About the Project
EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) spectroscopy is a powerful but underused tool to study f-block (lanthanide and actinide) complexes. This project will build on work in the Manchester EPR and Molecular Magnetism groups, exploiting EPR and complementary methods towards developing a detailed understanding of the electronic structure of f-element compounds. The ultimate goal is to rationalise important physical behaviour, for example the nature of the chemical bonding to ligands, or magnetic (electron spin) relaxation behaviour. The PhD student will be trained in use of state-of-the-art EPR spectroscopy (both continuous wave and pulsed methods), magnetometry, and in modelling such data.
Academic background of candidates
Applicants are expected to hold, or about to obtain, a minimum upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics or related science. A Masters degree in a relevant subject and/or experience in spectroscopy is desirable.
Contact for further Information
Prof Eric J. L. McInnes [Email Address Removed]
Prof David Collison [Email Address Removed]
Dr Floriana Tuna [Email Address Removed]
References
1. H. M. Nicholas, M. Vonci, C. A. P. Goodwin, S. W. Loo, S. R. Murphy, D. Cassim, R. E. P. Winpenny, E. J. L. McInnes, N. F. Chilton and D. P. Mills, “Electronic structures of bent lanthanide(III) complexes with two N-donor ligands”, Chem. Sci. 2019, 10, 10493.
2. A.-M. Ariciu, D. H. Woen, D. N. Huh, L. Nodarki, A. K. Kostopoulos, C. A. P. Goodwin, N. F. Chilton, E. J. L. McInnes, R. E. P. Winpenny, W. J. Evans and F. Tuna, “Engineering electronic structure to prolong relaxation times in molecular qubits by minimising orbital angular momentum”, Nature Commun. 2019, 10, 3330.
3. M. J. Giansiracusa, E. Moreno-Pineda, R. Hussain, R. Marx, M. Dörfel, P. Neugebauer, S. Al-Badran, D. Collison, F. Tuna, J. van Slageren, S. Carretta, T. Guidi, E. J. L. McInnes, R. E. P. Winpenny and N. F. Chilton, “Measurement of magnetic exchange in asymmetric lanthanide dimetallics: towards a transferable theoretical framework”, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 2504.
4. A. Formanuik, A.-M. Ariciu, F. Ortu, R. Beekmeyer, A. Kerridge, F. Tuna, E. J. L. McInnes and D. P. Mills, “Actinide covalency measured by pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy”, Nature Chem. 2016, 9, 568-583.
5. D.M. King, P.A. Cleaves, A.J. Wooles, B.M. Gardner, N.F. Chilton, F. Tuna, W. Lewis, E.J.L. McInnes and S.T. Liddle, “Molecular and electronic structure of terminal and alkali metal-capped uranium(V)-nitride complexes”, Nature Commun. 2016, 7, 13773.
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