研究领域

Physical & Theoretical Chemistry

Chemistry of Nanomaterials and Surfaces Nanomaterials are basically solids composed of (very small) particles of a size below 100 nm, and they are of interest in chemistry since they possess properties quite distinct from normal bulk materials. A famous example of this phenomena is the behaviour of gold nanoparticles - whereas bulk gold is quite an inert substance , gold nanoparticles are much more reactive and indeed can be used as excellent catalysts for a range of reactions. Nanomaterials already have important uses, in our everyday lives and also as advanced functional materials. Examples of the former include the use of titania nanopowders as pigments in paints and suntan creams ; examples of the latter include the uses of platinum nanoparticles as advanced (electro-) catalysts, and the addition of nanoparticles to polymers to induce specific functionality such as biocidal properties. The group is concerned with the chemical synthesis of new solid-state nanomaterials, to enable novel applications, along with closely related studies on the surface chemistry of materials. Apart from the fabrication of the materials, we also carry out detailed physical characterisation using a comprehensive range of physical methods such as electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, XRD, scanning electrochemical microscopy, dynamic electrochemistry, Raman, Ir and nmr spectroscopies and XPS, and measure functional performance for particular applications. The investigations raise intriguing academic challenges since achieving an understanding of the factors controlling chemical structure, stability, and kinetics of nanomaterials and interfaces often requires very new concepts and methodologies. Projects of current interest include: 1. Nanomaterials for sustainable ("green") energy applications A future energy vision to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases is based on the use of hydrogen as a fuel source, which can be “burnt” to form water either in a conventional combustion process, or more likely via its use in fuel cells to produce electricity. For most of these latter types of application (eg. electric cars, laptops), a portable form of hydrogen is needed, for which possibilities such as cryogenic or high-pressure storage of hydrogen are unattractive. We are studying chemical routes for the generation of “hydrogen on demand” which involve heterogeneous reactions at the interface between liquids and nanodisperse solids. A related project is the development of improved catalysts for use in fuel cells. At present these devices contain Pt nanoparticles which catalyse the fuel cell chemistry, and the cost of the Pt can be prohibitive. We are therefore engaged in the search for better catalysts, either by combining Pt with other elements, or using improved Pt nanoparticle synthesis methods. We have a particular interest in nanocarbons. These encompass a range of carbon forms, such as nanodiamonds, graphene platelets, carbon onions and carbon nanotubes. They are in part of interest since it is possible to assemble them into thin films with high porosity and incredible surface areas. We are exploring their use as battery electrodes and in supercapacitors. 2. Fabrication and applications of diamond films for chemical sensors Chemical sensors are devices which measure the composition of some gas or liquid phase medium , normally producing an electrical signal. An important area is biosensing – the measurement of biochemicals in living tissue – and we are currently engaged developing a range of biosensors, for chemicals such as neurotransmitters and glucose. The sensor design is of an electrochemical nature, and normally involves the modification of electrode surfaces with enzymes and catalytic particles to produce a selective chemical reaction with the target analyte. This produces a chemical which can be oxidised by the electrode to produce an electrical signal current. We are particularly interested in the use of synthetic diamond coatings in this area. These polycrystalline diamond coatings can be made electrically conducting and have many advantages for this type of application. 3. Self-assembly of nanomaterials Nanostructured materials are often assembled into larger structures by a process known as self-assembly, whereby chemical forces drive the arrangement of the nanoparticles of interest into larger structures, a process also widely used in nature (e.g. opalescence materials in butterfly wings!) We are particularly interested in the use of self-assembly for the fabrication of nanostructured coatings based on novel forms of carbon and in so-called polymer nanocomposites. As the name suggests, these are polymers with embedded nanoparticles which can control polmer properties such as related to wear and friction, superhydrophobicity, antibacteriocidal activity, dielectric behaviour, flammability etc.

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The measurement of the Gibbs energy of transfer between oil and water using a nano-carbon paste electrode P. Gan, D. Lowinsohn, J. S. Foord, R. G. Compton. Electroanalysis, 2014, 26(2), p351-358 Chemical mechanical polishing of thin film diamond E. L. H. Thomas, G. W. Nelson, S. Mandal, J. S. Foord, O. A. Williams. Carbon, 2014, 68, p473-479 Nanostructured diamond decorated with Pt particles: preparation and electrochemistry I. Shpilevaya, W. Smirnov, S. Hirsz, N. Yang, C. E. Nebel, J. S. Foord. RSC Advances, 2014, 4(2), p531-537 The voltammetry and electroanalysis of some estrogenic compounds at modified diamond electrodes P. Gan, R. G. Compton, J. S. Foord. Electroanalysis, 2013, 25(11), p2423-2434 Nanocarbon paste electrodes D. Lowinsohn, P. Gan, K. Tschulik, J. S. Foord, R. G. Compton. Electroanalysis, 2013, 25(11), p2435-2444 Ultraporous palladium supported on graphene coated carbon fibre paper as a highly active catalyst electrode for the oxidation of methanol M.Sawangphruk, A. Krittayavathananon, N. Chinwipas, P. Srimuk, T. Vatanatham, S. Limtrakul, J. S. Foord. Fuel Cells, 2013, 13(5), p881-888 A novel electroless method to prepare a platinum electrocatalyst on diamond for fuel cell applications , Xiao Lyu, Jingping Hu*, John S. Foord*, Qiang Wang, J. Power Sources, 2013, 242, p631-637 Shape selective plate-form Ga2O3 with strong metal-support interaction to overlying Pd for hydrogenation of CO2 to CH3OH , Xiwen Zhou, Jin Qu, Feng Xu, Jingping Hu, John S. Foord, Ziyan Zeng, Xinlin Hong and Shik Chi Edman Tsang, Chem. Commun., 2013, 49, p1747-1749 Electronic structure of CuCrO2 thin films grown on Al2O3(001) by oxygen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy , D. Shin, J. S. Foord, R. G. Egdell, and A. Walsh, J. Appl. Phys. 112, 113718 (2012) Diamond nanowires decorated with metallic nanoparticles: A novel electrical interface for the immobilization of histidinylated biomolecuels, Palaniappan Subramaniana, Yannick Coffinier, Doris Steinmueller-Nethl,John Foord, Rabah Boukherroub, Sabine Szunerits, Electrochimica Acta, 2012 Dioctylamine-Sulfonamide-Modified Carbon Nanoparticles as High Surface Area Substrates for Coenzyme Q10-Lipid Electrochemistry, Katherine Lawrence,John D. Watkins,Tony D. James,James E. Taylor,Steven D. Bull,Geoffrey W. Nelson,John S. Foord,Yi-Tao Long,Frank Marken, Electroanalysis,2012, 24(5), p1003-1010 Plasma electrochemistry: Development of a reference electrode material for high temperature plasmas, Toks Fowowe, Emina Hadzifejzovic, Jingping Hu, John S. Foord and Daren J Caruana, Advanced Materials, 2012 Electrodeposition of a Pt-PrO2-x electrocatalyst on diamond electrodes for the oxidation of methanol, Liang Chen, Jingping Hu, John S. Foord, Phys. Status Solidi A, 1-5 (2012), DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201200049 Electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization by a zirconia modified diamond electrode, Baixiang Liu, Jingping Hu, John S. Foord, Electrochemistry Communications, 2012, 19, p46-49, DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2012.03.007 Shape-Dependent Acidity and Photocatalytic Activity of Nb2O5 Nanocrystals with an Active TT (001) Surface , Yun Zhao, Clive Eley, Jingping Hu, John S. Foord, Lin Ye, Heyong He; Shik Chi Edman Tsang, Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 2012 (In press), DOI: 10.1002/ange.201108580 Enhanced TiO2 surface electrochemistry with carbonized layer-by-layer cellulose-PDDA composite films , Anne Vuorema, Sara Shariki, Mika Sillanpaa, Wim Thielemans, Geoffrey W. Nelson, John S. Foord, Sara E. C. Dale, Simon Bending, Frank Marken, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2011), 13(20), 9857-9862. Fabrication of Hybrid Diamond and Transparent Conducting Metal Oxide Electrode for Spectroelectrochemistry , Jingping Hu, James Hodge, Arthur J. Boff, and John S. Foord, International Journal of Electrochemistry Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 286458 Electrochemical deposition of Pt-Ru on diamond electrodes for the electrooxidation of methanol , Xiao Lu, Jingping Hu, John S. Foord and Qiang Wang, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 654 (2011) p38-43 Electrochemical Deposition of Zirconia Films on Diamond Electrodes , Baixiang Liu, Jingping Hu and John S. Foord, Electrochem. Solid-State Lett., Volume 14, Issue 2, pp. D20-D22 (2011) Promotion of Direct Methanol Electro-oxidation by Ru. Terraces on Pt by using a Reversed Spillover Mechanism , ChemCatChem 2010, S. Jones, K. Tedsree, M. Sawangphruk, J. S. Foord, J. Fisher, D. Thompsett, S.E. Tsang