
Dr Joseph Beames
Lecturer in Physical Chemistry
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
The research in this group seeks to probe important atmospheric, physical and analytical chemistry problems using combined UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopic techniques, transient EPR spectroscopy and high level ab intio quantum chemistry. The ethos of the research group is that concomitant experimental and computational chemistry approaches yield the greatest photophysical insights into molecular systems, and maximizes research impact The key goals are to sensitively and quantitatively detect trace chemicals and reactive intermediates, in both gas and solution phases. The Beames group aims to develop spectrometers and spectrometric techniques for use in these areas; providing highly sensitive real time detection of many different chemicals.
For more information, please go to our group webpage, at JMBeames.com
Selected publications:
Science, 2014, 345(6204), 1596: "Infrared-driven unimolecular reaction of CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates to OH radical products"
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134(49), 20045: "Ultraviolet Spectrum and Photochemistry of the Simplest Criegee Intermediate CH2OO"
J. Chem. Phys., 2011, 134, 241102: "A new spectroscopic window on hydroxyl radicals using UV+VUV resonant ionization"J. Atm. Chem. 2007, 58, 69: "Measurement of IO concentrations in the marine boundary layer using a cavity ring-down spectrometer"
Biography
B.Sc. Chemistry, University of Bristol (2002-2005); M.Sc. by Research in Chemistry, University of Bristol (2005-2006, Prof. A.J. Orr-Ewing); Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Bristol (2006-2010, Dr A.J. Hudson); Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (2010-2013, Prof. M.I. Lester); Dreyfus Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania (2013-2015, Prof. M.I. Lester). Appointed Cardiff University Research Fellow 2015. Became a Marie Sklodowska Curie Individual Fellow in 2016, and subsequently a Lecturer in Physical Chemistry in 2019.
Publications
2021
- Pope, S. J.et al. 2021. Iridium(III) sensitizers and energy upconversion: the influence of ligand structure upon TTA-UC performance. Chemistry - A European Journal 27(10), pp. 3427-3439. (10.1002/chem.202004146)
2020
- Stonelake, T. M.et al. 2020. Spectroscopic and theoretical investigation of color tuning in deep-red luminescent iridium(III) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry 59(4) (10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02991)
2019
- Phillips, K. A.et al. 2019. Dual visible/NIR emission from organometallic iridium(III) complexes. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 893, pp. 11-20. (10.1016/j.jorganchem.2019.04.019)
- Watson, N. A. I.et al. 2019. An extended computational study of Criegee intermediate - alcohol reactions. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 123(1), pp. 218-229. (10.1021/acs.jpca.8b09349)
2018
- Phillips, K. A.et al. 2018. Ligand tuneable, red-emitting iridium(III) complexes for efficient triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion performance. Chemistry - A European Journal 24(34), pp. 8577-8588. (10.1002/chem.201801007)
- Sciutto, A.et al. 2018. Customizing photoredox properties of PXX-based dyes through energy level rigid shifts of frontier molecular orbitals. Chemistry - a European Journal 24(17), pp. 4382-4389. (10.1002/chem.201705620)
2017
- McGillen, M. R.et al. 2017. Criegee intermediate-alcohol reactions, a potential source of functionalized hydroperoxides in the atmosphere. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 1(10), pp. 664-672. (10.1021/acsearthspacechem.7b00108)
- Chhantyal-Pun, R.et al. 2017. Temperature-dependence of the rates of reaction of trifluoroacetic acid with criegee intermediates. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 56(31), pp. 9044-9047. (10.1002/anie.201703700)
- Groves, L. M.et al. 2017. From ligand to phosphor: rapid, machine-assisted synthesis of substituted iridium(III) pyrazolate complexes with tuneable luminescence. Chemistry - A European Journal 23(39), pp. 9407-9418. (10.1002/chem.201701551)
2015
- Li, H.et al. 2015. UV photodissociation dynamics of the CH3CHOO Criegee intermediate: action spectroscopy and velocity map imaging of O-atom products. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 119(30), pp. 8328-8337. (10.1021/acs.jpca.5b05352)
- Li, H., Beames, J. M. and Lester, M. I. 2015. Velocity map imaging of O-atom products from UV photodissociation of the CH2OO Criegee intermediate. Journal of Chemical Physics 142(21), article number: 214312. (10.1063/1.4921990)
2014
- Liu, F., Beames, J. M. and Lester, M. I. 2014. Direct production of OH radicals upon CH overtone activation of (CH3)2COO Criegee intermediates. Journal of Chemical Physics 141(23), article number: 234312. (10.1063/1.4903961)
- Samanta, K.et al. 2014. Quantum dynamical investigation of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO and its O-O photodissociation channels. Journal of Chemical Physics 141(13), article number: 134303. (10.1063/1.4894746)
- Liu, F.et al. 2014. Infrared-driven unimolecular reaction of CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates to OH radical products. Science 345(6204), pp. 1596-1598. (10.1126/science.1257158)
- Lu, L., Beames, J. and Lester, M. I. 2014. Early time detection of OH radical products from energized Criegee intermediates CH2OO and CH3CHOO. Chemical Physics Letters 598, pp. 23-27. (10.1016/j.cplett.2014.02.049)
- Beames, J., Liu, F. and Lester, M. I. 2014. 1+1 ' resonant multiphoton ionisation of OH radicals via the A(2)sigma(+) state: insights from direct comparison with A-X laser-induced fluorescence detection. Molecular Physics 112(7), pp. 897-903. (10.1080/00268976.2013.822592)
- Liu, F.et al. 2014. UV spectroscopic characterization of dimethyl- and ethyl-substituted carbonyl oxides. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 118(12), pp. 2298-2306. (10.1021/jp412726z)
2013
- Lehman, J. H.et al. 2013. Communication: Ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO. Journal of Chemical Physics 139(14), article number: 141103. (10.1063/1.4824655)
- Beames, J.et al. 2013. UV spectroscopic characterization of an alkyl substituted Criegee intermediate CH3CHOO. Journal of Chemical Physics 138(24), article number: 244307. (10.1063/1.4810865)
2012
- Beames, J. M.et al. 2012. Ultraviolet spectrum and photochemistry of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO. Journal of the American Chemical Society 134(49), pp. 20045-20048. (10.1021/ja310603j)
- O'Donnell, B. A., Beames, J. and Lester, M. I. 2012. Insights on the CN B-2 Sigma(+)+Ar potential from ultraviolet fluorescence excitation and infrared depletion studies of the CN-Ar complex. The Journal of Chemical Physics 136(23), article number: 234303. (10.1063/1.4723694)
- O'Donnell, B. A., Beames, J. M. and Lester, M. I. 2012. Experimental characterization of the CN X-2 Sigma(+)+Ar and H-2 potentials via infrared-ultraviolet double resonance spectroscopy. Journal of Chemical Physics 136(23), article number: 234304. (10.1063/1.4723696)
2011
- Beames, J.et al. 2011. Communication: A new spectroscopic window on hydroxyl radicals using UV plus VUV resonant ionization. Journal of Chemical Physics 134(24), article number: 241102. (10.1063/1.3608061)
- Beames, J.et al. 2011. Experimental characterization of the weakly anisotropic CN X-2 Sigma(+) + Ne potential from IR-UV double resonance studies of the CN-Ne complex. Journal of Chemical Physics 134(18), article number: 184308. (10.1063/1.3586810)
- Beames, J.et al. 2011. Analysis of the HOOO torsional potential. Journal of Chemical Physics 134(4), article number: 44304. (10.1063/1.3518415)
2010
- Beames, J., Vaden, T. D. and Hudson, A. J. 2010. The spectroscopy of jet-cooled porphyrins: an insight into the vibronic structure of the Q band. Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines 14(4), pp. 314-323. (10.1142/S1088424610002094)
- Beames, J.et al. 2010. Double-resonance spectroscopy of the jet-cooled free base and Cu(II) complex of protoporphyrin IX. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics -Cambridge- Royal Society of Chemistry 12(42), pp. 14076-14081. (10.1039/c0cp00874e)
- McFiggans, G.et al. 2010. Iodine-mediated coastal particle formation: an overview of the Reactive Halogens in the Marine Boundary Layer (RHaMBLe) Roscoff coastal study. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 10(6), pp. 2975-2999. (10.5194/acp-10-2975-2010)
- Beames, J. and Hudson, A. J. 2010. Jet-cooled spectroscopy of paracetamol. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics -Cambridge- Royal Society of Chemistry 12(16), pp. 4157-4164. (10.1039/B923202H)
2009
- Beames, J., Nix, M. G. D. and Hudson, A. J. 2009. Comparison of the resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectra of pyrrole and 2,5-dimethylpyrrole: Building toward an understanding of the electronic structure and photochemistry of porphyrins. Journal of Chemical Physics 131(17), article number: 174305. (10.1063/1.3257681)
2007
- Wada, R., Beames, J. and Orr-Ewing, A. J. 2007. Measurement of IO radical concentrations in the marine boundary layer using a cavity ring-down spectrometer. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 58(1), pp. 69-87. (10.1007/s10874-007-9080-z)
2005
- Mazurenka, M.et al. 2005. Fast fourier transform analysis in cavity ring-down spectroscopy: application to an optical detector for atmospheric NO2. Applied Physics B Lasers and Optics 81(1), pp. 135-141. (10.1007/s00340-005-1834-1)
We interrogate the chemistry of trace, transient atmospheric species using cavity enhanced techniques and computational chemistry models. Most recently we have investigated the temperature dependence of several Criegee intermediate-alcohol reactions, in collaboration with the Knowles group. New modeling is being undertaken in collaboration with the Rickard group (York).
We investigate the photodynamics of novel phosphors and upconverting systems, synthesised by the Pope group at Cardiff. We use a range of optical time resolved spectroscopies and relativistic computational approaches, and apply small-molecule methods to tackle these complex systems. Most recently we used molecular symmetry modifications to tune optical properties of Ir(III) complexes. Aspects of this work are in collaboration with the Oliver group (Bristol).
We use electronic spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, DFT and semi-empirical GFN-xTB2 to investigate the tuning and photobleaching of toxic chemical colourimetric detection systems. This is in collaboration with the Fallis group. In many instances we use patented chemistry from the Fallis group as controls. We are in the process of constructing our first manuscript in this area.
We are developing a suite of transient, time resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) instrumentation in collaboration with the Richards group (Cardiff). This includes combining fixed and tuneable laser and lamp sources with pulsed EPR. We will use this instrumentation to enhance our spectroscopic investigations of many of the chemistries shown here – in the first instance upconverting materials.
More information about the group can be found at JMBeames.com