The University of Sheffield
Department of Chemistry

Colin CrookDr. Colin J. Crook

University Teacher

Room: D57

Tel: +44-(0)114-22-29407

Fax: +44-(0)114-22-29436

email:

 


 

General Information Teaching

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Crook obtained a BSc in Chemistry with Polymer Chemistry in 1995. This was followed by a MSc in polymer chemistry from Lancaster University and a PhD from Aston University in 2000. In 2000 he became a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sheffield working, a post held until 2006. His research centered around polymer synthesis and responsive polymers, and he was involved in the exciting Wonderland project at the art-science interface. In 2007 he was appointed as a university teacher in physical chemistry. He is fortunate to lecture in some of his favourite areas of chemistry, namely smart polymers and polymer characterization, and runs the Level 2 physical chemistry laboratory and the MSc polymer laboratory.  He is currently the Director of Studies for the MSc: Polymers for Advanced Technologies.

Teaching Keywords

Physical Chemistry Laboratory; Polymer Chemistry

Selected Publications

  • Synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviour of poly(methacrylic acid) brushes synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization, A. J. Parnell, S. J. Martin, C. C. Dang, M. Geoghegan, R. A. L. Jones, C. J. Crook, J. R. Howse and A. J. Ryan, Polymer 2009, 50, 1005-1014.
  • Autonomous volume transitions of a polybase triblock copolymer gel in a chemically driven pH-oscillator, P. D. Topham, J. R. Howse, C. J. Crook, A. J. Gleeson, W. Bras, S. P. Armes, R. A. L. Jones and A. J. Ryan, Macromol Symp 2007, 256, 95-104 210.
  • Antagonistic triblock polymer gels powered by pH oscillations, P. D. Topham, J. R. Howse, C. J. Crook, S. P. Armes, R. A. L. Jones and A. J. Ryan, Macromolecules 2007, 40, 4393-4395.
  • Controlled growth of poly (2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) brushes via atom transfer radical polymerisation on planar silicon surfaces, P. D. Topham, J. R. Howse, C. J. Crook, A. J. Parnell, M. Geoghegan, R. A. L. Jones and A. J. Ryan, Polym. Int. 2006, 55, 808-815.
  • Reciprocating power generation in a chemically driven synthetic muscle, J. R. Howse, P. Topham, C. J. Crook, A. J. Gleeson, W. Bras, R. A. L. Jones and A. J. Ryan, Nano Lett. 2006, 6, 73-77.
  • The pH-induced swelling and collapse atom transfer radical polymerization, M. Geoghegan, L. Ruiz-Perez, C. C. Dang, A. J. Parnell, S. J. Martin, J. R. Howse, R. A. L. Jones, R. Golestanian, P. D. Topham, C. J. Crook, A. J. Ryan, D. S. Sivia, J. R. P. Webster and A. Menelle, Soft Matter 2006, 2, 1076-1080.
  • A toolbox approach to adhesive design, C. J. Crook, P. A. Fairclough, R. A. L. Jones and A. J. Ryan, React Funct Polym 2006, 66, 41-49.

Undergraduate Courses Taught

  • Level 2 Undergraduate laboratories: Physical Chemistry
    In the second year, the Physical Chemistry laboratory course further develops key skills introduced at Level 1, leading to mastery of key techniques and methods used in modern laboratories. The students use their observational, analytical and critical skills to probe some of the fundamental concepts of Physical Chemistry such as thermochemistry, kinetics and material properties. They also become practiced in the art of data analysis and the communication of those results to others.
  • Smart Polymers and Polymeric Materials (Year 4)
    This unit teaches students about the ways in which individual polymer chains and polymer-based materials can respond to a variety of external stimuli such as heat, light, sound, electric field, pH and ionic strength, and the uses which can be made of these effects in the design and applications of "smart" (both passive and active) materials and devices.

Postgraduate Courses Taught

  • Polymer Characterization and Analysis
  • Smart Polymers and Polymeric Materials B

Tutorial & Workshop Support

  • First Year General Tutorials.
  • Second Year Physical Chemistry Tutorials.
  • Third Year Literature Review.

Laboratory Teaching

  • Second Year Laboratory Demonstrating