Programmable Molecular Metal Oxides (PMMOs): From Fundamentals to Application

Metal oxide based technology is worth over a trillion dollars per year with applications in microchips, hard disks, displays, glass coatings, sun screen, chemical catalysts, and superconductors. In almost all instances the metal oxide based materials are comprised of 'solid-state' infinite materials which require high temperature processing and can be difficult to modify systematically. We have been working on a class of molecular metal oxides called polyoxometalates (POMs). Research in molecular metal oxides or polyoxometalate clusters (POMs) provides an unrivalled structural diversity of molecules, displaying a wide range of properties. During the past 5 years we have transformed the area demonstrating how to control the assembly of the clusters, including the precise design of host-guest systems that are intrinsically electronically active. Now, due to our researcher critical mass and expertise, and state of the art single crystal X-ray diffraction using microsource and area detectors, cryospray and ion mobility mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, flow systems, microsystems, and electrochemical measurements we are the leading group worldwide capable of developing designed approaches to producing clusters and building blocks that can link the molecular with the nanoscale, microscale and device / system level using a programmable approach in the following areas: (i) electronic materials; (ii) hybrid organic inorganic molecules and materials; (iii) emergent materials and structures; (iv) continuous flow discovery, processing and scale up nanoscale clusters. Platform funding will allow us to maintain critical mass, embark on risky cross-cutting projects that are not normally possible using responsive mode funding, allow continuity. These aspects are particularly important here since during the last few years the group has demonstrated a unique research philosophy developing new synthetic areas, fundamental ideas, techniques, and unique research approaches including embracing important disciplines needed to advance the chemical research (e.g. chemical engineering, optical physics, electrical engineering and so on). Although these projects are highly focussed on specific areas, the group has become highly integrated and more successful as a result of this integration but there is a limit to which individual projects can be used to integrate the group. The key aspect of the Platform grant will be the additional integration, adding value way beyond what would be possible through standard responsive mode funding of smaller grants, as well as helping a highly integrated and large research group funded by many different grants remain integrated, responsive, and dynamic. We will also use the Platform mechanism to develop the people funded within the group encouraging them to think critically, develop independence, a new ideas and approaches that exploit the unique mix of projects, expertise developing their careers as academics, industrialists and experts able to link fundamental with applied aspects.

Who will benefit from this research?

The inorganic materials / coatings / energy / microfluidic / semi-conductor / nano-fabrication industries will be the major beneficiaries of this research at all levels from multi-nationals to SMEs and spin out companies. In addition UK HEIs, students and the general public will also be beneficiaries as well as the UK-PLC as a whole.

How will they benefit from this research?

Industry: The inorganic materials / coatings / energy / microfluidic / semi-conductor / nano-fabrication industries will benefit from the new technologies generated in this research since it will provide, new paradigms in materials, devices and systems for application across a range of sectors with the possibility of delivering breakthroughs that could result in disruptive technologies (e.g. microfluidic systems that do not need lithographic fabrication or solar fuel cells that do not need precious metals). These benefits will be of great interest also to SMEs and spin-outs that develop niche applications that will directly utilize and develop some of the technology in other directions developing 'niche' high value applications. The interactions between Chemists, Physicists, Engineers, and Biosciences proposed in this grant will also yield great potential teaching and research benefits for the students and the University. This is because undergraduate, ERASMUS, and PhD students will get the chance to take part in research that crosses the interface of this project and it may also be possible to develop a research masters based on this area that will train the next generation of researchers and engineers. General Public: The general public will benefit from this research from the increase in wealth that will be developed and the public understanding and promotion of science activities planned through public lectures at Glasgow / Edinburgh Science Weeks, Café Scientifique. e.g. The PI gave a TED talk on 'inorganic biology' which was watched by over 160,000 in just one week after release on the web.