This group was constituted in 1997 and focuses on the physical chemistry of supramolecular systems. Our research projects include the synthesis and characterisation of open framework transition metal structures and large metal-containing supramolecular assemblies that have potential for guest uptake (gas storage, molecular sensing), the study of selectivity in organic host-guest systems, and the beneficiation of pharmaceutically relevant materials through the investigation of their polymorphs, solvates, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes and cocrystals. Solid phases are studied using powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis (including TGA and DSC) and spectroscopy (FTIR and solid-state NMR techniques). The thermodynamics of inclusion and complexation processes in solution are investigated by high-resolution spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. Our research group also focuses on the crystal engineering of new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with the aim of understanding how their structures relate to their gas sorption properties.
Director: Professor Susan Bourne
Email: susan.bourne@uct.ac.za
