Areas of Interest:
Polymer chemistry. Synthesis of new
ionomers. Fabrication of such materials into proton transport membranes and (in
collaboration with industry) membrane-electrode assemblies for air-hydrogen fuel
cells. Molecular simulation and diffraction-modelling of aromatic polymer
structures. Hydrogen storage.
Activity and Expertise:
Current focus is on new materials
for low-cost proton transport membranes, with durability comparable to
fluorocarbon ionomers but with the capability for higher-temperature
performance. Also, hydrogen storage using novel nanoporous materials.
Credentials:
Prof. Colquhoun has extensive research
interests in polymer and membrane chemistry, especially in the development and
application of high-performance materials based on aromatic sub-units, and this
work focuses on both synthetic polymer chemistry and the development of novel
membrane-fabrication techniques. Discoveries in these areas have included a
general, superacid-catalysed synthesis of crystalline aromatic polyetherketones
(Polymer, 1988, 29, 1902), the first syntheses of macrocyclic aromatic monomers and
methods for their ring-opening polymerisation (Chem. Commun., 1990, 336), a technique for supported-interfacial
polycondensation of N-amino bipyridyls with diaroyl chlorides leading to
in-situ formation of poly-ylidic nanofiltration membranes (Polymer, 1995, 36, 443),
the first ring-chain interconversion reactions of aromatic polyethersulfones
and polyetherketones (Chem. Commun.,
1997, 1533; Chem. Commun., 1998,
2213), the use of superelectrophiles in aromatic polycondensation reactions (Macromolecules, 2001, 34, 1122), and the development of
solvent-resistant hollow-fibre membranes for ultrafiltration and nanofiltration
by spinning polyetherketone (PEK) from concentrated sulfuric acid solution (Effective Membrane Processes 3, MEP,
London, 1993, p.371; Eur. Patent
382356, 1995). While a research associate with ICI in the early 1990's, he was
responsible for the development of several full-scale ionomer and membrane
production processes.
Fuel cell and/or Hydrogen courses and
modules offered:
None currently.
Contact: Prof.
H.M. Colquhoun, Chair of Materials Chemistry
Email: h.m.colquhoun@rdg.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)118 378 8454
Address:
Whiteknights,
Reading
RG6 6AD
Website: www.chem.rdg.ac.uk