Small parts, big impact

20.05.2023

Dr. Jake Greenfield researches molecules that are used to produce novel self-assembling materials. A Liebig-Fellowship is now enabling him to set up his own research group at the University of Würzburg.

Jake Greenfield establishes his first own research group at JMU. (Bild: privat)

Jake Greenfield has been working at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg (JMU) since the summer of 2022. Initially, he joined Professor Frank Würthner's research group as a postdoc, supported by a research fellowship from the Humboldt Foundation. Now, through the Liebig Fellowship, he gets the opportunity to establish his own research group.

"Without the support of Frank Würthner and the whole Institute of Organic Chemistry, this would not be possible. Brexit in particular has caused some bureaucratic hurdles, but this hasn’t been able to dampen my excitement to once again be a part of the European scientific community" reports the Briton. In addition to the support provided by Würthner himself, the excellent research facilities and support for early career researchers also convinced him to take the step to JMU. In England, for example, it would hardly be possible to get such an opportunity at such an early stage in one's career.

Aiming to produce novel self-assembling materials

Jake Greenfield's research focuses on creating tiny, self-assembling molecules that can serve as building blocks for the production of larger, more complex materials. These, in turn, can be used to store energy and build miniature circuits.

"You can think of it a bit like throwing a deck of cards on a table. We want to engineer our cards so that we are not left with a pile of jumbled card, but have the cards assemble into a house of cards on their own," explains the chemist.

Of particular interest to the researchers are spring-like structures. By adding different molecules, these tiny springs are supposed to expand or shrink when exposed to certain triggers, such as light. This can create a material that contracts in light, stores energy, and then releases it later – for example, in the form of heat. Such technology may have promise in off-the-grid energy storage solutions.

Another avenue of Jake Greenfields research focuses on the production of molecular wires, tiny structures that can conduct electricity. For this purpose, chains of metal atoms are wrapped in a DNA-like structure. Versatile applications exist for such responsive electronic materials, which are to be created by combining these two mainstays, for example in generating responsive electronic circuitry and new information storage materials.

Curriculum Vitae and Greenfield Group

After graduating from Imperial College London, Jake Greenfield completed his PhD at the renowned University of Cambridge. He completed various international research stays, including at the Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) and in Trieste, Italy. He then returned to Imperial College as a postdoctoral researcher before moving to Würzburg.

In the recently established Greenfield Group, students in the Bachelor's and Master's programs, as well as prospective doctoral students can get involved.

The Liebig Fellowship

With the Liebig Fellowship, the Chemical Industry Fund (FCI) supports the career development of postdoctoral chemists on their way to a professorship.

Funding is provided for a research stay of up to five years at a German university or research institution. The Fellowship is awarded to candidates who have demonstrated excellent academic and research performance.

Last but not least, it is intended to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas between the German chemical industry and the international scientific community.