Microstructure in molecular framework alloys

We seek to recruit a highly motivated and talented PhD student in the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham within the research group of Dr Hamish H-M Yeung. The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary effort aimed at revealing new understanding across the formation, organisation and response of matter.

Molecular framework materials have underpinned several recent advances in the fields of sensing and separations, ferroelectrics and solar energy conversion. These chemically-diverse materials can be synthesized under relatively mild conditions, which allow access to a wealth of phases and incorporation of different component mixtures in a single crystallographic “alloy”. Mixing different components can affect the physical properties of materials in radically different ways, depending on the homogeneity of the resulting phase.

This project will investigate the role of chemistry in the formation, structure and properties of molecular framework alloys.[1] It seeks to understand how different framework components can be manipulated by synthetic parameters to control structure on a variety of length scales, leading to fine-tuning of physical behaviour.[2]

The student will acquire skills in laboratory synthesis and crystallography, and a range of materials characterization techniques. The multidisciplinary nature of the project means that they will gain exposure to several scientific areas through collaborations within and beyond the School of Chemistry, including central scientific facilities, such as Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron.