Professor Robert Withnall

Professor Withnall took the Natural Sciences Tripos at the University of Cambridge from 1977 to 1980 and he gained his Chemistry BA (hons) degree om 1980 from Jesus College, Cambridge. After receiving an MA from Jesus College and an MSc degree in Chemical Spectroscopy from the University of East Anglia in 1981, he began his PhD studies, also at the University of East Anglia, under the supervision of Professor John R. Sodeau. His PhD dissertation topics concerned the FTIR spectroscopic study of the gas phase photo-oxidation of chlorofluorocarbons that are implicated in ozone depletion in the stratosphere, and the matrix isolation spectroscopy of chemical intermediates in reactions of atmospheric importance. He received his PhD from the University of East Anglia in 1984 before embarking on postdoctoral research at the University of Virginia with Lester Andrews from 1984 to 1987.

Research Interests

Polymer processing, biomass waste processing, nanophosphors, photoluminescent materials.

Research Activity

Professor Withnall’s current research concerns the synthesis, characterisation and processing of novel light-emitting inorganic nanoparticles and the coating of these materials on to screens for display and lighting applications. These include photoluminescent phosphors for use in fluorescent lights and as colour conversion materials for blue/near UV LEDs, cathodoluminescent phosphors for use in field emission displays and electroluminescent phosphors for displays and advertising. He also researches the use of phosphor nanoparticle-containing polymers in photovoltaic cells and the processing of biomass waste from the energy and water industries.