Professor J. Paul Attfield CChem FRSC

Winner: 2022 Materials Chemistry Division open award: John B Goodenough Award

The University of Edinburgh

For transformative discoveries of new materials from high pressure synthesis and of novel electronic phenomena in solids.

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One day someone will explain the mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity. I hope I shall not be too old to understand it.

Professor Attfield’s research is increasing our understanding of the electronic phenomena present in solids. He uses high pressures and temperatures to create new materials with interesting electronic and magnetic properties. These new materials might have potential for use in information technology hardware.

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Professor Paul Attfield is Chair in Materials Science at Extreme Conditions at the School of Chemistry and Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, University of Edinburgh. He grew up in Durham where he attended the Durham Johnston School. He received his BA and DPhil degrees from Oxford University, and he was a Co-Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Superconductivity at the University of Cambridge from 1991 to 2003. He previously received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Meldola and Corday-Morgan medals and Peter Day Award, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2014.

Early research contributions include pioneering resonant X-ray scattering experiments of cation and valence ordering, and studies of disorder effects in functional oxides. Current research is centred on electronic and magnetic materials, including use of high pressure methods.

Q+A

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

Through an inspiring teacher – Ron Snaith – who first taught me chemistry when I was 11 years old and was later a colleague when we both worked in the Chemistry Department at Cambridge.

Who or what has inspired you?

Ron Snaith, as above.
Tony Cheetham who supervised my PhD and has remained an inspiration and friend ever since.
John Goodenough and CNR Rao: both inspirational figures in the field of solid-state chemistry. So many scientific colleagues and friends – too numerous to list.

Can you tell us about a scientific development on the horizon that you are excited about?

One day someone will explain the mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity. I hope I shall not be too old to understand it.

Why is chemistry important?

Because atomic-scale understanding and creation underlies our ability to live and prosper in this world.

What has been a highlight for you (either personally or in your career)?

Great good luck has presented me with outstanding opportunities; to study and work at Oxford, Cambridge, and Edinburgh and to interact and collaborate with colleagues around the world. Every research discovery feels like a highlight – if forced to select just one it would be resolution of the Verwey problem – the low temperature electronic order in magnetite (Fe₃O₄) – which we solved in 2012.

What is your favourite element?

I've hopped between various first row transition metals over the years; Cr when I was young, Cu during high-Tc days, Mn for manganites in the 1990s, Fe oxides more recently, but now back to Mn as it stabilises so many interesting high pressure perovskites.