Welcome to the Swadźba-Kwaśny research group website!

Embedded within the QUILL Research Centre at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, we are interested in all things ionic liquids – and in other functional liquids too!

We work on a variety of projects, both applied and fundamental in nature. We develop new ionic liquids (ILs), with the focus on Lewis acidic ionic liquids based on main group cations. We also synthesise and study liquid coordination complexes (LCCs) that can be used as Lewis acidic catalysts and as precursors to inorganic materials. We are interested in fundamental questions around quantification of Lewis acidity in ionic liquids and LCCs, liquid-phase speciation of metals and the liquid structure. To address these questions we work closely with UK’s Large Facilities: ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and Diamond Light Source.

Applied projects focus on using ionic liquids for circular economy challenges, such as valorisation of olefins stream from plastics pyrolysis, or recovery of gallium from waste streams, to industry-sponsored projects aiming at net-zero carbon economy.

Please have a look at our Research and Publications sections to find out more!