Synthesis of Carbon-rich Molecular Materials

About the Project

New carbon-rich molecular materials, based on well-defined nanographenes and other novel polyaromatic architectures, will be rationally synthesised to better understand structure-property relationships. Of particular interest is the tuning of electronic/optical properties, and exploring the correlation between molecular and bulk structure towards porous organic frameworks for selective guest storage and sensing.

The project will involve a major component of organic synthesis, combined with characterisation of the structure and properties of resultant materials, both in-house and with collaborators within the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.

A successful applicant will have a BSc(Honours), MSc or equivalent degree in chemistry, and an excellent command of written and spoken English. Applications from international as well as domestic students are welcomed. Knowledge and experience in organic/organometallic synthesis, purification, and characterisation techniques such as NMR is essential. The tenure of the PhD scholarship is for three years. Review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is found and the available position(s) is filled.

Applications should include a full CV and the names/contact details of at least two referees. Applications should be sent (preferably by email) to: Prof. Nigel Lucas, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; nigel.lucas@otago.ac.nz.

Funding Notes

A successful applicant will receive a tax-free stipend of NZ$33,624 per annum in addition to course/tuition fees. Applications from international as well as domestic students are welcomed.

References

Superphenylphosphines: Nanographene-Based Ligands That Control Coordination Geometry and Drive Supramolecular Assembly, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 1131. DOI:10.1021/jacs.7b12251

Rigid tetraarylene-bridged cavitands from reduced-symmetry resorcin[4]arene derivatives. Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 4716. DOI:10.1039/C8CC01903G

Rigid, biconical hydrogen-bonded dimers that strongly encapsulate cationic guests in solution and the solid state. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 11858. DOI:10.1039/d1sc01802g