Professor Jon Preece

Professor Jon Preece

School of Chemistry
Professor of Nanoscale Chemistry

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 3528
Email
j.a.preece@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Chemistry
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Qualifications

  •  2004-present Professor of Nanoscale Chemistry at the University of Birmingham
  • 2000-2004 Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Birmingham
  • 1999-2000 Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Birmingham
  • 1996-1998 University Research Fellow in Nanoscale Chemistry at the University of Birmingham
  • 1996-1997 Marie-Curie Research Fellow at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (Germany) in the Research Group of Professor Helmut Ringsdorf
  • 1995-1996 Royal Society Research Fellow at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (Germany)in the Research Group of Professor Helmut Ringsdorf
  • 1991-1994 PhD from the University of Birmingham with Thesis entitled "From Self-Assembly to Self-Organisation" in the Research Group of Professor J Fraser Stoddart, FRS
  • 1986-1990 BSc (Honours) First Class from Loughborough University of Technology in Pure Chemistry

Research

Research Interests

  • Nanoscale Science
  • Noncovalent Bonding
  • Self-Assembly
  • Self-Organisation
  • Recognition Phenomena
  • C60
  • Electron Beam Resists
  • Liquid Crystals
  • Self-Assembled Monolayers
  • Nano-Tribology

Jon Preece began his academic research career in the Group of Professor J Fraser Stoddart (Birmingham, 1991-1994) carrying out research in the area of supramolecular chemistry, with particular interest in the design, synthesis and characterisation of materials which could be switched between different states. This interest in materials chemistry led John to join the Research Group of Professor Helmut Ringsdorf for a period of two years (1995-1996) where he gained experience in aspects of materials surface science. Currently, the John A Preece Group carry out research in the area of nanoscale materials science. For example, new nanoscale-materials (i) for electron beam resists, (ii) for the assembly of inorganic/organic hybrid nanoparticles with novel electro-optic, structural and medicinal properties (gene delivery), (iii) for liquid crystals, and (iv) for surfaces used in technological applications. The research is or has been supported by the EPSRC, BBSRC, European Community (RTN, STREP), The Leverhulme Trust and NEDO (Japan), as well as two leading British Companies (BASYSTEMS and BNFL).

Publications

2018

  • ‘Novel encapsulation of water soluble inorganic or organic ingredients in melamine formaldehyde microcapsules to achieve their sustained release in an aqueous environment’ C. Sui, J.A. Preece, Z. Zhang, RSC Advances, 2018, 7, 29495-29498.

2017

  • ‘Room Temperature Thermally Evaporated Thin Au Film on Si Suitable for Application of Thiol Self-Assembled Monolayers in Micro/Nano-Electro-Mechanical-Systems’ N. Mahmoodi, A. Rushdi, J. Bowen, J.A. Preece, C. Anthony, J. Vac Sci & Tech A, 2017, 35, Article number 041514.
  • ‘The First Example of Sustained Release of a Water Soluble Inorganic Salt from Novel Polystyrene Sulfonate-Silica Microspheres via Dual-Release Mechanism’ C. Sui, J.A. Preece, Z. Zhang, RSC Advances, 2017, 7, 478-481.

2016

  • ‘The First Example of Sustained Release of a Water Soluble Inorganic Salt from Novel Polystyrene Sulfonate-Silica Microspheres, via Dula-Release Mecahnism’ C. Sui, J.A. Preece, Z. Zhang, 2016, Submitted.
  • ‘Electrically Responsive Surfaces: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations’ E. Cantini, X. Wang, P. Koelsch, J.A. Preece, J. Ma, P.M. Mendes, Acc. Chem. Res., 2016, 49, 1223-1231.
  • ‘Composite Microcapsules with Enhanced Mechanical Stability and Reduced Active Ingredient Leakage’ Y. Long, K. Song, D. York, Z. Zhang, J.A. Preece, Microchimica Acta, 2016, 183, 491-495.
  • ‘Ultra-Sensitive Determination of Mercury(II) Using Glass Nanopores Functionalised with Macrocyclic Dioxotetramines’ R. Goa, Y.-L. Ying, B.-Y. Yan, P. Iqbal, J.A. Preece, X. Wu, Particuology, 2016, 26, 40-46.

2015

  • ‘Multiscale Paternning of Nanocomposite Polyelectrolyte/Nanoparticle Films Using Inkjet Printing and AFM Scratching’ S.L. Leigh, L. Bowen, J.A. Preece, Materials Research Express, 2015, 2, 065301.
  • ‘Selective Glycoprotein Detection Through Covalent Templating and Allosteric Click-Imprinting’ Adhesion’ A.L. Acton, A. Stephenson-Brown, J.A. Preece, J.S. Fossey, P.M. Mendes, Chemical Science, 2015, 6, 5114-5119.

2014

  • ‘Switching Specific Biomolecular Interactions on Surfaces Under Complex Biological Conditions’ M. Lashkor, F.J. Rawson, J.S. Fossey J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Analyst., 2014, 139, 5400-5408.
  • ‘Electrically-Driven Modulation of Surface-Grafted RGD Peptides for Manipulation of Cell Adhesion’ M. Lashkor, F.J. Rawson, A. Stephenson-Brown, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 15589-15592.
  • ‘Modulation of Biointeractions by Electrically Switchable Oligopeptide Surfaces’ C.L. Yeung, X. Wang, M. Lashkor, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2014, 1, Article number 1300085.
  • ‘Surface Molecular Tailouring Using pH-Switchable Supramolecular Dendron-Ligand Assemblies’ P. Iqbal, F.J. Rawson, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014, 6, 6264-6274.
  • ‘Luminescent Gold Surfaces For Sensing and Imaging: Patterning of Transition Metal Probes’ S. Adams, J.J. Lewis, J.A. Preece, Z. Pikramenou, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014, 6, 11598-11608.
  • ‘Direct Observation of Reversible Biomolecule Switching Controlled by Electrical Stimulus’ A. Pranzetti, M. Davis, CL Yeung, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2014, 1, Article number 1400026.
  • ‘Nanoparticle Catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Can Surfactant Effects Be Beneficial for Electrocatalysis?’ J.E. Newton, J.A. Preece, N.V. Rees, SL Horswell, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2014, 16, 11435-11446.

2013

  • ‘Glucose Selective Surface Plasamon-Based Bis-Boronic Acid Sensor’, A. Stephenson-Brown, H.-C. Wang,, P.Iqbal, J.A. Preece, Y.T. Long, J.S. Fossey, T.D. James, P.M. Mendes, Analyst, 2013, 138, 7140-7145.
  • ‘Preparation and Characterisation of User-Friendly PMMA Microcapsules for Consumer Care’, X.M. Pam, R. Mercarde-Prieto, D. York, , J.A. Preece, Z. Zhang, Powders and Grains, 2013, 1542, 1027-1030.
  • ‘Different Formation Kinetics and Photoisomerization Behavior of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Thiols and Dithiolanes Bearing Azobenzene Moieties’, C.L. Yeung, S. Charlesworth, P.Iqbal, J. Bowen, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2013, 15, 11014-11024.
  • ‘Structure and Mechanical Properties of Consumer-Friendly PMMA Microcapsules’, X.M. Pan, R. Mercade-Prieto, D. York, J.A. Preece, Z.B. Zhang, Industrial & Chemical Engineering Chemistry Research, 2013, 52, 11253-11265.
  • ‘Controlling Gold Nanoparticle Assembly on Electron Beam-Reduced Nitrophenyl Self-Assembled Monolayers via Electron Dose’  S.J. Leigh, J.L. Prieto, J. Bowen, S. Lewis, A.P.G. Robinson, P. Iqbal, J.A. Preece,  Colloids and Surfaces A – Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2013, 433, 181-190.
  • ‘Engineering the Mechanical and Physical Properties of Organic-Inorganic Composite Microcapsules’, Y. Long, K. Song,  D. York,  Z.B. Zhang,  J.A. Preece,  Colloids and Surfaces A – Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2013, 433, 30-96.
  • ‘Measurement of Adhesion Between Single Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin Microcapsules and a Flat Fabric Surface using AFM’, K.M. Liu, J.A. Preece, D. York, J. Bowen, Z. Zhang, Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, 2013, 27, 973-987.
  • ‘An Electrically Reversible Switchable Surface to Control and Study Early Bacterial Adhesion Dynamics in Real-Time’, A. Pranzetti, S. Mieszkin, P. Iqbal, F.J. Rawson, M.E. Callow, J.A. Callow, P. Koelsch, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Adv. Mat., 2013, 25, 2181-2185.

2012

  • ‘A Brief Review of Carbazole-Based Photorefractive Liquid Crystalline Materials’, M. Manickam, P.Iqbal, M. Belloni, S. Kumar, J.A. Preece, Israel Journal of Chemistry (special Invited Issue), 2012, 52, 917-934.
  • ‘Determination of the Failure Stresses for Fluid-Filled Microcapsules that Rupture Near the Elastic Regime’, R. Mercade-Prieto, R. Allen, D. York, J.A. Preece, T.E. Goodwin, Z.B. Zhang, Experimental Mechanics, 2012, 52, 1435-1445.
  • ‘Model Organic Surfaces to Probe Marine Bacterial Adhesion Kinetics by Surface Plasmon Resonance’, A. Pranzetti, S, Saluan, S. Mieszkin, M.E. Callow, J.A. Callow, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Adv. Func. Mat., 2012, 22, 3762-3681.
  • ‘Configuration of Microbially Synthesised Pd-Au Nanopariticles Studied by STEM-Based Techniques’, D.T. Tran, I.P. Jones, J.A. Preece, R.L. Johnston, K. Deplanche, L.E. Macaskie, Nanotechnology, 2012, 23, 1-13.
  • ‘Determination of the Shell Permeability of Microcapsules with a Core of Oil-Based Active Ingredients’, R. Mercade-Prieto, R. Allen, D. York, J.A. Preece, T.E. Goodwin, Z.B. Zhang, J. Microencapsulation, 2012, 29, 463-474.
  • ‘Size and Strenghth Distributions of Melamine-Formaldehyde Microcapsules Prepared by Membrane Emulusification, X.M. Pan, D. York, J.A. Preece, Z. Zhang, Powder Technology, 2012, 227, 43-50.
  • ‘Positive Tone Chemically Amplified Fullerene Resist, J. Manyam, A. Frommhold, D.X. Yang, A. McClelland, M. Manickam, J.A. Preece, R.E. Palmer, A.P.G. Robinson, Advances in Resist Materials and Processing Technology, Proceedings of SPIE, 2012, 8325, 1-13.
  • ‘One-Step Deposition of Au Nanoparticles onto Chemically Modified Ceramic Hollow Spheres via Self-Assembly’, S. Begum, I.P. Jones, D.E. Lynch, J.A. Preece, J. Exp. Nanosci, 2012, 7, 1-16.
  • ‘Multicomponent Synthetic Polymers with Viral-Mimetic Chemistry for Nucleic Acids’, M. Soliman, R. Nasanit, S.R. Abdulateefeh, S. Allen, M.C. Davies, S.S. Briggs, L.W. Seymour, J.A. Preece, A.M. Grabowska, S.A. Watson, C.A. Alexander, Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2012, 9, 1-13.

2011

  • ‘TEM Characterisation of Chemically Synthesised Copper-Gold Nanoparticles’, D.T. Trun, I.P. Jones, J.A. Preece, R.L. Johnston, C.R. van den Brom, Nanoparticle Research, 2011, 13, 4229-4237.
  • ‘Nano Planar Coil Actuated Micro Paddle Resonator For Mass Detection’, S.C. Charandabi, P.D. Prewett, C.A. Hamlett, C.J. Anthony, J.A. Preece, Microelectronic Engineering, 2011, 88, 2229-2232.
  • ‘Plasma Etching of High Resolution Features in a Fullerene Molecular Resist’, J. Manyam, M. Manickam, J.A. Preece, R.E. Palmer, A.P.G. Robinson, Advances in Resist Materials and Processing Technology XXVIII, 2011.
  • ‘The Determination of the Elastic Properties of Single Microcapsules Using Micromanipulation and Finite Element Modeling’, R. Mercade-Prieto, B. Nguyen, R. Allen, D. York, J.A. Preece, T.E. Goodwin, Z. Zhang, Chemical Engineering Science, 2011, 66, 2042-2049.
  • ‘Compression of Elastic-Perfectly Elastic Plastic Microcapsules Using Micromanipulation and Finite Element Modelling: Determination of the Yield Stress’, R. Mercade-Prieto, B. Nguyen, R. Allen, D. York, J.A. Preece, T.E. Goodwin, Z. Zhang, Chemical Engineering Science, 2011, 66, 1835-1843.

2010

  • ‘Characterization of the Effects of Base Additives on a Fullerene Chemically Amplified Resist’, J. Manyam, M. Manickam, J.A. Preece, R.E. Palmer, A.P.G. Robinson, Advances in Resist Materials and Processing Technology XXVII, Parts 1 and 2, 2010, 7639, 76391N.
  • ‘Truncated-Octahedral Copper-Gold Nanoparticles’, D.T. Tran, I.P. Jones, R.L. Johnston, J.A.Preece, C. Van den Brom, EMAG, 2010, 241, 012086.
  • ‘The Swelling Behaviour of Thermoresponsive Hydrogel-Silica Nanoparticle Composites’, C. Van den Brom, I. Anac, R.F. Roskamp, M. Reich,  U. Jonas, B. Menges, J.A. Preece, J. Mat. Chem., 2010, 20, 2827-4839.
  • ‘Tuning Specific Biomolecular Interactions Using Electro-Switchable Oligopeptide Surfaces, C.L. Yueng, P. Iqbal, M. Allan, M. Lashkor, J.A. Preece, P.M. Mendes, Adv. Func. Mat., 2010, 20, 2657-2663.
  • ‘Interaction of Reducible Polypeptide Gene Delivery Vectors with Supported Lipid Bilayers: Pore Formationand Structure Function Relationships, M. Soliman, R.Nasanit, M. Davies, S. Allen, J.A. Preece, C. Alexander, Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 2517-2524.
  • ‘Characterisation of Hollow Russian Doll Microspheres’, S. Begum, I.P. Jones, G. Jiao, D. Lynch, J.A. Preece, J. Mat. Sci., 2010, 45, 3697-3706.
  • ‘Organic-Inorganic Double Shell Composites Microcapsules’, Y. Long, D.W. York, B. Vincent, Z. Zhang, J.A. Preece, Chem. Commun., 2010, 46, 1718-1720.
  • ‘Preparation of Novel Banana-Shaped Triple Helical Liquid Crystals by Metal Cordination’, P.Iqbal, M. Manickam, L.J. Childs, M.J. Hannon, N. Spencer, P.R. Ashton, J.A. Preece, Materials, 2010, in press.
  • ‘Design and Synthesis of Novel Mesogenic Calamitic and Discotic Materials Based on the Photorefractive Carbazole Unit’, M. Manickam, P. Iqbal, N. Spencer, P.R. Ashton, J.A. Preece, Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 2010, 518, 84-100.
  • ‘Fabrication of Patterned Surfaces by Photolithographic Exposure of DNA-Hairpins Carrying a Novel Photolabile Group’, B. Manning, S.J. Leigh, R. Ramos, J.A. Preece, R. Eritja, J. Exp. Nanosci., 2010, 5, 26-39.

View all publications in research portal