Study at Cardiff | Postgraduate

Solid State and Materials Chemistry (PhD/MPhil)

The School of Chemistry has developed a particular strength in Solid State and Materials Chemistry, with a research group dedicated to this exciting area of study. As part of the Chemistry (PhD/MPhil) programme, students can conduct their research within this group.

Course Aims

To offer knowledge and expertise for a career in the pharmaceuticals and fine chemical sectors, teaching, biomedical research fields, research and managerial roles in general manufacturing industry (eg. food, cosmetics, petrochemical etc).

Special Features

• The School has undergone an extensive revitalisation in the last few years and occupies newly refurbished laboratories with excellent facilities for research and teaching.
• Chemistry continues to attract an expanding team of researchers, as well as maintaining an extensive network of industrial contacts.
• Strong interdisciplinary collaborations support projects across traditional subject divisions; postgraduates interact across these groups.
• New facilities for synthetic and catalytic chemistry, including an advanced pressurereaction suite for catalyst development and investigation and the opening of the laboratories of the new EPSRC-funded Physical Organic Chemistry Centre.
• Extensive collaborations internationally; a number of research programmes allow placements abroad, including in Europe and America.

Course Description

Research is focused on understanding fundamental properties of materials, developing and advancing new aspects of experimental techniques for investigating these properties, and exploring the potential for developing applications of the materials under investigation. Current research projects include:

(i) the preparation, characterisation and application of new microporous polymeric materials (which, among a wide range of exciting new applications, are currently generating promise for their potential in adsorption and separation technologies);

(ii) the development of a fundamental understanding of structural and dynamic properties of molecular solids (including solid inclusion compounds, incommensurate solids, hydrogen-bonded systems and disordered materials) and of crystallization processes of these materials;

(iii) quantifying the interactions between the many and various components of ‘soft matter’ systems, to understand and ultimately control their structure and dynamics, with a particular emphasis on self-assembling gels and foams, the protection of actives via conjugation and formulation and their behaviour within biogels, polymer/surfactant/additive solutions, and the production of well-defined hierarchical structures;

(iv) the development and application of new aspects of experimental techniques for elucidating properties of materials – topics of particular interest include advances in EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy in a range of novel areas (including the characterisation of catalytic systems and solid surfaces), and the development and application of new techniques for structure determination using powder X-ray diffraction data;

(v) the development of new strategies for applying polymers as vehicles for targeted and controlled drug release.

Entry Requirements

Suitable for graduates with a good honours degree or equivalent in chemistry or a related subject. Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to pass IELTS (6.5)/TOEFL exams.

Note: International students pursuing part-time programmes of study are not eligible for Tier 4 General Student) visas and must have alternative leave to remain in the UK if they intend to study at the University in person.

Next intake: The University has four entry points for research degrees; 1st October, 1st January, 1st April or 1st July

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