Dr. Jonathan Foster completed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the University of Durham in 2008 where he also undertook his PhD in the groups of Prof. Jonathan Steed and Prof. Judith Howard FRS. In 2012 he moved to the University of Cambridge where he held post-doctoral positions in the groups of Prof. Jonathan Nitschke and Prof. Anthony Cheetham FRS. Jonathan joined the University of Sheffield in 2015 following the award of a Ramsay Fellowship and Sheffield Vice Chancellors Fellowship.

My interests lie at the interface between supramolecular chemistry and nanomaterials. By understanding how to design molecular building blocks which can self-assemble to create nano-structured materials we aim to open up new applications not possible with conventional materials. I have developed a wide range of supramolecular materials including gels, polymers, metal-organic cages and frameworks for applications as diverse as drug delivery, optoelectronics and detecting chemical hazards. My current research is focussed on the development of a new class of graphene-like nano-materials called metal-organic nanosheets (MONs).

Foster JA, Damodaran KK, Maurin A, Day GM, Thompson HPG, Cameron GJ, Bernal JC & Steed JW (2016) Pharmaceutical polymorph control in a drug-mimetic supramolecular gel. Chem. Sci.. View this article in WRRO Foster JA, Henke S, Schneemann A, Fischer RA & Cheetham AK (2016) Liquid exfoliation of alkyl-ether functionalised layered metal-organic frameworks to nanosheets.. Chem Commun (Camb). View this article in WRRO Ramsay WJ, Foster JA, Moore KL, Ronson TK, Mirgalet RJ, Jefferson DA & Nitschke JR (2015) Au I Cl-bound N-heterocyclic carbene ligands form MII4(LAuCl) 6 integrally gilded cages. Chem. Sci., 6(12), 7326-7331. Foster JA, Parker RM, Belenguer AM, Kishi N, Sutton S, Abell C & Nitschke JR (2015) Differentially Addressable Cavities within Metal–Organic Cage-Cross-Linked Polymeric Hydrogels. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137(30), 9722-9729. View this article in WRRO Foster JA, Edkins RM, Cameron GJ, Colgin N, Fucke K, Ridgeway S, Crawford AG, Marder TB, Beeby A, Cobb SL & Steed JW (2014) Blending Gelators to Tune Gel Structure and Probe Anion-Induced Disassembly. Chemistry - A European Journal, 20(1), 279-291. Asil D, Foster JA, Patra A, de Hatten X, del Barrio J, Scherman OA, Nitschke JR & Friend RH (2014) Temperature- and Voltage-Induced Ligand Rearrangement of a Dynamic Electroluminescent Metallopolymer. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 53(32), 8388-8391. Foster JA, Johnson DW, Pipenbrock M-OM & Steed JW (2014) Using gel morphology to control pore shape. New J. Chem., 38(3), 927-932. Meazza L, Foster JA, Fucke K, Metrangolo P, Resnati G & Steed JW (2012) Halogen-bonding-triggered supramolecular gel formation. Nature Chemistry, 5(1), 42-47.