Dr. Graham Newton
Biography
Graham Newton received his M.Sci. (2005) and Ph.D. (2009) from the University of Glasgow under the guidance of Prof. Lee Cronin. His doctoral studies focused on the synthesis of polynuclear coordination compounds and the use of cold-spray ESI-MS as a means of tracking their self-assembly. Upon completion of his doctorate he moved to the University of Tsukuba to work with Prof. Hiroki Oshio on a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship, investigating the synthesis and properties of multi-stable transition metal clusters. He became an Assistant Professor at the University of Tsukuba in 2011, before moving to the University of Nottingham as a Nottingham Research Fellow in April 2015.
Research Summary
Research in our group focuses on the synthesis of complex organic/inorganic molecular systems for applications in small molecule conversion, energy storage, photo-catalysis and the development of functional materials.
Employing a bottom-up approach to molecular design, we can link simple building blocks with clearly defined physical properties, to construct sophisticated systems whose performance (reactivity, photo-response, stability…) can exceed that of their isolated components.
One such example is in our development of multi-component systems for the efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to feedstocks and fuels. Current approaches in our group involve the use of organically-hybridized polyoxometalates (POMs) as conjugated electron/proton reservoirs for catalytic transition metal-based antenna groups, and the development of multinuclear transition metal clusters with distinct substrate capture and catalysis sites.
Publications
T. Matsumoto, G. N. Newton, T. Shiga, S. Hayami, Y. Matsui, H. Okamoto, R. Kumai, Y. Murakami, H. Oshio “Programmable spin-state switching in a mixed valence spin-crossover iron grid”, Nat. Commun., 2014, 5, 3865/1–3865/8.
G. N. Newton, K. Mitsumoto, R.-J. Wei, F. Iijima, T. Shiga, H. Nishikawa, H. Oshio “Lability-Controlled Syntheses of Heterometallic Clusters” Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 2941–2944 (Inside back cover picture).
N. Hoshino, F. Iijima, G. N. Newton, N. Yoshida, T. Shiga, H. Nojiri, A. Nakao, R. Kumai, Y. Murakami, H. Oshio, “Three-way switching in a cyanide-bridged [CoFe] chain”, Nat. Chem., 2012, 4, 921–926.
G. N. Newton, S. Yamashita, K. Hasumi, J. Matsuno, N. Yoshida, M. Nihei, T. Shiga, M. Nakano, H. Nojiri, W. Wernsdorfer, H. Oshio, “Redox-controlled Magnetic {Mn13} Keggin Systems”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 5715–5719 (VIP, Cover picture).
G. N. Newton, T. Onuki, T. Shiga, M. Noguchi, T. Matsumoto, J. S. Mathieson, M. Nihei, M. Nakano, L. Cronin, H. Oshio, “Mapping the Sequential Self-Assembly of Heterometallic Clusters: From a Helix to a Grid”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 4844–4848 (Frontispiece).