Skip to main content
Karl Coleman

Professor Karl Coleman
PhD CChem CSci FRSC

Dean of Physical Sciences
Chemistry
Part of
School of Physical Sciences
Faculty of Science and Engineering

Contact

Karl.Coleman@liverpool.ac.uk

+44 (0)151 794 0257

Research

The group’s research interests are in the field of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the science of creating structures or materials on a nanometre (one millionth of a millimetre) scale. Interestingly, the fundamental physical and chemical properties of materials are altered as they are decreased to the nanometre scale. Therefore, nanostructured materials offer great potential in the development of new electronic devices, bio-sensors and high strength composites. Our work in this area involves, amongst others, the synthesis and chemistry of graphene and carbon nanotubes. We use chemistry to improve the compatibility and dispersion in a range of matrices to facilitate the use of nanocarbons in a range of applications including advanced composites and coatings.
Synthetic procedures within the group often involve sensitive materials which are handled using inert atmosphere glove-box or Schlenk line techniques. As well as making use of the more routine analytical techniques to characterise the materials, such as NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, the group makes extensive use of scanning probe microscopy (SPM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Research interests:

- Graphene
- Carbon Nanotubes
- Nanocomposites
- Coatings
- Nanotechnology
- Nanomaterials

Key References:

1.Controlled Structure Evolution of Graphene Networks in Polymer Composites. S. C. Boothroyd, D. W. Johnson, M. P. Weir, C. D. Reynolds, J. M. Hart, A. J. Smith, N. Clarke, R. L. Thompson and K. S. Coleman. Chemistry of Materials 2018, 30, 1524.
2. Extrinsic Wrinkling and Single Exfoliated Sheets of Graphene Oxide in Polymer Composites. M. P. Weir, D. W. Johnson, S. C. Boothroyd, R. C. Savage, R. L. Thompson, S. R. Parnell, A. J. Parnell, S. M. King, S. E. Rogers, K. S. Coleman and N. Clarke. Chemistry of Materials 2016, 28, 1698.
3. A Manufacturing Perspective on Graphene Dispersions. D. W. Johnson, B. P. Dobson and K. S. Coleman. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 2015, 20, 367.
4. Graphene Film Growth on Polycrystalline Metals. R. S. Edwards and K. S. Coleman. Accounts of Chemical Research 2013, 46, 23.
5. Graphene synthesis: relationship to applications. R. S. Edwards and K. S. Coleman. Nanoscale 2013, 5, 38.
6. Unweaving the rainbow: a review of the relationship between single-walled carbon nanotube molecular structures and their chemical reactivity. S. A. Hodge, M. K. Bayazit, K. S. Coleman and M. S. P. Shaffer. Chemical Society Reviews 2012, 41, 4409.
7. Simple and scalable route for the 'bottom-up' synthesis of few-layer graphene platelets and thin films. C. R. Herron, R. S. Edwards, K. S. Coleman, B. Mendis, Journal of Materials Chemistry 2011, 21, 3378.
8. Pyridine-functionalized single-Walled carbon nanotubes as gelators for poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels. M. K. Bayazit, L. S. Clarke, N. Clarke, K. S. Coleman, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2010, 132, 15814.
9. Fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes following the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of pyridinium ylides. M. K. Bayazit, K. S. Coleman. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2009, 131, 10670.
10. A facile, solvent-free, noncovalent, and nondisruptive route to functionalize single-wall carbon nanotubes using tertiary phosphines. A. Suri, A. K. Chakraborty, K. S. Coleman. Chemistry of Materials 2008, 20, 1705.

Graphene - Synthesis, Modification, Dispersion and Application

Graphene is single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a continuous honeycomb network and is the latest addition to the nanocarbon family. This 2D nanostructure, best visualised as single layer of graphite, shares the exciting properties of other carbon nanomaterials. Like carbon nanotubes, which can be considered to be a rolled up sheet of graphene, the material has exceptional electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. As a result various applications in materials science including polymer nanocomposites, energy storage materials, transparent thin film electrodes and nanoelectronic components have been envisaged. It has even been suggested that graphene could outperform carbon nanotubes in some of these applications.
One of the problems in graphene research is the availability of the material and the difficulties involved with its synthesis. These issues need to be solved if the applications listed above are to be made viable. Our interests lie in the synthesis of graphene using a variety of methodologies that are scalable and selective for the formation of graphene or few-layer graphene. We are particularly interested in producing graphene foams for energy storage applications where pore size can be controlled.
We are also investigating methods of chemically functionalising graphene to improve and control dispersion in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. We are particularly interested in using graphene and chemically modified graphene in applications such as coatings and composites.
We formed a University spinout company Applied Graphene Materials plc (http://www.appliedgraphenematerials.com) to commercialise some aspects of this work. Applied Graphene Materials plc is now listed on the FTSE AIM market.

Chemistry of Carbon Nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have attracted interest and excitement across a broad spectrum of sciences from engineering, materials, chemistry, biology to medicine. Single-walled carbon nanotubes can simply be thought of as a rolled up single sheet of graphite joined at the edges. They are immensely strong with a strength similar to that of steel and can be metallic or semi-conducting depending on their structure. Such impressive mechanical and electronic properties have opened the way for the development of new technologies. However, many possible applications of nanotubes, from use as components in electronics to chemical and biological sensors, can only be realized through chemical control.
We are currently investigating methods of chemically functionalising the carbon nanotubes to:
- improve dispersion in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents.
- control their electronic properties for nanoelectronics.
- enhance their interaction with a range of polymer matrices to form new generation nanocomposites.improve and tailor the bio- compatibility of the nanotube surface to selectively adsorb biological materials for nanoscale biosensors.
- translocate into cells for imaging and drug delivery.