Discovering polymers with chemistry, automation and AI.
We connect molecular design with real material performance, from renewable plastics to responsive systems for membranes.
WITH PURPOSEASTON INSTITUTE FOR
MEMBRANE EXCELLENCE
Better materials start with better experiments.
The Synthesis, Automation & Materials (SAM) Group develops new ways to make and understand polymers. We bring together synthesis, automation and careful measurement to learn how molecular choices shape the materials people use.
Based within the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence, our research reaches across sustainable materials, self-assembly and membrane science.
About the groupThree connected directions
Autonomous materials discovery
Connecting synthesis, measurement and machine learning to explore polymer chemistry more intelligently.
Sustainable polymer materials
Designing renewable and degradable polymers with useful, measurable material properties.
Polymers and membranes
Using responsive polymers and precise measurements to study soft materials and biological membranes.
From molecule to material.
We build the feedback loop between making a polymer and understanding what it can do.
Choose structures and experiments that test a clear question.
Use polymer synthesis, flow chemistry and automated handling.
Connect molecular characterisation with material and membrane properties.
Use the results to guide the next experiment and explain the outcome.