Unusual properties of New Inorganic Framework Materials

"We have a vacancy for a PhD student to synthesise and characterize new materials with open-framework structures, such metal phosphates, transition-metal cyanides or metal-organic compounds.
Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Chippindale (a.m.chippindale@rdg.ac.uk)
The thermal behaviour of these materials will be investigated as many exhibit ‘negative thermal expansion’ – a curious property in which the structures shrink as temperature increases. In addition, such materials can often accommodate small molecules in cavities in their structures either for gas storage or vapochromism (gas sensor) applications.
The project will provide the student with training in solid-state synthesis (e.g. solvothermal methods) and characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (both powder and single-crystal methods), neutron diffraction, thermal analysis and IR and UV spectroscopy."