| Qualifications |
Duration |
Start dates |
Application period |
PhD
(MPhil also available) |
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years |
February and October |
January to April |
Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available) |
Duration
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years |
Start dates
February and October |
Application period
January to April |
Chemistry and Materials is a vibrant area of research at the OU. We have an extensive track record in working synergistically with both industrial and academic partners.
Key themes of our research include:
- Catalysis research, focusing on the synthesis and characterisation of bimetallic catalysts for fuel cells and catalytic converters. We also have interests in characterising porous materials and surfaces.
- Green chemistry and resource efficiency research, focusing on recovery of high value chemicals from waste and biomass.
- Nanomaterials and nanocomposites, focusing on novel materials and their applications in for example nanosensors, photovoltaics, catalysis, energy harvesting and storage.
- Organosilicon research, focusing on new materials and coatings based on silsesquioxanes, biomimetic organosilicon chemistry, the development of novel HPLC phases and the mechanism of substitution at silicon.
- Polymer processing and structure development research, focusing on understanding and predicting the effects of molecular variables during polymer processing.
- Supramolecular chemistry research, including luminescent sensors and probes, photoactive molecular devices, and new calixarene motifs and applications.
- Experimental evaluation of quantum chemical models that describe the physico-chemical properties of molecules/materials.
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.
Current/recent research projects
- Development and analysis of recognition polymers.
- Lanthanide complexes as incorporated luminescent detectors.
- Understanding and improving reactivity of low platinum group metal three-way catalysts.
- Supported catalysts for the recovery of valuable chemicals from wastes.
- Synthesis, and Application of Nanoparticles using Calixarenes.
- Electron Spectroscopy Measurements of Functionalised DNA Components for Radiotherapy.
- Molecular modelling and biological relevance of supramolecular structures in nucleic acids.
- Sustainable plastics including new packaging materials, environmental impact of plastics and recycling waste plastics.
- Recovery of chemicals from wastes such as metals.
- Heritage Science involving the cleaning of museum textiles and the conservation of plastic works of art.
- Active sustainable packaging to tackle food waste and plastic pollution.
- Investigating the Formulation, Characterization and Performance of Novel Nanomaterials for the Treatment of iron deficiency anaemia.
Potential supervisors
- Dr James Bruce – supramolecular photochemistry
- Dr Nicholas Chatterton – electrospinning, materials chemistry
- Dr Simon Collinson – catalysis, green chemistry and resource efficiency
- Dr Eleanor Crabb – catalysis, fuel cells and materials chemistry
- Dr Ellen Heeley – polymer processing, x-ray spectroscopy
- Dr Jon Golding – nanoparticles in cancer therapy
- Dr Rob Janes – inorganic materials chemistry
- Dr Shaun Mutter – computational chemistry
- Dr Kate Nixon – Electron impact ionisation, electron momentum spectroscopy, radio-sensitizers, biomolecules, electron momentum profiles
- Dr Daniel Payne – organic and supramolecular chemistry
- Dr Nick Power – organic, supramolecular, and materials chemistry
- Dr Maria Velasco – chemical sensors and biosensors
Fees and funding
| UK fee |
International fee |
| Full time: £4,786 per year |
Full time: £15,698 per year |
| Part time: £2,393 per year |
Part time: £7,849 per year |
For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.
To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.
Links