Burrows Group Research
Our main research interest lies in the preparation and applications of nanoporous materials – materials that contain pores less than 50 nm across. Much of our research involves metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are a relatively new type of porous material. MOFs are coordination network structures in which metal centres are linked into extended structures by bridging organic ligands.
Our current research interests encompass many aspects of porous materials, largely though not exclusively involving MOFs. These include the following interlinked areas:
‣ Post-synthetic modifications
‣ MOF films and porous polymers
‣ MOFs including biological molecules
Post-synthetic modifications
Post-synthetic modification is a process in which a pre-formed MOF undergoes a reaction to transform it into another MOF. We are interested in using organic transformations to produce MOFs with functionalised pores that cannot be obtained by direct combination of metal ions and linkers. The process is shown schematically below.
References
H. Amer Hamzah, W. J. Gee, P. R. Raithby, S. J. Teat, M. F. Mahon and A. D. Burrows, Chem. Eur. J., 2018, 24, 11094.
H. Amer Hamzah, T. S. Crickmore, D. Rixson and A. D. Burrows, Dalton Trans., 2018, 47, 14491.
W. J. Gee, L. K. Cadman, H. Amer Hamzah, M. F. Mahon, P. R. Raithby and A. D. Burrows, Inorg. Chem., 2016, 55, 10839.
MOF films and porous polymers
MOFs are normally prepared as crystalline powders, but for many applications this form is not very useful. We have recently started to make films of MOFs on porous supports for selective adsorptions, which is important for gas separations such as removal of carbon dioxide from gas streams. In collaboration with Professor Tim Mays (Chemical Engineering) and Professor Chris Bowen (Mechanical Engineering) we are preparing flexible porous polymers capable of adsorbing hydrogen. We are working towards creating adsorptive liners for high pressure cylinders that will reduce the working pressure without decreasing capacity.
References
M. Tian, S. Rochat, K. Polak-Kraśna, L. T. Holyfield, A. D. Burrows, C. R. Bowen and T. J. Mays, Adsorption, 2019, 25, 889.
S. Rochat, K. Polak-Kraśna, M. Tian, L. T. Holyfield, T. J. Mays, C. R. Bowen and A. D. Burrows, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 18752.
D. Jiang, A. D. Burrows, Y. Xiong and K. J. Edler, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 5497.
MOFs including biological molecules
We are interested in preparing MOFs that include and slowly release biologically interesting molecules. Work to date has concentrated on MOFs that include the iron overload drug deferiprone. We have demonstrated that this can be included into zinc and bismuth MOFs and that the rate of release can be controlled by functional groups on the MOFs. As part of a Leverhulme Trust-supported project, we are currently looking at the inclusion of semiochemicals such as pheromones into the pores of MOFs then studying their controlled release with a view for use in pest control. This work involves a collaboration with the University of Sussex.
References
H. Amer Hamzah, D. Rixson, J. Paul-Taylor, H. V. Doan, C. Dadswell, G. Roffe, A. Sridhar, C. L. Hobday, C. Wedd, T. Düren, W. O. H. Hughes, J. Spencer and A. D. Burrows, Dalton Trans., 2020, 49, 10334.
A. D. Burrows, M. Jurcic, M. F. Mahon, S. Pierrat, G. W. Roffe, H. J. Windle and J. Spencer, Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 13814.
