Our group studies transition metal catalysts using both magneto-optical spectroscopy and magnetic resonance techniques.

About

Our group studies transition metal catalysts using both magneto-optical spectroscopy and magnetic resonance techniques. These methods can be used to monitor: oxidation states, transients/intermediates, the binding of substrates as well as product formation and release, providing important complementary information to static spectroscopic and diffraction methods.

A key motivation of our research is to understand how biological systems use earth abundant metals including manganese to perform the difficult oxidative/reductive chemistry of small molecules such as water and oxygen. We are developing new methods to study these systems that are in principle transferable to metal oxide materials, which should in the future allow molecular level characterization of heterogeneous catalysis interfaced with electrodes.

Projects

Students with an interest in instrumentation development can pursue coupling EPR platform in situ electrochemistry, in situ gas exchange and in situ light (Solar, UV, LED, laser) excitation, allowing operando characterization of defects and their evolution.

Theme

Functional Materials and Interfaces

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

Status

Potential

This project aims to magnetically label proteins for new electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments to study a protein’s structure and dynamics at low concentrations and in-cell.

Theme

Physical and Biophysical Chemistry

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

Status

Potential

This project will magnetically label proteins for new electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments to study a protein’s structure and dynamics at low concentrations and in-cell, and then compute informative models from the measured EPR distances.

Theme

Physical and Biophysical Chemistry

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

Status

Potential

The project will involve training in the use of highly reactive, air-sensitive reagents, which require handling under strict anaerobic conditions. Furthermore, training in X-ray crystallography, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy will be given.

Theme

Inorganic Chemistry and Organometallic Chemistry

Student intake

Open for Honours, Master, PhD, Summer scholar students

Status

Potential

EPR and related double resonance techniques allow us to elucidate changes in the localization of electron density (metal or ligand centred) following reduction or oxidation, and thus predict likely routes of chemical reactions/catalysis.

Theme

Inorganic Chemistry and Organometallic Chemistry

Student intake

Open for Honours, PhD students

Status

Potential

With the increasing threat of climate change, understanding how photosynthetic organisms adapt to extreme conditions is a key field of research. We have two projects that relate to C. thermalis.

Theme

Physical and Biophysical Chemistry

Student intake

Open for Honours, PhD students

Status

Potential

Members

Leader

Professor

Researcher

Postdoctoral Fellow

Student

No photo provided

PhD Candidate

News

Scientists have cracked a key step in nature's water-splitting recipe, which powers all plant life on Earth and may be harnessed to make a limitless supply of cheap renewable fuel.

Read the article