Dr KAREN ROBERTSON's Outputs (17)

Self-optimising continuous-flow hydrothermal reactor for nanoparticle synthesis (2025)
Journal Article
Jackson, C., Robertson, K., Sechenyh, V., Chamberlain, T. W., Bourne, R. A., & Lester, E. (2025). Self-optimising continuous-flow hydrothermal reactor for nanoparticle synthesis. Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4re00339j

An autonomous continuous-flow, hydrothermal synthesis reactor, capable of self-optimising nanoparticle size using an in-line characterisation technique and machine learning is presented. The developed system is used for synthesis of hematite (α-Fe2O3... Read More about Self-optimising continuous-flow hydrothermal reactor for nanoparticle synthesis.

Magnetic framework composites via continuous flow syntheses for CO2 capture (2024)
Journal Article
Woodliffe, J. L., Molinar-Díaz, J., Holland, B., Hussein, O. H., Lester, E., & Robertson, K. (2025). Magnetic framework composites via continuous flow syntheses for CO2 capture. Chemical Engineering Journal, 503, Article 158445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.158445

Magnetic framework composites (MFCs) are a novel class of materials containing magnetic nanoparticles with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). They have demonstrated exciting potential across a range of applications including CO2 capture, benefiting fro... Read More about Magnetic framework composites via continuous flow syntheses for CO2 capture.

PDI-Functionalized Glass Beads: Efficient, Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalysts Suitable for Flow Photochemistry (2024)
Journal Article
Ali, H., Ahmed, I., Robertson, K., & Lanterna, A. E. (2024). PDI-Functionalized Glass Beads: Efficient, Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalysts Suitable for Flow Photochemistry. Organic Process Research and Development, 28(9), 3698-3706. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.oprd.4c00256

Perylene diimides (PDI) have an extraordinary ability to activate both energy and electron transfer processes upon light excitation; however, their extremely low solubility has hindered their wide use as photocatalysts. Here, we show that the combina... Read More about PDI-Functionalized Glass Beads: Efficient, Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalysts Suitable for Flow Photochemistry.

Microflow synthesis of a formulation of phosphorus fertiliser to enhance the P content in soil and P uptake in wheat (2023)
Journal Article
Nguyen Quang Le, T., Robertson, K., Escribà-Gelonch, M., Marschner, P., Nghiep Tran, N., Williams, P. M., Fisk, I., & Hessel, V. (2023). Microflow synthesis of a formulation of phosphorus fertiliser to enhance the P content in soil and P uptake in wheat. Green Chemistry, 25(22), 9422-9437. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3gc02859c

Highly soluble commercial phosphorus (P) fertilisers have been the most common form of P applied in agriculture for decades, but their releasing efficiency can be low because phosphate ions can easily bind with cations in the soil to form precipitate... Read More about Microflow synthesis of a formulation of phosphorus fertiliser to enhance the P content in soil and P uptake in wheat.

PDI-functionalised glass beads: efficient, metal-free heterogeneous photocatalysts suitable for flow photochemistry (2023)
Preprint / Working Paper
Ali, H., Ahmed, I., Robertson, K., & Lanterna, A. PDI-functionalised glass beads: efficient, metal-free heterogeneous photocatalysts suitable for flow photochemistry

Perylene diimides (PDI) have an extraordinary ability to activate both energy and electron transfer process upon light excitation, however, their extremely low solubility has hindered their wide use as photocatalysts. Here, we show a series of suppor... Read More about PDI-functionalised glass beads: efficient, metal-free heterogeneous photocatalysts suitable for flow photochemistry.

Quid Pro Flow (2023)
Journal Article
Laybourn, A., Robertson, K., & Slater, A. G. (2023). Quid Pro Flow. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145(8), 4355–4365. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c13670

How do you get into flow? We trained in flow chemistry during postdoctoral research and are now applying it in new areas: materials chemistry, crystallization, and supramolecular synthesis. Typically, when researchers think of “flow”, they are consid... Read More about Quid Pro Flow.

Rapid optimisation of API crystallisation in a segmented flow reactor with a continuous, variable temperature gradient (2022)
Journal Article
Robertson, K., Seeberger, P. H., & Gilmore, K. (2022). Rapid optimisation of API crystallisation in a segmented flow reactor with a continuous, variable temperature gradient. Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1039/d2re00183g

The reproducible crystallisation of small molecules can be difficult due to the myriad of factors influencing crystallisation events and growth as well as the inhomogeneity of traditional approaches. While continuous flow approaches can increase repr... Read More about Rapid optimisation of API crystallisation in a segmented flow reactor with a continuous, variable temperature gradient.

Serial small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering with laboratory sources (2022)
Journal Article
Levenstein, M. A., Robertson, K., Turner, T. D., Hunter, L., O'Brien, C., O'Shaughnessy, C., Kulak, A. N., Le Magueres, P., Wojciechowski, J., Mykhaylyk, O. O., Kapur, N., & Meldrum, F. C. (2022). Serial small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering with laboratory sources. IUCrJ, 9(5), 538-543. https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052252522007631

Recent advances in X-ray instrumentation and sample injection systems have enabled serial crystallography of protein nanocrystals and the rapid structural analysis of dynamic processes. However, this progress has been restricted to large-scale X-ray... Read More about Serial small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering with laboratory sources.

Dynamic Crystallization Pathways of Polymorphic Pharmaceuticals Revealed in Segmented Flow with Inline Powder X-ray Diffraction (2020)
Journal Article
Levenstein, M. A., Wayment, L., Scott, C. D., Lunt, R., Flandrin, P.-B., Day, S. J., Tang, C. C., Wilson, C. C., Meldrum, F. C., Kapur, N., & Robertson, K. (2020). Dynamic Crystallization Pathways of Polymorphic Pharmaceuticals Revealed in Segmented Flow with Inline Powder X-ray Diffraction. Analytical Chemistry, 92(11), 7754–7761. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00860

In situ non-invasive Raman spectroscopic characterisation of succinic acid polymorphism during segmented flow crystallisation (2019)
Journal Article
Pallipurath, A. R., Flandrin, P.-B., Wayment, L. E., Wilson, C. C., & Robertson, K. (2019). In situ non-invasive Raman spectroscopic characterisation of succinic acid polymorphism during segmented flow crystallisation. Molecular Systems Design and Engineering, 5, 294-303. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9me00103d

The kinetically regulated automated input crystalliser for Raman spectroscopy (KRAIC-R) combines highly controlled crystallisation environments, via tri segmented flow, with non-invasive confocal Raman spectroscopy. Taking advantage of the highly rep... Read More about In situ non-invasive Raman spectroscopic characterisation of succinic acid polymorphism during segmented flow crystallisation.

Continuous-flow crystallisation in 3D-printed compact devices (2019)
Journal Article
Okafor, O., Robertson, K., Goodridge, R., & Sans, V. (2019). Continuous-flow crystallisation in 3D-printed compact devices. Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, 4(9), 1682-1688. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9re00188c

© 2019 The Royal Society of Chemistry. A flexible and cost-effective methodology to develop compact flow devices with heat exchange ability is presented here. Additive manufacturing techniques allow the rapid design and manufacture of modular jackete... Read More about Continuous-flow crystallisation in 3D-printed compact devices.

Metal–organic frameworks constructed from Group 1 metals (Li, Na) and silicon-centered linkers (2018)
Journal Article
Pugh, D., Ashworth, E., Robertson, K., Delmas, L. C., White, A. J. P., Horton, P. N., Tizzard, G. J., Coles, S. J., Lickiss, P. D., & Davies, R. P. (2019). Metal–organic frameworks constructed from Group 1 metals (Li, Na) and silicon-centered linkers. Crystal Growth and Design, 19(1), 487-497. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.8b01567

A series of “light metal” metal–organic frameworks containing secondary building units (SBUs) based on Li+ and Na+ cations have been prepared using the silicon-centered linkers MexSi(p-C6H4CO2H)4-x (x = 2, 1, 0). The unipositive charge, small size, a... Read More about Metal–organic frameworks constructed from Group 1 metals (Li, Na) and silicon-centered linkers.

Integrated plug flow synthesis and crystallisation of pyrazinamide (2018)
Journal Article
Scott, C. D., Labes, R., Depardieu, M., Battilocchio, C., Davidson, M. G., Ley, S. V., Wilson, C. C., & Robertson, K. (2018). Integrated plug flow synthesis and crystallisation of pyrazinamide. Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, 3(5), 631-634. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8re00087e

We report the integration of flow chemistry with plug flow crystallisation. Catalytic flow hydration of pyrazinecarbonitrile to pyrazinamide was performed in a packed bed column of MnO2. The effluent of this flow reactor was directly linked to a tri-... Read More about Integrated plug flow synthesis and crystallisation of pyrazinamide.

Exploring effects of intermittent light upon visible light promoted water oxidations (2017)
Journal Article
Walsh, D., Patureau, P., Robertson, K., Reeksting, S., Lubben, A., Eslava, S., & Weller, M. T. (2017). Exploring effects of intermittent light upon visible light promoted water oxidations. Sustainable Energy and Fuels, 1(10), 2101-2109. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7se00304h

Visible light promoted photocatalytic water oxidations for potential solar fuel production have been studied widely, with many reports on optimization of reagent components. Here we report an exploration on the effects upon ongoing reactions of dayli... Read More about Exploring effects of intermittent light upon visible light promoted water oxidations.

Anion···π Interactions and Metastability: Structural Transformations in a Silver–Pyrazine Network (2017)
Journal Article
Gee, W. J., Robertson, K., & Skelton, J. M. (2017). Anion···π Interactions and Metastability: Structural Transformations in a Silver–Pyrazine Network. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2017(19), 2628-2636. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.201700505

Structural evidence of anion···π interactions influencing single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformations is demonstrated herein with a metastable silver–pyrazine system. A cascade of SCSC transformations driven by changes to anion···π stabil... Read More about Anion···π Interactions and Metastability: Structural Transformations in a Silver–Pyrazine Network.

Using flow technologies to direct the synthesis and assembly of materials in solution (2017)
Journal Article
Robertson, K. (2017). Using flow technologies to direct the synthesis and assembly of materials in solution. Chemistry Central Journal, 11(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-016-0229-1

In the pursuit of materials with structure-related function, directing the assembly of materials is paramount. The resultant structure can be controlled by ordering of reactants, spatial confinement and control over the reaction/crystallisation times... Read More about Using flow technologies to direct the synthesis and assembly of materials in solution.

Design and Evaluation of a Mesoscale Segmented Flow Reactor (KRAIC) (2016)
Journal Article
Robertson, K., Flandrin, P. B., Klapwijk, A. R., & Wilson, C. C. (2016). Design and Evaluation of a Mesoscale Segmented Flow Reactor (KRAIC). Crystal Growth and Design, 16(8), 4759-4764. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.6b00885

© 2016 American Chemical Society. The design and development of a mesoscale flow reactor is presented, together with initial performance evaluation. The custom-designed KRAIC (kinetically regulated automated input crystallizer) uses liquid-segmented... Read More about Design and Evaluation of a Mesoscale Segmented Flow Reactor (KRAIC).