Charl continued his short trip to Kyoto University, where he visited the world-leading research laboratories of Prof Hiroshi Kitagawa. This visit was an opportunity to renew the long-standing interactions (interrupted by COVID!), and to explore new opportunities for joint symposia, student and staff exchanges, and collaborative research activities. Here Charl is with Prof Kitagawa, and his group (in front of the Clifton Suspension Bridge!).
New paper authored by Ciqun Xu in collaboration with J. Rossiter and the Soft Robotics Research Group in Advanced Functional Materials demonstrating multiple applications of novel electric field-driven dielectrophoretic elastomer actuators.
Prof. Charl Faul visiting and speaking at JNCASR Bangalore, India this week. Images below.
Charl has contributed to a paper with collaborators from the College of Chemistry, Jilin University (Changchun) and the Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University (Shanghai) exploring the liquid-crystalline behaviour of dumbbell-shaped colloidal particles. If you are interested in the formation of chiral blue phases from such achiral structures, then please read the paper for more details!
Interested in multidisciplinary MRes project relating to soft robotics, smart structures, polymer chemistry and healthcare? Announcing an exciting opportunity linked to emPOWER Transformative Healthcare Technologies – a UKRI-EPSRC funded research programme focusing on in-body artificial muscles for physical augmentation, function restoration, patient empowerment & future healthcare.
Currently accepting applications from both UK and international students. Please contact Prof Charl Faul or Dr Ben Baker with a short cover letter for more details.
Collaborative research between the Faul Group and Manners Group concerning efficient seeded growth of polythiophene-based nanofibers through suppression of homogeneous nucleation has just been published in Macromolecules and is available for viewing now.
Great to have Sorrel (who secured a RSC Undergraduate Summer bursary – congrats!), and John (new joint PhD student from the ACCIS CDT, with Valeska Ting) join the FRG!
Welcome to both!
A review just appeared in Nano Energy with our collaborators from the National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Bejing. The review, entitled “Conjugated microporous polymers for energy storage: Recent progress and challenges” covers the very broad and active field of energy storage, specficially highlighting challenges and opportunities.
Congrats to Kamran and all others involved in another paper in this growing collaboration!
As part of the £6M newly EPSRC-funded project “emPOWER: in-body artificial muscles for physical augmentation, function restoration, patient empowerment and future healthcare”, we are excited to advertise a research associate/senior research associate position within the Faul Research Group, with a focus on conjugated and block copolymer synthesis for implantable artificial muscles. This position will be available for up to 5 years.
Please note that the closing date for applications is the 28th of February.
In addition to this exciting opportunity to join the FRG, there are a further 4 positions in the emPOWER project available in Bristol (also for up to 5 years):
GWPore – the local GW4 network for porous materials activities at the univerisities of Cardiff, Bath, Exeter and Bristol – has had an excitiing online conference, focussed on giving early career research the opportunity to present posters and oral presentations.
A number of FRG group members attended and gave posters (Julia, Connie, Merve, Safa). There were also two talks from the group (Neha and Veronica), as well as a talk by our colleague and close collaborator Kamran (from the Beijing)!
Fantastic effort by all, and a great opportunity to network and see what other exciting porous materials research is currently being performed in the South West of the UK and beyond!
Faul Research Group 