Public speaking

Order from chaos – making crystals from molecular soup

Talk given by Hamish at Pint of Science, Birmingham 2024

In the liquid state, innumerable atoms and molecules come together and break apart with ease. They are fluid and dynamic, although certain motifs persist for longer than others because the interactions that hold them together are relatively strong. The process of crystallisation starts within this liquid with the chance assembly of a nucleus – the smallest motif resembling the eventual crystal, made up of atoms and molecules in a particular arrangement that is more stable if it grows by attachment of another than if it disassembles back into the liquid state. As more and more molecules attach, the nucleus grows and becomes crystalline: periodic from the repeating arrangement of the atoms and molecules that were once on the surface but are now subsumed into the bulk structure. Over time, the atoms and molecules in the liquid are consumed and the process slows down to yield the sharp edges, smooth facets and order of a crystal.

This talk examines the crystallisation process of a new class of materials, known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs are of increasing practical interest because inside MOF crystals are millions of pores – molecule-sized spaces – that can be tailored to capture, sense, separate and release a wide range of small chemical species, such as CO2, hydrogen gas, toxic pollutants, and more. My research group uses state-of-the-art scientific methods to understand the crystallisation process better, to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly manufacture of MOFs, and discover materials with new and improved properties. We are also collaborating with musicians to explore the parallels between crystallisation and jazz music – so expect to hear some unusual sounds on this journey from the chaos of molecular soup into the beauty and order of MOF crystals!