Dr Michael Hird

• Liquid crystals

• Organic synthesis

• Palladium catalysed cross-coupling reactions

• Ferroelectrics

• Polymer synthesis

• Member of the Liquid Crystals and Photonics research group where research is concerned with the design, synthesis and evaluation of liquid crystals.

• Founder and director of Kingston Chemicals Limited, a spin-out company launched in 2000 to exploit the successful academic research in liquid crystals.

'Synthesis, mesomorphic behaviour and optical anisotropy of some novel liquid crystals with lateral and terminal fluoro substituents and a 2,6-disubstituted naphthalene core', Q. Chen, M. Hird, Liquid Crystals, 2015, 42, 877-886.

'Ferroelectricity in liquid crystals - materials, properties and applications', M. Hird, Liquid Crystals, 2011, 38, 1467-1493.

'The dramatic influence of the location of bend and of lateral fluoro substitution on the mesomorphic properties of angular chiral esters based on a 1,3-disubstituted benzene ring', K.M. Fergusson, M. Hird, J. Mater, Chem., 2010, 20, 3069-3078.

'Fluorinated liquid crystals - properties and applications', M. Hird, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2007, 36, 2070-2095.

'The synthesis and transition temperatures of some 4,4''-dialkyl- and 4,4''-alkoxyalkyl- 1,1':4',1''-terphenyls with 2,3- or 2',3'- difluoro-substituents and some of their biphenyl analogues', G.W. Gray, M. Hird, D. Lacey, K.J. Toyne, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 1989, 2041-2053.

• Foundation Chemistry 1 (Organic Chemistry)

• Foundation Chemistry 2 (Organic Chemistry)

• Chemistry in Action

• Organic Chemistry and the Analytical Approach (Introduction to Organic Chemistry)

• Chemical Structure, Molarity and Kinetics (Blended Learning) (Introduction to Organic Chemistry)

• Applied Industrial Chemistry (Blended Learning)

• Applied Commercial Chemistry (Blended Learning)

• Work Based Learning (Blended Learning)

• Synthesis and Analysis (Organic Structure Determination, and Organic Laboratory)

• Spectroscopic Methods (Organic Laboratory)

• Chemistry World and Scientific Skills (Liquid Crystals)

• Forensic Science and Scientific Skills (Communications)

• Biochemistry and Professional Skills 1 (Communications)

• Structure and Synthesis 1 (Organic Structure Determination, Stereochemistry and Aromatic Chemistry)

• Professional Skills (Blended Learning)

• Work Based Project (Blended Learning)

• Synthesis and Measurement (Organic Laboratory)

• Inorganic Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics (Organic Laboratory)

• Spectroscopy and Structure Determination (Advanced NMR Spectroscopy)

• Structure Determination and Analytical Techniques (Advanced NMR Spectroscopy)

• Advanced Laboratory and Literature Review (Blended Learning)

• Advanced Organic and Organometallic Chemistry (Metals in Organic Chemistry)

Dr Hird welcomes applications for postgraduate supervision in his specialist areas.

Completed PhDs

• D. Allan, Asymmetric fluorinated dimers for dual frequency liquid crystal mixtures : synthesis, mesomorphism & electro-optic properties, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2017.

• R.A. Pashameah, Novel liquid crystals with bulky terminal groups for ferroelectric displays in Nanotechnology, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2015.

• Q. Chen, Novel fluorinated liquid crystals of high birefringence, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2013.

• I.A.M. Radini, The synthesis and properties of liquid crystals with bulky terminal groups for bookshelf geometry ferroelectric mixtures, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2010.

• P.J. Stackhouse, The design, synthesis and mesomorphic properties of discotic liquid crystals, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2008.

• K.M. Fergusson, The synthesis and properties of achiral and chiral bent-core liquid crystals, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2008.

• R.J. Kiddle, Novel materials for nematic mixtures, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2005

• I.D. Warburton, Carbon-carbon bond formation in challenging environments scope and limitations, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2003.

• S. Lightowler, Palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions in the synthesis of novel organic polymers and monodisperse oligomers, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 2000.

• N. Gough, Smectic C materials for ferroelectric applications, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 1999.

• M.E. Glendenning, Liquid crystalline materials for ferroelectric mixtures of high dielectric biaxiality, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 1998.

• S.J. Cross, Ferroelectric liquid crystals exhibiting a very high spontaneous polarisation, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 1996.

• P. Hindmarsh, Investigation of the structure/property relationships in triphenylene discotic liquid crystals, PhD Thesis, University of Hull, 1996.

• FHEA

• BSc (Hull)

• PhD (Hull)

• CChem

• FRSC

Founder and director of Kingston Chemicals Limited, a spin-out company launched in 2000 to exploit the successful academic research in liquid crystals. The company specialises in ferroelectric liquid crystals, and provides liquid crystal components, mixtures and intermediates to research groups and manufacturing companies throughout the world.

Awarded the Cyril Hilsum Medal of the British Liquid Crystal Society for 'contributions to liquid crystal science and technology' in 2010.