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Biography
I attained an MChem (Medicinal Chemistry with Pharmacology) from the University of Liverpool in 2008. I then completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool under the guidance of Profs Andy I. Cooper, Dave Adams and Yaroslav Z. Khimyak in 2012. My doctoral studies focussed on the synthesis of porous amorphous networks and their molecular level characterisation by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Upon completion of my doctorate, I moved to the University of Nottingham as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow working across the School of Chemistry and Faculty of Engineering with Profs Martin Schroder, Neil Champness and Sam Kingman. Research was focussed on the synthesis of novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) from perylene- and naphthalene- di-imide ligands and development of microwave technology for batch synthesis of MOFs in collaboration with the National Centre for Microwave Processing. I was appointed as a Nottingham Research Fellow in May 2016.
In addition to my research, I am a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an Affiliate of IChemE. I am a Member of the GeoEnergy Research Centre (GERC); a joint initiative between the British Geological Survey and the University of Nottingham supported by a £3m Strategic Development Fund. I am also passionate about encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM and actively engage with the Athena Swan initiative.
I am a member of the Advanced Materials Research Group (AMRG).
Expertise Summary
I work as part of a team of scientists and engineers in the Microwave Process Engineering Research Group whom conduct multi-disciplinary research, development and commercialisation studies into electromagnetic heating technologies. A chemist by training, I have over 9 years' experience in synthesis and characterisation of many types of porous materials (both amorphous and crystalline). In particular, I have experience in assessing the structure and functional properties of porous materials using advanced characterisation techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, gas sorption, thermophysical properties, scanning electron microscopy, and solid state NMR. I also specialise in understanding the interactions between inorganic materials and electromagnetic fields which enables the development of microwave technologies for chemical syntheses.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4093-2243
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrea_Laybourn
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andrea-laybourn-62767359
Teaching Summary
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Lecturer in:
- Introductory Chemistry (H81ICH)
- Air Pollution (H83AIP)
- Interfacial Chemistry (H82INC)
- Year 2 Laboratories
- Year 4 MEng Project (H84MEP)
Research Supervisor to a number of PhD students.
I welcome applications from excellent prospective PhD candidates in the areas of:
Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), continuous and batch microwave synthesis, microwave technology applied to inorganic chemistry, microporous materials synthesis and characterisation, synthesis of new porous inorganic/organic hybrid materials, interactions of microwave energy with inorganic materials (dielectric spectroscopy), ultrafast materials processing, MOFs for applications (waste treatment, healthcare technologies, molecular sensing, catalysis, gas storage and separation, anti-microbial resistance), advanced characterisation of materials, and sensor fabrication (spray coating, lithography).
Available PhD project: MOFs for Dairy Farm wastewater treatment
Available PhD project: Smart materials for mitigation of antimicrobial resistance
If you are interested in any of these areas, please get in touch.
Research Summary
My current research interests lie within ultrafast materials processing using microwaves and flow chemistry, particularly for the synthesis and activation of MOFs. I am interested in understanding… read more
Recent Publications
WOODLIFFE, J. L., MOLINAR-DÍAZ, J., ISLAM, M. T., STEVENS, L. A., WADGE, M. D., RANCE, G. A., FERRARI, R., AHMED, I. and LAYBOURN, A., 2023. Rapid synthesis of magnetic microspheres and the development of new macro-micro hierarchically porous magnetic framework composites: Journal of Materials Chemistry A JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A. 11, 14705-14719 DESAI, A. V., LIZUNDIA, E., LAYBOURN, A., RAINER, D. N., ARMSTRONG, A. R., MORRIS, R. E., WUTTKE, S. and ETTLINGER, R., 2023. Green Synthesis of Reticular Materials: Advanced Functional Materials Advanced Functional Materials. IQBAL, B., LAYBOURN, A., O'SHEA, J. N., ARGENT, S. P. and ZAHEER, M., 2022. Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution over micro and mesoporous cobalt metal-organic frameworks: Molecular Catalysis Molecular Catalysis. 531, LAYBOURN, A., ROBERTSON, K. and SLATER, A. G., 2022. Quid Pro Flow: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Current Research
My current research interests lie within ultrafast materials processing using microwaves and flow chemistry, particularly for the synthesis and activation of MOFs. I am interested in understanding the interaction of materials with electromagnetic energy and the use of selective heating to control the structure and properties of new and existing MOFs through kinetically driven reactions. I am also involved the development of new technologies and reactors that deliver reduced manufacturing and processing costs of such materials.
My research involves the production of novel porous materials using microwave technology, with particular emphasis on synthesis of complex organic/inorganic structures such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Potential applications of MOFs include CO2/SO2 capture, re-breather technologies, gas storage and separation, catalysis, sensors, drug delivery, and as electrolytes in fuel cells.
Current commercial methods of MOF synthesis predominantly involve solvothermal routes (reactants heated above the boiling point of the solvent under autogenous pressure) in toxic solvents for extended periods (24-76 hours) in sealed vessels. On a multi-kilogram to tonne scale, MOF production is therefore an extremely energy intensive, inefficient and expensive process. As a result, commercial adoption of MOFs is currently restricted by their high product cost. My research aims to develop an alternative process by which rapid, efficient production is achieved using electromagnetic technology, affording the potential for MOFs to become bulk commodities.