The Goodwin Group
Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry


Latest News
  • 2025-08-04: Bonus content! During our work on bis-di(silylamido)silane f-element complexes, we found the Dy(III) analogue is a record-setting single molecule magnet (SMM) with a hysteresis temperature of 31 K but, more remarkably, it is a rare example of a non-metallocene SMM with a 100-second blocking temperature above 4 K. Please see the preprint on ChemRxiv: Magnetic Hysteresis at 31 K in a Four-Coordinate Dysprosium(III) Amide Complex. DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-m8q8l.
  • 2025-07-23: We invite comments on the group's first foray into high oxidation state f-element chemistry, now available on ChemRxiv: Synthesis, Redox Chemistry, and Electronic Structures of bis-di(silylamido)silane f-element Complexes. DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-4v72t.
  • 2025-06-30: Ross attends the Dalton Northern conference in Lancaster and delivers a talk. Thanks to the organizers!
  • 2025-06-14: Conrad and Dave Mills were invited to deliver teaching lectures at the Eddleman Quantum Institute-hosted summer school before the 30th Rare Earth Research Conference. Conrad delivered a research talk at the main conference.

    Conrad at the RERC30 summer school Conrad at the RERC30 conference

  • 2025-06-12: Ross gives his final year presentation at the UoM Chemistry Postgraduate Research Symposium, and wins a "best presentation" prize for his talk on low oxidation state rare earth complexes!

    Ross at the UoM chemistry 2025 PGR conference Ross with his talk prize certificate at the UoM chemistry 2025 PGR conference

  • 2025-06-10: Conrad has been promoted to Senior Lecturer, many thanks to all the group for their hard work, and to very supportive colleagues!
  • 2025-05-14: Conrad gives an invited research talk at the Freie Universität Berlin and shared the latest results by the group to an awesome audience. Many thanks to Prof. Dr. Nina Huittinen for the invite, and to Mathias and Josh for showing off the Berlin night life.
  • 2025-04-01: Liam, Ross, Cameron, Orry, and Conrad attend Dalton 2025 at Warwick and Ross wins the group's first poster prize!

    Ross with his proster prize certificate at the Dalton 2025 conference

We are The Goodwin Group in the Department of Chemistry The University of Manchester, and we are working to further our understanding of the f-block elements – lanthanides and actinides. We predominantly focus on non-aqueous chemistry to realise well-defined coordination geometries with which to stabilise highly reactive oxidation states and bonding motifs.

Goodwin Group in November 2024, and post Christmas meal 2024

  • 2025-05-12: The group is advertising two funded PhD studentships working on interdisciplinary fundamental f-element chemistry. These projects blend both synthesis and physical characterisation through EPR spectroscopy and advanced synchrotron beamline X-ray spectroscopic techniques. The balance between synthesis and spectroscopy is flexible and depends upon the candidate. The first project will explore the bonding and electronic, structure of rare earth complexes in the formal 2+ oxidation state and involves two years research in Manchester, and two years research in Peking University with Prof. Wenliang Huang with travel to international beamlines throughout. The second project aims to gain a better understanding of the electronic structure of Ce(III) molecules and to engineer their properties for potential qubit candidates. Please reach out to Conrad directly for more information.
  • 2025-02-07: Ben's first research article in the group has been published in Inorganic Chemistry. Congratulations to all!
  • 2025-01-16: Conrad gives an invited research talk at the University of Greenwich and shared the latest results by Ross and Ben to a new audience. Many thanks to Xacobe and Ewan for the invite.

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