A PhD studentship is available in the groups of Simon Parsons, Euan Brechin and Fabio Nudelman (School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh; www.crystal.chem.ed.ac.uk
Project Summary
The emerging technique of 3D electron diffraction enables crystal structures to be determined from crystalline samples with dimensions of less than 500 nm.1 Suitable crystals may be grown in a matter of minutes,2,3 avoiding the need for long crystallization experiments, and providing deep insight into the way crystals form and evolve as a function of time.2 This has the potential to revolutionize the way reactions are studied, especially in Inorganic Chemistry.
Coordination complexes of the transition metals are at the forefront of research in diverse scientific disciplines, including porous materials (e.g. MOFs for clean energy), nanoparticles (e.g. magnetite for MR imaging and therapy), thermoelectrics (e.g. ferromagnetic materials for energy harvesting), spintronics (e.g. spin transport in metal oxides), and magnetism (e.g. information storage). Control of the nuclearity and the ‘solid form’, i.e. the polymorph, morphology and crystallinity of the material, is of critical importance in these applications.
The aim of this project is to apply new electron diffraction methods to coordination chemistry. Crystals of coordination complexes will be grown rapidly in microdrops taken directly from reaction mixtures; crystal structures will be determined by electron diffraction, with simultaneous imaging by transmission electron microscopy. Crystallisation times will be varied to reveal how the formation of different complexes changes over time and how crystalline forms develop, to capture the very earliest stages of crystal formation.
This multi-disciplinary studentship will be of duration 3 years and based in The School Chemistry and at The Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions (https://www.csec.ed.ac.uk/) at The University of Edinburgh. The project is fully funded, covering UK fees and a stipend at the EPSRC standard rate (starting at £17,668), with opportunities for undergraduate teaching. The post involves a mixture of practical and computational work, suiting a candidate with a background in Chemistry, Physics or Materials Science and an undergraduate degree classification of 1st or 2:1 (or equivalent). Candidates should satisfy UKRI eligibility criteria.
In the first instance, the initial application (including cover letter and CV) should be directed to: Professor Simon Parsons, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK. Email: [Email Address Removed]
The position will remain open until filled.
IMPORTANT
Before Submitting your cover letter and CV, please complete the online School of Chemistry Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Form 2023. The form will automatically generate a unique “Receipt Number” that you MUST include in your cover letter.
Equality and Diversity
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