Research
Our research focuses on the area of functional organic materials chemistry covering length scales from the atomic up to the macroscopic. Our core goal is to synthesize materials with structures and functions that are not found in other systems. We also focus on developing fundamental methods to achieve control over organic materials structure at the atomic level as a platform to enable a broad range of applications in areas such as energy. Our programme is a unique combination of computation, experiments, and robotics.
Examples of materials with unique function developed in our group include the first nanoporous polymers with extended conjugation (‘CMPs’, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2007), the first permanently porous organic cages (Nature Mater., 2009), the first ‘porous liquids’ (Nature, 2015; a collaboration with Prof. Stuart James), and organic polymers and covalent organic frameworks for photochemical hydrogen production from water (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015; Nature Chem., 2018).
We also use computational methods to design targeted functionality into organic solids by understanding and predicting the underlying molecular assembly processes (Nature, 2011; Nature, 2017; in collaboration with Prof. Graeme Day).
We are also developing new ways to automate chemistry in the Materials Innovation Factory – most recently by developing mobile ‘robotic chemists’ for autonomous experimentation
We regularly work with industry to develop commercial products and processes, this can be in the form of collaborative and contract research projects, consultancy or knowledge transfer partnerships. We have a dedicated Knowledge Exchange Scientist that manages these interactions; please contact Dr Miriam Wilson (Miriam.Wilson@liverpool.ac.uk) if you want to work with us.
Research groups
Research grants
Sustainable design and prediction of porous materials for greenhouse gas capture and conversion to feedstock
ROYAL SOCIETY
March 2023 - March 2025
Science and Technology at the Nanoscale: A Nano Atomic Force Microscopy-Infrared (nanoAFM-IR) Platform forImaging and Spectroscopy beyond the diffraction limit
WOLFSON FOUNDATION (UK)
February 2024 - January 2027
Inverse design of periodic crystals
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2022 - January 2025
Physical Sciences Data Infrastructure (PSDI) Phase 1 Pilot
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2021 - March 2022
Robotics Review (1000160961)
DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY (UK)
March 2022 - September 2022
Cleaner Futures (Next-Generation Sustainable Materials for Consumer Products).
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL, UNILEVER PLC (UK)
September 2021 - February 2027
Putting a brain in the mobile robotic chemist
ROYAL SOCIETY
February 2023 - January 2028
Artificially Intelligent Mobile Robotic Chemists
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM) - (USA)
January 2022 - December 2027
Autonomous Discovery of Advanced Materials - ADAM
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
October 2020 - March 2027
Autonomous Mobile Robot Chemists
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2020 - March 2024
Digital navigation of chemical space for function
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2021 - November 2026
Case Studentship with IBM UK
IBM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (UK)
October 2017 - March 2023
Synthesis and Fabrication of model substrates
UNILEVER UK CENTRAL RESOURCES LTD (UK)
January 2018 - February 2018
Porous Liquids: Understanding, Scope and Applications
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2017 - September 2021
Newton Fund: Practical hydrogen fuelled vehicles for China
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY (BEIS) (UK)
April 2017 - January 2020
Henry Royce Institute - Liverpool
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2017 - March 2019
Royce Recurrent grant
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2016 - March 2027
Case Studentship with IBM UK
IBM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (UK)
October 2017 - September 2022
Impact Acceleration Account - University of Liverpool 2012
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2012 - March 2017
Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design
LEVERHULME TRUST (UK)
October 2016 - March 2027
An in-situ LEIS facility for atomic-scale assembly manufacturing research
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 2016 - October 2017
Renewable Chemicals from Sustainable Feedstocks via high-thoroughput methods
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 2013 - June 2017
Clathrates for Energy Storage
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2008 - November 2009
High-throughput Discovery of Next-Generation CO(2)-Philic Polymers.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2003 - June 2006
Porous Organic Crystals: From Prediction to Synthesis and Function
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2013 - January 2018
Sedimentation Polymerisation using dense carbon dioxide.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
August 2001 - February 2003
Structural Control in Polymeric Materials Via Heterogeneous Polymerisation Using Dense Gas Solvents.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
May 2001 - May 2004
Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry
NORTH WEST DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (UK)
October 2008 - March 2012
Green catalyst preparation.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2005 - November 2008
High Throughput Discovery of "Hydrogel Nanoclathrates"
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2008 - June 2009
University of Liverpool Institutional Discipline Bridging.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2003 - October 2006
KEL09/12 - Dry water methane gas hydrate - technology development
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2010 - March 2011
High Throughput Discovery of Materials for Sustainable Energy
ROYAL SOCIETY
April 2009 - March 2014
Materials for Energy Applications
ROYAL SOCIETY
October 2009 - September 2014
New homogeneous and novel cathode catalyst materials for liquid regenerating non-platinum PEM fuel cells
INNOVATE UK (UK)
September 2008 - March 2011
Rapid discovery of functional polymeric surfactants and stabilizers.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2005 - January 2007
Non-Attrition HAART nanoparticle therapies for HIV/AIDS Drug Delivery
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
May 2009 - October 2012
ACAL Energy Case Top-UP for Ben Alston
ACAL ENERGY LTD (UK)
October 2009 - March 2013
Complex Materials Discovery Portfolio Partnership.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2004 - September 2010
PLATFORM: Liverpool Materials Chemistry Group (LMCG).
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
May 2004 - April 2008
Ionic-Liquid/Polymer Membrane Reactor Development for Catalytic Hydrogenation.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2000 - June 2004
Phase behaviour and crystallisation of ionic liquids and the effect of carbon dioxide: zone melting for ionic liquid purification and recovery.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2004 - February 2008
Catalytic Routes to Intermediates for Sustainable Processes
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
February 2013 - July 2017
Chemical Synthesis of Transformative Extended Materials
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2009 - March 2015
Amorphous Microporous Polymer Frameworks
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2008 - June 2012
Developing a stem cell based therapy to replace nephrons lost through reflux nephropathy. EU - PROPOSAL NUMBER 036097-2 KIDSTEM
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
September 2006 - August 2010
Low cost Surfactants for use in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
February 2002 - February 2005
Synthesis of Well-Defined Monolithic Porous Polymers Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2000 - September 2003
Functional, Renewable & Sustainable Hybrid (FR&SH) materials
INNOVATE UK (UK)
September 2009 - December 2011
Step Change Adsorbent and Processes for CO2 Capture
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2009 - October 2013
Microporous Organic Polymers for Ambient Temperature Hydrogen Storage
LEVERHULME TRUST (UK)
April 2009 - January 2013
Organic Mixed Matrix Membrane Technologies (ORGMEMT) for Post-Combustion CO2 Capture
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2014 - June 2019
Polymer synthesis in supercritical carbon dioxide.
ROYAL SOCIETY
January 1999 - September 2006