Department of Materials

Staff

Dr Fiona Hatton

Photo of Dr Fiona Hatton

Senior Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry

Undergraduate Admissions Tutor

Fiona Hatton obtained her MChem degree in Medicinal Chemistry with Pharmacology from the University of Liverpool in 2010. She stayed at the University of Liverpool for her PhD (2010-2014) which focused on the preparation of highly branched dendritic polymers for biomedical applications. In 2014 she joined the Division of Coating Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm as a postdoctoral researcher. During this time, she worked primarily on cellulose modification with bio- and synthetic polymers. In 2016, she returned to the UK to work as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sheffield, preparing functional polymer colloids by polymerization-induced self-assembly.   

In 2018, Fiona became a Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry in the Department of Materials at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. Her research interests include sustainable polymer chemistry, modification of biopolymers, block copolymer self-assembly and soft materials for biomedical applications.

Qualifications

  • PhD Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, 2014
  • MChem (1st class) Medicinal Chemistry with Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, 2010

Outline of main research interests:

  • Synthetic polymer chemistry
  • Self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers
  • In situ monitoring of polymer self-assembly
  • Polymer composite materials utilising nanocellulose
  • Sustainable polymer chemistry
  • Polymerisation of monomers derived from renewable resources

Teaching responsibilities:

  • Materials and Materials Processing
  • Colloid Science and Engineering
  • Advances in Biomaterials
  • Supervision of research projects
  • Personal tutor

Recent publications:

S. E. Woods, J. D. Tinkler, N. Bensabeh, M. Palà, S. J. Martin, I. Martin-Fabiani, G. Lligadas, F. L. Hatton,* “Temperature-Responsive Lactic Acid-Based Nanoparticles by RAFT-Mediated Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly in Water”, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2023, 11, 9979-9988.

R. R. Larder, F. L. Hatton,* “Enabling the Polymer Circular Economy: Innovations in Photoluminescent Labeling of Plastic Waste for Enhanced Sorting”, ACS Polym. Au 2023, 3, 182-201. Special Issue: ACS Polymers Au 2022 Rising Stars in Polymers.

G. T. Wilson, N. Clark, F. L. Hatton, R. Trimingham, E. Woolley, “Perpetual Plastic for Food to Go: A  Design-led Approach to Polymer Research”, Polym. Int. 2022, 71, 1370-1375.

M. Palà, S. E. Woods, F. L. Hatton,* G. Lligadas,* “RDRP (Meth)acrylic Homo and Block Polymers from Lignocellulosic Sugar Derivatives”, Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2022, 2200005.

L. Williams, F. L. Hatton, H. Willcock, E. Mele, “Electrospinning of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers for Controlled Drug Delivery: pH- and Temperature-Driven Release”, Biotechnology and Bioengineering 2022, 119, 1177-1188

For a full list of publications see Google Scholar page

External roles and appointments:

  • Treasurer for the Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group (CSCG) of the SCI – part of the Joint Colloids Group
  • Advisory Board Member for the RSC journal Polymer Chemistry
  • º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ representative for the Discover Materials Outreach Group
  • Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC)
  • Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (MIMM)
  • Member of the EPSRC Peer Review College