Our Research and Achievements

My research and professional interests involve many aspects of inorganic and organometallic chemistry of the main group and lanthanoid elements, in particular organometallic and amido complexes. These complexes have relevance to such areas as catalysis, new materials and organic syntheses. There is a strong emphasis on synthetic methods and structural studies which involve a range of spectroscopic and structural techniques, in particular X-ray crystallography. Applied areas of research involve lanthanoid based corrosion inhibitors, rare earth imaging agents and synthesis of luminescent compounds. Much of this research involves collaborative links with colleagues both within and external to the department.

I have published in excess of 425 research publications in peer-reviewed internationally recognised journals, and in excess of 9700 citations and an h-index of 47. I have received in excess of $11M in research funding from the ARC and other external funding agencies. I have presented >90  invited lectures at other institutions, >35 invited plenary and keynote talks at conferences, and in excess of 40 oral presentations at other international conferences. My students have presented in excess of 200 posters and oral presentations at domestic and international conferences.  I have graduated >35 PhD students and currently am supervising  a number of PhD students across several institutions. I have graduated in excess of 40 Honours students and have had 11 postdoctoral fellows in my group, five who have gone onto their own independent academic careers.

The rare earth elements (Sc, Y, La and the lanthanoids Ce to Lu) are currently newsworthy,and have been described as the most important resource of the 21st century. Their ubiquity in contemporary life coupled with the impact of the Chinese near monopoly of supply, vividly illustrated by their cut in exports for 2011, and their ban on exports to Japan in 2010 (“The Middle East has its oil, China has rare earths”, attributed to Deng Xiaoping) has highlighted their strategic importance to business leaders and politicians, as well as scientists. Australia has large rare earth reserves at Mt. Weld, Mt. Brockman, Nolans (Ln/U) in NT, Dubbo (zirconia/Ln) and in the Wimmera, Murray Basin, coastal mineral sands, WA Goldfields and U tailings, hence is well placed to provide a reliable source of supply. Indeed three mining companies, Lynas (Mt Weld), Arafura Resources (Nolans) and Alkane Resources (Dubbo), are well advanced towards production. Large scale uses include petroleum cracking catalysts, metallurgical reductants, light emitting chemicals in safety equipment and fluorescent tubes, decolourants and colouring agents in the glass industry, and particularly cerium oxide based supports for exhaust emission catalysts. Increasing use of rare earth alloy magnets in cars (joint magnet manufacturing is planned by Lynas/Siemens), particularly electric (hybrid) cars, and in green electricity generation has driven supply concerns with recycling now being considered. Their widespread use to promote crop production in China attests low toxicity. Clear benefits and no toxicity or environmental drawbacks have led to use in animal feed supplements in Switzerland (Lancer®, Sanocer®) and approval for use in the EU is being sought.  Applications in organic synthesis are abundant, and rare earth metal-organic compounds are industrial catalysts for the production of artificial rubber where neodymium carboxylates and methylaluminium compounds are used. Rare earth chemistry underpins most of these applications and will form the basis of new industrial developments.

Rare earth metal-organic chemistry has been one of the groundbreaking research areas of the last 30 years and we have contributed enormously to this very topical area.

We are always interested in Honours and PhD students joining our group. To discuss opportunities, please contact me via the details on this page.

Teaching

• CH1001: Chemistry: A Central Science (Level 1; TSV)
• CH1002: Chemistry: Principles and Applications (Level 1; TSV)
• CH2043: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis (Level 2; TSV)
• CH2210: Syntheses and Mechanism in Inorganic Chemistry (Level 2; TSV)
• CH3104: Advanced Chemistry Project (Level 3; TSV)
• CH3110: Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry (Level 3; TSV)
• CH3210: Applications of Inorganic Chemistry (Level 3; TSV)
• CH5001: Research and Dissertation in Chemistry (Level 5; TSV)
• CH5002: Research Skills and Communication in Chemistry (Advanced) (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Rare earth Chemistry, Organometallic chemistry, Organoamido chemistry, Corrosion Inhibitors

Experience

• 2012 to present - Nevitt Professor, James Cook University (Townsville, Qld, Australia)
• 2016 to 2018 - Research Director, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2015 to 2016 - Head, Matter & Materials, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2012 to 2016 - Head, Chemistry, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2001 to 2012 - Snr Lecturer/Ass Professor/Professor, Monash University (Clayton, Vic, Australia)
• 2007 to 2009 - Head, School of Chemistry, Monash University (Clayton, Vic)
• 1997 to 2001 - Lecturer/Snr Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville, Qld, Australia)
• 1995 to 1996 - Postdoctoral Fellow, Monash University (Clayton, Vic, Australia)
• 1995 - Research Fellow, University of WA (Nedlands, WA, Australia)
• 1994 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Missouri (Columbia, MO, USA)
• 1992 to 1994 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL, USA)
• 1989 to 1992 - Research Chemist, Ampol R&D (Brisbane)

Research Disciplines

• Inorganic Chemistry (0302)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding Knowledge (9701)

Awards

• 2020 - The Top Researcher Award in Inorganic Chemistry in Australia: for highest number of citations from papers published in the last 5 years in the 20 top journals. (https://specialreports.theaustralian.com.au/1540291/13/)
• 2016 - Burrows Award, Premier Inorganic Chemistry Award for the RACI. Contributions to Inorganic Chemistry
• 2016 - Reperio Award (JCU): Best innovative research presentation to investors
• 2016 - Terrae Rarae Award: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the coordination chemistry of the rare earth elements. Highlighted in Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2016).
• 2007 - DSc awarded by James Cook University
• 2003 - Ecka Granules Visiting Lectureship, University of Tasmania
• 2001 - Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award - Australian Institute of Political Science

Fellowships

• 2017 - Specially appointed Professor at University of Osaka (Graduate School of Science)
• 2017 - Guest Professor - Université de Paul Sabatier Toulouse
• 2016 - Specially appointed Professor at University of Osaka (Graduate School of Science)
• 2015 - Specially appointed Professor at University of Osaka (Graduate School of Science)
• 2014 - Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Guest Professorship, Osaka, Japan
• 2013 - Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Guest Professorship, Osaka, Japan
• 2010 - Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• 2002 - Elected, Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute
• 2019 - JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan (University of Nagoya), sponsored by the Japan Society for Promotion of Science
• 2018 - Guest Professor, University of Osaka, Japan
• 2002 - DAAD Guest Professorship (C4 level), University of Leipzig
• 2000 to 2001 - DAAD Guest Professorship (C3 level), University of Leipzig
• 1998 to 1999 - DAAD Guest Professorship (C3 level), University of Leipzig

Other

• 2019 to 2022 - Member RACI National Congress 2022 Organising Committee
• 2019 to 2020 - Australian Synchrotron Macromolecular Crystallography Program Advisory Committee
• 2017 to 2020 - Associate Editor, Coordination Chemistry Reviews
• 2017 to 2020 - International Advisory Board, Rare Earth Research Conference
• 2017 to 2020 - Member, QLD Synchrotron/ANSTO User Group
• 2016 to 2020 - International Advisory Board, International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry
• 2009 to 2020 - Associate Editor, New Journal of Chemistry
• 2017 to 2018 - President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. To join the RACI see: https://www.raci.org.au/
• 2014 to 2018 - Editorial Board for Zeitschrift fuer Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie
• 2014 to 2018 - Editorial Board for Nanochemistry Research
• 2017 - Chair, RACI Centenary National Congress, July 2017, Melbourne
• 2016 - Chair, International Conference of Organometallic Chemistry (ICOMC2016), Melbourne
• 2016 - Chair, Terrae Rarae, (Rare Earth Chemistry Conference), Magnetic Island, Qld
• 2015 to 2016 - President-elect of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute
• 2014 - Chair, OZOM8, Magnetic Island, Qld
• 2003 to 2011 - Organizing Committee OZOM2, 3, 4, 5, 6

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Aldabbagh A, Junk P and Wang J (2020) Syntheses and molecular structures of heteroleptic and homoleptic antimony(iii) tetrafluorophenylethylenediamidate complexes. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 73, pp. 504-510, DOI:10.1071/CH19389.
• Deka R, Sarkar A, Gupta A, Butcher R, Junk P, Turner D, Deacon G and Singh H (2020) Exploring the role of strong intramolecular coordination of the 2-(2'-pyridyl)phenyl group in heavy main group halides: insights from synthesis, structural, and bonding analyses. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2020 (22), pp. 2143-2152, DOI:10.1002/ejic.202000094.
• Deka R, Sarkar A, Butcher R, Junk P, Turner D, Deacon G and Singh H (2020) Isolation of the novel example of a monomeric organotellurinic acid. Dalton Transactions, 49 (4), pp. 1173-1180, DOI:10.1039/c9dt04013g.
• Deka R, Sarkar A, Butcher R, Junk P, Turner D, Deacon G and Singh H (2020) Isolation of homoleptic dicationic tellurium and monocationic bismuth analogues of non-N-heterocyclic carbene derivatives. Organometallics, 39 (2), pp. 334-343, DOI:10.1021/acs.organomet.9b00698.
• Deka R, Junk P, Turner D, Deacon G and Singh H (2020) An insight into the redox activity of Ru and Os complexes of the N,N′-bis(2-pyridyl)benzene-1,2-diamine ligand: structural, electrochemical and electronic structure analysis by density functional theory calculations. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 499, Article: 119193, DOI:10.1016/j.ica.2019.119193.
• Guo Z, Huo R, Tan Y, Blair V, Deacon G and Junk P (2020) Syntheses of reactive rare earth complexes by redox transmetallation/protolysis reactions-A simple and convenient method. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 415, Article: 213232, DOI:10.1016/j.ccr.2020.213232.
• Somers A, Peng Y, Chong A, Forsyth M, Macfarlane D, Deacon G, Hughes A, Hinton B, Mardel J and Junk P (2020) Advances in the development of rare earth metal and carboxylate compounds as corrosion inhibitors for steel. Corrosion Engineering Science and Technology, 55 (4), pp. 311-321, DOI:10.1080/1478422X.2020.1754600.
• de Bruin-Dickason C, Deacon G, Jones C, Junk P and Wiecko M (2019) Functionalised alkaline earth iodides from Grignard synthons "PhAeI(thf)ₙ" (Ae = Mg‐Ba). European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2019 (7), pp. 1030-1038, DOI:10.1002/ejic.201801489.
• Ghazali N, Phonsri W, Murray K, Junk P, Deacon G and Turner D (2019) Trinuclear and mononuclear lanthanoid complexes containing 2-Methyl-8-quinolinolate: synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2019 (20), pp. 2549-2557, DOI:10.1002/ejic.201900293.
• Gholivand K, Pooyan M, Mohammadpanah F, Pirastefar F, Junk P, Wang J, Valmoozi A and Mani-Varnosfaderani A (2019) Synthesis, crystal structure and biological evaluation of new phosphoramide derivatives as urease inhibitors using docking, QSAR and kinetic studies. Bioorganic Chemistry, 86, pp. 482-493, DOI:10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.01.064.
• Guo Z, Luu J, Blair V, Deacon G and Junk P (2019) Replacing mercury: syntheses of lanthanoid pyrazolates from free lanthanoid metals, pentafluorophenylsilver, and pyrazoles, aided by a facile synthesis of polyfluoroarylsilver compounds. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2019 (7), pp. 1018-1029, DOI:10.1002/ejic.201801481.
• Peng Y, Hughes A, Mardel J, Deacon G, Junk P, Forsyth M, Hinton B and Somers A (2019) Leaching behavior and corrosion inhibition of a rare earth carboxylate incorporated epoxy coating system. Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11 (39), pp. 36154-36168, DOI:10.1021/acsami.9b13722.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 234+ research outputs authored by Prof Peter Junk from 1998 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Reductive trapping of novel anionic ligands (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Synthesis of New Divalent Europium Complexes for Luminescence Applications (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Preparation of phenolato d-and f-block metal complexes and studies of their reactivity (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Completed

• Lanthanoid formamidinates and halogenoaluminate complexes of the rare earths and alkaline earths: synthesis and reactivity (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Synthesis of rare earth complexes involving pyrazolate ligands (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Photochemical synthesis in batch and micro flow reactors (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Syntheses and Structural Characterisations of Amidinates, Diaminates and Phenolates Antimony (I and III) and Aluminium (III) Complexes (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Syntheses, structures and reactivity of organolanthanoid complexes (2017, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The role of structural disorder in increasing the activity of cobalt oxide and manganese oxide water oxidation catalysts (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Synthesis and reactivity of rare earth complexes involving formamidinates of moderate steric bulk (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.