Our work in this field is relevant to many industries including food, agrochemical, oilfield chemical, and pharmaceutical. Our research covers catalysis, photonic/electronic materials, biomaterials, nanomaterials, energy materials, structure-property relationships, colloids, polymers, composites and liquid crystals.
Chemistry is at the heart of collaborative research to create smart materials with a range of properties for applications in modern technologies. Through our chemistry for smart materials research theme we are discovering the limits of stability and reactivity for small molecules. Our team is also exploring the use of non-toxic biosourced microcapsules to replace petroleum-based chemicals and materials.
Examples of smart materials created within this research theme include (but are not limited to) new materials for fast switching devices, new catalysts for the synthesis of vitamin E, smart soaps, artificial leaf devices for hydrogen generation from surface-immobilised microalgae.