Dr. Neil Mckeown

Biography

Professor Neil B McKeown holds the Crawford Chair in Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. His research primarily focuses on the synthesis of organic materials, polymers with intrinsic microporosity, membranes, CO2 capture, and nanoporous molecular crystals. His research group employs synthetic chemistry to investigate the fundamental relationships between molecular structure and properties of organic materials. This allows for the design and synthesis of novel functional materials that are applicable to major challenges in energy and the environment. A significant part of his work involves synthesizing novel types of nanoporous materials using innovative strategies, such as developing polymers that cannot efficiently pack into space due to their rigid contorted structures, thus resulting in the formation of amorphous microporous materials. His research includes the development of Polymers with Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs), which demonstrate promise for use as selective gas separation membranes, particularly for carbon capture and natural gas purification applications. Additionally, he has explored the co-crystallization of suitable organic compounds to create molecular microporous materials, exemplified by his work with Phthalocyanine Unsolvated Nanoporous crystals (PUNCs). PUNCs enable precise spatial control and are beneficial for various applications, including photocatalysis and spintronics.

Research Interests