We use synthetic chemistry to investigate the fundamental relationship between molecular structure and the properties of organic materials. This enables the design and synthesis of novel functional materials suitable for a range of applications of relevance to the pressing challenges of energy and environment.  Our focus at present is the synthesis of novel types of nanoporous materials.  These include our Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) that cannot pack space efficiently due to their rigidity and contorted molecular structures and therefore combine a microporous structure with the ease of polymer processability. PIMs show great promise for use as selective gas separation membranes for carbon capture and natural gas purification. We also make organic nanoporous materials with potential applications in photocatalysis and spintronics by the simple crystallization of suitable organic compounds.

Design and synthesis of nanoporous organic materials.