Functional Molecules and Materials
Functional Molecules and Materials
![Molecular model of DNA-duplex designed for binding “soft” metal ions [ChemBioChem, 2018, 19, 1115] Molecular model of DNA-duplex designed for binding “soft” metal ions [ChemBioChem, 2018, 19, 1115]](/media/wwwnclacuk/naturalenvironmentalsciencesschoolof/images/research/materials-masthead (2).jpg)
Our Research
Selective assembly of molecules and materials and controlled and predictable manipulation of their properties. This is at the heart of our research to address today’s global challenges.
Expert chemists
The combined expertise of inorganic, organic and physical/theoretical chemists enables collaborative exploration.
We have specialists in synthesis, spectroscopy, microscopy, electrochemistry and theory/computation.
The academic team work across the following themes:
- Molecular & Materials Design
- Nanoscience
- Bio-based Materials
- Health, Energy & Environment
Our work
Our work addresses:
- fundamental scientific questions
- societal challenges
- advance technologies of economic importance

Our teaching
Research-inspired teaching is a core principle in our education programmes. Teaching activities are making use of the expertise in the group.
We offer modules in catalyst application and design and structural methods.
Excellent analytical facilities provide state-of-the-art learning environments for our students, supporting laboratory work.
Projects in the group range from BSc dissertations to MChem and MSc projects.
Themes
We work across the themes of molecular and materials design, nanoscience, bio-based materials and health, energy and environment.
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Molecular and Materials Design
We focus on the creation of new types of molecule, solid, gels and liquid. We do this through rational design or self-assembly techniques.
Examples of systems under investigation include:
• bonding regimes
• metal-based polymers
• catalytic systems
• adaptive and responsive polymers
• self-healing gels
• anisotropic materialsResearch leaders
• Andy Houlton
• Benjamin Horrocks
• David Fulton
• John Errington - molecular synthetic methodology, reactivity, catalysis
• Keith Izod - inorganic, organometallic, synthesis, new structural/bonding motifs
• Julian Knight
• Simon Doherty -
Bio-based Materials
We integrate biological molecules with synthetic or abiological components. It provides an intriguing approach to new materials.
There is a long-standing interest in synthesis, use and modification of DNA. This includes its components.
We develop new types of materials such as:
• conducting nanowires
• quantum-dot arrays
• designer sequencesWe are exploring protein-polymer hydrogels. We look at these as non-stick scaffolds for tissue and cell culture applications.
Research leaders
• David Fulton
• Andrew Houlton
• Benjamin Horrocks
• Eimer Tuite
• Andrew Pike -
Nanoscience (including nanoelectronics)
We work on the design, synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials with novel properties.
Nanomaterials are those with at least one dimension in the range 1-100nm. They have unusual properties (electronic, magnetic, chemical, optical) due to their reduced dimensions.
Examples of 0, 1 and 2-dimensional materials feature in our research. For example, we explore Si quantum dots for use as non-toxic luminescent probes in biology.
Conductive one-dimensional materials, nanowires, are of particular interest. We prepare and study charge transport in DNA-templated nanowires and metal-nucleobase co-ordination polymers.
A recent example is an Au(I)-thioguanosine polymer. It's conductive upon oxidative doping.
We explore atomically thin two-dimensional materials. These include:
• molecular sheets prepared from coordination polymers
• the use of graphene-derived inks in biomolecular-sensingResearch leaders
• David Fulton
• Andrew Houlton
• Benjamin Horrocks
• Eimer Tuite
• Andrew Pike
• John Errington - Polyoxo-metallate (POMs), bottom-up assembly, molecular nanoscience -
Health, Energy and Environment
New technologies is a strong theme of the group. Many of our research projects seek to underpin such advances.
We do this by producing new molecules and materials. We develop understanding of their properties.
These contribute to societal challenges such as health and energy and environment.
Our research appears in projects on materials for:
• medical diagnostics, particularly sensors for aberrant genes associated with diseases such as cancer
• water-treatment membranes
• anti-biofouling coatings, which addresses problems relevant to medical implants
• shipping vessels, subject to unwanted biofouling that can impair their performanceWe develop multifunctional catalysts based on polymer-immobilised ionic liquids. These are for biomass conversion. Related chemistry is providing access to new functional membranes.
We research electrically conducting nanowires that aid in extreme miniaturisation of electronic components. Sensing elements for environmental and medical applications make use of these components.
Research leaders
• David Fulton
• Andrew Houlton
• Benjamin Horrocks
• Eimer Tuite
• Andrew Pike
• John Errington - energy conversion and storage, water purification, smart labels for food and pharma
• Julian Knight
• Simon Doherty
• Toni Carruthers - laser chemistry, aerosols
Collaborations
Our academics within the Functional Molecules and Materials group have strong links with both industry and academia.
Extant and previous collaborations include:
- projects with Intel focusing on self-assembly approaches for nanoscale electronics
- a long-standing relationship with QuantumDX, who develop molecular diagnostic platforms. Their team work in our laboratories.
- work with Touchlight Genetics. They have propriety technology for DNA amplification. We are working with them to develop DNA-based nanomaterials for market applications.
- collaborations with Akzo Nobel. These focus on:
- the design of new polymer materials
- co-ordination chemistry approaches for antifouling applications that address issues in the marine industries
- collaboration with Alphasense. This explores the mechanism of amperometric gas sensors and their applications in:
- industrial safety
- air quality monitoring
- work with Johnson Matthey involving chemically-modified electrodes for sensor applications
- work with Bae Systems on nanomaterials for emerging technologies
MChem Projects
Our projects and the primary investigators are listed here.
- Carbene Decorated Polymer Immobilised Ionic Liquid Stabilized Ruthenium Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Catalysis - Doherty
- Phosphine-Decorated Polymer Immobilised Ionic Liquid Stabilised Gold Nanoparticles - Doherty
- N-Heterocyclic Carbene Modified Polymer Immobilised Ionic Liquid Stabilised Palladium Nanoparticle Catalysts - Doherty
- Electron-rich polyoxometalates - Errington
- Synthesis and Reactivity of Chloro-Titanium Substituted Polyoxometalates - Errington
- Polyoxometalate-based hybrid materials for oxidative catalysis and water purification - Errington
- Synthesis and characterisation of a stimuli responsive hydrogel - Fulton
- Developing semi-interpenetrating gels based on Caf1 Protein Polymer - Fulton
- Compositional Biasing in polymer-based “composomes” - Fulton
- Understanding the binding of Ag+ ions and Ag+ Nanoclusters to single stranded DNA - Horrocks
- Exploiting Electrochemical Properties of Polyoxometalates for Waste Heat Harvesting - Horrocks
- Synthesis and characterisation of DNA-template nanowires using different semiconductors - Horrocks
- Self-assembly of fluorescent chiral Coordination Polymers - Houlton
- Synthesis and characterisation of silver arrays with pyrimidine ligands - Houlton
- Single Molecular Sheet Transformations from Single Crystals of Novel Coordination Frameworks based on M(II)-N Bonds - Houlton
- Synthesis and structural characterisation of homoleptic samarium complexes with extremely hindered dialkylphosphide ligands - Izod
- Alkyl-substituted Diphosphatetrylenes - Izod
- Synthesis and Application of Planar Diphosphaphosphenium ion: A Potential Transition Metal Mimic - Izod
- Investigations of Fluorescent Boranil Compounds for Applications in Polymers - Knight
- Synthesis of new Boranil-based fluorescent dyes in gram scale quantities - Knight
- Towards the enzymatic synthesis of custom-length functionalised DNA - Pike
- An assessment of fluorescent probes for use in diagnostics of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease - Tuite
- Investigation into the Binding Capabilities of Fluorescent Probes with Amyloid Proteins for Diagnostics - Tuite
- Binding and photophysics of novel Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes with DNA - Tuite
Group leader
Professor Andrew Houlton
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
Email: andrew.houlton@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6262
Dr Toni Carruthers
Lecturer in Physical Chemistry
Email: toni.carruthers@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)19120 87025
Dr Simon Doherty
Senior Lecturer
Email: simon.doherty@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6537
Dr John Errington
Reader Metalorganic Chemistry
Email: john.errington@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6643
Dr David Fulton
Senior Lecturer in Chemistry
Email: david.fulton@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7065
Dr Ben Horrocks
Reader in Physical Chemistry
Email: ben.horrocks@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5619
Dr Keith Izod
Reader in Main Group Chemistry
Email: keith.izod@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7101
Dr Julian Knight
Senior Lecturer
Email: julian.knight@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7068
Dr Hanno Kossen
Lecturer in Chemistry
Email: hanno.kossen@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 8536
Dr Erli Lu
NU Academic Track Fellow (NUAcT)
Email: erli.lu@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: 0191 208 4511
Dr Cristina Navarro Reguero
Lecturer in Chemistry
Email: cristina.navarro-reguero@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 8536
Dr Andrew Pike
Senior Lecturer Chemical Nanoscience, Chemistry Undergraduate Admissions Tutor
Email: andrew.pike@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7061
Dr Eimer Tuite
Senior Lecturer in Biophysical Chemistry
Email: eimer.tuite@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5523