Gregory Metha

Professor Gregory Metha

Professor

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Greg Metha is a Professor of Chemistry and Acting Director of the Centre for Energy Technology (CET) at the University of Adelaide. He established and convenes the international Hydrogen Production Technology (HyPT) series of forums running since 2019. He is also the Australian Director of the NSF-CSIRO Global Center for Hydrogen Production, a sub-task leader for the IEA Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) Task 45: Renewable Hydrogen Technology, and Australian lead for the Mission Innovation Sunlight-to-X Innovation Platform.

His research uses light sources from lasers to synchrotrons, across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, investigating a range of molecular phenomena to discover new molecules and explore their properties. He heads the Metal Cluster Laboratory which focuses on the exploration of the physical and chemical properties of sub-nanometre sized metallic particles underpinned by advanced computational modelling, the advancement of novel catalysts based on metal clusters, and building novel apparatus and instrumentation including pioneering work developing photocatalytic reactors that operate under concentrated radiation. His most recent work involves using light to produce chemical fuels directly from sunlight such as hydrogen from water-splitting, and hydrocarbons from CO2 reduction.

Greg also enjoys teaching into a wide range of Chemistry courses and runs an active and happy research group.

My research interests can be summarised as follows:

  • Development of photocatalytic reactor technologies. 
  • Exploration of photocatalytic activity of metal clusters on oxide surfaces using atomically-accurate modelling of metal clusters and their interaction with surfaces.
  • Development of sensitive surface methods for the physical and chemical characterisation of chemically-synthesised, atomically-precise clusters on oxide surfaces.
  • Far Infra-red spectroscopy of metal clusters using synchrotron radiation (at the Australian Synchrotron) to identify key vibrational features that characterises cluster structure.
  • Experimental and computational study of the structure and reactivity of metal clusters in the gas phase to benchmark computational approaches to prototypical metal cluster/surface systems.
  • Reaction investigations of metal-carbide clusters as potential replacement catalysts.

 

 

  • NSF Global Center for Hydrogen Production ($3.7M) 2023–2028.
  • Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Program ($470,511) 2023–2024.
  • Sparc Hydrogen ($2.0M) 2022–2024.
  • ARC LIEF "Femtosecond beamline for time-resolved momentum spectroscopy"; ($1,150,000) 2024.
  • HILT CRC ($251,000) 2022–2023.
  • CRC Future Fuels ($315,000) 2019–2023.
  • ARENA Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI); ($470,000) 2019–2023.
  • ARC LIEF "Chemical Signature Analysis of Surfaces"; ($320,625) 2019.
  • ARC LIEF "Shared Picosecond-Laser Facility"; ($563,390) 2018.
  • US Army - Research Project on Solar Fuels; (US$60,000) 2016–2018.
  • ARENA Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI); ($250,000), 2013–2019.
  • SA Premier's Research & Industry Fund - Collaboration Pathways Program; ($300,000) 2013–2015.
  • ARC LIEF "Supercontinuum Fibre Lasers for Chemical and Materials Sciences"; ($200,000) 2012.
  • ARC LIEF "Equipment for Metastable Induced Electron Spectroscopy"; ($637,120) 2009.
  • ARC LIEF "Ultrafast Dynamics Measurement Facility"; ($400,000) 2009.
  • ARC LIEF "South Australian Supercluster Facility"; ($560,000) 2006.
  • ARC LIEF "Shared Laser Facility"; ($481,000) 2005.
  • ARC LIEF "A National T-Ray Facility"; ($864,000) 2005.
  • ARC LIEF "Advanced Materials Laser Characterisation Facility"; ($237,000) 2004.
  • 2 x ARC Fellowships; ($568,000 total) 1997–2003.

Teaching Prizes

  • 2016  Australian Award for University Teaching (team award).
  • 2015  D.R. Stanks Award for Excellence in Chemical Education; SA Branch RACI.
  • 2015  University of Adelaide Commendation for Excellence in Support of Student Experience (team award).
  • 2014  Chemical Education Division Medal; Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
  • 2014  Exectutive Dean of Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching (team award).
  • 2006  Stephen Cole the Elder Prize for Excellence in Teaching (first 5 years of Teaching).
  • 2006  Executive Dean of Sciences Prize for Excellence in Teaching (first 5 years of Teaching).
  • 2005  Executive Dean of Sciences Certificate of Merit in Teaching (first 5 years of Teaching).

 

Teaching Grants

  • Australian Learning & Teaching Council grant to develop POGIL in Foundations of Chemistry lectures 2011–2012 ($2,000).
  • University L & T grant to develop Level I courses in summer semester, 2011–2012 ($8,000).
  • Faculty grant to continue Demonstrator and Tutor training program, 2008 ($1,000).
  • Faculty L & T grant to develop a Demonstrator and Tutor training program, 2006–2007 ($40,000).
  • University L & T grant to develop a Demonstrator and Tutor training program, 2006–2007 ($50,000).
  • University of Adelaide L & T grant to restructure tutorial program for Foundations of Chemistry, 2003–2004 ($25,000).

 

Teaching Developments

  • Convener, working group to re-develop the curricula for all Level III Chemistry courses, 2012–present.
  • Convener, working group to re-develop Foundations of Chemistry courses IA, IB & IS, 2011–2012.
  • Developed Lecture material for a new Computational Chemistry in Honours, 2010.
  • Developed Lecture material for the new Materials Chemistry III course, 2007.
  • Developed Lecture and Tutorial material for the new Analytical Chemistry II course, 2005.
  • Developed Lecture and Tutorial material for the revised Chemistry I course, 2005.
  • Completed "Teaching at University" course, 2004.
  • Team Member in the expanded Australian Chemistry Enhanced Laboratory Learning (ACELL) project, 2004–2009.
  • Technically upgraded laboratory experiments for Level I Chemistry, 2008. 
  • Developed new experiments for EcoChemistry and Nanoscience named-degree students, 2006.
  • Developed specialist tutorials for Chemistry named-degree (Nanoscience and Molecular & Drug Design) students, 2006.
  • Team Member in the CUTSD-funded project Australian Physical Chemistry Enhanced Laboratory Learning (APCELL) project, 2001–2003.
  • Developed and published the "Flame Emission" practical for the APCELL experiment database, 2002.
  • Key motivator to enforce independent entry requirements for Level I Chemistry course (Foundations of Chemistry & Chemistry I), 2003.
  • Introduced multiple-choice questions into Foundations of Chemistry course, 2002.

 

Teaching-Related Coordination 

  • "Chemistry" Coordinator for B.Sc(Adv) students in Principles and Practice of Research (PPR) II & III courses, 2013–2016.
  • Coordinator of Level III Chemistry, 2007–2010.
  • Director of Chemistry Undergraduate Laboratories, July 2003–2006.
  • Convener, Chemistry Student-Staff Liaison Committee, 2003 & 2008.

 

Teaching Areas

  • Chemistry I; Chemical Energy & Equilibrium (9 lecture series + tutorials), 2002–present.
  • Foundations of Chemistry I; Chemical Energy (9 lecture series + tutorials), 2003–2005, 2012–present
  • Chemistry III; Molecular Photoscience, (6 lecture series + tutorials), 2002–present.
  • Materials Chemistry III; Sub-Nano Assemblies, (8 lecture series + tutorials), 2007–present
  • Honours; Computational Chemistry, (8 lecture series + workshops), 2010–present
  • Environmental & Analytical Chemistry II; Instrumentation (5 lecture series + tutorials), 2005–2008.
  • Environmental & Analytical Chemistry II; X-ray & Optical Methods (5 lecture series + tutorials), 2009–2011.
  • Chemistry II; Thermodynamics, (8 lecture series + tutorials), 2006–2010.
  • Environmental & Analytical Chemistry II; Heavy Metals, (5 lecture series + tutorials), 2007–2009.
  • Environmental & Analytical Chemistry II; Nuclear Chemistry (5 lecture series + tutorials), 2007–2009.
  • Chemistry I ANR; Chemical Equilibrium (9 lecture series + tutorials), 2002. 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Incorporating metal clusters as co-catalysts in visible light active photocatalysts. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Muhammad Adnan
    2023 Co-Supervisor Rational Design and Preparation of Advanced Photocatalysts for Solar Fuels Production Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mahmoud Adel Hamza Elsayed Gharib
    2023 Co-Supervisor Rational Design and Preparation of Advanced Photocatalysts for Solar Fuels Production Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mahmoud Adel Hamza Elsayed Gharib
    2023 Principal Supervisor Investigating the photocatalytic production evolution times of hydrogen and oxygen using fast ionization spectroscopy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Edward Madbak
    2023 Principal Supervisor Techno-Economic Assessment on photocatalytic hydrogen production and the design and development of Photo-Thermal Receivers. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Anthony Ernest Pellicone
    2023 Co-Supervisor Photocatalytic generation of hydrogen under extreme conditions Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mrs Ranjani Kalyan
    2023 Principal Supervisor Development of low bandgap photocatalysts for water-splitting using metal cluster co-catalysts Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Yideng Shen
    2022 Co-Supervisor Visible Light Photocatalysis by Organic Semiconductor Nanoparticles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Andrew Dolan
    2021 Principal Supervisor Solar hydrogen production from Z-scheme photocatalysis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Thomas Douglas Small
    2021 Principal Supervisor Concentrated Solar Thermo-Photocatalytic Water Splitting Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Talib McCoy Rahman
    2021 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Properties and Stabilisation of Nanoscale Metal cluster/overlayer Architectures (Nanotechnology) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohammed Zayed Asiri

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Reduced Graphene Oxide-Supported Phosphine-Ligated Gold Nanoclusters for Energy Conversion Technologies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Hanieh Mousavi
    2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Towards the photophysical nature of the triphenylphosphine-stabilized nonagold cluster and its catalytic applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jenica Marie Lorica Madridejos
    2017 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Polarisation Effects of Exciton Migration and Singlet Fission in TIPS-Pentacene Nanoparticles Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Elisabeth Schrefl
    2015 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Carbon Dioxide Photo-Reduction by a Gold Ruthenium Cluster Deposited Upon Titanium Dioxide Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Rohan Joshua Hudson
    2015 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Infrared Spectroscopy of Astrophysically Relevant Molecules Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Hayley Ann Bunn
    2011 - 2015 Principal Supervisor The Characterisation, Photocatalytic Performance, and Theoretical Investigation of Small Gold Clusters Supported on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jason Frankie Alvino
    2011 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Spectroscopic Investigations on the Molecular Motions and Solution Chemistry of the Medicinal Pigment Curcumin Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Hei Leung
    2010 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Photo-Ionisation and Density Functional Theory Studies of Gold Doped Cerium Oxide Clusters Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Robert Allan Hardy
    2009 - 2011 Co-Supervisor Removal of Toxic Pollutants from Industrial Wastewater by Australian Clay Mineral Master of Engineering Science Master Full Time Mrs Manjot Kaur Toor
    2006 - 2014 Principal Supervisor The Effect of Sequential Oxidation and Composition on the Structural and Electronic Properties of Gas-Phase Transition-Lanthanide Bimetallic Clusters Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Alexander Gentleman
    2005 - 2012 Co-Supervisor A Study into the Kinetic Formation and Oxidation States of Gold Nanoparticles Produced Via Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Mable Yan Fong
    2004 - 2009 Principal Supervisor Computational Investigations into the Structure and Reactivity of Small Transition Metal Clusters Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Matthew Addicoat
    2004 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Velocity Map Imaging of Small Gold Carbide Clusters Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Bradley Visser
    2003 - 2008 Principal Supervisor Threshold Photo-Ionisation and Density Functional Theory Studies of Metal-Carbide Clusters Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Viktoras Dryza
    2003 - 2010 Co-Supervisor A Study into the Internal Energy Distributions of Molecules Liberated from an InVacuo Liquid Surface Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Olivia Maselli

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2015 - 2016 President Royal Australian Chemical Institute - South Australia branch Royal Australian Chemical Institute Australia
  • Position: Professor
  • Phone: 83135943
  • Email: greg.metha@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134380
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Badger, floor 2
  • Org Unit: School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
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