Dr Adrian Wright BSc, PhD, CChem, FRSC, SFHEA

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2016
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016
• Distinguished Fellow of the Teaching Academy, University of Birmingham 2016
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education 2002
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 2000
• Chartered Chemist, 2000
• PhD in Oxide Superconductors 1995
• BSc (Hons) Chemistry 1991

Adrian Wright obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Birmingham in 1995 and then moved to the University of Cambridge to study phosphate framework materials. He returned to the University of Birmingham in 1999 to take up a lectureship in materials chemistry and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2008.

Adrian’s research concerns the synthesis and structural characterisation of novel inorganic materials, especially the development of synthetic methodologies to produce unusual structures and thereby improve the understanding of structure-property relationships, particularly in the areas of biomaterials, magnetic materials and inorganic host materials. A strong component of his research concerns the study of condensed phosphate materials.

His research is aided by strong collaborations with academic colleagues in Birmingham (Chemical Engineering, Dentistry, Biosciences and Metallurgy and Materials) and outside (Warwick, McGill (Canada)) and with industry. Adrian is also heavily involved in the Birmingham Science City: Creating and Characterising Next Generation Advanced Materials project. Adrian’s role is leading the X-ray fluorescence spectrometry facilities for materials characterisation for both academia and industry.

Adrian takes an active role in the Solid State Chemistry community, and was the elected honorary secretary from 2008 to 2010 of the Royal Society of Chemistry Solid State Chemistry group  – one of the most vigorous and popular interest groups within the RSC. He has also organised a number of international meeting and conferences, and peer reviews articles for a number of leading journals. Adrian is also a member of the current EPSRC peer review college.

Teaching Programmes

• Chemistry MSci/BSc F101/F100
• Chemistry with Analytical Science MSci/BSc F180

Adrian is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:

• Inorganic biomaterials
• Phosphate pigments
• Layered magnetic materials

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listing

RESEARCH THEMES

The Wright group undertakes research in Materials Chemistry, with interests in biomaterials, pigments, magnetic and hybrid materials. Underpinning all our research is the use of detailed structural analyses to guide our syntheses of new advanced materials. The group utilises numerous techniques, including neutron & X-ray diffraction methods, Rietveld analysis and X-ray fluorescence, to characterise materials.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Inorganic Biomaterials

Increasing demand for hard tissue replacement, is fuelling research into new biocompatible ceramics. Research in the Wright group is focused on the synthesis of novel materials, particular polyphosphates with potential for enhanced resorption. Other interests include novel bone cement formulations, biocompatible nanocomposites and biomineralisation via amorphous intermediates.

Modifying Inorganic Host Structures

The group investigates the chemical manipulations of host inorganic structures to enhance properties such as ion exchange/conduction, intercalation and magnetism. This route offers potential for new and often unusual structures and allows us to develop an improved understanding of the structure-property relationship.

Low-Dimensional Magnetic Materials

Low dimensional magnetic materials are currently of great interest for their unusual anisotropic magnetic properties and potential magnetoresistive behaviour. At present the relationship between structure and properties in these materials is not well understood, partly due to the limited structures reported. Research within the Wright group explores the synthesis of new structures via a novel multistage approach involving precursors derived from the strict control of synthetic conditions and intercalation reactions. The group’s success in isolating new structures is allowing a greater understanding of the potential of these materials.

Pigments

Research is also directed to developing transition metal condensed phosphates for application as pigments. The group’s improved understanding of the subtle changes in transition metal coordination allows development of new advanced inorganic pigments.

• Honorary secretary Royal Society of Chemistry Solid State Chemistry Group (2008-2010)
• Consultancy on phosphate materials: synthesis and structural characterisation.