The research interests of the Mills group are wide and varied including: dye and semiconductor photochemistry, redox catalysis (in particular, oxygen catalysis), solar energy conversion (in particular artificial photosynthesis) and colour and fluorescence based indicators and smart inks and plastic films.
Professor Andrew Mills has been recognised for his pioneering work on smart inks and pigments, and won a Royal Society Chemistry’s Materials for Industry – Derek Birchall Award which rewards an individual for creativity and excellence in the application of materials chemistry in industry.
Chengying Wang, working with Dilidaer Yusufu, has published her first ever paper! The publication explores a commercialised ‘after open freshness (AOF)’ indicator, and assesses its efficacy at different temperatures. The work is aimed at tackling needless waste in the food packaging industry.
Today, Daniel Hawthorne passed his viva and became a Doctor. His thesis, ‘Optical indicators for intelligent packaging and assessment of photocatalytic activity’, was well received by his examiners.
Photo (left to right) of: David Hazafy, Greg Heacock, Andrew Mills and Dilidaer Yusufu
Dr. Greg Heacock, CEO Sensor Indicator Products (SIP), a Seattle-based company is here for a progress report on a SIP-funded research project on indicators which will advise doctors and healthcare workers on when to replace invasive medical devices, such as: catheters etc., as part of efforts to reduce hospital acquired infection rates.
Mills Group members, Luke Burns and Nathan Wells, took part in the Chemistry at Work event at Queen’s University Belfast. Hundreds of school children attended the two day event, and were introduced to current and emerging technologies being developed at Queen’s University of Belfast. The talk focused on non-antibiotic methods of antimicrobial technologies.
In 2016, Mills group members Dan Hawthorne and Luke Burns assisted the school with the Green Impact Awards’ Green Challenge Scheme. For their contribution, they designed and implemented a four-page informative pamphlet full of ideas to help new PhD students starting in the year 2016-17 live more environmentally friendly lifestyles, both in and out of the lab. The pamphlet is included at the beginning of every new lab book that new PhD Chemistry students will receive upon beginning their PhD at Queen’s.
On May 27th, Professor Andrew Mills attended a formal admittance ceremony to join the Royal Irish Academy, a highly prestigious and exclusive honour.
Senior researcher in the Mills group, Dr David Hazafy received an award from the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub in recognition of his work for his start-up company, SunCatalyst Laboratories.
On 16th March 2016, Professor Andrew Mills was elected to be a Member of the Royal Irish Academy.
The prestigious Royal Irish Academy was founded by charter in 1785 for the advancement of learning and scholarship in Ireland, and to be elected as a Member is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.
A formal Admittance ceremony will be held on 27th May 2016.
For the second year running, the Mills group attended LaTe Lab, an event that highlights cutting edge scientific research done in Belfast to the general public. The night time public event is part of the wider NI Science Festival, a 10 day sneak peek into the goings on of the scientific community of Northern Ireland.
The Mills group showcased semiconductor photocatalyst driven technologies.