DrSam Hillman, AFHEA

I am a Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow focusing on the use of machine learning (AI) to accelerate materials discovery. I am using a combination of high-throughput experimentation with Dr Andreas Kafizas and machine learning with Dr Jarvist Frost to discover new polymer structures which can catalyse hydrogen evolution from water using sunlight.

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From 2021 until 2024 I was a Research Associate at the Centre for Doctoral Training in Processable Electronics, working with Professor James Durrant in the Department of Chemistry. I used spectroscopy to study organic photocatalysts for the formation of solar fuels - focusing on water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction using carbon nitrides, linear polymers and metal-organic frameworks.

I did my PhD at Imperial College (2017-2022) under the supervision of Professors Jenny Nelson (Physics) and James Durrant, studying structure-function-performance relationships in linear conjugated polymers for hydrogen evolution from water. We found that the inclusion of polar groups into the polymers improves photocatalytic performance by allowing a higher density of photogenerated electron polarons to accumulate - however, polar backbone and side-chain modifications improve this electron density in different ways. This work won me the 2022 RSC Energy Sector PhD Thesis Award.

I am also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.