Dr James Thomas Lecturer in Quantum TechnologiesEmail: j.o.thomas@qmul.ac.ukRoom Number: G. O. Jones Building, Room 227ProfileTeachingResearchPublicationsGrantsProfileDr Thomas joined Queen Mary University in 2023 as a lecturer in quantum technology. He completed a MChem degree at the University of Oxford in 2011, and a PhD in nanophysics at the University of Bristol in 2016 with the Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials. Subsequently he was a postdoctoral researcher and then senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, in the Departments of Chemistry and Materials respectively, working on the synthesis and characterization of molecular electronic devices. He is primarily interested in quantum transport and molecular electronics, i.e., studying electrical circuits in which a component, such as a transistor or switch, is a single molecule, with a view to applications in both classical and quantum computing, as well as sensing. Dr Thomas currently has a PhD project available in quantum electronics - if you are interested in physical chemistry, quantum electronics, and quantum sensing, then see here for more details and how to apply, or drop him an email for informal enquiries!TeachingCHE100 – Essential Skills for Chemists CHE307 – Bioorganic Chemistry CHE600 – Chemistry Research Project CHE601 – Chemistry Investigative ProjectResearchResearch Interests:Dr Thomas’ research expertise is in quantum electronics, i.e., the fabrication of devices in which individual or self-assembled quantum objects, such as molecules, act as circuit elements. The aims of his research are to understand how the quantum (electronic/spin, vibrational) states of molecules and their dynamics (how they evolve in time) influence how they conduct electricity, and what new functionalities emerge when electronics are scaled down to nanometre dimensions. He is also interested in exploring wave-particle duality of electrons in two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, through the study of electronic interference effects, with a view to new sensing applications.PublicationsBelow are some recent examples of Dr Thomas research publications, click on the DOI for a link to the paper, they are all open-access. You can find a complete list here. Quantum interference enhances the performance of single-molecule transistors, Nature Nanotechnology, 2024, DOI Z. Chen, I. M. Grace, S. L. Woltering, L. Chen, A. Gee, J. Baugh, G. A. D. Briggs, L. Bogani, J. A. Mol, C. J. Lambert, H. L. Anderson, and J. O. Thomas Connections to the Electrodes Control the Transport Mechanism in Single-Molecule Transistors, Angewandte Chemie, 2024, DOI Z. Chen, S. L. Woltering, B. Limburg, M-Y. Tsang, J. Baugh, G. A. D. Briggs, L. Bogani, J. A. Mol, H. L. Anderson, and J. O. Thomas Phase Coherent Charge Transport through a Graphene Nanoribbon-Graphene Junction, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023, DOI Z. Chen, J. R. Deng, S. Hou, X. Bian, J. L. Swett, Q. Wu, J. Baugh, G. A. D. Briggs, J. A. Mol, C. J. Lambert, H. L. Anderson, and J. O. Thomas Charge-state dependent vibrational relaxation in a single-molecule junction, Physical Review Letters, 2022, DOI X. Bian, Z. Chen, J. K. Sowa, C. Evangeli, B. Limburg, J. L. Swett, J. Baugh, G. A. D. Briggs, H. L. Anderson, J. A. Mol and J. O. Thomas Exchange-induced spin polarization in a single magnetic molecule junction, Nature Communications, 2022, DOI T Pei, J. O. Thomas, S. Sopp, N. Dotti, J. Baugh, S. Cardona-Serra, A. Gaita-Arino, H. L. Anderson, L. Bogani Charge transport through extended molecular wires with strongly correlated electrons, Chemical Science, 2021, DOI J.O. Thomas, J. K. Sowa, B. Limburg, X. Bian, C. Evangeli, J. L. Swett, S. Tewari, J. Baugh, G. C. Schatz, G. A. D. Briggs, H. L. Anderson, J. A. Mol Chen Z, Grace IM, Woltering SL et al. (2024). Quantum interference enhances the performance of single-molecule transistors. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01633-1 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/96146 Chen Z, Woltering SL, Limburg B et al. (2024). Connections to the Electrodes Control the Transport Mechanism in Single‐Molecule Transistors. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401323 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/95680 Chen Z, Deng J-R, Hou S et al. (2023). Phase-Coherent Charge Transport through a Porphyrin Nanoribbon. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02451 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/90372 Pyurbeeva E, Thomas JO, Mol JA (2023). Non-equilibrium thermodynamics in a single-molecule quantum system. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1088/2633-4356/accd3a QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/87618 Bian X, Chen Z, Sowa JK et al. (2022). Charge-State Dependent Vibrational Relaxation in a Single-Molecule Junction. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.207702 QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/84086 Pei T, Thomas JO, Sopp S et al. (publicationYear). Exchange-induced spin polarization in a single magnetic molecule junction. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31909-w QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/100524 Evangeli C, Tewari S, Kruip JM et al. (2022). Statistical signature of electrobreakdown in graphene nanojunctions. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119015119 QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/79280 Evangeli C, McCann E, Swett JL et al. (2021). Experimental evidence of disorder enhanced electron-phonon scattering in graphene devices. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.12.012 QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/71779 Thomas JO, Sowa JK, Limburg B et al. (2021). Charge transport through extended molecular wires with strongly correlated electrons. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03050g QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/76039 Thomas JO, Limburg B, Sowa JK et al. (2019). Understanding resonant charge transport through weakly coupled single-molecule junctions. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12625-4 QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/62040 Limburg B, Thomas JO, Sowa JK et al. (2019). Charge-state assignment of nanoscale single-electron transistors from their current-voltage characteristics. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1039/c9nr03754c QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/63164 Limburg B, Thomas JO, Holloway G et al. (2018). Anchor Groups for Graphene-Porphyrin Single-Molecule Transistors. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201803629 QMRO: https://uat2-qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/53488 Tiginyanu I, Stevens-Kalceff MA, Sarua A et al. (2016). Self-Organized Three-Dimensional Nanostructured Architectures in Bulk GaN Generated by Spatial Modulation of Doping. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1149/2.0091605jss QMRO: qmroHref Thomas JO, Andrade HD, Mills BM et al. (2015). Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Imaging the Predicted Isomerism of Oligo(aniline)s: A Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Study (Small 28/2015). nameOfConference DOI: 10.1002/smll.201570166 QMRO: qmroHref Thomas JO, Andrade HD, Mills BM et al. (2015). Imaging the Predicted Isomerism of Oligo(aniline)s: A Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Study. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1002/smll.201500511 QMRO: qmroHref Thomas JO, Lower KE, Murray C (2014). Formation of Vibrationally Excited Methyl Radicals Following State-Specific Excitation of Methylamine. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1021/jp508562w QMRO: qmroHref Udeh CU, Rannou P, Brown BP et al. (2013). Tuning structure and function in tetra(aniline)-based rod–coil–rod architectures. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1039/c3tc31088d QMRO: qmroHref Thomas JO, Lower KE, Murray C (2012). Observation of NH X3Σ– as a Primary Product of Methylamine Photodissociation: Evidence of Roaming-Mediated Intersystem Crossing?. nameOfConference DOI: 10.1021/jz300408z QMRO: qmroHref GrantsSingle-Electron Quantum Devices for Ultra-Low Background Particle Detection Experiments, ST/Y005058/1, £46K, Principle Investigator