PhD Research Project: Gas adsorption and host-guest chemistry in flexible metal-organic framework m

Background
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a prominent class of hybrid materials that are the subject of intense research activity worldwide for applications related to their porosity, including gas adsorption and separation, catalysis, sensing and drug delivery. MOFs are constructed by linking metal ions or small metal clusters into 2D or 3D frameworks via bridging organic ligands. Their advantage over other porous materials is their potential, arising from modular construction, for extensive tuning of pore size, shape and chemical composition. Of 20-30,000 MOFs reported to date, it is estimated that approximately 100 are flexible. We have recently reported a new continuous ‘breathing’ MOF, in which molecular scale pores can open and close in response to guests. The material shows excellent guest selectivity and potential for gas separation (Nature Chemistry, 2017 (DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2747). The PhD project will build upon this discovery in a project that is a collaboration between University of Sheffield and Diamond Light Source, near Oxford.

Project
During the project the student will spend extended periods (typically 12 months) at University of Sheffield, working in the research group of Prof Lee Brammer, and at Diamond Light Source working with staff at single-crystal X-ray diffraction beamline I19 and powder X-ray diffraction beamline I11, under the supervision of principal beamline scientists Dr. David Allan and Dr. Chiu Tang. The work at Sheffield will involve development of a new family of flexible MOFs that will enable improvements in fundamental understanding of their unusual flexible behaviour and host-guest chemistry. The aim will be to establish the key parameters that allow tuning of the gas adsorption and selectivity behaviour in these porous materials. The work at Diamond Light Source will focus on advanced X-ray diffraction experiments to provide structural details of the dynamic responses of the materials to adsorption of gases and other guest molecules. The time spent at Diamond will also include the opportunity to work with beamline staff to further develop the excellent experimental facilities for in situ diffraction studies of gas adsorption at the two beamlines.

During the project the student will develop a broad range of experimental skills (synthesis, spectroscopy, thermal analyses and crystallography), and also be trained in writing and presentation skills and project management. The student will have the opportunity to become upon graduation with his/her PhD a highly marketable individual in the science/technology sector who would be suited for an advanced career within the university sector, large facility science sector or commercial science sector.

For more information about the project, please contact Prof Lee Brammer (lee.brammer@sheffield.ac.uk). To apply on-line for this studentship please visit http://www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying. The deadline for applications is Friday 30 June 2017, but early applications are encouraged and the position will be filled when a suitable candidate is identified.

Funding Notes

Duration and Stipend
The studentship is funded at an enhanced rate (£16,300 per annum) for a duration of 3.5 years, beginning in September/October 2017.

Eligibility
The successful candidate will be a UK or EU student who should hold, or expect to receive, a 1st or 2:1 class honours degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry or a closely related discipline. The candidate will be motivated, enthusiastic and able to work independently. Prior experience in coordination chemistry and in X-ray crystallography will be seen as advantageous.