Pushing the boundaries of fundamental chemistry
Fundamental research in our school spans all areas of chemistry to advance knowledge, better understand the universe and seed development of the next generation of technological breakthroughs.
Chemistry is often referred to as the central science, given the strong connections between chemistry and the other natural sciences.
Our research focuses on advancing the current understanding of chemical science in terms of explaining the mechanisms of reactions, developing new methods in chemical synthesis, uncovering novel aspects of molecular structure and, revealing different modes of chemical bonding.
Our fundamental discoveries help propel chemistry as the central science by facilitating interdisciplinary outcomes in areas such as chemical biology and chemical physics.
Research topics
Chemical bonding and intermolecular forces
Arguably, the core of chemical science is our understanding of how individual atoms or groups of atoms form chemical bonds. We aim to understand bonding in novel solid-state compounds and transition metal complexes to build knowledge of the properties, reactivity and preparation of these substances.
Our research on intermolecular forces (bonding between different molecules) aims to understand and control the formation of molecular assemblies and the interactions between solvents and solutes.
Chemical synthesis and catalysis
Our researchers are exploring new methods for the synthesis of organic, transition metal and main group compounds. We aim to prepare substances that have never been made before or identifying novel, more straightforward methods for the preparation of known compounds. This research includes the design and development of novel catalytic processes to affect reaction outcomes.
Reaction kinetics and mechanism
Determining how chemical reactions occur is essential for understanding and influencing the outcomes of these reactions. Research in this area aims to uncover the mechanism of fundamentally important reactions within organic, inorganic and biological chemistry, including the interaction of molecules with catalysts and enzymes.
Chemistry as an enabling science
Advances in chemical science at the interface of biology, physics and environmental science aid discoveries in each of these fields.
Our staff use a chemical understanding to tackle problems in these disparate fields, such as probing the structure and function of enzymes to learn more about biological function or studying the interaction of molecules with light to understand physical processes that occur on extremely rapid timescales.
This research also explores the development of new analytical techniques and methods to detect and quantify molecules of importance to biological and physical processes.
Our researchers
Professor Bob Anderson
- Time-resolved spectrophotometry
- Radical mechanisms
- Anticancer prodrugs
Professor David Barker
- Synthesis of novel small organic molecules
- Synthetic methodologies for improved organic synthesis
Distinguished Professor Dame Margaret Brimble
- Polyketide metabolites and marine toxins
- Anti-tuberculosis agents
- Species-selective toxicants
Professor Brent Copp
- Medicinal chemistry of anti-infectives
- Natural products – isolation, synthesis, structure-activity
Dr Rebecca Deed
- Wine microbiology
- Aroma chemistry
Professor Bruno Fedrizzi
- Analytical and bioanalytical mass spectrometry
- Wine and food chemistry and biochemistry
- Adding value to horticultural waste
Associate Professor Daniel Furkert
- Natural product synthesis
- New reaction mechanisms
- Drug discovery
Professor Christian Hartinger
- Medicinal inorganic chemistry
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Bioanalytical chemistry
Dr Kang Huang
- Nature-inspired biopolymers for food and agricultural application
Dr Jianyong Jin
- Synthetic polymer chemistry
- Advanced chain growth and step-growth polymerization techniques
- Polymers for laser micromachining
Professor Paul Kilmartin
- Electrochemistry
- Inorganic photochemistry
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Molecular spectroscopy (optical, ultrafast, X-ray)
Dr Erin Leitao
- Synthesis of new main-group molecules and polymers
- Mechanism of catalytic main-group bond-forming reactions
Professor Duncan McGillivray
- Nanomaterials
- Surfaces
- Biophysical chemistry
Dr Davide Mercadante
- Multiscale simulations of synthetic polymer dynamics
- Simulations-driven rational design of polymers
- Building molecular predictors of polymer properties
Professor James Metson
- Light metals and their oxides
- Surfaces and catalysis
Associate Professor Gordon Miskelly
- Chemistry in forensic science
- Analytical chemistry
Professor Siew-Young Quek
- Bioactives, microencapsulation and functional foods
- Food/byproduct processing - quality, safety and application
- Lipid science and technology
Associate Professor Viji Sarojini
- Biomolecular turn-mimetics and other protein secondary structures
- Synthesis of constrained amino acids and cyclic peptides
Professor Cather Simpson
- Ultrafast laser spectroscopy and chemical dynamics
- Laser micromachining and microfabrication
Professor Tilo Söhnel
- Inorganic materials chemistry
- Crystallography
Professor Jonathan Sperry
- Total synthesis of natural products
- C-H bond functionalisation
- Chemical probes
Professor Jadranka Travas-Sejdic
- Controlled radical polymerization
- Multifunctional conducting polymers
Professor Geoffrey Waterhouse
- Electrocatalysts for water splitting, fuel cells and batteries
- Solar-driven catalytic reactions
- Carbon dioxide capture and catalytic conversion
Dr Cameron Weber
- Intermolecular forces and solvent effects
- Kinetics and reaction mechanism
- Structure and properties of liquids
Associate Professor Geoff Willmott
- Nanopipetting methods
- Colloidal self-assembly
Professor L. James Wright
- Metallabenzenes
- New ligand design
- Catalysis
Dr Fan Zhu
Dr Zoran Zujovic
- Solid-state NMR spectroscopy and its applications to materials science and pharmaceuticals
- Conducting polymers
- Self-assembly of nanostructured conducting polymers
- Exploiting novel chemical environments in flow chemistry Efficient
- chemical synthesis and total synthesis of natural products using flow chemistry.
- In-line monitoring to gain mechanistic understanding
Dr Rosalyn Falconer
- Synthesis of new catalysts
- Surface Organometallic Chemistry
- Low oxidation state metals
- Mechanism of catalysis