Pre-nucleation in the synthesis of metal–organic frameworks

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.

Recent advances in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have led to enormous interest in the fields of sensing, separations and catalysis. These chemically-tunable, highly porous materials can be synthesized under relatively mild solvothermal conditions, which allow access to a wealth of self-assembled phases. Uncovering the mechanisms by which MOFs form will allow new materials to be created and existing materials to be synthesized in a more environmentally-friendly way.

This project will investigate the recent phenomena of pre-nucleation complexes and their role in MOF formation.[1] It seeks to understand how the chemistry of the solution state affects the crystallization mechanism and, ultimately, how it may be controlled using modulators, templates or other additives to target specific MOF phases for sensing applications.

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