Title: Block Copolymers in Organic Photovoltaics

Speaker: Paul D. Topham, Aston University

Time: 2:40 p.m., January 8, 2014

Venue: Conference Room 205, Building 14, SCUT North Campus

Sponsor: School of Materials Science and Engineering

Introduction to Dr. Topham:

Dr. Topham earned a Master in Chemistry at University of Sheffield in 2002 and studied “pH-Responsive Polymer Systems for Use as Molecular Machines” for his Ph.D. research under Anthony J. Ryan OBE at the University of Sheffield. Following the completion of a PhD in 2006, he undertook a post-doctoral research position working for Unilever, under the supervision of Professor Steve Armes. Dr. Topham joined the Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry subject group at Aston in August 2008 as a Lecturer in Chemistry, became a Senior Lecturer in August 2012 and a Reader in Polymer Chemistry in August 2013. Till now, he has been awarded several grants as PI and CoI (including beamtime at international radiation facilities) totalling over £1,476,000.

Dr Topham’s research focuses on the synthesis, development and application of well-defined polymer systems, including “smart” polymers, biocompatible and biodegradable materials and tethered polymer brushes, within the Advanced Materials Research Unit at Aston University. Controlled polymerisation techniques are combined with synthetic organic chemistry to fabricate novel (co)polymers, which display varying phenomena, depending on the material itself and the environment in which it is placed. Characterisation techniques of their nanoscale behaviour involve x-ray scattering and neutron reflectivity amongst more traditional methods. Current research interests include organic solar cells, rubber technology, electrospinning, microphase separation, click chemistry, tissue engineering, cell therapy, drug delivery, polymer fibres and water purification.