Dr Robert Dawson

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry

Rob Dawson
Profile picture of Rob Dawson
r.dawson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 9357

Full contact details

Dr Robert Dawson
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Dainton Building
13 Brook Hill
Sheffield
S3 7HF
Profile

Dr. Dawson received his MChem in Chemistry with German from the University of Liverpool in 2006. After a year spent teaching English in Germany, he returned to Liverpool to complete his PhD with Prof. Andrew I. Cooper graduating in 2010 and spending a further two years in the group as a post-doctoral researcher.

In 2012 he moved to the Technical University of Berlin as a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellow before returning to the UK in 2014 at the University of Bath. In 2015 he was appointed as a Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry at the University of Sheffield.

Qualifications
  • MRSC
  • FHEA
Research interests

My research focuses on the synthesis and applications of microporous polymers. These materials are produced from rigid organic building blocks linked together using high yielding chemistries to produce networks. The subsequent removal of the reaction solvent from the rigid framework leaves behind channels into which small molecules can be adsorbed. Previously, I have looked at these materials for applications in hydrogen gas storage, carbon dioxide capture and heterogeneous catalysis.

My current research looks at these materials for energy applications; for example reducing energy demand by performing reactions photocatalytically, and utilising CO2 to produce valuable materials.

Publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

  • Dawson R & Thomas A (2013) Microporous organic polymers as catalysts. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 245 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ren S, Dawson R, Jiang J-X, Adams DJ & Cooper AI (2012) 1,3,5-Triazine based microporous organic polymers: Synthesis and applications. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 244 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Drage TC, Snape CE, Stevens LA, Wood J, Wang J, Cooper AI, Dawson R & Guo X (2012) Step Change Adsorbents and Processes for CO2 Capture “STEPCAP (pp 30-37) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dawson R, Adams DJ & Cooper AI (2010) Controlling porosity in conjugated microporous polymer networks. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 240 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Jiang JX, Su F, Trewin A, Wood CD, Campbell NL, Niu H, Dickinson C, Ganin AY, Dawson R, Jones JTA , Rosseinsky MJ et al (2008) Advanced amorphous porous polymer networks: Understanding molecular level structure and dynamics using solid-state NMR. American Chemical Society, Polymer Preprints, Division of Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 49(1) (pp 639) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cooper AI, Campbell NL, Jiang J-X, Stockel E, Dawson R, Higgins S, Niu H & Clowes R (2008) POLY 159-Combinatorial microwave synthesis of nanoporous poly(aryleneethynylene)s. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 236 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cooper AI, Jiang J-X, Dawson R, Su F, Niu H, Wood CD, Jones JTA, Khimyak Y & Trewin A (2008) POLY 517-Synthesis of nanoporous conjugated polymer networks. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 236 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Jiang J-X, Su F, Trewin A, Wood CD, Campbell NL, Niu H, Dickinson C, Ganin A, Dawson R, Jones JTA , Rosseinsky MJ et al (2008) POLY 381-Advanced amorphous porous polymer networks: Understanding molecular level structure and dynamics using solid-state NMR. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 235 RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Teaching interests

Polymer Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry.

Teaching activities

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules

  • d- and f-Block Elements 2 (Level 2)
    This course is an introduction to the chemistry of transition metal complexes containing hydride ligands and in particular π-acid ligands including CO, CS, CN–, CNR, N2, NO, phosphines and phosphites. It is a prelude to the use of such compounds as catalysts in the chemical industry.
  • The Lanthanide Elements: Properties and Applications (Level 3)
    This segment provides an introduction to the lanthanide and actinide elements, their coordination and organometallic chemistry, and the applications of their compounds.

Support Teaching:

  • Skills for Success: Kitchen Project.

Laboratory Teaching:

  • Level 3 Research Project
  • Level 4 Research Project