Dr Colin L Freeman

PhD, MSci Chemistry

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Senior Lecturer in Materials Simulation

Profile photo of Colin Freeman
Profile picture of Profile photo of Colin Freeman
c.l.freeman@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5965

Full contact details

Dr Colin L Freeman
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

Colin was awarded an MSci in Chemistry from University College London in 2002, then moved to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bristol where he studied for a PhD in “Simulations of Solid Solutions and Interfaces” (awarded 2005). He continued at Bristol as a research associate for six months, before moving to Sheffield in 2006.

At Sheffield, Dr Freeman pioneered research into atomic simulations of the material-molecule interface for the study of biominerals. Since completing this project he has been working on a range of simulation projects including electroceramics, biominerals and interfaces. He was made a lecturer in materials simulation in September 2012.

Research interests

Colin specialises in computational simulation of molecules and material systems and their interfaces. He is particularly interested in understanding the influence materials and minerals and exert of biological molecules by altering molecular properties and similarly how molecules are able to influence material properties or control the crystallisation of a material.

Current projects

Research group

  • Dr Veselina Marinova
  • Dr Stephen Yeandel
  • Mr Panagiotis Pavlos Stavroulakis
  • Ms Emma Armstrong
  • Ms Vittoria Fantauzzo

Current research includes the study of the following systems:

  • Calcite growth in biominerals
  • DNA interactions with silica surfaces
  • Doping in Barium Titanate
  • Iron oxide formation via biological molcules
  • Lithium battery cathode materials
  • ZnO and wurtzite thin film growth
  • Garnet minerals and defect partitioning
  • Properties of quintinery high-entropy alloys
  • Properties of quintinery alloys
  • Materials for nuclear processes
  • Prediction of Magnetic properties in materials
Publications

Journal articles

Conference proceedings papers

  • Harding J, Freeman C, Fantauzzo V, Armstrong E, Marinova V & Yeandel S (2021) Controlling mineral polymorphs: insights from computer simulation.. Goldschmidt2021 abstracts, 4 July 2021 - 9 July 2021. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yandun Z, Freeman CL, Lin Y, LiJin T, Xijun L, Juntao W & Han W (2015) Exploring the mixing properties of ceramic materials. 14th Biennial Worldwide Congress on Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories, UNITECR 2015, in conjunction with the 58th International Colloquium on Refractories RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yandun Z, Freeman CL, Lin Y, LiJin T, Xijun L, Juntao W & Han W (2015) Exploring the mixing properties of ceramic materials. 14th Biennial Worldwide Congress on Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories, UNITECR 2015, in conjunction with the 58th International Colloquium on Refractories RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rodger PM, Quigley D, Harding JH & Freeman CL (2010) Simulating crystal nucleation: Seeing the infrequent with Molecular dynamics. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 74(12) (pp A875-A875) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Freeman CL, Harding JH, Allan NL & Pinilla C (2009) Adsorption and segregation at surfaces in minerals and biominerals. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A396-A396) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Duffy DM, Freeman CL, Harding JH, Quigley D & Rodger PM (2009) Modelling biomineralization processes. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A311-A311) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Freeman CL, Claeyssens F, Allan NL & Harding JH (2006) Thin films of wurtzite materials - AlN vs. AlP. JOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH, Vol. 294(1) (pp 111-117) RIS download Bibtex download

Other

Preprints

Teaching activities

Colin is currently part of the departmental outreach committee and organises school visits and science/engineering activities. He is first-year Director of Materials Science and Engineering and also on the departments staff-student forum.

Teaching duties include:

  • MAT4610 Introduction to materials simulation
  • MAT1820 Computer skills for Engineers
  • MAT1910 Introduction to Nanomaterials and Nanoscience
  • MAT2930 Perspectives in Materials Research
  • MAT2840 Diffusion and Heat Transfer
  • MAT2220 Functional Materials
  • MAT360 Research Methods
  • MAT6664 Science of Materials
Professional activities and memberships
  • Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Member of the European Geochemical Society