Melvyn shows how small molecules could help crack a big problem

The chemistry department at the University of Sussex is currently conducting research into clean fuels technology, looking at ways that greenhouse gases can be manipulated (eg conversion of CO2 to other molecules) to mitigate their effect on global warming.

Working in the Crossley lab, Melvyn created chemical compounds called Frustrated Lewis Pairs which could interact with strongly bounded molecular compounds such as CO2 – a greenhouse gas.

Melvyn says: "I felt the JRA would help me confirm my desire to do research in the future – and it has. It was a great opportunity to work with people who have already done research for a number of years and to work with a well integrated team.

"The research experience has been brilliant and has definitely made me want to seek out postgraduate studies."

During Melvyn's project a variety of new compounds were made and have the potential, once all the data has been collected, to be published in an academic paper.

Provided by University of Sussex