We are interested in the physical chemistry of liquids, mixtures, solutions, peptides, and proteins as well as phase transitions and nucleation phenomena that take place in them. A great example is water. Of course, water has been studied scientifically since Joseph Black first published about its strange supercooling and freezing behaviour in 1775. Now, 235 years later, we still do not understand why liquid water has a density maximum at 4° C or why water on the surface of proteins appears to be solid-like. Although our research is fundamental, it is also very close to applications. For example, the synthesis and preparation of pharmaceutical drugs depends on liquid structure, phase separation, and nucleation, which are poorly understood yet hugely important.

We use spectroscopy and imaging to study these phenomena around equilibrium and sometimes very far from equilibrium. Ultrafast Kerr-effect spectroscopy is used to get access to dynamics from the terahertz range down to megahertz (and hopefully kilohertz soon). Dielectric spectroscopy – partly done with international colleagues – provides a complementary view. Imaging is used to observe spatial fluctuations related to the dynamic separation of phases. With collaborators, we can also look at bonds directly using femtosecond two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D-IR), at diffusion using NMR, at atomic-scale structure using X-ray and neutron scattering, and at interfaces using sum-frequency generation (surface SFG).

We find that liquids and solutions are not nearly as homogeneous and boring as you might think. Molecules in the liquid aggregate and form supramolecular clusters on nanometre scales. Sometimes this leads to phase separation that can be seen with the bare eye. On the pages here you can find out a bit more about our work.

Special issue PCCP

We would like to cordially invite you to submit a paper to a special issue of PCCP on femtosecond spectroscopy entitled "Ultrafast Chemical Dynamics". Topics that will be covered include: * ultrafast dynamics of reactions in proteins * ultrafast structure and dynamics of liquids and solutions * ultrafast chemical processes at interfaces * ultrafast dynamics of electronically excited states * ultrafast atomic structure and dynamics in the solid state. The special issue will feature a number of invited overviews followed by contributed papers. The deadline for submissions is 14 November 2011. For more information, see http://blogs.rsc.org/cp/2011/06/29/pccp-themed-issue-ultrafast-chemical-dynamics/.

International Workshop on Ultrafast Chemical Physics & Physical Chemistry UCP 2011

The International Workshop on Ultrafast Chemical Physics (UCP '11) will be held at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow on 14-16 December 2011.

Ultrafast physical chemistry labs in the School of Chemistry at Glasgow University (August 2011).

TPP crystals (November 2011)