics in Electroactive Polymer Films By Modelling Time-Resolved Neutron Reflectivity, Hillman, Robert; Sapstead, Rachel; Ryder, Karl, Ferreira, V.C.; Ballantyne, Andrew D.; Steinke, Nina-Juliane; Dalgliesh, Robert; Beebee, Charlotte; Watkins, Erik; Barker, Robert; Smith, Emma L. ECS Meeting Abstracts 2016, 2192
  11. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) and their applications.  Smith, E.L.*; Abbott, A.P.; Ryder, K.S.  Chem. Rev. 2014, 114, 11060-11082
  12. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and the metal finishing industry: Where are they now?, Smith, Emma L*.; Trans IMF, 2013, 91, 5, 241-248
  13. Ion Transfer Mechanisms Accompanying p-Doping of Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Films in Deep Eutectic Solvents, Hillman, A. Robert; Ryder, Karl; Zaleskia, C.; Fullarton, Claire; Smith, E. L. Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, 2012, 226, 9-10, 1049-1068
  14. Metal finishing with ionic liquids: scale-up and pilot plants form IONMET consortium.  Smith, E.L.*; Fullarton, C.; Harris, R.C.; Saleem, S.; Abbott, A.P.; Ryder, K.S. Trans. Inst. Met. Finish. 2010, 88, 285-291
  15. Pilot trials of immersion silver deposition using a choline chloride based ionic liquid.  Smith, E.L.*; Abbott, A.P.; Griffin, J.; Harris, R. C.; O’Conner, C.; Ryder, K.S Circuit World 2010, 36, 1, 3-9
  16. Time Resolved In-Situ Liquid-AFM and Simultaneous Acoustic Impedance EQCM Measurements: A Study of Zn Deposition.  Abbott, A.P.; Barron, J.C.; Ryder, K.S.; Smith, E.L.* Anal. Chem. 2009, 81, 20, 8466-8471
  17. Metal chelation and spatial profiling of components in crown ether functionalised conducting copolymer films.  Hillman, A.R.; Glidle, A.; Ryder, K.S.; Smith, E.L.; Cooper, J.M.; Dalgliesh, R.M.; Cubitt, R.; Geue, T.  Electrochim. Acta 2009, Special Issue, 4th Gerischer Symposium, 55, 2, 439-450
  18. Use of Neutron Reflectivity to Measure the Dynamics of Solvation and Structural Changes in Polyvinylferrocene Films During Electrochemically Controlled Redox Cycling.  Glidle, A.; Hillman, A.R.; Ryder, K.S.; Smith, E.L.; Cooper, J.; Gadegaard, N.; Webster, J.R.P.; Dalgliesh, R.; Cubitt, R. Langmuir  2009, 25, 4093-4103
  19. Electrolytic Metal Coatings and Metal Finishing Using Ionic Liquids.  Abbott, A.P.;  Barron, J.C.; Elhadi, M.; Frisch, G.; Gurman, S.J.; Hillman, A.R.;  Smith, E.L.; Mohamoud, M.A.; Ryder, K.S. ECS Transactions 2009, 16 (36), 47-63
  20. Electrodeposition of nickel using eutectic based ionic liquid.  Abbott, A.P.; El Ttaib, K.; Ryder, K.S.; Smith, E.L. Trans. Inst. Metal Finishing 2008, 86, 4, 234-240
  21. Sustained electroless deposition of metallic silver from a choline chloride-based ionic liquid.  Abbott, A. P.; Griffith, J.; Nandhra, S.; O’Connor, C.; Postlethwaite, S.; Ryder, K.S.; Smith, E.L. Surface & Coatings Technology 2008, 202, 2033-2039
  22. Spectroelectrochemical responses of thin-film conducting polymers prepared electrochemically from mixtures of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and 2,2’-bithiophene.  Smith, E.L.; Glidle, A.; Mortimer, R.J.; Ryder, K.S. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2007, 9, 6098-6105
  23. Electroless deposition of metallic silver from a choline chloride-based ionic liquid: a study using acoustic impedance spectroscopy, SEM and atomic force microscopy.  Abbott, A. P.; Nandhra, S.; Postlethwaite, S.; Smith, E.L.; Ryder, K.S. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2007, 9, 28, 3735-3743
  24. Determining compositional profiles within conducting polymer films following reaction with vapour phase reagents.  Glidle, A.; Pearson, P.E.; Smith, E.L.; Cooper, J.M.; Cubitt, R.; Dalgliesh, R.M.; Hillman, A.R.; Ryder, K.S. J. Phys. Chem. B 2007, 111, 16, 4043-4053
  25. Study of the Electrochemical, Mechanical and Solvation Properties of Poly(ethylenedioxy)thiophene (PEDOT) Films Using the QCM, Crystal Admittance and Neutron Reflectivity, Hillma, Rob; Efimov, Igor; Gadegaard, Nikolaj; Glidle, Andrew; Mortimer, Rojger; Ryder, Karl; Smith, Emma L. ECS Meeting Abstracts 2006, 1684

    26. Dynamic in situ electrochemical neutron reflectivity measurements.  Cooper, J.M.; Cubitt, R.; Dalgliesh, R.M.; Gadegaard, N.; Glidle, A.; Hillman, A.R.; Ryder, K.S.; Smith, E.L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 15362-15363

See all of Emma Smith's publications...

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Dr Smith's research utilises the unique properties of Deep Eutectic Solvents to develop sustainable synthesis methods for metal nanoparticles which reduce the number of chemicals used, focusses on using poorly toxic components and decreases the waste produced.  These metal nanoparticles are then used in industrial applications and in antimicrobial materials for medical technology.

12 - Responsible Consumption and Production Badge 3 - Good Health and Well-Being Badge 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Badge 4 - Quality Education Badge