Nanomaterials synthesis

Prof Guo’s research interest focuses on multiscale simulations and syntheses of materials and nanostructures for applications in clean energy and healthcare technologies, particularly in hydrogen storage, carbon capture, energy catalysis, biofuel cells and biointerfaces. Fundamental theories are coupled with ab initio, molecular dynamics, cellular automata and finite element simulations for materials discovery, while selected materials are synthesised and harnessed by mechanochemical, self-assembly, deposition and precipitation methods.

Research interests in the Davies group include the preparation and applications of Metal-Organo Framework (MOF) materials. These are ‘nano-engineered’ microporous 3D-coordination polymers consisting of metal based nodes and organic linking units. They are of high interest due to their applications in gas storage technologies (including hydrogen gas and methane for automobile fuel tanks), gas separations (including carbon dioxide capture from the exhaust flues of coal power plants), and heterogeneous catalysis.

Professor Wilton-Ely's research involves bridging the gap between molecular compounds and the nanoscale. His group uses their synthetic expertise to functionalise nanostructures with molecular species and apply these materials to fields as diverse as medical imaging (MRI and PET), sensing (CO and heavy metals) and catalysis (C-H activation, C-C bond formation). Of particular interest is the development of new attachment methods for gold nanoparticles, which allow multiple surface units to be incorporated in a stepwise, modular fashion.

Adrian is currently a Reader in Earth and Planetary Magnetism at Imperial College London, where he heads the Natural Magnetism Group. He was a Royal Society University Research Fellow from 2004 to 2012. Before that he held post-doctoral research positions at the University of Edinburgh, University of Toronto, Univ. München and the GFZ Potsdam. He completed his D.Phil. at the University of Oxford, and was an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh. He spent a year at the GFZ Potsdam whilst a Royal Society URF.