Precision polymer synthesis using artificially intelligent reactors

Anticipated start date September 2019.

The integration of measurement technology, flow reactors and feed pumps with algorithms is accelerating the discovery and optimisation of chemical reactions. The ability to rapidly traverse parameter space allows optimum conditions (e.g. yield, purity and cost) to be established in a short amount of time. It is anticipated these so called ‘Intelligent’ manufacturing technologies will cause a paradigm shift in our approaches to chemical synthesis. It is important that these technologies are optimised appropriately for polymer synthesis given well-defined polymers’ prominent contribution to the next generation advanced materials.

This PhD project will develop and optimise novel reactor technologies, aiming to bring additional precision to existing controlled polymer synthesis methods. We anticipate this will enable rapid and reproducible production of complex polymers which have not been possible using traditional techniques. The student will benefit from interactions with multidisciplinary research team within the Digital Chemical Manufacturing and Colloid and Polymer Engineering groups. It will provide a highly attractive, unique and broad skillset ranging from traditional polymer synthesis and characterisation, through to programming and developing automated reactor technologies.