About the Project
University of Manchester Supervisor: Dr Martin Attfield, Prof Mike Anderson. A*STAR Supervisor: Sean O’Shea (IMRE).
A University of Manchester - A*STAR Singapore funded 48 month PhD studentship is available for an outstanding chemist in support of a collaborative materials chemistry project linking researchers at the Centre for Nanoporous Materials, School of Chemistry, the University of Manchester and the Department of Materials Processing and Characterisation, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Singapore in the field of crystal growth of crystalline nanoporous materials.
Crystalline nanoporous materials, including zeolites, zeotypes and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are applied world-wide in heterogeneous catalysis, fluid separations, gas storage and ion-exchange. Crystals form the foundation of these materials, however, current approaches to materials design are limited due to a failure to understand how the crystals nucleate and grow which has a profound influence on the ultimate material function.
In this project, we aim to tackle this problem by targeting a molecular-scale understanding of the nucleation and crystal growth of nanoporous materials by application of state-of-the-art atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques to understand the crystal growth at the nanoscale, and to modify and control the crystal growth at the nanometre length scale.
The project will be based at the two institutions for equal amounts of time as outlined below:
Year 1, at the University of Manchester, during which the student will synthesize and characterize suitable crystalline nanoporous materials samples for the AFM work and will perform preliminary in- and ex-situ AFM studies. Additional understanding of these growth processes will also be supported by use of mass spectrometry and liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and coarse grain computer simulations of the crystal growth using in-house software.
Years 2 and 3, at IMRE, Singapore, during which the student will use AFM under liquid conditions to obtain atomic resolution images of the surfaces of these materials and to measure force curves to determine any identifiable structure of the growth solutions near the crystal surface/ solution interface. Additional AFM techniques will be applied to influence the crystal growth or dissolution at the nanoscale on surface features of the crystals to form designed crystal nanofeatures.
Year 4, at the University of Manchester, during which the student will perform any experiments necessary to complete the research from Years 1 – 3, write the PhD thesis and research papers, and explore knowledge and technology transfer between the two institutions.
Overall this project will provide an excellent experience for the prospective student in a diverse range of areas including materials chemistry, nanoporous materials, nanoscience, scanning probe microscopy, surface science, together with working in a unique collaborative academic partnership located over two institutions with the opportunity to work in both for extended periods of time.
Funding Notes
This project is available to UK/EU candidates. Funding covers fees (UK/EU rate) and stipend for four years. Overseas candidates can apply providing they can pay the difference in fees and are from an eligible country. Candidates will be required to split their time between Manchester and Singapore, as outlined on www.manchester.ac.uk/singaporeastar.
Applications should be submitted online and candidates should make direct contact with the Manchester supervisor to discuss their application directly. Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
References
1] Determination of Preassembled Nucleating Units Critical for Crystal Growth of a Coordination Polymer, R. Wagia, I. Strashnov, M. W. Anderson and M. P. Attfield, Angew. Chem., 2016, 128, 9221-9225.
[2] An In-Situ Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Dissolution of Nanoporous SAPO-34 and SAPO-18, R. L. Smith, J. H. Cavka, A. Lind, D. Akporiaye, M. P. Attfield and M. W. Anderson, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2015, 119, 27580-27587.
[3] Unstitching the nanoscopic mystery of zeolite crystal formation, R. Brent, P. Cubillas, S. M. Stevens, K. E. Jelfs, A. Umemura, J. T. Gebbie, B. Slater, O. Terasaki, M. A. Holden and M. W. Anderson, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 13858-13868.
[4] Crystalline structure and squeeze-out dissipation of liquid solvation layers observed by small-amplitude dynamic AFM, W. Hofbauer, R. Ho, R. Hairulnizam, N. N. Gosvami and S. J. O’Shea, Phys. Rev. B, 2009, 80(13), art. 134104.
[5] Liquid Atomic Force Microscopy : Solvation forces, molecular order and squeeze-out, S. J. O’Shea, N. N. Gosvami, L. T. W. Lim and W. Hofbauer, Jap. J. Applied Physics. 2010, 49 (8), 08LA01.