Dr James Thomas

Profile

Dr 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!

Teaching

CHE100 – Essential Skills for Chemists

CHE307 – Bioorganic Chemistry

CHE600 – Chemistry Research Project

CHE601 – Chemistry Investigative Project

Research

Research 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.

Publications

Below 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, 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: qmroHref
• Evangeli C, Tewari S, Kruip JM et al. (2022). Statistical signature of electrobreakdown in graphene nanojunctions. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119015119

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• 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://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://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://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://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

Grants

Single-Electron Quantum Devices for Ultra-Low Background Particle Detection Experiments, ST/Y005058/1, £46K, Principle Investigator