Our research

We are interested in all aspects of supramolecular chemistry and functional materials, especially those involving  transition metals.  We design  materials, work out how to synthesize them, then investigate their properties.  Molecular design, synthetic chemistry, and materials analysis underpin this research. We currently focus on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).  In addition to generating fundamental new knowledge, this research is directed toward applications in catalysis, gas separations, and the capture of carbon dioxide. 

Metal-organic frameworks are crystals that act as 'sponges' for other molecules. While these fascinating materials look solid, they actually house millions of tiny pores. Vast surface areas are available inside these innocuous looking crystals for the guest molecules to sit on. In fact, if you could 'unravel' the surface area, a teaspoon of a typical MOF would extend over a football field!  So MOFs are perfect for sieving out and capturing  guests. 

A tremendously diverse array of MOFs is possible and research efforts around the world have already brought hundreds of these materials to fruition in the lab. They show interesting and useful properties, which makes MOF chemistry a vibrant field.  MOFs are heading towards applications. For example, to capture and destroy toxic gases and environmental contaminants. MOFs have enormous potential for the sequestration of CO2.  Capturing CO2 when it is emitted from a pollution source - or even directly snaffling it from air - will reduce atmospheric CO2 levels and deliver the negative emissions that the world needs.

Highlights of our MOF research include:

MOFs for CO2 capture &
gas separations

We discovered that MUF-16 can efficiently trap CO2. It has a strong preference for CO2 over other gases (high selectivity). It is robust, recyclable and easily to prepare. 

We have synthesized other materials that can efficiently separate CO2 and nitrogen or ethane and ethylene. These materials provide alternatives to conventional energy-expensive techniques such as cryogenic distillation.

Partially interpenetrated and hetero-interpenetrated MOFs

We developed partially interpenetrated frameworks MOFs where one of the networks is fully occupied while the other is present to a variable extent.  These materials, MUF-9 and MUF-10, yielded new perspectives on MOF structures, MOF design and MOF growth. Also, we discovered how to deliberately prepare hetero-interpenetrated frameworks in which two different frameworks are mutually entangled.

Multicomponent MOFs

Multicomponent MOFs  are built up from a number of different components.  These MOFs feature complex - yet regular and periodic - pore architectures.  We reported the first quaternary MOFs (which have three different ligands) and have developed a strategy for programming the pore spaces.   This enables us to systematically control pore architectures, to introduce defects, and to design catalysts.  Our review article on these materials is here.

Thermolabile groups in MOFs

We introduced the concept of thermolabile groups in MOFs. These removable groups suppress framework interpenetration and mask reactive functional motifs  with the ability to catalyse chemical reactions.  

Single-atom catalysts from MOF pyrolysis

We pioneered a method to coat ZIF-8 crystals with tannic acid coordination polymers. Pyrolysis of these materials leads to hollow carbon capsules with embedded single metal atoms or nanoparticles, which are effective catalysts for chemical and electrochemical reactions.

Mixed-matrix membranes

We design, fabricate and test polymer membranes with embedded MOFs. These are effective for gas separations, especially involving the removal of CO2 from flue gas and natural gas streams.