About the Project
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
A fully funded PhD opportunity to participate in the world-leading research undertaken by the EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award at the University of Sheffield.
Supervised by Prof Jim Thomas and Dr Denis Hartmann.
The University of Sheffield is one of the leading Russell Group universities in the UK. We carry out cutting-edge research with strong links to industry. When you enrol to do a PhD with us, you will be working with world-leading academics and have access to top of the range facilities. As a PhD student you will have the opportunity to gain skills not only to conduct research, but also to take your career to the next level, whether you want to stay in academia, go into industry or the public sector, or set up your own company. You will have access to a range of training and support services to help you excel in your studies and beyond.
Project Description
Chiral, dye-based materials are heavily investigated as optical sensors and catalyst, as well as optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells, LEDs or quantum technologies. A common strategy to tune the properties of these materials is through self-assembly into larger structures. In this context, the assembly of organic and metal building blocks allows for the construction of well-defined 3D metal-organic structures with internal cavities. The preorganisation and cavities in these assemblies allow for sensing of analytes, while the additional interactions arising between the individual building blocks give rise to unique properties. To this end, incorporating chiral dye-based molecules as linkers for optical activity, and the generation of stable, well-defined and chiral molecular structures from such dyes is crucial in the development of new materials for advanced sensing and optical materials. Currently, however, the combination of chiral motifs and dye chemistry in metal-organic assemblies is underexplored, despite the huge benefits arising from their union.
This project aims to prepare dye-based chiral 3D assemblies for use in optical and sensing applications. Specifically, this project will synthesise chiral dye-based building blocks from well-established organic dyes, such as rylene diimides, porphyrins or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and incorporate chiral centres and functional handles. These will then be used together with various transition metals (such as Cu or Pd, among others) to assemble defined 3D metal-organic cages and polyhedra. Consequently, the resulting structures will be analysed for their properties and applications including, for example, in chiral sensing of biomolecules and optical properties such as luminescence.
These materials will be developed as new sensors for disease biomarkers, or chiral emitters for next-generation OLEDs using a modular scaffold. These data will then be used to establish design principles for future materials in these areas.
How to apply
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the project supervisors to discuss your interest in and suitability for the project prior to submitting your application.
Please refer to the EPSRC DLA webpage for detailed information about the EPSRC DLA and how to apply.
Applicants must ensure that they use the correct application form linked to the EPSRC DLA webpage and must submit an application for October 2027 entry. The form is unique to the EPSRC DLA. It contains the list of advertised projects from which to select, and three questions specific to the DLA.
The application deadline is 17:00 GMT 13 January 2027.
The majority of our DLA studentships will be allocated to candidates who qualify for Home fee status, in accordance with EPSRC funding regulations which place strict limits on international recruitment.
Funding Notes
The award will fund the full tuition fee and a maintenance stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £21,805 per annum) for 3.5 years, as well as a research grant to support costs associated with the project.
