ResonanceIssue 9 | Autumn 2018
The University of Sheffield’s Chemistry News Team
THE HOPE DIAMOND GRAPHENE DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH Solving the mystery. Where is it now? From jewels to drills. Contents Resonance The University of Sheffield’s On the Cover In This Issue Chemistry News Team Editorial 1
Resonance is a biannual newsletter produced by chemistry Diamonds in the Rough 3 Editor Resonance 3 Josh Nicks students at the University of Sheffield. It aims to provide insights into unheard stories from the department and Rosalind Franklin 4 Design Editor to engage its readers with issues in the wider scientific world. Josh Nicks Graphene: Where is it Now? 5-6
Elemental Factfile: Carbon 6 Social Media Coordinator Editorial Diamonds in the Rough James Shipp Favoured by both royalty and precision engineers alike, Laser Lab Opening 7-8 This is now my second issue as editor of resonance, and this issue Zoe Smallwood details why diamonds are useful beyond marks the end of my fifth year studying at the University of Sheffield. wedding rings. The Hope Diamond 9-10 Contributing Authors Throughout my time here I have been frequently exposed to stories of great accomplishments made in this department, both past and present, New Head of Department: 11-12 Josh Nicks and it is my privilege to be able to be one of the first to hear them. Interviewing Graham Leggett James Shipp Zoe Smalwood This issue is somewhat oxymoronic, in that its focus is actually Departmental News 13-15 Dave Ashworth incredibly vague when you think about it - carbon. Carbon is all Abbie Sinclair around us: in the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, the things Kitchen Chemistry: Deep-frying 16 Jasmine Catlow we eat and even our very muscles and organs. It is also fundamental 5 Crisps Mahir Mohammed to the field of chemistry, so much so that organic chemistry is based almost solely on the study of its molecular compounds. t Chemistry Crossword 17 This issue aims to bring to light some interesting stories involving carbon, Copy Editors from a supposedly cursed diamond, to a nanomaterial deemed to be the This Semester in Pictures Back solution to a cacophony of materials chemistry problems. Aside from Josh Nicks this, we have an interview with our new Head of Department, Prof. Graphene: Where is it Now? James Shipp Graham Leggett, detailing his plans for the Department’s future. Of Dr Grant Hill An article focussing on graphene’s story since it’s course, these plans are likely to include the new laser lab opened by Prof. Check Us Out Prof Anthony J. H. M. Meijer discovery in 2004, and whether or not it lived up to its Weinstein, whom Abbie Sinclair and James Shipp interviewed for details. intial hype. @resonancenews If you’re reading this with your lunch, you might find our “kitchen chemistry” section interesting, which explains the @SheffieldChem Email science behind crisp manufacture. Alternatively, if you’re more of [email protected] a history buff, you can read a short biographic article on the late @sheffield.chem Rosalind Franklin and her many academic accomplishments. 9 The University of Sheffield Before you dive in, I’d like to thank my team for this issue and all University of Sheffield Chemistry Alumni Printers the hard work they’ve put into writing the articles. Jas Catlow and Mahir Mohammed in particular have written two fantastic and Print and Design Solutions @Resonance_Sheff Bolsover Street unique articles about two topics I originally knew nothing about! Sheffield Zoe Smallwood continues to impress with her article on two S3 7NA contrasting uses of diamonds, and Dave Ashworth has applied his [email protected] research expertise in two-dimensional materials to his feature article. The Hope Diamond Modern analytical techniques preempt the solution to Once again, happy reading, a centuries-long mystery involving a diamond and its www http://bit.ly/2weV7M1 curse. Joshua Nicks
1 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 2 Feature InterviewInsight Diamonds in the Chemistry Greats: Rough Rosalind Franklin
By Zoe Smallwood By Joshua Nicks
ften found glistening in tiaras of the nitrogen is as important as due to the inclusion of more nitrogen n 1962, the Nobel Prize in relation to coal and related materials’ finally culminated in the proposition Oand engagement rings, diamonds the quantity; if spread throughout from their formation process, limiting Iphysiology and medicine was being completed in tandem with the of a double-helix structure with are considered a true symbol of wealth the stone, the colour is much darker their aesthetic value in an industry awarded to James Watson, Francis British Coal Utilisation Research complimentary strands. This data and opulence. Their popularity with than if they are located in clusters at which prizes colourless diamonds. Crick and Maurice Wilkins “for their Association during the second world was a vital factor in Watson and jewellers is attributed mostly to their certain sites - the type of nitrogen discoveries concerning the molecular war. It is often overlooked that her Crick’s model, which would most natural sparkle and colour (or, to inclusion can be detected using structure of nucleic acids and its proficiency in X-ray diffractometry likely not exist otherwise. This be more precise, the lack of colour - electron paramagnetic resonance significance for information transfer in techniques came as a result of her time resulted in Watson and Crick’s model completely colourless diamonds are to help validate the colour. Much living material.” However, by their own spent as a post-doctoral researcher at being published in Nature, alongside extremely valuable). However, the rarer colours are caused by other admission, Watson and Crick could the Laboratoire Central des Services two papers written by Franklin and smaller stones that don’t find their imperfections such as boron (blue), not have arrived at their model of Chimiques de l’Etat in Paris. Her Wilkins (separately) which supported way onto rings and pendants are used graphite (black) or defects in crystal DNA without X-ray crystallographic work there focused on applying it. in performance cutting tools and high growth (red). The Aurora Pyramid data obtained by one Rosalind diffractometry to imperfectly pressure cells. of Hope, currently an exhibit in the A comparison between diamond (left) Franklin. Though Franklin’s career, crystalline materials – namely coal. Franklin did not fit in well at King’s, Natural History Museum, displays and synthetic moissanite (right). and possible Nobel recognition, were The papers she published on this and chose to leave in 1951, moving Whilst these two applications may 296 natural diamonds, each a different cut short by her untimely death in research continue to be cited today, to Birkbeck College. Here she began seem completely unconnected (after colour! More recently, another form of 1958, this article aims to demonstrate and earned her a great deal of respect her work on RNA viruses, publishing all, why would a drilling tool need to be synthetic diamond has begun to just how significant her discoveries in the field. 14 papers between 1955 and 1958 sparkly?), it is the extreme hardness of appear. Moissanite, a crystalline form were to chemistry as well as science as and becoming an expert in the the stone that links the two. The word of silicon carbide, has a hardness a whole. topic. Her work ethic did not falter, ‘diamond’ is derived from the Greek only marginally less than diamond with 13 of these papers having been word ‘adamas’ which literally translates and is normally used for cutting of published after her cancer diagnosis. as ‘unbreakable’, with a hardness and precious metals in the jewel industry. Unfortunately, three others had to stability greater than any other natural Moissanite is named after Dr Henry be submitted for publication by her compound. This supreme strength is Moissan, who discovered trace students after her death in 1958. due to an “infinite” network of strong amounts of the stone in a meteor crater One of these students, Aaron Klug, carbon-carbon bonds arranged in a in the late 1800’s. The sparse amounts went on to win the 1982 Nobel Prize tetrahedral structure. formed naturally meant it was not in chemistry for his development of Photograph 51, from which Franklin until 100 years later that an industrial crystallographic electron microscopy. derived the double helix. Whilst the demands of drilling are process for manufacturing jewellery- much more intense than normal life, quality stones was developed. In 1951, Franklin moved to King’s So there you have it, Franklin was an the extreme hardness and scratch The Aurora Pyramid of Hope under Unlike diamonds, moissanite is only College London, where she worked authority in physical chemistry and resistance means that diamonds both visible and UV light. formed synthetically, making it a on DNA for two years. She worked particularly diffractometry during keep their sparkle and shine almost cheaper and less ethically concerning in the lab of John Randall, alongside her career. We cannot know whether indefinitely; a hugely desirable feature Due to cost and ethical considerations, alternative to some mined diamonds. Rosalind Franklin Wilkins - though the two did not get her death stopped her from being in jewellery. Softer minerals such as more and more consumers are A bonus is that moissanite has a on. Here, Franklin became the first awarded the Nobel Prize ahead of opals, are brightly coloured but are buying synthetic gemstones instead higher refractive index, making Franklin was born in 1920, into a well- to identify the two forms, dubbed A Wilkins. After all, sexist attitudes less common in rings, particualrly of those mined from the ground. them look more ‘sparkly’! So, next educated Jewish family. She attended and B, in which DNA could exist. She were ingrained in science at the time, because they are more easily damaged. Synthetic diamonds can be formed time you are admiring a particularly St Paul’s Girls’ School in London, elucidated these through painstaking and even today, few Nobel Prizes are Although they often appear colourless at high pressures and temperatures striking ‘diamond’ ring, there’s a high where she excelled at both physics crystallisation experiments, in which awarded to women. However, what to the naked eye, only the highest by crystallising molten carbon in a possibility the stone may be the same and chemistry, propelling her to a she would alter the degree of hydration is undeniably true, is that the work quality diamonds are devoid of colour. molten metal solvent, using ‘seed compound used to cut the metal it is bachelor’s degree in natural sciences of a tiny fibre of DNA to manipulate of Rosalind Franklin has had a huge The presence of trace amounts of diamonds’. However, the predominant held in! – specialising in physical chemistry, at its dominant crystalline form. As a impact on our understanding of nitrogen replacing carbon atoms in use of these synthetic diamonds the University of Cambridge. There she result, she was able to obtain A and life, and her passion and dedication the structure (known as inclusion), is currently in industrial settings. 1. https://bit.ly/2OwRsmu undertook her PhD research, with her B form diffractometric data, from to chemistry is something we can varies the colour from colourless to Synthetic diamonds are often more 2. https://bit.ly/2pU3qrA thesis, titled ‘the physical chemistry which she determined DNA’s density, all admire. The Rosalind Franklin yellow or even brown. The distribution yellow than their natural counterparts 3. https://bit.ly/2PFH6gv of solid organic colloids with special unit-cell size, and water content. This Institute in Oxford was established in
3 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 4 Feature Feature Outlook Although an incredible material in its to include graphene in our everyday “I would say the opposite… graphene own right, graphene’s most promising life – but don’t write it off yet. Its has been remarkably fast to market. GRAPHENE: Where is it now? uses, at least in the short term, come discovery was only just over 10 years If the 20th century was the age of from using it within composite ago, and it’s already possible to buy plastic, the 21st could well be the age By Dave Ashworth materials. Much of the research into consumer products incorporating of graphene.” graphene is still “blue skies,” and it graphene - shown below! So, although hat do a pair of headphones, a tennis racket and a supercar share in common? The answer most could be a number of decades before this seems slow in our expectations, is - Frank Koppens, Institute of Wwould give is a confused “not much?”. However, with the roll-out of graphene into useable it becomes cost-effective and practical it really taking as long as some think? Photonic Sciences devices and technology, you can now get your hands on graphene-containing varieties of all three.
Discovered 14 years ago, after decades Due to its plethora of extraordinary to penetrate, graphene is almost of being nothing more than theory, properties, it is apt to describe completely transparent. It transmits Supercar Composites graphene has had a relatively short graphene as a unique material, at least about 98% of white light (compared bit.ly/2P4fW66 Bicycle Tires period of time to establish itself as a for now. to approx. 80% for a pane of window bit.ly/2QWssSc viable material that can be utilised glass), yet another reason for graphene across global industry. We’re routinely - Strength and elasticity: Graphene to be incorporated into touchscreens! told of its incredible properties – can be stretched up to 25% of its ultra-light, atomically thin, flexible, original length without breaking, - Impermeability. The structure of Where is Graphene now? transparent, more conductive than and will return to its original length graphene means that it can act as Airship Capacitors copper and 200x stronger than steel (think rubberband). The flat planes an ultra-fine atomic net, potentially bit.ly/2ExmjLb – scientists have long since run out of of atoms can flex relatively easily trapping gases like hydrogen or superlatives, but has graphene actually without breaking. In fact, graphene is carbon dioxide for storage. lived up to the hype? believed to be the strongest discovered material. Barriers to Implementation What is Graphene? Graphene is an awesome material. Graphene is a carbon allotrope, – 200x stronger than steel. This Combinations of its properties much like diamond (see our factfile property makes graphene particular mean it has genuine potential to be Skiing Equipment for others), with atoms arranged in a useful in composites with plastics to a useful material in many diverse bit.ly/2ExilSN Superior Headphones kck.st/2sLlF5d hexagonal honeycomb lattice, forming form stronger, tougher and lighter applications, as well as representing a Flexible Batteries planar sheets just a single atom thick. materials for ships, planes and cars, as major step forward within materials bit.ly/2usUtJJ Layers of this stacked on top of each well as flexible screens. science research. So, why is it not in 6 other form a much more recognisable everything, everywhere? form of carbon – graphite – otherwise - Weight: Being atomically thin, C known as pencil lead. graphene is incredibly light relative to - Synthesis: At the moment, synthetic 12.011 the surface area it presents. You could methods for creating graphene can Elemental Factfile: Carbon arbon was so-named in 1789 by 18.5% of bodymass. You really are technique can give mummies, fossils cover an entire football field with less either create relatively large amounts Antoine Lavoisier, from the Latin made of stardust! Its prevalence and ancient artifacts an approximate than a gram! This lightweight nature is in low quality (i.e. large defects, multi- C ‘carbo,’ meaning charcoal. Lavoisier throughout chemistry means more age. The 14C isotope is radioactive, particularly useful in materials design. layered, small lateral size) through bought a diamond and used a giant compounds are known which contain decaying to 14N through a beta decay bulk delamination from graphite; magnifying glass to focus the sun’s carbon than those that don’t. Carbon process. With a relatively long half-life - Heat and electrical conductivity: or small amounts in high quality, rays. This burned the diamond, in the also forms the basis of our materials of 5730 years, the ratio of 14C to 12C Graphene is a far better heat conductor through chemical vapour deposition same way we would burn charcoal on a industry, and is present in everything, can be used to determine the age of than typical examples, such as silver (which is not industrially applicable). barbecue, revealing that diamond was from plastics to steel. carbonaceous materials of up to about or copper. The flat hexagonal lattice made up of the same material. Now 60000 years old. In 1960, Willard offers little resistance to electrons. - Cost: High quality graphene is we know there are multiple different Most people have now heard of Libby was awarded the Nobel Prize in Thus, electrons in graphene have a incredibly expensive. Low quality forms of elemental carbon, known carbon-dating, due to media reports chemistry for developing this dating longer mean free path than in any graphene can be supplied in large A representation of the structure of as allotropes, including: charcoal, of archaeological discoveries. This technique. Much better than Tinder! other material. This allows graphene enough quantities for materials graphene, detailing the hexagonal diamond, graphite, graphene and honbeycomb lattice of carbon atoms. to conduct electricity superbly, as research to be ongoing, and fullerenes. electrons move through the material companies have made many products Properties of Graphene at speeds close to the speed of light. incorporating graphene within Carbon was formed through nuclear Carbon is non-metallic, so you’d be This grants huge potential in device composite materials. However, fusion of helium within stars, forming forgiven for expecting graphene to be manufacture, including batteries, high quality graphene is required interstellar “dust.” It is the fourth most the same. In fact, it “behaves” generally touchscreens, computer processors, for electronics, and although abundant element in the universe, much more like a metal, which had transistors, and telecomms. demonstrations of potential devices after hydrogen, helium and oxygen. lead commentators to describe it have been made, at the moment the It is the second most prevalent atom as a semimetal or semiconductor. - Optical: With very few atoms use of graphene is too expensive to be Three modern allotropes of carbon: fullerene (left), nanotubes (centre) and within you and me, accounting for graphene (right).
5 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 6 Interview Insight Opening of the Lord Porter Laser Laboratory
By Abbie Sinclair and James Shipp
n March 14th the new facility for ultrafast laser spectroscopy was opened by Lady Porter in honour of her Olate husband. Abbie Sinclair interviewed Professor Julia Weinstein to find out more about why she set up this Transient Absorption laboratory, and what it will be used for: Transient absorption (TA) is the study of ultrafast processes in the UV- vis spectral region. It allows us to easily follow electronic transitions such interested in laser spectroscopy. area of science and it just felt right. as metal-to-ligand charge transfer. TA is used in our department for the So I came to the laser area through study of chromophores, such as porphyrins in Dr Adrien Chauvet’s group, What can these new lasers do that studies of luminescent compounds, and for the study of donor-bridge acceptor complexes in the Weinstein we were unable to do before? This which you shine light on and light group. Research groups in the physics department use TA for the study is a new system which has a high shines back at you. These can be used of advanced photophysical processes, such as triplet-triplet annihilation. repetition rate, ten times faster than in biological imaging and emission Laser spectroscopies, such as transient absorption, work by a simple pump- a standard laser system, allowing for sensing, such as determining pressure 1 faster experiments with an improved distribution on aeroplanes. probe method, shown above and to the right. First, the sample is irradiated signal-to-noise ratio. The lasers with a pump laser pulse. This causes the molecules in the sample to be are also very powerful, allowing promoted to their excited states. To study these excited states we then shine us to split the output to different a probe laser on the sample. This allows us to record the absorption spectra detection ranges, so we would be of the excited molecules. By increasing the path length of the probe, we can able to investigate the same sample change the difference in time between the two pulses. This allows us to see with electronic and vibrational different time delays, from a few femtoseconds to hundreds of nanoseconds! spectroscopy at different timescales under the same laser excitation and Lord George Porter, a Sheffield chemist within the same facility. It also has the Time Resolved Infra-Red who won the Nobel Prize in 1967 for his fluorescence upconversion method, work on flash photolysis. which allows you to follow really fast A porphyrin complex fluorescing under Time resolved infra-red spectroscopy (TRIR) allows us to follow reactions of emissive species with 625 nm (red) light. changes in the vibrational spectra of excited molecules over time. Could you tell us about the new laser high sensitivity. Very few people have This is incredibly useful as many compounds contain functional lab? The lab boasts many advanced access to this analysis method! What brought you to Sheffield? The groups that strongly absorb IR, such as carbonyl groups. This laser methods, allowing us to study university brought me to Sheffield. I did technique has been used in our department for the study of electron light-induced reactions from tens my PhD at Moscow State University transfer across alkyne bridges in the Weinstein group, as well as the of femtoseconds, which is close to and then came to England in 2000 study of mechanisms of photochemical reactions in the Portius the speed at which light is absorbed, for a year as a Royal Society NATO group. We can also do sophisticated IR experiments with more than to milliseconds. We can cover the Fellow. I was then introduced to time- two laser pulses, such as transient two-dimensional IR spectroscopy. whole range of energies, from low resolved vibrational spectroscopy in energy vibrations in the infrared to Nottingham. I realised I’d like to be high-energy electronic transitions in in this area so started applying for the UV. We can investigate chemical various jobs and fellowships. Sheffield Fluorescence Upconversion reactions along a huge range of Lady Porter, opening the new laser lab. seemed a very nice place, they had a Unlike the other experiments in the laser lab, fluorescence timescales and energies - that’s an post advertised and I was offered the upconversion spectroscopy (FLUPS) does not study a interesting combination that doesn’t What brought you into job! compound’s absorption of light. exist in any other UK university. photochemistry? When I was a second-year student at Moscow Research groups in the department Instead we collect the light emitted from the excited state, Collaborators from all over the State University, I was involved in are already using the facility, with and observe how this emission changes in intensity and UK will be coming and measuring evening classes for school children. multiple research papers published wavelength over time. FLUPS is used in the Weinstein everything related to photovoltages, An academic staff member who based on the data obtained. Its users group to study emissive platinum complexes, to answer artificial photosynthesis, fundamental coordinated the evening classes asked range from Masters’ students to fundamental questions about their electron transfer light-matter interactions and me what topics I liked, and I said post-doctoral staff, who utilise the processes. photocatalysis. We intend to have a physical chemistry. He asked me to do experiments detailed on the right dedicated seminar program for people my research project in his lab, which of this double-page spread by Julia’s 1. bit.ly/2RWf7e2 who are very much involved or are was on fluorescence. It’s a beautiful PhD student, James Shipp.
7 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 8 Feature FeatureInsight The Hope Diamond: Solving the Mystery
By Jasmine Catlow
n the mid-17th century, an with many owners supposedly falling 3D model of the French Blue from a Iexceedingly rare diamond, foul to terrible tragedies, before a to-scale engraving and a lead coveted for its unusual blue lustre lady named Evalyn Walsh bought it. replica made during the reign of and its expansive size, came into the Attracted by the misfortune it was King Louis XIV. Data for the Hope possession of King Louis XIV of said to bestow upon others, she wore diamond was also collected and the France. Known as the French Blue, it it as a lucky charm. That was, until her two computational image sets were The Hope diamond under white light (left), and under UV light (right). The eerie nature of its red colour displayed a characteristic heart shape son died in a car crash, her daughter compared. At the perfect angle, phosphorescence is claimed to have contributed to the legend of its curse. cut. However, during the French committed suicide, and her husband the Hope diamond was found to Revolution, the contents of the royal was deemed insane. After dying fit perfectly inside the structure of When examining the two types of of diamond phosphorescence are due To learn more about the history vault were ransacked, and though alone, her entire jewelry collection the French Blue; confirming that blue diamond - type 1a and type 2b, to a difference in boron to nitrogen of the Hope diamond, and the almost all the other jewels were was bought, and the Hope Diamond the former was cut from the latter. 1a diamonds are more common, concentrations. photochemistry of diamonds and reclaimed, the French Blue was never quickly donated to avoid the curse’s However, the question remained; and contain significant nitrogen gemstones in particular, check out the found. wrath. Today, the diamond remains where is the rest of the French Blue? impurities, as well as hydrogen. It is the The phosphorescence of bluefollowing links: on display to the public, in the US Fortunately, modern analytical presence of hydrogen that gives them diamonds provides a unique national gem collection. techniques may shed some light on a secondary hue (e.g. blue-green). photophysical identifier, so if the 1. https://bit.ly/1Oa6TpB this. In complete contrast, 2b diamonds Hope Diamond was ever stolen again 2. https://bit.ly/2J2Z0Hu Given that the French Blue, of contain almost no nitrogen impurities it would be easily traceable, even if it 3. https://s.si.edu/2RZJ3WT acclaimed character, never resurfaced, The exact composition of authentic and, instead of hydrogen, possess a was recut. Perhaps more interestingly, 4. https://bit.ly/2yLbGy9 it was widely thought to have been blue diamonds is vague, as not only quantifiable amount of boron. This other known blue diamonds and those recut into a less distinctive shape. Add are they rare but it’s difficult to analyse means that the rarer type 2b blue which emerge can now be analysed in to this, the mystery surrounding the them without destroying them. Adding diamonds normally exhibit a darker a search for the missing pieces of the Hope Diamond’s appearance, and it to this frustration, any impurities are so hue, and are the only semiconducting once great French Blue - solving this isn’t too much of a step to ask if the low in concentration that they can’t be diamonds. The Hope Diamond falls centuries-old mystery. cursed Hope Diamond was cut from detected by infrared spectroscopy, so into the type 2b category. the stolen French Blue. special techniques such as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or Blue diamonds phosphoresce under Phosphorescence: A Quick Guide To answer this question, a team of phosphorescence spectroscopy must UV light - normally a blue/green colour, scientists and gem-experts recreated a be employed. but the Hope Diamond phosphoresces Phosphorescence is a photophysical process in which an electron in the red. This red phosphorescence was excited state of an atom or molecule undergoes intersystem crossing, originally thought to be rare, but has and then decays back to its ground state by emission of a photon - been found to be characteristic of all hence the associated colour change! It differs from fluorescence as it type 2b blue diamonds. The reason is typically spin-forbidden, thus it has a longer lifetime. A portrait of Evalyn Walsh (1914), the Hope Diamond phosphoresces wearing the Hope Diamond. She was red is to do with its composition, and As shown in the Jablonksi the last known private owner of the is thought to be a reason why it was diagram on the right, Hope diamond. perpetuated as being cursed. Most intersystem crossing has blue diamonds exhibit both a red an associated energy loss. Decades later, in London, another and a blue/green emission, but the Thus, phosphorescence blue diamond surfaced - purchased red colour is normally masked by the emissions are redshifted by Henry Hope, with whom the name blue/green emission. Diamonds that compared to fluorescence, and curse of the Hope Diamond exhibit both these emissions are higher giving the red emission of originate. Said to bring disaster and in boron, with low nitrogen traces; the Hope diamond! misfortune upon those in its custody, type 2b. Type 1a diamonds exhibit Hope’s family went bankrupt and the an absence of these two emission The Hope diamond (left), and the lead cast (right) which was used to generate diamond had to be sold for survival. peaks. The half lives and intensities It changed possession several times, the computational model of the French blue.
9 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 10 Interview Interview Our New Head of Department: Interviewing Graham Leggett
Do you have any specific plans for through a process where we have to Mexican food. I have quite a raham Leggett, Professor of nanoscale analytical science and an academic the Department and how you’re do a regular research assessment and collection of dried chillies at home - member of staff in the Department of Chemistry for 16 years, was named Head G going to lead it? evaluate a wide range of outputs from and the cooking is something my wife of Department in August 2018. A well-known name in the field of nanoscience, the department, including research particularly enjoys! Unfortunately, I current and future undergraduates will know him well for his numerous lectures, That’s a good question, I think one of papers. I’ve led that process because don’t have quite as much spare time ranging from the role of fuel in our world to nanochemistry and the science of solid the things I feel is really great about I’ve been director of research for the as I’d like due to the nature of my job, surfaces. this department is that everybody is last few years. From that it’s been very but music is definitely my main form really committed to excellent teaching. obvious that a lot of great work is done of relaxation. I was fortunate enough to find some free time amongst the new Head’s busy Even when we had 200 students in the department and the chemistry schedule to talk to him about his new role. This interview focuses on Graham’s in our first year cohort, a number is really strong – but we still want Any favourite artists? academic career, where he started, and how he found himself at Sheffield, as well as which is very hard work to teach, no to make it better, something I am his current plans for leading the Department, plus a few tips on how to relax after one was prepared to compromise. I absolutely certain we can do because I Now that is a hard question. I’m a a hard day’s work. often think to myself, if my sons were have so many talented colleagues. big fan of Richard Thompson, I love interested in chemistry, I’d be really playing his music and attempting happy if they came to this department It certainly sounds like you do a lot to sing his songs – despite them not because I think my colleagues really of work, what kind of activities do being very cheerful. I love jazz as a Could you give me a brief outline of To be honest, I’m not sure. I’ve for post-docs for this project, I got care a lot about the students they you enjoy doing outside of your job? genre; my favourite jazz musicians your academic career up to now? said to a few people, the things an email from a guy who worked on teach – unfortunately my sons aren’t are Keith Garrett, Miles Davis I’m most satisfied with are actually the original millipede project at IBM, that interested in chemistry! I like quite a range of music, I like and Thelonious Monk, but Allan I completed my degree and PhD at the the people I’ve supervised as PhD who had decided back then that what to play and own several guitars with Holdsworth is probably my favourite University of Manchester Institute of students and post-docs. It’s quite a we were trying to do was basically In terms of how I approach leadership, which I can play a variety of styles. jazz guitarist. The band I’ve been to Science and Technology, which sadly close relationship, and seeing them impossible! However, we ended up I’ve led a national network on In fact, I find music is a fantastic way see most is Hawkwind, but I lost track is no more. UMIST has a long history develop, mature, and go on to have developing two different functional understanding the physics of life, and to relax, because when you’re playing of how many times I’d been to see and goes back to the beginning of bright careers of their own are some devices. One of the best things about I’ve found that it’s vitally important to an instrument you’re only focused on them after about the 30th gig! the 19th century, and is where John of the most satisfying things I’ve done. that project was the amount of people do things as a team. In the department, the music you’re trying to play, so by Dalton completed his work on atomic Academically speaking, there have from different universities who came everybody has a shared understanding necessity everything that’s happened Finally, thank you for the taking theory. I spent some time as a post- been a few things! Some work we’re together to work on various aspects of of where they want to get to and what during the day is excluded from your the time to let me interview you, doc at the University of Washington doing at the moment has taken us in it. the important objectives are and mind. and congratulations on your in Seattle (Chemical Engineering) a new direction, which involves gold we need to pull together to achieve appointment as head of department. and at the University of Nottingham nanostructures that can couple to them. Aside from that, we’ve been I also quite like cooking, particularly Good luck! (Pharmacy department). My first proteins involved in photosynthesis. lectureship was in the department of From this, we can attempt to materials engineering at Nottingham, manipulate specific molecules to Research Focus: Leggett Group where I had to teach chemistry to control this process. ith Graham’s recent nanofabrication, the construction of engineers – which is about as popular appointment, it seems fitting molecular objects smaller than 100 as explaining maths to chemists! Another project I’m quite proud of W to start our new research focus factfile nm and nanotribology, which is the The course was on the mechanical was developing a parallel near-field section with his group! This small study of sliding contacts between behaviour of polymers, quite lithography device. Near-fields are section will feature every issue as an nanoscale objects. They have found entertaining and different from what found close to very small apertures accompaniment to other articles, and that near-field methods, discussed I’ve taught subsequently. I went back to and they don’t undergo diffraction aims to explain, in a few paragraphs, in Graham’s interview, are fantastic UMIST in 1988 where I was promoted because they are evanescent waves, what each research group in our for controlling fabrication, down to senior lecturer, and in 2002 I came which is very useful at the nanoscale! department focuses on! to tens of nanometres! Their work here to Sheffield – somewhere I love We found out how to make tiny in nanotribology has discovered a working and living. I’m very proud structures using these probes about The Leggett group’s main focusses direct link between solution-phase to have become Head of Department 15 years ago, but we’ve developed a can be summed up in one word - thermodynamics and hydrogen here, and I’m very committed to doing device to do this over a very large nanochemistry. Their work studies bonding nanoscale molecular contacts. my job well. area using parallel scanning near- Part of a 16-probe array (top) together the structures, properties and Dragon structure formed by optical microscopy (SNOM) probes with an electron micrograph of one reactivity of molecular surfaces on photochemical modification of aryl To learn more about Graham and his In particular, what moments in your – which we called a SNOMipede! One of the pyramidal tips the nanoscale. Their website details azide functionalised phosphonic group, visit leggett.group.shef.ac.uk career are you most proud of? of the reasons this was so satisfying two main elements to their research: acids on aluminium oxide. is because when we put out an advert
11 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 12 News Tom Anderson Shortlisted for Students MChem Wins Best in Europe International Fiction Prize
ur very own Dr Tom Anderson, in San Jose, California! The Sidewise he focusses on the genres of science member of our most recent a Senior Tutor and university Awards for Alternate History were fiction, historical fiction and their MChem graduates, Josh Lawlor, O A teacher in the department, has been established to honour the best hybrid, alternate history. This genre has won the best in Europe prize for nominated for the Sidewise Awards alternate history genre publications of considers the consequences of history his project thesis at the Undergraduate for Alternate History. The awards the year. Previous winners included having turned out differently from a Awards in the Chemical and recognise the best alternate history Stephen Fry and Philip Roth, so Tom change in events or decisions in the Pharmaceutical category. fiction writers from around the world. is amongst very famous company! past, often a very small one. Most of Tom is one of four nominated for the Tom's literary work is published by Josh worked with Dr Rob Dawson Short Form award, with his story, Tom has had a dual interest in both the UK-based publisher Sea Lion and his PhD student Alex James N’oublions Jamais, co-written with science and writing from a young age. Press, but the story which has been to synthesise an emerging class of Canadian friend Bruno Lombardi, His chemistry focusses on biological shortlisted for the Sidewise Award material known as hypercrosslinked receiving the nomination. Theand supramolecular chemistry, but he was published in the anthology polymers (HCPs). HCPs are being winners will be announced at the remains interested in a wide variety of Altered Europa by US-based Martinus developed as safer, more cost effective World Science Fiction Convention topics across the sciences. As a writer, Publishing. alternatives for carbon capture and sequestration (CCP). CCP is a huge topic in modern science, as it aims to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Utilising Friedel-Crafts alkylation, Josh demonstrated that the HCPs he made, which incorporated monoethanol
amine (MEA) to extract CO2, were much more capable of adsorbing
CO2 compared to the amine-absent standard. He went on to vary the molar quantity of MEA present to identify which quantity produces the optimium capacity polymer. Steve Armes Hits New Milestone FHEA Status for Jenna
or those of you who have been in the enna Spencer-Briggs, a Graduate Teaching Fdepartment for a while, Prof. Steve Armes JAssistant and PhD candidate working with publishing a new research paper probably Prof. Simon Jones, has been awarded Fellow isn’t much of a surprise. However, Steve’s most of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) recent article in the Journal of the American status as part of the university’s Learning and Chemical Society (a very highly regarded Teaching Professional Recognition Scheme. journal) is now his 600th scientific paper. Though her status as a Fellow cements her The article details the synthesis of highly ability as a higher education teacher, she transparent nanoparticles in non-polar also frequently engages in outreach sessions media, including detailed spectroscopic and as well! Jenna joins several other GTAs kinetic studies of the process. Though 600 is who have earned this status through their an achievement in itself, it comes a mere 3 dedication and commitment to teaching, see years after he published his 500th paper. Well issue 8 for more details! done, Steve!
1.https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ 1. bit.ly/2NR25eu
13 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 14 Feature Research Poster Prizes for Two Students Kitchen Chemistry: wo PhD students have won poster Tprizes for their research at separate conferences over the summer. Deep-frying Crisps By Mahir Mohammed Ben Ambrose, from the Craggs research group, took first place at the Imagine: Imaging Life symposium held here in Sheffield for his poster. Crisps are a British favourite. They molecules join together to form long Let’s consider the change in physical He also won a Nikon Camera as a have been scientifically proven by chains. The result is a set of volatile properties going from the potato to result, so congratulations Ben! The Dr Tony Goldstone, a neuroscientist compounds. There is a deep link the crisp. Deep-frying potatoes is a poster focused on work in which the at Imperial College London, to aid between flavour and smell; therefore, violent process that forces the residual Craggs group have contributed to a relaxation - something I have verified it is not unexpected that the volatile water out of potato cells (this also worldwide study that has established myself. There’s never been a better time compounds contribute greatly to the explains the bubbles surrounding and standardised a new method to be a crisp fan, as we’ve just reached flavour of the food. One in particular the food when it’s dunked in the to measure exact distances within the 70th anniversary of Walker’s is 2,4-decadienal, a compound found deep fryer). The potato cells are now individual molecules down to the Crisps - but just what chemical and in meat, potatoes, butter, and crisps, hollow, and biting into a crisp quickly scale of one millionth of the width of a physical factors affect the crunch and among other delicious savoury releases this air, resulting in the human hair. Dr Craggs said: “This will flavour of these golden wonders? delights! This explains the presence of satisfying ‘crunch’ sound. The hard ultimately allow us to design drugs that the vegetable oil ingredient on crisp outer surface of the crisp, in contrast are much more targeted and block the packets; in reality, the compounds in to the soft outer surface of the potato, specific movement or shape change of crisps are a collection of derivatives is formed by cross-linking of starch components in a cell that are causing that originated from the vegetable oil polymers. Potatoes contain a lot of an issue. It is therefore a development used to fry them. starch (a type of carbohydrate), which that may benefit every single illness is really just a glucose polymer. These and disease requiring targeted drug The unsaturated nature of dienals (see polymers can be cross-linked through treatment.” figure 2) is what gives rise to their the radical reactions of deep-frying. volatility. As compounds containing As the surface of the potato is now Kirsty Smitten, who works in the double bonds do not pack together more cohesive and able to withstand Thomas research group, won a poster efficiently, the intermolecular forces of greater weight, the surface becomes prize at a conference on chromogenic attraction are relatively weak leading harder – illustrated in a video by Akzo and emissive materials in Portugal - a to a low boiling point. This low boiling Nobel (reference 5). point makes the compounds volatile conference for which she won an RSC Figure 1: the mechanism of reaction and contributes greatly to the flavour Hopefully, you now have an sponsored bursary to attend. to form 2,4-decadienal, showing the of the food. appreciation of the fascinating formation of the radical chains and chemistry that goes into making each She has also since been nominated the unsaturated dienal compound and every crisp in your lunchtime for the Nova Prize, an award which that gives rise to the tasty flavour of packets! recognises female students who have fried potatoes. made outstanding early contributions to science, technology, engineering When potatoes are fried in oil, a 1. bit.ly/2J7xdpp and mathematics during their careers. multitude of interesting and exciting 2. bit.ly/2CurVDl reactions occur. Firstly, the water 3. bit.ly/2R03hOJ The work for which she has been content of the potato hydrolyses 4. bbc.in/1E3OwRe nominated involves the synthesis of the deep fat oil. The oil contains 5. youtube.com/watch?v= triacylglycerols, with ester linkages dXT1r5WA6SM new antimicrobial complexes, which Figure 2: the packing of 10-carbon she found have a higher activity than that are susceptible to nucleophilic attack by water. This hydrolysis chains. Saturated alkanes (left) pack clinically available antibiotics, and are together easily, increasing their also active against the two types of produces fatty acids and alcohols. One such fatty acid is linoleic acid, which boiling points, whereas unsaturated bacteria designated as critical priority alkenes (right) pack together by the WHO. contains certain weak C-H bonds that are easily broken to produce inefficiently, causing a reduction in boiling point. Note the presence of To read more, follow the links below: highly reactive radicals, which go on to initiate a polymerisation reaction both E- and Z-alkenes, leading to 1. bit.ly/2q1sSvg this inefficient space-filling. 2. bit.ly/2R2ulNr (figure 1) in which many single
15 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumn 2018 The University of Sheffield || Resonance Issue 9 16 Crossword Chemistry Crossword This crossword is designed to challenge even the most seasoned chemists, if you think you’ve completed it, take ResonanceNEEDS YOU! a picture and send it to [email protected] and we’ll announce you as the second chemistry crossword Event and Seminar winner in the next issue. Well done to Heather Carson and all those who contributed to completing the issue Listings 8 crossword with her at teabreak! Interested in writing for us? Every Friday Until Semester 2 Thinking of a career in Science Communication? Departmental Seminar Daintion Building Lecture Theatre 1 Have you enjoyed reading this issue of Resonance? 12pm - 1pm We would love for you to get involved in our next issue! We welcome anyone interested in writing or 21st November 5pm Fireworks Lecture with researching articles, designing or contributing to our Andrew Szydlo social media presence, regardless of experience or year of study. As a bonus, contributing to Resonance is 4th December ChemSoc Christmas Social HEAR accredited.
More details can be found at: If you are interested email the team at: sheffield.ac.uk/chemistry/events [email protected] For more details on their events, or Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media to keep to get involved with the committee, 21. Metal that form stainless steel as an alloy with ACROSS contact ChemSoc at iron and carbon (8) updated. [email protected] 1. Aromatic compound once used as a disinfectant (6) DOWN 3. Common abbreviation for dimethyl formamide (3) 2. A molecular ring which contains non-carbon Resonance 4. Unit of electric conductance (7) atoms (11) Contributors 5. A compound belonging to a series of com- 3. Reaction in which a substance is simultaneously We would like to thank the following students who pounds differing from each other by a repeating oxidised and reduced (18) unit (9) 5. Element which condenses below -268.9 degree have contributed to Resonance over the past issue and 7. A species with both positive and negative charge celsius (6) (10) 6. Name of the CH2 functional group (9) will graduate with HEAR accreditation: 8. Base which pairs with Adenine (7) 11. Name for a complex with unpaired d-electrons 9. Abbreviation for electron transfer from a metal (12) to a compound coordinated to it (4) 12. Principle which states no two electrons can Jasmine Catlow 10. Common name for the dioxygen anion (10) have the same four quantum numbers (5) 13. Name of the ‘acac’ ligand (15) 15. Abbreviation for a technique by which particle Nara Vasa 14. Element named after the father of the periodic size is determined using X-ray light (4) Abbie Sinclair table (11) 16. A planar five-membered ring containing one 17. Reaction where a ligand is substituted for wa- arsenic atom (6) Mahir Mohammed ter (8) 20. Danish physicist famous for his model of the 18. Name of the R-N=N-R functional group (3) atom (4) 19. Reaction where a compound decomposes due Resonance could not exist without their dedication and to temperature (9) hardwork. 17 Resonance Issue 9 || Autumun 2018 This Semester in Pictures