The search for green alternatives to replace our current, energy-intensive processes, is very active. Many industrial chemical reactions consume huge amounts of energy, e.g. the Haber process, which generates ammonia used in fertiliser production, is thought to account for 1-2% of all global energy usage. It is of utmost importance to find ways of the reducing energy requirements of critical chemical reactions, such as the Haber process, or the development of novel green chemistry processes, such as removal of pollutants (e.g. VOCs) from water. Novel photocatalysts are starting to fulfil this role. Polyoxometallates (POMs) are an emerging class of photoactivated catalysts that are finding use in diverse chemical scenarios.
Along with Dr Graham Newton (University of Nottingham), we are developing hybrid organic/inorganic POMs which are activated by visible light and are able to catalyse a range of reactions, hugely reducing the amount of energy required for a given reaction. This project will seek to understand the mode of action by which photoactivation and catalysis occur and utilise this information to design and develop, from a theoretical perspective, novel hybrid POM structures which can be exploited experimentally. We use a wide variety of electronic structure methods (e.g. DFT, TDDFT, CASPT2, DFTB etc.) in the group, and will apply such methodology to determine photoactivated reaction pathways and mode of catalytic activity of POMs, with a view to tuning the selectivity of novel POM structures.
Similar Positions
-
Ph D Studentship: High Impact Sulphur Flavour Compounds In Hop Products, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2 days ago
View All Vacancies Biosciences Location: UK Other Closing Date: Friday 17 May 2024 Reference: SCI269 Supervisor: Prof. David Cook (Brewing Science) Secondary Supervisor: Dr Joanna Yorke (Brewin...
-
Ph D Studentship: Concrete4 Change And The Centre For Sustainable Chemistry, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2 days ago
View All Vacancies Chemistry Location: UK Other Closing Date: Monday 15 July 2024 Reference: SCI277 Applications are invited for an industrial led PhD studentship aimed at developing new, susta...
-
Ph D Studentship: Uncertainty Quantification For Machine Learning Models Of Chemical Reactivity, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2 days ago
View All Vacancies Chemistry Location: UK Other Closing Date: Sunday 12 May 2024 Reference: SCI266 Uncertainty quantification for machine learning models of chemical reactivity In this PhD proj...
-
Ph D Studentship: Novel Subsurface Raman Microscopy Technologies To Enable The Development Of Next Generation Drug And Implant Therapies, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2 days ago
View All Vacancies Science Location: UK Other Closing Date: Wednesday 03 July 2024 Reference: SCI2218X1 Supervisor: Prof Ioan Notingher (School of Physics and Astronomy) Positions available: 1 ...
-
Ph D Studentship: Does Fertilizer Placement Play A Key Role In Crop Establishment?, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2 days ago
View All Vacancies Biosciences Location: UK Other Closing Date: Friday 03 May 2024 Reference: SCI274 UoN Supervisor Craig Sturrock Polyhalite is the first new mineral fertilizers for crop produ...
-
Ph D Studentship: Next Generation Bio Instructive Materials For Healthcare Applications, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2 days ago
View All Vacancies Engineering Location: UK Other Closing Date: Friday 28 June 2024 Reference: ENG1765 This exciting opportunity is based within the Advanced Materials Research Group in the Fac...