Professor Julia A. Weinstein

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Professor of Physical Chemistry

Professor Julia Weinstein
Profile picture of Professor Julia Weinstein
julia.weinstein@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 9408

Full contact details

Professor Julia A. Weinstein
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Dainton Building
13 Brook Hill
Sheffield
S3 7HF
Profile

Dr. Weinstein obtained her Diploma in Chemistry (with honours) from Moscow Lomonosov State University in 1990, followed by a PhD from the same institution in 1994, where she became a member of staff. In 2000 she became a Royal Society/NATO postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Nottingham, which was followed by a temporary lectureship at the same institution.

In 2004 she was appointed as EPSRC advanced Research Fellow and obtained a lectureship at the University of Sheffield. In 2010 she was promoted to senior lecturer, followed by a promotion to reader in 2015, and to professor of physical chemistry in 2016.

Awards

  • Lomonosov Award in Science (2003)
  • John Van Geuns Lecture (2004)
  • RSC Chemical Dynamics Award (2017)
Qualifications
  • MRSC
  • Member of the ACS and EPA
Research interests

Most broadly, our research group is interested in any aspects of interaction of light with matter in condensed phase.

The main focus of our research is (1) Ultrafast dynamics of electron and energy transfer in condensed phase; and (2) Chemical Approach to Solar Energy Conversion.

The conversion of light into chemical energy lies at the heart of many natural processes and man-made applications. A charge-separated species generated via an excited state is the key intermediate in this process. Stabilisation of this intermediate is the key issue and pivotal to developing efficient artificial systems. We develop methodologies for controlling stability of charge-transfer excited states by manipulating environment and structural properties of model systems based on transition metal complexes, with potential application in molecular wires, electronics and photonics. The interdisciplinary research uses a combination of organometallic synthesis, time-resolved electronic and vibrational spectroscopy and theory to explore the fundamental aspects underlying this work crossing from controlling photomolecular properties of materials to designing molecular architecture for photo-induced electron transfer.

Other research areas include:

  1. Highly luminescent metal chromophores for imaging and sensing.
  2. Development of compounds which emit in the NIR spectral range.
  3. Development of photostable photo-sensitisers of singlet oxygen – the key recative oxygen species – and understanding of underlying chemical rules to the efficiecy of its generation.
  4. Free radicals in chemistry and biology.

The main techniques involved in our research comprise:

  1. (Spectro)electrochemistry;
  2. Time-resolved electronic spectroscopy – absorption and emission;
  3. Time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy - infra-red and (resonance) Raman.
  4. Pulse radiolysis.

We collaborate with the UK National Facility - Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, member of LaserLab Europe, and with various laboratories world-wide, including USA, Switzerland, Germany and Buelorussia.

We have a 4 years PhD position available to start on the 1 October 2020. For more details following this link.

Publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

  • Carson H, Keane T, Weinstein J & Meijer A (2019) Electron transfer in transition metal complexes. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 258 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Delor M, Sazanovich I, Archer S, Keane T, Scattergood P, Parker A, Meijer A, Towrie M & Weinstein J (2016) Probing and exploiting vibronic coupling in charge transfer processes in metal chromophores. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 252 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Raza A, Colley H, Baggaley E, Green N, Botchway S, Weinstein J, MacNeil S & Haycock J (2016) Optical measurement of oxygen concentration in melanoma spheroid and skin engineered models. European Cells and Materials (ECM), Vol. Collection 5 (pp 8-8) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Delor M, Scattergood PA, Sazanovich IV, Keane T, Greetham GM, Meijer AJHM, Towrie M, Parker AW & Weinstein JA (2015) Controlling electron transfer in condensed phase with bond-specific infrared excitation. Physical Chemistry of Interfaces and Nanomaterials XIV RIS download Bibtex download
  • Raza A, Colley H, Baggaley E, Botchway S, Macneil S, Weinstein J & Haycock J (2014) Oxygen difference in live melanoma muticellular tumour spheroids using novel platinum compound and time-resolved imaging microscopy. JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, Vol. 8 (pp 314-314) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker SC, Archer S, Delor M, Towrie M, Sazanovich IV & Weinstein JA (2013) Transition metal photocatalysts for heterogeneous H-2 production and CO2 reduction. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 245 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Delor M, Scattergood P, Sazanovich I, Towrie M, Greetham GM, Parker AW & Weinstein JA (2013) Modulating electron transfer in transition metal complexes by perturbing bridge vibrations in electronically excited states. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 245 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Weinstein JA, Sazanovich IV, Delor M, Scattergood PA, Meijer AJHM, Portius P, Greetham G, Parker AW & Towrie M (2013) Ultrafast photoinduced charge-separation in molecular systems: Time-resolved IR, transient 2DIR, and controlling the rates and the pathways by vibrational perturbation. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 245 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Baggaley E, Sazanovich IV, Williams JAG, Haycock JW, Botchway SW & Weinstein JA (2013) Time-resolved two-photon emission imaging microscopy with transition metal complexes (TPE-TREM). ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 245 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker SC, Weinstein J & Perutz R (2012) CO2 reduction utilising photo-electro-catalytic approach based on transition metal complex catalysts anchored to semiconductors. 4th EuCheMs Chemistry Congress Book of Abstracts RIS download Bibtex download
  • van der Veen RM, Milne CJ, Pham VT, El Nahhas A, Weinstein JA, Best J, Borca CN, Bressler C & Chergui M (2008) EXAFS structural determination of the Pt-2(P2O5H2)(4)(4-) anion in solution. CHIMIA, Vol. 62(4) (pp 287-290) RIS download Bibtex download
Teaching interests

Photochemistry; Mathematics, Chemical Kinetics

Teaching activities

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules

  • Mathematics for Chemists 2 (Level 1)
    This course teaches basic practical skills in performing differentiation and integration; it introduces the link between those and practical chemistry (kinetics, thermodynamics, synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, practical laboratory work and others); and creates a basis for the courses where more advanced mathematics will be introduced.
  • Chemical Reaction Kinetics (Level 2)
    This module provides an introduction into kinetic analyses of complex reaction mechanisms.
  • Photochemistry and Molecular Photonics (Level 4)
    This lecture course describes basic theoretical considerations, experimental methods, and applications of one of the key fundamental processes - electron transfer - in chemistry, photochemistry, biochemistry and related disciplines.

Support Teaching:

  • Tutorials: Level 1 General Chemistry
  • Tutorials: Level 2 Physical Chemistry
  • Level 3 Literature Review

Laboratory Teaching:

  • Level 4 Research Projec