Dr Colin L Freeman
PhD, MSci Chemistry
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Senior Lecturer in Materials Simulation
Director of Materials Education
+44 114 222 5965
Full contact details
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
- Profile
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I was awarded an MSci in Chemistry from University College London in 2002, then moved to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bristol where I studied for a PhD in “Simulations of Solid Solutions and Interfaces” (awarded 2005). I continued at Bristol as a research associate for six months, before moving to Sheffield in 2006.
At Sheffield, I pioneered research into atomic simulations of the material-molecule interface for the study of biominerals. Since completing this project I have been working on a range of simulation projects including functional ceramics, molecular decay, biominerals, nculear materials, metals and interfaces. I was made a lecturer in materials simulation in September 2012 and senior lecturer in 2018. I was awarded the CCP5 prize in 2022.
- Research interests
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Biomineralisation
Functional Ceramics - dielectrics and batteries
Molecular binding, decay and survival on material surfaces
High entropy materials
Nucleation and growth of inorganic salts
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Dynamic tilting in perovskites. Acta Crystallographica Section A Foundations and Advances, 79(2).
- Understanding the Structure-Dielectric Property Relationships of (Ba0.8Ca0.2)TiO3-Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3 Perovskites. Acta Materialia, 118649-118649.
- The Transformation of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate to Calcite and Classical Nucleation Theory. Journal of Crystal Growth, 126978-126978.
- A general method for calculating solid/liquid interfacial free energies from atomistic simulations: application to CaSO4.xH2O. The Journal of Chemical Physics. View this article in WRRO
- Conformational Analysis and Water Dynamics: A Molecular Dynamics Study on the Survival of a β-Lactoglobulin Peptide in the Archaeological Record. Chemical Physics, 111602.
- A transferable force-field for alkali metal nitrates. Journal of Physics Communications, 6(5), 055011-055011.
- Evaluation of correlated studies using liquid cell‐ and cryo‐transmission electron microscopy : hydration of calcium sulfate and the phase transformation pathways of bassanite to gypsum. Journal of Microscopy.
- Tuning the electrical conductivity of Rare Earth-doped BaTiO3 using Gd2O3 as an exemplar. Open Ceramics, 9, 100250-100250.
- Successful prediction of the elastic properties of multiphase high entropy alloys in the AlTiVCr-Si system through a novel computational approach. Materialia, 21, 101365-101365.
- The role of extracellular DNA in microbial attachment to oxidized silicon surfaces in the presence of Ca2+ and Na+. Langmuir, 37(32), 9838-9850. View this article in WRRO
- Electron spin mediated distortion in metallic systems. Scripta Materialia, 185, 159-164.
- Amino acid and oligopeptide effects on calcium carbonate solutions. Crystal Growth & Design, 20(5), 3077-3092. View this article in WRRO
- Simulation of calcium phosphate prenucleation clusters in aqueous solution : association beyond ion pairing. Crystal Growth & Design, 19(11), 6422-6430. View this article in WRRO
- Interaction of stable aggregates drives the precipitation of calcium phosphate in supersaturated solutions. CrystEngComm, 21(42), 6354-6364. View this article in WRRO
- Ion Association in Lanthanide Chloride Solutions. Chemistry – A European Journal, 25(37), 8725-8740. View this article in WRRO
- Calcite–magnesite solid solutions : using genetic algorithms to understand non-ideality. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 46(2), 193-202. View this article in WRRO
- Complexities of atomic structure at CdO/MgO and CdO/Al 2O 3 interfaces. Journal of Applied Physics, 124(20). View this article in WRRO
- Stoichiometry-dependent local instability in MAPbI3 perovskite materials and devices. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. View this article in WRRO
- Phase stability and distortion in high-entropy oxides. Acta Materialia, 146, 119-125. View this article in WRRO
- Simulation of Calcium Phosphate Species in Aqueous Solution: Force Field Derivation. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 122(4), 1471-1483. View this article in WRRO
- The Water–Amorphous Calcium Carbonate Interface and Its Interactions with Amino Acids. Crystal Growth & Design, 17(11), 5811-5822. View this article in WRRO
- The Effect of Additives on the Early Stages of Growth of Calcite Single Crystals. Angewandte Chemie, 129(39), 12047-12052. View this article in WRRO
- The Effect of Additives on the Early Stages of Growth of Calcite Single Crystals. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(39), 11885-11890. View this article in WRRO
- How to extract reliable core-volume fractions from core-shell polycrystalline microstructures using cross sectional TEM micrographs. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 37(8), 2795-2801. View this article in WRRO
- Correction: A new potential for methylammonium lead iodide.. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 19(21), 14185-14186.
- Analysis of Mesoscopic Structured 2-Propanol/Water Mixtures Using Pressure Perturbation Calorimetry and Molecular Dynamic Simulation. Journal of Solution Chemistry. View this article in WRRO
- A new potential for methylammonium lead iodide. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. View this article in WRRO
- Role of configurational entropy in body-centred cubic or face-centred cubic phase formation in high entropy alloys. Scripta Materialia, 124, 90-94. View this article in WRRO
- Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time. eLife, 5. View this article in WRRO
- Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time. eLife, 5(September).
- Tuning hardness in calcite by incorporation of amino acids. Nature Materials, 15, 903-910. View this article in WRRO
- Using simulation to understand the structure and properties of hydrated amorphous calcium carbonate. CrystEngComm, 18(1), 92-101. View this article in WRRO
- Adsorption of poly acrylic acid onto the surface of calcite: an experimental and simulation study. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 17, 27357-27365. View this article in WRRO
- A-Site Strain and Displacement in Ba1–xCaxTiO3 and Ba1–xSrxTiO3 and the Consequences for the Curie Temperature. Chemistry of Materials, 26(21), 6104-6112. View this article in WRRO
- Oriented crystal growth on organic monolayers. CrystEngComm, 16(8), 1430-1438. View this article in WRRO
- Entropy of molecular binding at solvated mineral surfaces. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(3), 1506-1514. View this article in WRRO
- Additions and corrections for Journal of Materials Chemistry C published in 2013. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 1(48), 8222-8222.
- Benzene adsorption at the aqueous (0 1 1) α-quartz interface: Is surface flexibility important?. Molecular Simulation, 39(13), 1093-1102.
- Energetics of donor-doping, metal vacancies, and oxygen-loss in A-site rare-earth-doped BaTiO
3 . Advanced Functional Materials, 23(31), 3925-3928. - High-performance composite chocolate. Physics Education, 48(4), 465-471.
- Structure and orientation of MDBA self-assembled monolayers and their interaction with calcite: A molecular dynamics study. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 117(14), 7148-7153. View this article in WRRO
- Phase stabilisation of hexagonal barium titanate doped with transition metals: A computational study. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 200, 310-316.
- Surface selectivity of calcite on self-assembled monolayers. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 117(10), 5154-5163.
- The influence of a-site rare earth ion size in controlling the curie temperature of Ba
1-X REx Ti1-x/4 O3 . Advanced Functional Materials, 23(4), 491-495. - Ceramic immobilisation options for technetium. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 1518, 111-116.
- Advanced ceramic wasteforms for the immobilisation of radwastes. Ceramic Transactions, 241, 11-22.
- The application of a new potential model to the rare-earth doping of SrTiO3 and CaTiO3. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C, 1(8), 1574-1582. View this article in WRRO
- Crystallisation rates of calcite from an amorphous precursor in confinement. Journal of Crystal Growth. View this article in WRRO
- The application of a new potential model to the rare-earth doping of SrTiO3 and CaTiO3 (vol 1, pg 1574, 2013). JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C, 1(48), 8222-8222.
- Protein binding on stepped calcite surfaces: simulations of ovocleidin-17 on calcite {31.16} and {31.8}.. Phys Chem Chem Phys, 14(20), 7287-7295. View this article in WRRO
- Nucleation and growth of biomaterials: The role of simulations for understanding, 295-311.
- The thermodynamics of calcite nucleation at organic interfaces: Classical vs. non-classical pathways. Faraday Discussions, 159, 509-523. View this article in WRRO
- Crystal structure and non-stoichiometry of cerium brannerite: Ce 0.975Ti 2O 5.95. Journal of Solid State Chemistry.
- Crystal structure and non-stoichiometry of cerium brannerite: Ce
0.975 Ti2 O5.95 . Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 192, 172-178. - Dental student suturing skills: a multicentre trial of a checklist-based assessment. European Journal of Dental Education, 15(4), 244-249.
- Charge disproportionation and Jahn-Teller distortion in LiNiO2 and NaNiO2: A density functional theory study. PHYS REV B, 84(8). View this article in WRRO
- Simulations of Ovocleidin-17 Binding to Calcite Surfaces and Its Implications for Eggshell Formation. J PHYS CHEM C, 115(16), 8175-8183.
- An atomistic study into the defect chemistry of hexagonal barium titanate. J APPL PHYS, 109(8).
- Sampling the structure of calcium carbonate nanoparticles with metadynamics.. J Chem Phys, 134(4), 044703.
- A new potential model for barium titanate and its implications for rare-earth doping. J MATER CHEM, 21(13), 4861-4868.
- A generic consensus assessment of undergraduate competence in forceps exodontia in the United Kingdom. European Journal of Dental Education, 14(4), 210-214.
- The incorporation of the Cauchy stress matrix tensor in micromagnetic simulations. J APPL PHYS, 108(7).
- Structural control of crystal nuclei by an eggshell protein.. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 49(30), 5135-5137.
- The role of local anisotropy profiles at grain boundaries on the coercivity of Nd
2 Fe14 B magnets. Applied Physics Letters, 97(23). - Metadynamics simulations of calcite crystallization on self-assembled monolayers. J CHEM PHYS, 131(9).
- Controlling crystal growth using organic molecules, biomolecules, and arrays. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 238.
- Models for the nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 238.
- Interactions of Organic Molecules with Calcite and Magnesite Surfaces. J PHYS CHEM C, 113(9), 3666-3673.
- Simulations of calcite crystallization on self-assembled monolayers.. Langmuir, 24(17), 9607-9615.
- UK national curriculum for undergraduate oral surgery subgroup for teaching of the Association of British Academic Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. European Journal of Dental Education, 12(1), 48-58.
- A theoretical study of ultra-thin films with the wurtzite and zinc blende structures. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 1035, 122-127.
- New forcefields for modeling biomineralization processes. J PHYS CHEM C, 111(32), 11943-11951.
- Beyond the point defect limit: Simulation methods for solid solutions and highly disordered systems. COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE, 36(1-2), 42-48.
- Graphitic nanofilms as precursors to wurtzite films: theory.. Phys Rev Lett, 96(6), 066102.
- Local cation environments in the pyrope-grossular Mg(3)Al(2)Si(3)O(12)-Ca(3)Al(2)Si(3)O(12) garnet solid solution. PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 74(13).
- Simulation of thermodynamic mixing properties of garnet solid solutions at high temperatures and pressures. CHEMICAL GEOLOGY, 225(3-4), 336-346.
- Computer simulation of mineral solid solutions. CHEMICAL GEOLOGY, 225(3-4), 176-188.
- Similarity in silicate chemistry: trace elements in garnet solid solutions. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE-THEOCHEM, 727(1-3), 199-204.
- Order in the disordered state: local structural entities in the fast ion conductor Ba(2)In(2)O(5). JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY, 178(1), 346-355.
- Growth of ZnO thin films - experiment and theory. J MATER CHEM, 15(1), 139-148.
- Collective Ionic Motion in Oxide Fast‐Ion‐Conductors.. ChemInform, 35(38).
- Collective ionic motion in oxide fast-ion-conductors. PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 6(12), 3052-3055.
- Simulation of mineral solid solutions at zero and high pressure using lattice statics, lattice dynamics and Monte Carlo methods. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER, 16(27), S2751-S2770.
- Survival of environmental
DNA in sediments: Mineralogic control onDNA taphonomy. Environmental DNA. - Electron transparent nanotubes reveal crystallization pathways in confinement. Chemical Science.
- Exploiting Machine Learning in Multiscale Modelling of Materials. Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series D.
- Perovskite crystal symmetry and oxygen-ion transport: a molecular-dynamics study of perovskite. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 10(5), 2388-2397.
- Significance of atomic-scale defects in flexible surfaces on local solvent and ion behaviour. Faraday Discussions.
- Growing crystals by design: general discussion. Faraday Discussions, 235, 383-405.
- A high throughput computational investigation of the solid solution mechanisms of actinides and lanthanides in zirconolite. RSC Advances, 11(41), 25179-25186.
- How does an amorphous surface influence molecular binding? – ovocleidin-17 and amorphous calcium carbonate. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 17(26), 17494-17500. View this article in WRRO
- Structural Control of Crystal Nuclei by an Eggshell Protein. Angewandte Chemie, 122(30), 5261-5263.
- Using metadynamics to obtain the free energy landscape for cation diffusion in functional ceramics : dopant distribution control in rare earth-doped BaTiO3. Advanced Functional Materials. View this article in WRRO
Conference proceedings papers
- Controlling mineral polymorphs: insights from computer simulation.. Goldschmidt2021 abstracts, 4 July 2021 - 9 July 2021.
- Exploring the mixing properties of ceramic materials. 14th Biennial Worldwide Congress on Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories, UNITECR 2015, in conjunction with the 58th International Colloquium on Refractories
- Exploring the mixing properties of ceramic materials. 14th Biennial Worldwide Congress on Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories, UNITECR 2015, in conjunction with the 58th International Colloquium on Refractories
- Simulating crystal nucleation: Seeing the infrequent with Molecular dynamics. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 74(12) (pp A875-A875)
- Adsorption and segregation at surfaces in minerals and biominerals. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A396-A396)
- Modelling biomineralization processes. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A311-A311)
- Thin films of wurtzite materials - AlN vs. AlP. JOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH, Vol. 294(1) (pp 111-117)
Other
- Frontispiece: Ion Association in Lanthanide Chloride Solutions. Chemistry - A European Journal, 25(37).
Preprints
- The Survival of β-lactoglobulin Peptides in the Archaeological Record: Vulnerability vs. Sequence Variation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Survival of environmental DNA in natural environments: Surface charge and topography of minerals as driver for DNA storage, bioRxiv.
- Electron spin mediated distortion in metallic systems, arXiv.
- Teaching activities
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MAT109 Skills for Engineers
MAT113 Biology and Chemistry of Materials
MAT2220 Functional Materials
MAT2840 Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials
MAT4610 Atomistic and Mesoscale Modelling of Materials
Materials Tutor
- Professional activities and memberships
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Head of CCP5 Summer School