Chemistry – (Ph.D.)

Contents

Research groups

Applied Optics Group

Optical sensors

This activity largely covers research into the fundamental properties of guided wave interferometers, and their application in fields ranging from monitoring bridge structures to diagnostic procedures in medicine.

Staff

Dr George Dobre.

Biomedical imaging/Optical coherence tomography (OCT)

OCT is a relatively new technique which can provide very high-resolution images of tissue, and which has a major application in imaging the human eye. We are investigating different in-fibre configurations to increase the rate at which images are acquired without compromising the depth penetration. The group is developing systems in collaboration with a variety of different national and international institutions to extend the OCT capabilities from systems dedicated to eye imaging to systems for imaging skin and tooth caries. Distinctively, the OCT systems developed at Kent can provide both transverse and longitudinal images from the tissue, along with a confocal image. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary is now evaluating a copy of our instrument, which blends fluorescence, confocal and OCT technologies. Another project is evaluating the capability of OCT in the conservation of fine art, in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, the National Gallery and the British Museum. Spectroscopic analysis using OCT is another area of active research with wide implications in medicine, industry and art, which aims to add spectral information to the depth-resolved information. The group also conducts more fundamental research on polarisation-sensitive OCT, eye tracking and oximetry, which all address different aspects of the basic OCT technique.

Staff

Dr George Dobre, Professor Adrian Podoleanu.

Forensic imaging

The research of the forensic imaging team is primarily applied, focusing on mathematical and computational techniques and employing a wide variety of image processing and analysis methods for applications in modern forensic science. The group has attracted approximately £850,000 of research funding in the last five years, from several academic, industrial and commercial organisations in the UK and the US. The group also collaborates closely with the Forensic Psychology Group of the Open University.Current active research projects include:

* the development of high-quality, fast facial composite systems based on evolutionary algorithms and statistical models of human facial appearance
* interactive, evolutionary search methods and evolutionary design
* statistically rigorous ageing of photo-quality images of the human face (for tracing and identifying missing persons)
* real and pseudo 3D models for modelling and analysis of the human face
* generating ‘mathematically fair' virtual line-ups for suspect identification.

Staff

Dr Stuart Gibson, Dr Chris Solomon.

Functional Materials Group

The research in FMG is concerned with synthesis and characterisation of functional materials, as exemplified by materials with useful optical, catalytic, or electronic properties, and with an emerging theme in biomaterials. The group also uses computer modelling studies to augment experimental work. The research covers the following main areas.

Amorphous and nanostructured solids

Our interest is in inorganic solids (primarily ceramics and glasses) which possess useful functional properties (eg electrical, optical, catalytic) stemming from their composition and/or nanostructures. Our research includes the synthesis of novel materials, the experimental characterisation of their atomic and nano-scale structure and the computer modelling of these structures and associated properties. Understanding these complex materials demands the use of a range of advanced modern characterisation methods. The truly atomic scale probes available to us are X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray and neutron diffraction. Porosimetry and analogous techniques, such as small angle scattering, allow us to probe length scales approaching microns. Our work relies on access to world-class international facilities such as the ISIS pulsed neutron source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and the ILL neutron and ESRF synchrotron X-ray sources in Grenoble (France). Advanced computer modelling and simulation methods are increasingly being integrated with the experimental work.

Staff

Dr Donna Arnold, Dr Robert Benfield, Dr S Corr, Dr Gavin Mountjoy, Professor Robert Newport.

Soft functional materials

One of the most exciting areas of contemporary materials research is the design of ‘soft' functional materials organised at the nanoscale, using organic, organometallic, polymer and inorganic chemistry to investigate the synthesis of such materials. The functionality in these materials comes from one or two properties: (i) the selfassembly of varying constituent molecular or macromolecular sub units; (ii) the incorporation of biologically derived motifs. The materials are being developed as smart adhesive materials for biomaterial applications, self-assembling bioactive, electroactive and drug delivery vehicles and conducting/photoconducting liquid crystalline materials.

The Group's research incorporates a range of synthetic skills (peptide, ligand, polymer, heterocyclic, organometallic and inorganic synthesis), using fully equipped synthetic laboratories with the associated characterisation techniques (FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H, 13C and 29Si NMR spectroscopy, polarimetry). The group uses a number of means to examine the organisation of self-assembling materials including DSC, DMTA, polarising optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy.

Staff Dr Robert Benfield, Dr Stefano Biagini, Dr Simon Holder, Professor Michael Went.

Theory and modelling of materials

The Group's interest focuses on first principles modelling of rare earth materials, carbon nanotubes and oxides, and classical modelling of ionic solids and glasses. We primarily use first principles simulations to solve problems in condensed matter physics and materials chemistry. In the case of ionic solids, we also use classical modelling to study properties that require computer calculations.

First principles simulations are predictive and powerful tools, giving access to accurate energies and electronic structures. One strand of our research covers nanostructured materials, surfaces, oxides, carbon and water/ice in situations ranging from vacuum surface science to complex nanostructured battery electrodes.

The related applications include filled and functionalised nanotubes, electrochromic oxides, and battery materials. Another strand of research covers first principles simulations involving relativistic quantum mechanics. These are needed to accurately model the properties of rare earth materials and relativistic effects in materials, including superconductivity. We also undertake classical modelling to study time-consuming properties, such as diffusion in ionic crystals and medium-range structure of glasses.

Staff

Dr Maria Alfredsson, Dr Gavin Mountjoy, Dr J Quintanilla, Professor Paul Strange, Dr T Aste.

Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science

The group's research focuses on observational and modelling programmes in star formation, planetary science and early solar system bodies, galactic astronomy and astrobiology. We gain data from the largest telescopes in the world and in space, such as ESO's Very Large Telescope, the New Technology Telescope, the Spitzer Telescope and the Herschel Space Observatory. We also use our in-house facilities which include a two-stage light gas gun for impact studies. Staff are involved in a wide range of international collaborative research projects. Areas of particular interest include: star formation, extragalactic astronomy, solar system science and instrumentation development.

Staff

Professor Mark Burchell, Dr Dirk Froebrich, Dr Stephen Lowry, Dr Jing-Qi Miao, Professor Michael Smith.

Faculty

The School of Physical Sciences is situated in a newly refurbished science laboratory on the Canterbury Campus of the University of Kent.

The School is part of the Faculty of Sciences and offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Forensic Science and Physics. Our students are highly satisfied with the quality of our courses - Forensic Science was 1st in the UK for student satisfaction in the 2009 National Student Survey (NSS).

There are just over 500 students and 20 full-time academic staff within the School, along with a number of clerical, administrative and support staff. Our student and staf community come from a diverse range of backgrounds and from all over the world. In the employment market, our graduates do very well. The School of Physical Sciences was joint first for graduate employment in the 2007 Guardian University Guide. The Department maintains good links with our alumni, some return to talk to current students and some for further study. Many of our alumni around the world occupy prominent positions in the public sector, in industry and academia.

SPS is a dynamic department achieving national and international excellence in both teaching and research. The research effort is led by four groups, Applied Optics, Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Forensic Imaging and Functional Materials. The Functional Materials Group was awarded a rating of 3.05 in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) which placed the group second nationally in its discipline. We have numerous collaborative links with colleagues in other universities and research institutions, both in the UK and overseas.

SPS has also developed a very active outreach programme within schools and professional institutions at both local and national level.

In April 2008, the School was successful in becoming one of six departments in the south east to benefit from £12.5 million of HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) funding.

This is an exciting time for the School and the additional funding will create new opportunities and resources enabling us to expand our cutting-edge research portfolio.