About the Project
Nothing travels faster than light. For this reason materials that can manipulate light are vital to future telecommunications and computing technology,(i) as well as meeting our energy demands – photonic technologies enjoy inherently higher speed, and lower power consumption than electronics. Our group is working to develop new materials based on polyoxometalates (POMs, molecular, nanoscale multimetallic coordination clusters),(ii) which can manipulate laser light through non-linear optical (NLO) effects. Our goal is to use the POM redox properties to switch the NLO effect on and off, and make a prototype molecular light switch or transistor.
This PhD project will explore the synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of arylimido-polyoxotungstates, analogues to the arylimido-molybdates which we have shown to be very efficient NLO materials.(iii,iv)) We expect the tungstates to open new applications in redox-switched NLO or fluoresence/luminescence, owing to their greater stability, and open up a route towards molecule-based electro-optical computing. These materials are also relevant to solar energy conversion, where we have shown they can improve voltages obtained from p-type dye-sensitised solar cells.(v)
The successful applicant will gain training in molecular inorganic and organic synthesis, characterisation, and physical measurement of molecular and materials properties. Based in the well-equipped, interdisciplinary Energy Materials Laboratory at UEA, it also involves collaboration with leading international groups. They will also have, or expect to obtain a first class, 2(i) or equivalent Honours degree in chemistry, along with a strong interest in synthetic inorganic chemistry and materials properties.
Please contact Dr John Fielden ([Email Address Removed], 01603 593137) for further information.
For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here https://people.uea.ac.uk/john_fielden
Type of Programme:PhD
Start Date: 1st October 2021
Mode of Study: Full Time
Studentship length: 3 year studentships have a (non-funded) 1 year ‘registration only’ period
References
i) D. G. Feitelson, Optical Computing: A Survey for Computer Scientists, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, United States, 1988.
ii) D. Long, E. Burkholder, L. Cronin, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2007, 36, 105.
iii) A. Al-Yasari, N. Van Steerteghem, H. El Moll, K. Clays, J. Fielden, Dalton Trans. 2016, 45, 2818.
iv) A. Al-Yasari, N. Van Steerteghem, H. Kearns, H. El Moll, K. Faulds, J. Wright, B. S. Brunschwig, K. Clays, J. Fielden, Inorg. Chem. 2017, 56, 10181; A. Al-Yasari, P. Spence, H. El Moll, N. Van Steerteghem, P. N. Horton, B. S. Brunschwig, K. Clays, J. Fielden, Dalton Trans. 2018, 47, 10415.
v) H. El Moll, F. A. Black, C. J. Wood, A. Al-Yasari, A. R. Marri, I. V. Sazanovich, E. A. Gibson and J. Fielden, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2017, 18831.
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