Science

Dielectric materials are vital for the functioning of all modern electronic devices, being found in capacitors and elements such as touch screens. They are also central to a range of other technological applications, such as photocatalytic reactors. Developing new, practical dielectric materials with high permittivity but low dielectric loss can have significant impacts on the global economy.

Astronomers can readily observe the fingerprint of the formaldehyde molecule in interstellar space. However, the mechanism to form formaldehyde under interstellar conditions is poorly understood. It is thought to occur via hydrogen reactions on the surface of carbon monoxide ices, but confirmation of such a pathway through modelling is challenging.

Gas-surface chemistry is vital to the functioning of technological society.  Reactions occurring on and with surfaces are pervasive in virtually all technological and industrial activities.  Being able to predict and thus engineer reactions at surfaces has profound importance to modern society, with applications from designing new heterogeneous catalysts for industrial processes to predicting the performance of space vehicles.

Gas-surface chemistry is vital to the functioning of technological society. Reactions occurring on and with surfaces are pervasive in virtually all technological and industrial activities. Being able to predict and thus engineer reactions at surfaces has profound importance to modern society, with applications from designing new heterogeneous catalysts for industrial processes to predicting the performance of space vehicles.

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Coherent transient experiments, including optical free induction decay, photon echoes and optical nutation, facilitate an understanding of subtlest details of electronic structures in the solid state. The project aims to investigate the application of coherent transients in chemically interesting systems, such as coordination compounds, by laser-frequency switching of semiconductor (diode) lasers.

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