Charlotte Williams is Professor of Catalysis and Polymer Chemistry. Her group is multidisciplinary and currently consists of 8 postdocs, 7 PhD students, 3 MRes and 1 MSc students. Research in polymer chemistry within her group includes the synthesis of polymerisation catalysts, controlled polymerisations, catalytic activation of renewable resources, synthesis of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for applications in medicine and the synthesis of electroactive polymers for applications in electronics.
She was worked at Imperial since 2003 (2003-7: Lecturer; 2007-9: Senior Lecturer; 2009-2012: Reader; 2012: Professor). Before this, she was a postdoctoral research associate at Cambridge University, working with Professor Andrew Holmes and Professor Richard Friend on the synthesis of electroactive polymers, and at the University of Minnesota, working with Marc Hillmyer and Bill Tolman in zinc catalysis. She did her PhD research at Imperial College in catalysis working with Vernon Gibson and Nick Long.
She has been recognised for her research by the BEPS Oustanding Early Career Academic Award 2011, the RSC Energy, Environment and Sustainability Award (2009), the Meldola Medal (2005) and the Young Researcher Award (2001).
Synthesis of catalysts for carbon dioxide polymerisation
Synthesis of new catalysts for CO2/epoxide copolymerization
Study of new catalysts for the development of CO2 and various epoxide co- and terpolymers
Organozinc precursors for inorganic/organic hybrid composite materials
The synthesis of new initiators for the polymerisation of rac-Lactide
Synthesis of catalysts for carbon dioxide polymerisation
Creating new epoxide monomers, derived from renewable sources such as menthol and limonene, for copolymerisation with carbon dioxide.