Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name &
contact details:
Dr Leigh F. Jones
Email: leigh.jones@nuigalway.ie
School:
Chemistry
Has project been
agreed with head
(or nominee) of
proposed
registration school?
Yes
Research Centre
/ group
affiliation:
Chemistry
Research group /
centre website:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/chemistry/level2/staff/leigh_jones/lj_research.html
PI website / link
to CV:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/chemistry/level2/staff/leigh_jones/lj_research.html
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here.
My research is based in the field of Molecular Magnetism which details the design, synthesis and
study of novel polynuclear paramagnetic materials whose properties are inherited from their parent
mononuclear molecules and may be tuned by structural variation at the molecular level. Other
interests include host-guest chemistry using magnetic host materials and the design and
construction of 1, 2 and 3D coordination networks.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Title: Metallocalix[6]arenes as Solid and Solution-state Host-Guest Materials
Recently the Jones group described the structural and magnetic characterisation of a large family of
heptanuclear [M7(OH)6(L)6](NO3)2 (M = Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II/III)) complexes, each member comprising
pseudo metallocalix[6]arene double-bowl topologies derived from partial (pseudo) Calix[n]arene
Schiff base ligands (such as 2-iminomethyl-6-methoxy-phenol).1 More specifically these complexes
possess metallic skeletons describing planar hexagonal discs. Their organic exteriors form double
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
bowl shaped topologies which (due to their crystal packing) result in the formation of molecular
cavities in the solid state. These confined spaces are shown to behave as host units in the solid state
for guests including small organic molecules and charge balancing counter anions, depending on the
exact ligand utilised during construction. The project outlined here concerns extending and
significant extrapolating on this body of work by producing new host materials with modified
molecular cavities via strategic ligand choice. These modified molecular cavities would then be able
to accommodation more pertinent guests such as light activated organic radicals, fluorophores or
large anions. The encapsulation of such species affords the opportunity to modulate and monitor
the effect on magnetic and / or photo-physical behaviour of the host materials through the nature
of their guests (i.e. sensors), while the desire to sequester anions such as phosphate stems from
their detrimental behaviour in the aqueous environment. We also aim here to solubilise our host
complexes using ligand modification in order to investigate their solution state host-guest behaviour
using NMR and UV-Vis titration studies. Indeed these materials would represent some of the largest
and most structurally complex host materials to be probed using such techniques. These potential
multifunctional materials will be assessed using a myriad of techniques including (where applicable)
X-Ray diffraction, SQUID magnetometry, EPR, NMR, UV-vis and Fluorescence studies.
1 (a) S. T. Meally, G. Karotsis, E. K. Brechin, G. S. Papaefstathiou, P. W. Dunne, P. McArdle, L. F. Jones.
CrystEngComm., 2010, 12, 59-63. (b) S. T. Meally, C. McDonald, G. Karotsis, G. S. Papaefstathiou, E. K. Brechin,
P. W. Dunne, P. McArdle, N. P. Power, L. F. Jones. Dalton Trans., 2010, 39, 4809 – 4816. (c) S. T. Meally, C.
McDonald, P. Kealy, S. M. Taylor, E. K. Brechin and L. F. Jones. Dalton Trans., 2012, 41(18), 5610-5616.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
NUI Galway projects should emphasise features that are not typically available in Brazil – specific equipment,
multi-disciplinarity, aspects of structured programme, links with industry, placements, links with other research
groups etc.
The School of Chemistry has all the necessary technology for success in Inorganic and Organic
synthesis. Newly acquired technologies (for instance) include a solvo- / hydrothermal oven and a
microwave reactor, both of which will be available towards the successful execution of this project.
A structured PhD program (university wide) is also in place at the School, which will significantly
enhance the candidates` breadth of training and their learning experience. A visiting scholar
opportunity (technology transfer) may also be available in conjunction with the Brechin group at the
University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Graduates of Chemistry and Material Science would be suitable for such a project.
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)
Health and Biomedical Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
x
Technology of prevention and remediation of natural disasters
Biodiversity and Bioprospection
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ __Y__
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): __N___
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____