Former Members

Grace Briggs (UG project student, 2004-05). Final year project: “Synthesis and characterisation of metal nanowires from zeolite”. Her results were published in a paper, ‘In situ growth and characterization of Ag and Cu nanowires.’, X. Ding, G. Briggs, et al., Nanotech. 17, S376 (2006). After graduation, she became a school teacher.

Chang-Yang Chiang (PhD student, 2012-2017). His research focuses on the crystal growth mechanisms and microstructures of metal oxides mainly using electron microscopy. He co-authored more than 10 research papers, including papers in Adv. Mater., J. Am. Chem. Soc.. His research of formation, crystal growth and colour appearance of mimetic tianmu glaze was published in a paper: C.-Y. Chiang, et al., Ceramics International, 42, 7506 (2016). After PhD, he became a R&D Engineer in BELL CERAMICS CO., LTD., Taiwan.

Beth Connolly (UG project student, 2015-2016). Project: Asymmetric crystal growth of ZnO: A dipole field controlled model. A paper based on her results was published: ‘Formation Mechanisms of ZnO Spherulites and Deritives’ B. Connolly, et al. in Crystal Growth & Design, 19, 249 (2019). After graduation with a 1st class MChem degree and a Gray Prize for the best essay, Beth moved to University of Cambridge for her PhD study.

Graham Dawson (PhD student, 2002-05). Project: “Novel nanowires and nanotubes”. He made a contribution to the paper, ‘Formation mechanism of H₂Ti₃O₇ nanotubes,’ S. Zhang, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 91, No. 256103 (2003). Dr. Dawson is currently a Lecturer of Xi-an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.

Calum Dickinson (UG project student, 2002-03, PhD student, 2003-06). His project was “Three dimensional porous single crystals” and published 15 papers at St Andrews. A selected paper: ‘Formation mechanism of porous single-crystal Cr2O3 and Co3O4 templated by mesoporous silica.’ C. Dickinson, et al., Chem. Mater. 18, 3088 (2006). Dr. Dickinson is now an application specialist in SEM and TEM in JEOL UK Ltd.

Yan-jun Fang (Visiting PhD student from Zhejiang Univ., 2011). Project: ‘Hollow ZnO materials’. His results were published in  ‘Formation mechanism of hollow microspheres consisting of ZnO nanosheets’, Y.-J. Fang, et al., CrystEngComm, 14, 8615 (2012).

Alice Green (UG project student, 2015-2016). Project: “The Formation Mechanism of Leaf-like α-Fe2O3”. Her results have been published: “Growth Mechanism of Dendritic Hematite via Hydrolysis of Ferricyanide”, Alice E. Green, et al., Crystal Growth & Design, 17, 800 (2017). After graduation with a 1st MChem degree and a number of prizes (Charles Horrex Prize for the best honours research project in physical chemistry, Forrester Prize for the best finishing student in 5th year and Irvine Jubilee Prize and Medal), Alice moved to University of Oxford to do PhD.

Heather Greer (UG project student, PhD student, postdoc, 2008-2016). Heather carried out her BSc in Chemistry and Mathematics and a PhD in electron microscopy of solid state materials. She published more than 30 papers during her time at St Andrews in the field of non-classical crystal growth of microporous and mesoporous materials. Her undergraduate project led to her first paper ‘Early stage reversed crystal growth of zeolite A and its phase transformation to sodalite’, H. Greer, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 131, 17986 (2009). Her interests outside work include traveling, listening to music and keeping fit. She is now an electron microscopist at University of Cambridge.

Leigh-Anne de Jongh (PhD. student, 2008-12) Project: “Towards the rational synthesis of promoted catalysis”. Dr. de Jongh is now working as a scientist in Sasol, South Africa.

Chaolun Liang (Visiting scholar from Instrumental Analysis & Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, China. March 2016 for 6 months). Project: characterisation of nanostructured materials for energy storage and conversion. He made contributions to several research papers including ‘Green Light-excitable Ce-doped Nitridomagnesoaluminate Sr[Mg₂Al₂N₄] Phosphor for White Light-emitting Diodes’, J. L. Leaño, et al., Chem. Mater., 28, 6822 (2016).

Shaohong Liu (visiting student from Dalian University of Technology, Nov.2014-Nov.2015) Project: the design and preparation of high-performance electrode nanomaterials for lithium secondary batteries. His research on double-shelled carbon nanocages was published: S. H. Liu, et al., Adv. Mater., 29, 1700874 (2017). This paper has been highly cited.

Yuehao Liu (UG Project student, 2012-13). Project: “Non-classic crystal growth of MOFs”. Her results have been included in a paper ‘Synthesis and Formation Mechanism of Textured MOF-5’ H. F. Greer, Y. H. Liu, et al., Crystal Growth & Design, 16, 2104 (2016).

Zhong Liu (Visiting scholar from Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Xining, China. 2014-15 for 12 months; 2018 for 3 months). Project: Crystal growth of nanoparticles with novel morphologies. He published 2 papers during his visit. One of them is ‘The role of surface hydrolysis of ferricyanide anions in crystal growth of snowflake-shaped α-Fe2O3,’ Z. Liu, et al., Chem. Commun., 51, 9350 (2015).

Lan-Lan Lou (Visiting scholar from Nankai University, China. Jan. 2017 for 12 months). Lan-Lan Lou received her Ph.D degree in Material Physics and Chemistry from Nankai University. Her research mainly focuses on the heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis, and thermosensitive polymer modified nanocatalysts. She published 4 papers during her visit including one by L.-L. Lou, et al., ChemCatChem, 10, 1166 (2018).

Shona Macfarlane (UG project student, 2016-17). Final year project: “Formation mechanism of some novel morphologies of alpha-Fe2O3”. Her results were published in a paper by J. L. Chen, S. Macfarlane, et al. Cryst. Growth Des. 17, 5975 (2017). After obtaining 1st class MChem degree, she started her job in KPMG, London.

Alistair McKinlay, (UG project student, 2005-06). Final year project: “Synthesis and structural investigation of solid solution YBa1-xSrxCo2O5+d”. His results were published in ‘Structural chemistry and conductivity of solid solution YBa1-xSrxCo2O5+δ,’ A. McKinlay, et al., J. Phys. Chem. C. 111, 19120 (2007).

Rachael Molloy (UG project student, 2017-18). Final year project: “Dissolution and morphology control of monosodium urate monohydrate”. A paper based on her successful results was published: ‘Structure and cleavage of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals’, R. G. E. Molloy, et al., Chem. Comm. 55, 2178 (2019).

Katherine Self (UG project student, 2011-12, PhD student 2012-16). Her project was “Non-classical growth mechanisms of functional inorganic crystals”. Katie spent the 2nd year of her PhD at Fudan University in Shanghai. Katie published her UG project results in K. Self, et al., Chem. Commun., 49, 5411 (2013), followed by   several papers including ‘Reversed crystal growth of zeolite imidazolate framework RHO-ZIF’, K. Self, et al., Chem. Euro. J., 21, 19090 (2015) and ‘Surface Charge Driven Growth of Eight-branched Cu₂O Crystals’, K. Self, W. Z. Zhou, Cryst. Growth Des.,  16, 5377 (2016). Dr. Self is now working in Morgan Stanley, London.

Jian Sha (Visting Professor from Zhejiang Univ., 2005-06 for 6 months, 2011 for 1 month). Projects: ‘Investigation of Si nanowires and ZnO.’ He has 4 joined papers with the St Andrews team on these topics. An example is ‘Temperature-dependent Raman scattering of silicon nanowires,’ Z. X. Su, J. Sha, et al., J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 1229 (2006).

Zixue Su (PhD student, 2006-09, Postdoc, 2009-10). Project: “Ionic nanoconvection in anodization of Al plate and formation of Si nanowires.” He established a new model of the pore formation in anodic metal oxides and published series papers on this topic. The first is ‘Formation mechanism of porous anodic aluminium and titanium oxides’, Z. X. Su, W. Z.   Zhou, Adv. Mater., 20, 3663 (2008). He won the 2010 SCI Scotland Prize for the best PhD thesis. Dr Su is now a professor in South China University of Technology.

Michael Telfer (UG project student, 2013-14). Final year project: “Non-classic crystal growth of metal organic frameworks”. His results were included in a paper “Reversed crystal growth of zeolite imidazolate framework RHO-ZIF” by Katherine Self, Michael Telfer, et. al. Chem. Eur. J. 21, 19090 (2015).

Alistair Thorne (UG project student, 2001-02). Final year project: “Novel Titanate Nanotubes” and the results were published in “Formation, structure and stability of titanate nanotubes and their proton conductivity.” A. Thorne, et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 5439 (2005). This paper has been highly cited.

Savannah Turner (UG project student, 2017-2018). Final year project: “The nucleation and growth of zeolite X in the presence of triethanolamine”. Savannah obtained Charles Horrex Prize for the best honours research project in physical chemistry. A paper based on her finding was published: ‘New mechanism for the nucleation and growth of large zeolite X crystals in the presence of triethanolamine’, S. J. Turner, et al. Chem. Commun., 55, 862 (2019). She is now doing her PhD in Netherlands.

Songhai Xie (Visiting scholar from Fudan Univ. 2003 for 3 months). Project: “HRTEM of nanomaterials”. He published 4 joined papers during his visit. An example is ‘Formation Mechanism of Mg2SiO4 Fishbone-like Fractal Nanostructures,’ S. H. Xie, et al., J. Phys. Chem. B, 108, 11561 (2004).

Fengjiao Yu (PhD student, 2010-14, Postdoc, 2014-15). Project: “Synthesis, characterization and formation mechanism of metallic and oxide nanoparticles”. She published more than 10 papers throughout her time in St Andrews including: ‘One-step synthesis and shape-control of CuPd nanowire networks,’ F. J. Yu, et al., Nanoscale, 6, 1093 (2014).

Kai Yu (Visiting scholar from Nankai University, China. Jan. 2017 for 12 months). His research mainly focuses on the facet effect of the noble metal nanocrystals for aerobic oxidation of HMF, and photocatalysis water splitting on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials. He published 4 papers during his visit including one: K. Yu, et al., J. Catal. 365, 292 (2018).

Wenbo Yue (PhD student, 2005-09). Project: “Synthesis and characterisation of porous metal oxides templated by mesoporous silica”. He published more than 10 papers during his PhD course. An example is ‘Synthesis of porous single-crystals of metal oxides via a solid-liquid route,’ W. B. Yue, W. Z. Zhou, Chem. Mater. 19, 2359 (2007). Dr. Yue is now a Professor in Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.

Xinhong Zhao (Visiting Scholar from Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 2014-15 for 12 months). His research focused on the synthesis and formation mechanism of zeolitic materials with special textures and morphologies. His paper ‘Highly efficient synthesis of LTA-type aluminophosphate molecular sieve by improved ionothermal methods’ is published in New J Chem. 40, 2444 (2016)

Chunman Zheng (Visiting scholar from National University of Defense Technology, 2012-13 for 12 months). Project: Non-classical crystal growth of MOFs. His results were published: ‘Microstructural study of formation mechanism of metal-organic framework MOF-5,’ C. M. Zheng, et al., CrystEngComm, 16, 1064 (2014).